Morse High – Theater 1,2 (1423, 1424)

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

This is the first course in a sequential series of standards-based theatre courses designed for the high-school level. It is directed primarily toward acquiring performance and language skills through acting, reading, speaking, listening, writing, and body control. Students focus on creating, performing, responding, and connecting theatrical experiences to the real world. Specific topics explored include physical and vocal work, pantomime and improvisation, basic dramatic structure, theatre vocabulary , the collaborative nature of the production and creative team, theatrical staging techniques, given circumstances, introduction to the rehearsal and performance process, understanding the creative process, scene study and monologues, responding to theatre through different formats, and exploring the role of culture in theatre. An overview of technical theatre and design is included as well. Students are expected to work collaboratively to develop an ensemble, apply creative problem solving techniques, perform for an audience in informal settings, and demonstrate appropriate audience and backstage etiquette. Critique, reflection, and assessment are utilized as documentation for the course. Students learn to describe how skills acquired in theatre apply to other content areas, careers, and their own lives.