High School Overview
Students pursuing a theatre pathway are expected to be involved in school productions, both as audience members and as behind/in front of the scenes participants. DSA theatre art studios are designed to accommodate more than one year of growth. Progression from level to level is determined by teacher recommendation and is based on demonstration of skills, readiness for more challenging curriculum, strong work ethic, and ability to work independently.
Theatre Fundamentals
An exploratory class in performance and technical theatre for students who are beginning a theatre concentration or interested in all aspects of theatre arts. Students will read plays and perform as well as explore working behind-the-scenes, such as set design and consuming required to bring a play from the page to the stage.
Theatre Ensemble
​This class is designed for students who are pursuing a concentration in theatre performance. Through closer examination of how actors prepare and perform, students will develop further skills in movement, vocal variation, character development, script analysis, and acting theory.
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Theatre Lab
In this intermediate level class, designed for students with a year of experience or more, promotes enjoyment and appreciation for all aspects of theatre through opportunities to build significantly on existing skills. Classwork focuses on characterization and playwriting; while improvisation, creative dramatics, and scene work are used to help students challenge and strengthen their acting skills and explore the technical aspects of scene work. This class performs two public showcases each year.
Theatre Studio
​Students explore their continued development as actors, directors, and playwrights. Students who enroll in the class demonstrate commitment and excellence to the DSA theatre program and seek to grow as an artist and as a person. Topics include monologue and scene performance, specialty workshops, international phonetic alphabet, directing, musical theatre, playwrighting, and acting theory. Students are expected to collaborate with their classmates in ambitious, student-selected performances and participate in main stage auditions and class performances at DSA. Students will maintain a portfolio of their work and related activities.
Theatre Studio Honors
​This outside adjudicated audition course is designed with the most dedicated of theatre artists in mind. Students who wish to pursue professional study in acting, as well as those seeking the utmost challenge as performers and individuals, are challenged to take a leadership role within High School Theatre Studio. Students are expected to participate in main stage auditions and to develop a professional quality audition repertoire. Students will maintain a portfolio of their work and related activities.
Introduction to Technical Theatre
​This course is an exploratory class that teaches the basic design elements for all technical theatre pathways. The class explores the design and creation of costumes, set design, lighting, sound, stage management, and props. Students will keep a portfolio of their work and present their work each semester at a technical theatre portfolio gallery night.
Design and Production
Design and Production is the advanced technical theatre course. This class is for students who have a passion for technical theatre and are thinking about pursuing it as a potential career (did you know technical theatre is 100% hire rate?!?). Students will pick 2 specific technical theatre paths to study and work on perfecting their craft. Students are required to be a technical 'head' for one mainstage production at DSA.