Theatre Arts III/IV

2016-2017
North Mesquite High School
E-1
Mrs. Collins

Instructor:
Room:
Phone:
Email:
Remind:
Website:

Mrs. Lauren Collins

EI
972-882-7900 Ext: 7954
lcollins3@mesquiteisd.org
Text @067704 to 81010 or 972-362-2083
www.mrscollinstheatreclassroom.weebly.com

Welcome to the North Mesquite High School Theatre Department!

Philosophy:
Theatre is concerned with the communication of human issues. Its purpose is to teach students to
cope with the complexities of human relationships in modern society, communicate with others in a
meaningful way, understand the demands of specific productions, and critically evaluate dramatic
performances. Students should examine theatre as a part of daily life, as a way of enhancing
knowledge and skills, and as a means of expression. All students will benefit from ongoing
educational theatre experiences.
The Theatre III/IV curriculum expects every student enrolled in the class to ACTIVELY
PARTICIPATE in all shows. In addition to various group, individual, and performance activities,
students will complete a comprehensive project or test each semester.
This course provides practical production experience and includes a wide variety of exercises that
promote growth in the following areas: listening skills, critical thinking abilities, research
techniques, and performance and delivery skills.
Classroom Goals:
As a group our goals are to:
Encourage Creativity
Respect Others and Ourselves
Praise Effort
Listen Carefully
Work with Purpose
Excellence Always
Our goals are designed to help each class member be aware that our response to a
students performance determines our success as a class.

Course Objectives:
I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

The student develops concepts about self, human relationships, and the environment, using
conventions of theatre. The student is expected to:
practice warm-up techniques;
employ stage movement and pantomime consistently;
demonstrate safe & effective voice and diction;
analyze dramatic structure and genre;
The student interprets characters, using the voice and body expressively, and creates
dramatizations. The student is expected to:
analyze characters describing physical, intellectual, emotional, and social dimensions;
create and sustain believable characters;
improvise and write dialogue that reveals character motivation in short vignettes.
The student applies design, directing, and theatre production concepts and skills. The student is
expected to:
construct and operate the technical elements of theatre safely and effectively;
consider script selection, casting, and directing skills;
define the director's responsibility to the author's intent, script, actors, designers, technicians, and
the audience;
cast and direct small scenes or one-act plays
select one or more areas of theatre production, demonstrating responsibility, artistic discipline, and
creative problem solving.
The student relates theatre to history, society, and culture. The student is expected to:
analyze historical and cultural influences on theatre; and
define the influence of American society on live theatre and film.
The student responds to and evaluates theatre and theatrical performances. The student is
expected to:
judge and apply appropriate audience behavior at various types of performances;
evaluate emotional responses to and personal preferences for dramatic performances,
identify the treatment of theme, character, setting, and action in theatre
select career and vocational opportunities in theatre and film and explore the training, skills, selfdiscipline, and artistic discipline needed to pursue them.

Supplies:
1. A Composition Notebook
2. Theatre Polo May be purchased through Mrs. Collins for $16.50 Not Required
3. Blue or black pen or pencil
4. Various Art Supplies for projects as needed
Classroom Rules:
RESPECT whoever has the stage
Full attention should be given to whomever has the stage, whether student or teacher.
Be PROMPT
Be in your assigned seat, not walking in, when the bell rings.
Be POLITE
Raise your hand to speak, respect others and their property, and clean up after yourself.

Be PREPARED
Bring all materials every day.
Be PRODUCTIVE
Remain on task at all times.
In the event that disciplinary action is necessary the following procedure(s) will be followed:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Verbal or visual warning

Teacher/Student conference and Parent Contact
Teacher Detention and Parent Contact
Disciplinary referral to office

Grading Policy:
Grading for Theatre is structured so that students who participate fully in classroom activities and complete
all assignments should receive a grade of A or B. Students will earn grades for class participation, quizzes,
tests, projects, class work, and performances. Students are expected to make up work missed for any
reason and may be assigned detention to complete assignments. Performances will be graded as a test.
Your performances will be graded based on quality of performance, effect, and audience participation.

Tests, Performances, Major Projects

50%

Participation and Daily Grades

30%

Six Weeks Test

20%

Extra Credit:
Extra Credit will be issued to theatre students who are actively involved in a NMHS production. Extra Credit
can also be obtained by seeing an outside production at another theatre in the Dallas area. Students will
write a reflection over the production and are required to turn in a program and ticket stub for verification.

Tardies:
The North Mesquite High School tardy policy is followed in this classroom. If a student is more than 10
minutes late, they receive an automatic referral per NMHS Tardy Policy and be counted as absent for the
class period.

Attitude:
Theatre is a collaborative art and requires that individuals work together and support each other. Theatre
students will be working in groups and in pairs for many assignments so getting along with everyone is very
important! A positive attitude plays a critical role in how each student learns and in his/her contribution to
the success of the entire class.

I look forward to working with each of you throughout this school year! Please feel free to
contact me if I can be of any help or if you have any questions!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to another exciting year at North Mesquite High School! Thank you for taking the time to read the
requirements for your student involved in Theatre III/IV.
This is going to be an exciting year for the students and myself! We are already hard at work preparing for the
productions this school year! We will produce a Fall Show, Winter Showcase, Musical, UIL One-Act Play, Senior
Directed Festival, and several class projects and performances. Keep in mind that participation in the Winter
Showcase and the Senior Directed Festival is an absolute requirement of this class. We always appreciate parent
support. If you would like to help, please contact me for more information.
I know this year will be a great success! I look forward to meeting you and working with your child this year! I hope
you will bring your families out and support the great work we do here at North Mesquite! Please feel free to contact
me anytime should you have any questions or concerns!
Sincerely,

Mrs. Lauren Collins

lcollins3@mesquiteisd.org
972-882-7900 Ext: 7954

I have read the North Mesquite High School Theatre Handbook and understand
I am responsible for maintaining these expectations.
STUDENT NAME (Printed): _________________________________________
PARENT SIGNATURE: ____________________________________________
DATE: __________________

INSTRUCTOR INITIAL: _____________