Theatre

Playwriting

Students will spend the first portion of the term learning techniques from some of the masters of the art, then will study the work and criticism of a wide variety of authors, from Aristotle through Shakespeare to contemporary playwrights. Students will develop their work in class through the use of improvisation, group dialogue construction, and peer criticism, finishing the semester with polished, dramatically sound works.

Plays in Production

In this course, we will rehearse and perform one or more short plays selected to match the group taking the class. We will go through a portion of the rehearsal process each time we meet: read-throughs, blocking, character study, and polish. A variety of techniques will be used in the development of the play, each chosen to best magnify and develop the talents of the participants. At the end of the term, we will invite an audience!

Acting — Scenes and Monologues 

There are as many ways to learn how to act as there are teachers of acting. In this course, we will explore the techniques of some of the greatest teachers of all time, including Uta Hagen, Sanford Meisner, Lee Strasberg, Michael Chekov, Stella Adler, and of course, Constantin Stanislavski. Stanislavski’s eight principles will be employed as students work on scenes and monologues to be presented in class. Improvisation, science study, and text analysis techniques will be developed, and students will leave the course with a thorough understanding of how actors approach their craft. In addition to performing, students will give a final presentation in class on the work and techniques of a great acting teacher or director.

 

Non-Musical Plays

In the fall we perform non-musical plays. Last year, we presented Trap, a horror story that terrified our captivated (and captive) audience. In 2022, we brought Romeo and Juliet to the stage in a production that featured stage combat as well as great acting performances. This year, our fall production will be Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, in which many skilled actors will bounce in and out of multiple hilarious roles. Note that, in the drama activity, primary casting consideration is given to those in drama as their fall activity, but there may be roles available to those in other sports/activities.

One-Acts

The winter term features one-acts, which are presented as two jam-packed evenings of theatre late in February. These one-acts are produced through a winter term activity managed by Mr. Foote and English faculty member Ms. Robbins. If you have ideas for one-act plays that you might like to produce — or if you have one that you have written yourself — you can develop that play in this activity.

Spring Musical

We put on a spring musical each year with a live pit, faculty choreographer and music director, and ample vocal coaching for all singers. We typically announce the show choice in January after we have gotten to know all the new-this-year performers at Kent, as we prefer to choose the right show for all of the students who will participate, old and new. The show requires actors, singers, dancers, orchestra members for the pit band, and a large technical crew. Our 2023 production of Disney's The Little Mermaid sold out both nights!

Theatre Club

This club goes to see shows! Broadway shows! But sometimes other shows as well. Last year we saw Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors, and Hamilton in New York. Not only do we also attend other local productions, but when we go to New York we often connect with artists working in the city. Recently, we were lucky enough to have a talkback with members of the Six company following the show, including the assistant stage manager who had called the cues for the performance we saw, the resident Director, and one of the "Queen" performers. Let us know what you'd like to see this year!

Emprov Club

The improvisation club, whose name is a play on words honoring a late founder of the group, is run by student leaders with the help of Ms. Howard (from the Admissions Office). This is a very popular and fun experience, and they typically do a performance open to the whole school late in the school year.

Technical Theatre

Students may work on the tech crews (working on sets, sound, lighting, etc.) for the plays in any term. We always need people for this creative and fun activity. Students work under the supervision of trained professionals, and we have sent many artists to college programs from Kent where they have worked on major theatrical productions, both on stage and backstage.