Theatre

Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, and classic plays like Our Town appear on Jackson Academy’s stage, where students’ talents shine in the spotlight, bringing powerful stories to life.

A Vibrant Stage Life

Talented performers, technicians, and designers collaborate to create theatrical experiences that lift audiences to new worlds through the power of lights, costumes, and action. Theatre students discover and hone their storytelling abilities, exercising creative muscles while gaining confidence in their public speaking and deepening their sense of empathy.

Classroom Instruction in Theatre

The performing arts are a form of communication. Students receive formal classroom instruction in Theatre and learn technical skills with which to express themselves, giving them access to their full range of artistic capacity. Jackson Academy students from 7th through 12th grade have the opportunity to participate in a variety of theatre classes and productions.  Jackson Academy is also home to a chapter of the International Thespian Society, a nationally recognized theatre honor society.

Performance Opportunities:

• Fall Musical is performed each October by ninth through twelfth grade students on the Performing Arts Center’s auditorium stage, with fifth through twelfth grade students involved every third year.
• Competition One Act Play is performed at statewide theatre competitions each fall by Upper School students.
• Spring Play is performed each April in the Blackbox Theatre.

Classes

Theatre I

This course is a theatre survey or introduction course. Students participate in class performances and projects. Upon completing this course, students have mastered the following:

• Basic theatre history from Greek to modern
• Types of stages, stage directions, and basic acting techniques
• Theatrical professions and hierarchy
• Basic knowledge of technical theatre elements

Student description: Theatre I is an introductory course. Students learn about acting, playwriting, improvisation, and theatre history.  The course includes opportunities to learn from professional guest speakers and to attend field trips to local theaters. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Theatre Tech

Theatre Tech introduces students to the backstage art of theatre. Students enrolled in this class will gain a working knowledge of scenic design and construction, makeup design and execution, prop and costume design, and areas of technical theatre including lighting and sound design, marketing, directing, and stage management.

Student description: Theatre Tech is the perfect course for those who prefer to be backstage. Tech students learn about theatrical sets, lighting, props, and special effects.  Students construct sets and props for current productions and execute theatrical makeup designs in class. There are prerequisites for this course.

Theatre Competition Class

This class provides a time for rehearsal for theatre competitions across the state including Dramafest, MTA, and ThesCon. Admission to this course is by audition only.  Students enrolled in this course are required to commit to participate in all competition events. Through rehearsal and execution of a one act play and individual events for competitions, students in this course continue their education in the areas of acting, directing, stage management, costume and set construction, and makeup design.

Student description: This class is for the advanced theatre performer. Theatre Competition students rehearse and perform a one act play and individual events taken to statewide competitions including DramaFest and MTA.  Students in this course must agree to attend DramaFest, MTA, and ThesCon.

Theatre Elective

A one-quarter elective, this class is an opportunity for middle school students to explore the world of theatre. Students in this course discover basic stage acting rules and practice improvisation. In addition, they prepare a one act play to present at the end of the quarter.