Explore our Curriculum

Department

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 (S)

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 (W)

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 (F)

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.
Costume Design and Construction (S)

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 (F)

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.
Second Form Theater (F)

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 (Y)

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.

View the Course Catalog

Our Faculty

Laurie Sales

Theater and Dance Department Head, Director of Theater

978-448-7280

lsales@groton.org
Bio
Before becoming the director of Groton’s Theater Department in 2008, Laurie Sales spent three years as assistant director of education at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ. During this time, she wrote Lucky Girl, a piece of educational theater and a touring production, which explored the topic of domestic violence. Laurie has worked at the Tectonic Theatre Company alongside Moises Kaufman, the legendary playwright and director. Her work has earned many awards and honors in the field of writing and directing. Her play, As Far As We Know, which was performed in the NY Fringe Festival and the Encore Series, earned five stars in the publication Time Out NY. Laurie has a BS from Northwestern University and was a professional director at University of Washington.

At Groton, Laurie directs three mainstage shows and teaches courses in writing, public speaking, playwriting, theater, and the creative process. She is a a Choices leader and leader of global education trips, which run in conjunction with the World Leadership School. When she can find the time, Laurie enjoys photography, travel, four-legged friends, and various service opportunities.
Brandt Belknap

Technical Director

978-448-7282

bbelknap@groton.org
Geneviève Du Paul

Dance Instructor

gdupaul@groton.org
Nicole Harris

Movement Director, Theater

nharris@groton.org
Elizabeth Phan

Director of Community Engagement

978-448-7469

ephan@groton.org
Bio
Theater Teaching Fellow Lizzie Phan graduated from Wesleyan University as a Questbridge Scholar. She was awarded Wesleyan’s Jewett Center for Community Partnerships grant to collaborate with a local domestic violence shelter on a healing art workshop revolving around embroidery and circle storytelling. Elizabeth found her artistic identity while working on several production teams as a costume designer, as well as on performance art projects mixed with service learning. She strives to empower marginalized groups, such as teen mothers and first-generation and low-income students. Elizabeth also loves yoga, longboarding, and being at peace in nature.