First off, I'm not a teacher - I'm a retired set designer who's been hanging out here for several years occasionally helping out with design or tech issues when they come up. But, you said you're looking to re-think Theatre 1, so, from the viewpoint of a fly on the wall, here's my two-cents' worth.
From what I've read here over the past few years, it seems that most high-school theatre classes are primarily focused on acting. Of course some schools also have tech programs, but, for the most part, it seems tech mostly comes up when it's time to do a show. We didn't have a theatre program in high school, although we mounted two huge shows each year. However, in college, theatre majors all had to take classes in everything; even "we techies" had to take acting, directing, mime, and similar subjects. Most of "us techies" had no interest in these (and in some cases it was torture), but we had to maintain our GPAs, so we trudged along. A couple of one-semester classes, stage management and theatre management, even opened a few of my classmates' eyes to directions they never considered.
If I were to do a Theatre 1 class, I would start with an introduction to all facets of theatre, presenting them as possible careers in the entertainment industry, including a discussion of Broadway, regional theatre, touring shows, Vegas, Cirque du Soleil, and similar venues. I would also point out the similarities between live theatre, TV, and the movies: all three need writers, actors, directors, designers, builders, painters, producers, marketing and finance people, lawyers, and so on and on and on. In fact, many actors have been, and still are, active in all three: live theatre, TV, and the movies.
More recently, computers and technology are used more and more in theatre. We need people who can program and run automated lighting and sound equipment, projections, robotics, and similar items, In my case, I used SketchUp, a 3D modeling program, in my design work for fifteen years and it made my workflow far more efficient. In fact, my first job out of grad school wasn't even in theatre: it was in the architectural department of a major computer company, and I got the job because I could draft – a skill I honed as an assistant set designer or set designer in school.
So, yeah, after forty-odd years doing this, I would approach the class as an intro to all of theatre as a possible future career direction. Of course I would not attempt to teach each subject in any depth, but I would have them understand at least how each one fits into the overall picture. The kids can certainly do quizzes or projects as they go, and a final project might be something in their individual area of interest.
A few years ago I wrote a blog post on this topic: https://setdesignandtech.wordpress.com/2018/03/06/theater-can-lead-to-a-lot-of-careers/
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George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.comwww.georgefledo.net------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-22-2022 14:42
From: Cathy Archer
Subject: Rethinking Theatre 1
I only teach quarter classes at my school. I teach one Introduction to Acting and Backstage. and one Unified Theatre class. These two classes have a production for a final. The Unified Theatre is a puppet productions with puppets they build and plays they write. They are all more comfortable with being in a puppet theatre than on stage. This became a puppet class during lock down because it was the only way to have the students show themselves. The Introduction class writes their own show and it ties into our GIN conference. I usually have a handful of actors and the rest tech. I hate to rain on your parade but the students who want to do tech will not want to act or do acting lessons. Many students today suffer from anxiety and are totally uncomfortable being onstage. I have been teaching for almost forty years and I have never seen so many students who don't want to act and are uncomfortable doing it. I am not sure how to get these kids to act. I now teach a course called Stagecraft and Design which is only backstage work. They learn about lighting, sound, costumes and set. They design and build models for each element for a story they choose to make into a live production. This also came out of lockdown. For the first time students enjoy the class and recommend it. The final project is a presentation which sells their production to a producer. This is verbal and slides. This has resulted in some students joining my after school program to design and build. Occasionally a student will then try out acting. It is a strange world we live in now.
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Cathy Archer
EdTA Member or Troupe Director
Rutland High School
VT
Original Message:
Sent: 05-20-2022 07:01
From: Blake Wilson
Subject: Rethinking Theatre 1
Hi All-
With the year ending soon, I'm looking ahead to the next year and am re-examining my approach to my high school intro-level theatre class. Perhaps many of you have wrestled with this. I've been teaching theatre for about 12 years, 10 of which as a classroom teacher....and I've never really been satisfied with my theatre 1 classes.
For me, I've always felt a tension between making the class fun for newcomers to theatre (and those who were placed in the class) and also making it substantive and meaningful so that students who may want continue with theatre will come away with some actual skills.
I want the class to be enjoyable. Like many of us, I'm trying to rebuild after COVID so I want it to be fun....AND/BUT I'm also trying to rebuild my cohort of actors and i don't want the more motivated students to spend the class spinning their wheels while I try to placate the more reluctant or more casual students.
I'm not sure i have a specific ask here...other than to get some of your thoughts about how you navigate this. What has worked for you?
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Blake Wilson
Theatre Arts Director
Orange High School
NC
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