Arts Program Overview
ABOUT THEATER
At SPA Theater, we are committed to building community through rigorous and daring explorations of the form! From field trips to productions, our young artists are strengthening their understanding of ensemble.
Mr. Justin Tracy
Director, Theater Arts
justin.tracy@cocospa.org
(925) 235 1130 EXT 109
Ms. Mel Martinez
Theater Arts
mel.martinez@cocospa.org
925-235-1130 EXT: 108 or EXT 142
Mr. Terrell Harris
Technical Theater Arts
terrell.harris@cocospa.org
925-235-1130 EXT 109
THE ARTIST SCHOLAR CREDOAs an artist-scholar at SPA:
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I humble myself by entering each space with the mind of the beginner.
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I believe that talent is not a substitute for training.
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I understand that disappointment and discomfort can lead towards mastery and self-discovery.
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I commit myself to the creation of meaningful, shared experiences.
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I am always auditioning.
Theater Pathway
Program Overview
Theater
Department
Grade/Level
Course
Description
All Arts
6th
Intro to Middle School Performing Arts
TBA
Theater
7 & 8th
Tools of an Actor
In this course, artist-scholars will be introduced to theater terminology, a brief overview of theater history, theater games connecting voice, body, and imagination, improvisation, narrative versus dialogue, resume and headshot design, and expectation of the audition. The materials chosen reflect writers of color, the voices of women, and narratives that reflect community engagement. Through theater, the artist-scholars will expand their capacity for empathy and gain a deeper understanding of their place in their community.
Theater
7th & 8th
Deepening the Ensemble
In this course, artist-scholars will continue refining their actor’s inner resources, further developing the actor’s performance techniques and text analysis skills. Artist-scholars will start deeply developing their tablework, rehearsal, and memorization skills. Artist-scholars will continue strengthening audition/performance technique, basic elements of play structure, basic elements of technical theater (set design, costume design, make-up design). This education will be facilitated through the productions all year. Artist-scholars will also write their own 10-15 minute plays to be performed and produced in a series during their second semester.
Theater
9th-12th
Acting Studio 1: Developing a Character
In this course, artist-scholars will begin refining their actor’s inner resources, developing the actor’s performance techniques, and text analysis skills. Artist-scholars will start developing their tablework, rehearsal, and memorization skills. Artist-scholars will also strengthen audition/performance technique, basic elements of play structure, and basic elements of technical theater (set design, costume design, make-up design). Artist-scholars will learn how to use their voices, bodies, and imagination to create socially relevant theater. This education will be facilitated through the production of play.
Theater
9th-12th
Theatre History
Artist-scholars will investigate the history and development of theater as a contemporary practice by studying the cultural, political, and social conditions in which dramatic literature was produced in Europe, Africa, Latin-America, China, and Japan from antiquity to the 18th century. They will also investigate how the roles of actors, directors, designers, and playwrights shifted with and/or drove the development of theater as a contemporary form. Each unit will feature one reflection writing and a performative project. The reflection writing will aim to connect classic dramatic literature to contemporary artist-scholar experiences while the performative projects will aim to give artist-scholars direct experience with the style and form of a given theatrical practice.
Theater
9th-12th
Acting Studio 2: Acting the Classics
In this course, artist-scholars will continue refining their actor’s inner resources, further developing the actor’s performance techniques and text analysis skills. Artist-scholars will also learn how to execute successful tablework and build their memorization skills of heightened language. They will also learn to both performative the poetry, style, and form of classical texts, as well as deconstruct those forms through contemporary and postmodern theatrical practices. This education will be facilitated through the marketing, production, and performance of a canonically- defined “classics” or re-imaging of a faculty selected classics.
Theater
9th-12th
Monologue Portfolio
Artist-scholars will continue refining their actor’s inner resources, further developing their acting techniques and text analysis skills. Artist-scholars will expand their knowledge of Stanislavski’s script analysis technique to find their character’s objective, moment before, invisible other, and active verbs throughout their monologues. They will also learn how to craft an audition packet that will showcase their talents to the theater community. The class will begin with Seniors writing and performing their own monologues. These pieces will be a part of a 30 page play they will create as an ensemble.
Theater
9th-12th
Acting Studio 4: Chance
In this course, artist-scholars will continue refining their actor’s inner resources, further developing the actor’s performance techniques and text analysis skills. Artist-scholars will dive into the practice of democratizing the theatrical form, with the idea that all artists, inclusive of designers, are participating in an equitable practice of failure and success. Each student will be responsible for learning multiple characters of multiple mini-plays, as well as deepening their playwriting skills.
Theater
9th-12th
Directing and Dramaturgy
Artist-scholars will continue refining their actor’s inner resources, further developing their director’s techniques and text analysis skills. Artist-scholars will use Stanislavski’s script analysis technique to lead the 8th grade ensemble through monologues, original works, and one act plays. Artist-scholars will learn the process of scene deconstruction and of mapping character trajectory through a specific dramatic text. Artist-scholars will also learn how to execute successful tablework rehearsals with their actors. They will lead warm ups and take assistant director and stage manager duties throughout the year.
Theater
9th-12th
Performance Lab
In this course, artist-scholars will refine their performance portfolio by deepening their skill-sets as they produce a production. This course prepares students to craft and facilitate faculty vision, and will support students as they begin to develop their own voice and style as performers.
Events
Calendar
Calendar & Category Legend:
- Arts & Production