Theatre Dept. Courses

Mukwonago High School

Acting

This class focuses on the fundamentals of acting and is appropriate for students of all ability levels. Students work on movement, including stage combat, vocal delivery, improvisation, memorization, and performance. Students also learn how to analyze and interpret character and subtext. Performances include both solo and small group scenes ranging from humor to tragedy and from quick improvisations to longer rehearsed work.

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit: .5 credit
Length: Semester
Prerequisites: None

Stagecraft

Through units exploring sound, costumes, lights, publicity, set design, props, makeup, set construction, and tech crew management, students learn various backstage areas of theatre production. Class lessons are theory-based with principles delivered chiefly through classroom projects and group activities. NOTE: Some hands-on work building sets—including painting and use of basic power tools—occurs sporadically during the semester and varies according to that year’s play/musical set needs. Some climbing of heights may be involved. Students are expected to follow performing arts center safety rules.

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit: 0.5 credit
Length: Semester
Prerequisites: None

Theatre Company

This advanced level theatre course takes the place of previous Directing and Advanced Acting course. Students will combine elements of acting and stagecraft to produce one or more traveling daytime one-act plays for a local community group as the culminating final project. Students will select an audience-appropriate script from a preapproved collection, assign directing and acting roles to class members, and complete multiple production tasks related to props, costumes, hair/makeup, sound, lights, publicity, set construction, and staging. It is strongly recommended that students take Acting and Stagecraft before taking Theatre Company. Prior tech and acting experience outside of classes will be taken into consideration when seeking instructor approval.

Grades: 10, 11, 12
Credit: .5 credit
Length: Semester
Prerequisites: Acting & Stagecraft RECOMMENDED

Instructor approval required