Courses

ACTING I Tri I – 30051T1 or Tri II – 30052T2 or Tri III – 30053T3
Acting I is an orientation course which will provide a wide range of theater experiences for students. In working
with the academic and experiential forms of theater study, students will be both participants and observers in
theater processes. Areas covered will include: improvisation, stage movement and production, styles of theater,
pantomime, voice, characterization and creating a role.
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

ACTING II - Advanced Tri I – 30061T1  or Tri II – 30072T2
Acting II offers further development in the theater arts. The acting student is offered a variety of learning activi-
ties, which focus more intently on a thorough examination of theater literature, style, and methodology.  Areas
covered will include: camera acting, theater history, professional theater options, method acting, and play evalu-
ation.
 Prerequisite: Acting I with a grade of “B” or higher
Grades 10, 11, 12

IMPROVISATION FOR THE THEATER - Advanced Tri III – 30013T3
Improvisation is actors creating relationships, con?icts, dialogue and plot off the top of their heads.  The class
will provide the skills, control, con?dence, mental agility, trust, and spontaneity that allow students to improvise.
Students will study comedy writing through satire and parody. At the end of the trimester, the class will create
and perform in their own Improv Show!
 Prerequisite:  Acting I with a grade of “B” or higher
Grades 10, 11, 12

MUSICAL THEATER - Advanced Tri II – 30074T2
Everyone loves musicals!  This course will explore the hard work it takes to reach that contagious fun!  Students
will study stock characters and the evolution and validity of musical theater.  Beginning with selecting the best
audition pieces, this class continues with daily singing and simple group choreography.  The ?nal product will be
a class performance featuring choreographed song-and-dance numbers, as well as ballads from a wide genre of
musicals.
 Prerequisite: Acting I and Vocal work: May include CDH Chorus or a willingness to begin ex-
tra vocal training outside of class
Grades 10, 11, 12 

PHYSICAL ACTING  Tri III – 30072T3
This course will place an emphasis on the actor’s body – its potential, possibility, function, and versatility.  Stu-
dents will learn to utilize their bodies to heighten character development, as well as explore a variety of acting
styles based in the body.  Different approaches used will include: yoga, presentational performance (French res-
toration), pantomime, kabuki, modern dance, Noh, storytelling, commedia dell arte, Grotowski, Suzuki.  Major
emphases will be placed on mask improvisation and the creation of physically present, whole characters.
Grades 11, 12

READER’S THEATER Tri II – 30042T2
Reader’s theater is a study of the voice. Students learn to revive and to enliven literature through communication
skills. The class will encompass the study of poetry, prose, drama (including characters and accents) and prin-
ciples of analysis for vocal interpretation and performance. This class can be taken as an English elective.
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

STAGECRAFTS Tri III – 30063T3
Stagecrafts explores the technical aspects of the theater. Areas covered will include: make up and costume
design, set construction and design, lighting, sound, painting techniques, and production advertising. Many ele-
ments learned in class will be directly applied to the current CDH  production.
Grades 10, 11, 12

SHAKESPEARE LIVE! A JOURNEY FROM THE PAGE TO THE STAGE   Tri I – 30081T1
All the world’s a stage and all the men and women in it merely players...
Shakespeare Live! is an exploration of the imagery, language and characters of the Bard. Actors will learn the ba-
sics of text analysis and verse scansion while working on Shakespearean monologues and scenes. This course will
also provide a foundation in the physical, vocal and emotional acting skills needed to bring Shakespeare’s text to
life. Care to tame a shrew, put your fate in a witch’s hands or proclaim your love from a balcony?
 Prerequisite: Acting I with a grade of “B” or higher or the completion of “Shakespeare” (Eng-
lish elective) with a grade of “B” or higher
Grades 10, 11, 12

Play Production
Culmination of the class will be the actual performance of a play for a real audience.  Enrollment in this class guarantees each student the experience of being on stage as an actor, as well as backstage work as a crew head.  Class time is devoted to preparing for the final production.  The class will meet to design the play's production concept, which includes sound, time period, color scheme, costumes, set and make-up.  Once the plan is decided on, everyone sets to work rehearsing scenes and putting the show together technically. Production of the play also includes: warm ups, trust exercises and acting techniques, creating and developing roles, analysis of the script, memorizing lines, use of make-up and costumes, and play criticism.