Welcome to Blalack Theatre 2018-2019!

Welcome to (back to) the Blalack Theatre Arts Department! 

The following information covers what will happen in classes this year:

6th grade Theatre Arts is a semester long performance-based class where students will be introduced to theatrical skills they can use in this and future theatre classes, as well as in other classes and future careers. 

• Introduction to Theatre - including basic terminology, stage directions, parts of the stage, genres, types of stages, and audience etiquette
• Ensemble Builders
• The Class Play Project - a collaborative project where the class will produce a play from auditions through strike, including rehearsals and a live performance - Fall semester classes will perform on Friday, November 3, 2017 and Spring semester classes will perform on Friday, March 9, 2018 (times TBD).
• Theatre History - focusing on Elizabethan Theatre and Shakespeare
• Improvisation - forming characters and acting without a script
• Duet Scenes - students will take what they have learned to prepare, direct, and perform a duet/group scene

7/8th grade Theatre Arts is a year long, performance-based class where students will take a more extensive look at theatrical skills.  The first semester focuses on the "onstage" aspects of theatre and the second semester focuses on the backstage aspects of theatre, as well as how Theatre got to what it is today.

• Introduction to Theatre - including basic terminology, stage directions, parts of the stage, genres, types of stages, and audience etiquette
• Ensemble Builders - work on teamwork, focus, and trust in relation to Theatre
• Improvisation - forming characters and acting without a script
• Pantomime and Mime - learning about using movement (not words) to communicate and tell a story - includes the Lip Sync Project and Silent Day
• Monologues - an introduction to Characterization where students will study and develop a character based on their chosen monologue to perform
• Duet Scenes - students will take what they have learned to prepare, direct, and perform a duet/group scene
• Voice - students will work in groups to practice vocalization to represent various characters
• Theatre Safety and Tools - learning about safety in the theatre and basic tools and how to use them
• Technical Theatre - this project-based unit allows students learn about each area of technical theatre and design and create for each area - including props, scenery, lighting, sound, theatrical make-up, and costumes
• Theatre History - a project-based learning unit where students will work in groups to research and create a way to teach the class about their time period

8th grade Advanced Theatre is NEW to Blalack Theatre this year.  It is a year-long, performance-based class for students who already completed 7/8th grade Theatre Arts.  Students enrolled in this course will receive further training in Theatre Arts through both performance and design work.  Advanced Theatre students are encouraged to audition for main stage performances (A Monologue Showcase, Dinner Theatre, and Musical), but are required to be in productions outside of class. 

• Curriculum for this course is still being developed and will be updated soon.

8th grade Theatre Production is a full year, performance-based class that work to produce all main stage productions for the Blalack Theatre Department.  Students for this class must audition and be selected by the director.  All students must take an active role in each production, either onstage or backstage.

• Audition Ready - students will work on writing a résumé, bio, take headshots, and perform a cold reading
• UIL One Act Play - students will learn about the rules associated with OAP and then work to produce our UIL OAP that will compete at the district contest - Public performance in the Blalack Cafetorium at 6:30pm on Wednesday, November 14th ($3 admission) and the contest will take place at Newman Smith High School on Friday, November 30, 2018 (time TBD)
• Dinner Theatre - as soon as OAP has been struck we will begin working on our dinner theatre, which includes a live performance and dinner - Performances will be on Thursday, February 21st Friday, February 22nd, and Saturday, February 23rd at 6:00pm in the Blalack Cafetorium ($10 admission, all seats reserved)
• Musical - as soon as dinner theatre has been struck we will begin working on the musical  - Performances will be on Thursday, May 9th and Friday, May 10th at 6:30pm in the Blalack Cafetorium ($5 admission)