The drama program offers a drama class, an advanced drama class, and a theater intensive class for very advanced students. We also have ongoing productions performed in the Jeffrey Campbell Theater and in the Barnes Assembly Hall. The productions are supported by the ongoing tech activity, which involves many students that are interested in sets, lighting or costumes.

The first year class begins with acting monologues, improvisations, and scenes. Then, students write scenes or one-act plays. All students learn they have something to say, and also have the opportunity to perform each other's scenes in a supportive environment. At the end of the year students direct each other in scenes from plays of their choice.

Course Listings for Drama

Watch a video about the drama program

Students in the advanced level of drama perform longer and more challenging scenes within specific historical acting styles. In the winter they work on one-act productions.

The theater intensive class is designed for the serious drama student that wants to pursue acting, directing, writing or technical theater in a more intensive fashion. This usually involves a presentation for the school in one of our performance spaces.

Qualified seniors have the opportunity to work on independent tutorials in drama and exhibitions. These individual courses are as unique as the students who work on them. Students are also able to do intensive study in drama for project week.

Drama is also offered as an evening activity each semester for those students who have auditioned and have been cast in the plays that are performed in the Jeffery Campbell Theater. The fall production is either a comedy or drama. In the spring we usually do a full musical. We've done Cabaret, Into the Woods, and The Threepenny Opera. The students have an opportunity to dance in the musicals which is choreographed by our dance teacher. Qualified students frequently assist in the choreography. The rehearsals are two evenings a week and Sunday afternoons.

Students have also designed and built costumes for the productions. They also work with make-up and design posters. All the different elements of the larger productions come together during the two project weeks. The advanced drama class, theater intensive class, and tutorials and exhibitions create other productions throughout the year. Last year we did nine productions.