Drama Course Descriptions

Acting

The student will explore the craft of acting in a conservatory approach that involves exercises, scene work and theatre games designed to develop performance skills and technique.

Audition

The student will build a basic understanding of the audition process through the preparation of audition monologues, provide resources on choosing strong material and develop audition techniques.

Dramatic Literature

This course is a survey of dramatic literature exploring both modern and classical plays and the actualization of these works from text to stage.

Voice and Speech

Students will be given exercises to increase breath capacity and to improve vocal quality and diction through an exploration of the International Phonetic Alphabet. They will be introduced to one foreign accent and one English dialect and will explore the basics of Voiceover Acting.

Singing

Through group and individual exercises, this class explores techniques of breathing, relaxation and awareness of the singing voice.

Movement

Students in the Movement class will be exposed to a variety of disciplines in physical theater such as Suzuki, Michael Chekhov and Grotowski. Students will also have a day in the Disney Motion Capture studio, where the principles of filming some of the Avatar characters were employed.

Styles

This class will introduce acting and music theater students to the fundamental approach to classical texts. This session will illustrate methods of scansion and text analysis, finding operative words, phrasing, basic pronunciation and playing actively.

Ballet & Jazz

Specific study will depend upon the outcome of dance auditions held the first day of class. Courses will include general technique and methods specific to music theatre.

Scene Painting

This course will introduce the student to the materials and methods of scenic art.

Basic Design

Using a variety of media, students explore design skills, creative process and essentials of design for the stage.

Drafting

This course introduces students to the tools and language of graphic communication and provides hands-on practice of drafting skills.

Lighting

This course will familiarize students with concepts, technical information and practical applications of stage lighting.

Stagecraft

This course provides hands-on instruction in basic techniques of building for the stage, materials and safety concerns in a theatre shop.

Technical Production

This course will present a range of content from various Carnegie Mellon Drama Production Technology & Management (PTM) courses including:

Sound

This course introduces the concepts, tools and design applications for sound in theatre.

Costume

This course will explore basic sewing skills, shop safety, how a show runs through the shop and how costumes impact a production.

Electives

Four elective options are offered:

Directing

This course will introduce the student to the craft of directing, the function of a director in the creative process and in-class application of principles.

Playwriting

This course will introduce students to the basic principles and structures of dramatic writing through discussion, exercises and applied process.

Improv
Through theatre games and energy work, students learn to develop creativity and self expression.

Private Voice Lessons

Once a week (extra fee required)

Photography courtesy of Louis Stein

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