Senior High Drama

Senior High Drama is a performance-based class requiring students to work individually and as part of a group. Students will complete a series of dramatic activities, including telling a joke on stage, preparing and presenting a monologue / auditioning for a role, and participating in the complete production (rehearsals, back stage work, publicity, and performance) of either one full-length play or two one-act plays.

 

GOALS

Students in Senior High Drama will:

• Learn to interact with other performers
• Study and practice voice control
• Practice and perform on stage
• Prepare auditions for roles in drama class productions
• Demonstrate skills of acting, including memorization and improvisation
• Demonstrate professionalism on stage, backstage, and as an audience member
• Help design and build sets, obtain props and costumes, and organize materials for stage
• Plan, design, and implement a publicity campaign
• Write reflections on performances
• Study stage and filmed performances by other groups (professional and amateur)

 

ASSESSMENT

The right attitude, regular participation, and responsibility are all required for success in Senior High Drama. Grades in this course will be based on the following major activities:

• Daily Participation - Students will earn points each day for their positive engagement in drama activities, respect for the rules, and support of the rest of the class. 

• Bell Ringer - Students will complete a daily response to a question or prompt related to drama. This is expected to be done at the start of class and will not be accepted after the end of the block.

 

• In-class Activities - Students will prepare and perform a series of short pieces on stage (a silly joke, a monologue, an audition, some improvised skits). They will give “life” to characters through the use of voice, body movements, and facial expressions. They will demonstrate appropriate audience behavior when classmates are performing. 

 

• Public Performances - Students will be assigned a role in the cast and a set of specific off-stage responsibilities in the production of either a full-length play or two one-act plays.  Points will be awarded as students meet deadlines, learn their part(s), rehearse, work on improvement, perform effectively, cooperate backstage, pay attention to detail in assigned tasks, and commit to the group effort. We will perform for the student body (in school) as well as to the public (after school hours).

 

• Reflections - Students will write reflections of their performances and those of others. Reflections are expected to be thorough and considerate. 

 

• Final Exam - The grade on the final performance will serve as the final exam for Senior High Drama. A rubric will be posted on Schoology in advance of the performance. 

 

 

NOTES

Although Senior High Drama is part of the school day, students will be required to participate in an out-of-school public performance, and possibly also a dress rehearsal scheduled outside of school hours. Every effort will be made to schedule these around students’ existing plans (sports and activities). Failure to attend the dress rehearsal or any of the performances, without advance permission of the teacher, will result in a zero on these assignments. 

Breaking school rules in rehearsals or performances may result in a failing grade in addition to appropriate disciplinary action.