| Theatre Arts Program Visual and Performing Arts Firestone High School Entrance into the Firestone High School theatre program is for in-coming ninth-graders by audition only. Rare exceptions are made for students who are already in high school. Students in Firestone's theatre program represent each of the clusters in the Akron Public Schools as well as many of the schools in Summit County. Students from outside the district can transfer into Firestone via open-enrollment upon completion of a successful audition. A theatre program audition consists of a prepared, memorized, modern monologue of not more then two minutes, a cold reading, an interview, and some improvisational exercizes. The student must present at the time of his or her audition the following items: a photo and resume, two letters of recommendation, and a current grade card. For more information on Open-Enrollment or Auditions, call the Firestone office at (330) 873-3315. Students in the theatre program study an integrated core of acting and performance styles in addition to scene study, script analysis, stagecraft, improvisation, audition techniques, directing, theatre criticism, film analysis, acting for the camera, and playwriting. This program is designed to balance performance-based or conservatory style training with scholastic and theoretical principles of the art form. This program is designed to prepare the student for one of the following three options: (1) enrollment in a professional arts conservatory or nationally recognized college/university theatre program, (2) enrollment in a liberal arts college, and (3) in rare cases, direct entry into the theatre profession. Acting classes approach physical action as the primary tool for the actor, while voice and analytical skills are emphasized as a vital component of the actor�s development and growth. Upper level students also take courses in dramatic literature and history and may choose to take classes in another discipline such as dance, vocal music, instrumental music or fine art as befits their educational and vocational goals. Performance opportunities include workshop performances, possible original work and yearly main-stage productions. All rehearsals for Firestone productions are typically scheduled outside the regular school day. Firestone V&PA Theatre Arts Requirements All Theatre Arts students must take 2 performing arts courses both semesters in grades 9 through 12. Specific courses during each semester are required at each level of the program. Theatre arts students must participate in onetFirestone main-stage production each year. Each student is required to complete a minimum of 20 tech hours per school year. All theatre students are expected to perform or accompany any workshop productions to International Thespian Society (ITS) events. As outlined below, one-semester courses are identified by the semester listed in brackets. A course without a semester indicated in brackets is a two-semester course Double-click on the class to read a more detailed description. The Theatre Classes Level 1 *Acting I (Beginning Acting) *Introduction to Drama [Fall] *Introduction to Technical Theatre [Spring] Level 2 *Acting II (Contemporary Scene Study) [Fall] **Theatre in Film [Fall] {-or- vocal or instrumental music ensemble or Intro to Dance} **Musical Theatre [Spring] {-or- vocal or instrumental music ensemble or Intro to Dance} **Directing for the Stage [Spring] {-or- vocal or instrumental music ensemble or Intro to Dance} Level 3 *Acting III (Shakespearean and Romanticism)[Fall] *Professional Issues [Spring] Advanced Technical Theatre [Fall] {-or- vocal or instrumental music ensemble or Intro to Dance} Scenic Design [Spring] {-or- vocal or instrumental music ensemble or Intro to Dance} Level 4 *History and Drama *Acting IV (Scene Study, Styles of Acting) [Spring] Playwriting [Fall] {-or- vocal or instrumental music ensemble or Intro to Dance} (*) indicates a class that is required for all theatre arts students during that specific level of the program. (**) indicates a group of three classes in Level 2 from which the student must choose at least one. |
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