Drama

"The study of Dramatic Arts provides students with an opportunity to take on roles, to create and enter into imagined roles, and to learn in a unique way about themselves, the art of drama and the world around them. Drama is a social form. Creating, presenting, and analyzing drama is a collective experience. By communicating in both real and imaginary situations, students develop proficiency in listening, speaking, writing, questioning, and negotiating. Through the process of stepping into the shoes of another, students develop and express empathy. Through analysis of dramatic works, they become aware of universal aspects of human experience."
Courses

Dramatic Arts Grade 9, Open Credit (ADA1O)
This course emphasizes the active exploration of dramatic forms and techniques, using material from a wide range of authors, genres, and cultures. Students will construct, discuss, perform, and analyze drama, and then reflect on the experiences to develop an understanding of themselves, the art form, and the world around them.
Prerequisite: None

Dramatic Arts Grade 10, Open Credit (ADA2O)
This course requires students to actively explore dramatic forms and techniques, using their own ideas and concerns as well as sources selected from a wide range of authors, genres, and cultures. Student learning will include identifying and using the principles of space, time, voice, and movement in creating, sustaining, and communicating authentic roles within a drama. Students will assume responsibility for decisions made in the creation and presentation of the drama, and will analyze and reflect on the experience.
Prerequisite: None

Production Course Grade 11, Open Credit (ADA3O)
This course requires students to create and to present dramatic works. Students will do research on and study types of contemporary theatre as docudrama and forum theatre. They will interpret and present works in a variety of dramatic forms; create and script original works;analyse and reflect on dramatic works; and develop their communication skills and other skills useful in a variety of careers.
Prerequisite: Dramatic Arts, Grade 9 or 10, Open

Production Course Grade 12, Open Credit (ADA4O)
This course requires students to to create and present a variety of dramatic works. Students will present works by Canadian and other playwrights, and develop original material based on personal narratives, local community issues, or global concerns. They will have hands-on experiences with various aspects of dramatic arts productions, including performance, set design, lighting, costumes, stage and technical management, and marketing. Students will also explore possibe careers related to dramatic arts.
Prerequisite: Production Course Grade 11, University/College Preparation or Open

Performances and Productions

A Woman of No Importance 2008
A Woman of No Importance was one of Oscar Wilde's earliest plays and is a comedy of upper class society. It begins in Lady Hunstanton's house where she is holding a party for all her friends and guests. Gerald runs in and tells her his good news, Lord Illingworth has given him a job offer. This is grand news so Lady Hunstanton sends a letter to his mother, Mrs. Arbuthnot, to tell her the good news. While the guests wait, Gerald and Hester, an American visitor fall in love. When Mrs. Arbuthnot arrives, she realizes that the man, Lord Illingworth, who offered to take Gerald as his secretatry, is actually the man with whom she had an affair with. The story unfolds as Lord Illingworth and Mrs. Arbuthnot fight over Gerald.

7 Stories 2006
7 Stories, written by Morris Panych's is about a man who wakes up one day and decides that he is going to jump off his apartment building ledge and hopefully commit suicide. After stepping onto the ledge, the man meets many people in the building who tell their stories to him. Each window has a new story and new advice to give the man as to why or why not life is worth living.

Brighton Beach Memoirs 2002
Brighton Beach Memoirs was written by Neil Simon. The play takes place before World War 2 with Eugene, a young Jewish boy recalling his memories of a teenager living with his parents, aunt, two cousins, and older brother, Stanley. Eugene looks up to and admires Stanley. The memories go through his puberty years and shows how he went through that stage in his life and how the family struggled with poverty in a crowded house.