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Theater and Dance

The theater and dance experience at Groton takes a hands-on approach to all aspects of theater education. Our classes take place on the stage and in the studio where students learn by doing. Experienced theater practitioners often make guest teaching appearances and help guide students as they acquire practical techniques in acting, improvisation, direction, design, playwriting, and public speaking. The goal of our program is to offer access to the necessary tools for effective and artistic self-expression.

Acting Shakespeare

Open to Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Formers. In this course, students will build on the textual study of Shakespeare’s works from English classes and apply this understanding to character creation and script analysis from an actor’s perspective. The course work will cover a variety of approaches to physical and vocal character development and will explore various embodied processes that enable actors to embody Shakespeare’s best-loved (or despised!) characters. Students will work toward mastery in vocal and physical techniques as well as understanding the role of design elements in the original productions of Shakespeare’s works. The final in this course will be a public performance that features the work of all students in the class. Previous experience in the theater is not required.

Choreography and Performance

Open to Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Formers. Body language is our first method of communication and choreography, defined as any movement with meaning, is an organized extension of that. Whether you're thinking about the exact distance a trial lawyer should be standing from the jury at a vital moment in a closing argument or performing onstage in a piece of musical theater, choreography is a skill all of us use every day. Choreography and Performance will provide students the tools to create original choreography or make a piece of existing choreography personal through the performing of it. The work of this course will happen through in-class exercises and creative assignments. By the end of the term, all students will learn ways of communicating without words that translate far beyond the dance studio.

Costume Design and Construction

Open to Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Formers. From eco-friendly upcycled projects to traditional costume-making projects, students will have hands-on experience with the costume shop in terms of how to design and construct costumes from characters in various plays we read throughout the course. Through the process of fully realizing their vision, students will sketch, hand sew, embroider, knit/crochet, and machine sew. We will focus on how these various crafts can tell stories. The purpose is to collaborate as a team on an installation piece to create an experience for an audience. Students may take the class for more than one term.

Improvisation

Open to Sixth, Fifth, and Fourth Formers. Have fun with improv! In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of improvisation as they collaborate to play games, create scenes, and explore contemporary social issues from a theatrical perspective. The focus of the class is on project-based learning with some viewings to supplement the embodied practices of in-class exercises. Students will both create in-the-moment skits and scenes and collaboratively script scenes for performances. The final in this class is an open studio in which the community will be invited to attend and participate in a public performance. No previous experience on stage is required. This class will require a minimum of six (6) students enrolled.

Second Form Theater

Theater is a performing art form that brings a story to life. In this course, students learn how to engage in storytelling through expressive elements such as lighting, set, costumes, acting, directing, and sound. Working as a team, they will find their creative role and produce a performance at the end to demonstrate their understanding of the audience’s perspective and how to create a sensory experience from their imagination. Given the resources to explore global theater methods such as shadow puppetry, students will have the opportunity to express themselves through a universal language.

Storytelling and Stagecraft

Open to Third Form only. This course will offer an interdisciplinary approach to theater-making, integrating various theatrical skills including lighting, sound, costume, character development, and stage direction. In the Fall term, students will focus on the production of Climate Change Theatre Action short plays and will have an opportunity to show their work to a public audience. The Winter Term focuses on personal storytelling and presentation skills, enabling students to develop a signature storytelling performance. In the Spring term students learn the basics of improvisation and then move into one of our design shops where they can learn to weld, construct costumes, design stage props, or practice the basics of stage lighting.