UPPER SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS SYLLABUS 2017-2018

TEACHERS
Melissa Weber Bales (mbales@wildwood.org)
Stephanie Fybel Darby (sdarby@wildwood.org)

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
Year 1 and 2 students: Who am I as an artist?
Year 3 and 4 students: How do I develop and expand my artistic voice?

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND CONTENT

This elective offers in-depth exploration and skill building as a performing
artist. Training will include acting technique, improvisation, voice, movement,
and scene study, as well as opportunities in directing, musical theatre, and
dramatic writing. Students will build on previous acting skills to deepen
perspective and empathy, two skills critical in the theatre arts. The
curriculum is designed to challenge students to expand their individual and
collective artistic expression. Students will compete in a Southern California
Theatre Festival (DTASC) in the fall. The class will culminate with an evening
exhibition on Wednesday, April 25th, 2018 at 7pm.

OVERVIEW OF PROJECTS

THEATRE FUNDAMENTALS (8/28-9/8): Students will participate in a

variety of acting exercises, theatre games and improvisations designed to
build ensemble and encourage artistic risk-taking.

DTASC THEATRE FESTIVAL PROJECT (9/11-10/28): Students will rehearse

and compete in the all day DTASC Theatre Festival on Saturday, October 28th
at Calabasas High School and perform in the DTASC Showcase Performance on
Friday, October 27th at 7pm in the Wildwood Theatre. Each student will
perform in or direct a scene or monologue in one of the given DTASC
categories, and collaborate on the selection, cutting, and staging of the
scene/monologue.

TECHNICAL THEATRE PROJECT (11/1-11/17):

Students will assist with the technical elements of the Upper School fall
play. Students will build/paint sets, pull props and costumes, and assist with
anything else that the production requires.
PASSION PROJECT (11/27-12/15):
Students will select one area of study from the list below. Projects will run
concurrently as students go in depth into their particular passion within the
Performing Arts: Musical Theatre, Film, or Writing.

SCENE STUDY PROJECT (1/3 - 2/9):

Students will rehearse and perform 2-4 person scenes, applying various acting
techniques to the work.

EXHIBITION PROJECT (2/12 - 4/25):

Students in each class will be cast in, read, analyze and rehearse a short
contemporary play for performance at our Evening Exhibition on Wednesday,
April 25th at 7pm for family, friends, and faculty. Both Upper School classes
will perform on the same evening.

FILM SCENES WORKSHOP (4/30-5/11):

Students will be assigned a contemporary film scene in which they are
castable and participate in an on-camera workshop with a guest artist.

YEAR-END WORKSHOPS: (5/14-5/24):

Students will participate in daily theatre games, acting exercises,
improvisations and guest artist workshops.

SAVE THE DATE: EVENING EXHIBITION

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25th at 7pm
(with an after-school rehearsal)

Additional activities:
FIELD TRIPS
GUEST ARTISTS