Three Important Facts About Theatre Classes

1. What are the qualifications of the instructor?
Most public schools off some sort of theatrical event, be it in the form of a school play, school musical presentation, actual theatre classes or they may invite a professional touring company to do workshops with the students. Some of these classes are taught by trained theatre instructors, but most are taught by teachers whose expertise is in another area, most commonly English or Literature. At Academy of the Performing Arts, our teachers are professionally and university trained in theatre. They know how to teach and when to teach the intricate nuances of theatre technique and theory. Our teachers maintain their education by attending shows and workshops all over the nation, thus incorporating new materials and methods. Theatre is what they love and all they have to concentrate on.

2. What is the structure of the program?
The most common misconception about theatre is that the only real effort is learning the lines. Anyone who has ever seen a great performance in a movie or play can see that this is not true. Acting is a discipline; relying on heightened creativity, complete physical awareness of oneself and the surrounding environment, and a willingness to play. Because of this, we structure our theatre program with much detail and care. Our theatre classes meet once a week for 45 minutes to 1½ hours, depending on the age and level of the student. For the first month, each class focuses on theatre terminology, creativity, voice, stage presence, movement, improvisation, and other key theatre elements. After the first month, parts are assigned that best reflect the students’ progress in the class and display of willingness to work. Students are then responsible for learning their lines by the assigned date as well as attending the weekly classes. The shows performed each year are specifically chosen to compliment and display the techniques learned in class. We do not just teach our students to do a show. We teach them theatre.

3. What’s the difference between doing a large school or community show and doing a private show?
The main concern in most theatre productions is either having enough actors to fill the written parts or having more actors arrive at auditions than are written into the script. In the first instance, students can be placed in parts that are too advanced for their level of growth, thus causing frustration and a lack of confidence. In larger cast productions, young actors often find themselves put into groups that split a single part, giving them no individuality within the show. Our class sizes are limited and the shows are tailored to the number of students involved, ensuring personal attention and student growth. Our small ensemble environment enables each actor to experience an individual role and the techniques involved in developing his or her own character.

Most importantly, theatre is about creativity and fun. At Academy of the Performing Arts, we strive to provide each student with the skills they need to enjoy theatre for a lifetime.