CANYON HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
THEATRE DEPARTMENT
VAPA PATHWAY
At Canyon Hills High School, the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Department is dedicated to providing the highest quality Arts focused education. Whether a student shows an interest in Theatre, Music, or Visual Art, the Faculty at Cayon Hills High wants to encourage and develop that interest. To that end, we are developing curricula that allows a student to take classes in their art field for all four years if that is their desire. These classes are intended to build upon each other in order to challenge students at all levels and to properly prepare students for college and beyond.
THE THEATRE PATHWAYS
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The Theatre Department at Canyon Hills High School has two sub-divisions in it's VAPA Pathway.
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Students can choose between the THEATRE PATHWAY and the TECHNICAL THEATRE PATHWAY.
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We encourage students to focus on one of the two pathways, but we also care about the students' interests, so it is possible to take classes from either (or both) pathways, provided the prerequisite class has been taken and passed.
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We are also working on getting a musical theatre class up and running. More information on how that affects the pathway will be provided as we develop the program.
THEATRE
PATHWAY
THEATRE 1-2
THEATRE 3-4
THEATRE 5-6
THEATRE 7-8
TECHNICAL THEATRE
PATHWAY
TECHNICAL
THEATRE 1-2
TECHNICAL
THEATRE 3-4
THEATRICAL
MANAGEMENT &
DESIGN
Students who manage to complete either pathway in its entirety are eligible for a special VAPA cord to wear at graduation.
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All classes provide F credit for college preparation except Theatrical Management & Design (which is a G credit).
THEATRE 1-2
The first year’s instruction in theatre is directed primarily toward acquiring performance and language skills through acting, reading, speaking, listening, writing, and body control. The student will observe and evaluate elements of production and identify the significance of dramatics in the media and the workplace.
THEATRE 3-4
The second year’s instruction in theatre emphasizes the practical application of dramatic theory and relates dramatic expression to cultural development by involving students in a variety of production techniques, including analysis and stagecraft. Research and performance of scenes with historical and/or cultural contexts are covered.
THEATRE 5-6
The third year’s instruction in theatre is directed primarily toward play production, critical analysis, and original dramatic writing. Coursework provides a realistic balance between concepts and performance.
THEATRE 7-8
The fourth year’s instruction in theatre is directed toward leadership and career development in theatre arts. This course will expand the student’s capacity to write, direct, and produce complex characters, scenes, and plays. Development of advanced entry-level competencies for careers in theatre are explored.
THEATRE CLASSES
All theatre classes have certain things in common. Each year, students will explore various aspects of the production team and theatrical history. In all cases students are expected to perform monologues and scenes based on skill level.
TECHNICAL THEATRE 1-2
Students learn the core mechanics of the different technical theatre fields (Costumes, Lights, Sound, and Scenery) while exploring all the tools and techniques involved in the various fields. Students learn how to read and produce technical schematics appropriate to the different fields, and they learn how to implement the plans and designs of others.
TECHNICAL THEATRE 3-4
Students continue to explore the production aspects of theatre by adopting crew chief and other leadership positions. Students demonstrate increased skill and craftsmanship in the various fields of technical theatre. Students create technical drawings for implementation in productions and explore the duties and career opportunities available because of this discipline.
THEATRICAL
MANAGEMENT & DESIGN
Students explore technical theatre through the lens of designers and production managers. Students delve deeply into stage managment and each of the design fields. Students learn detailed analytical skills and the artistic skills (like drafting and rendering) required to pursue a career in the design (as opposed to production) world of theatre.
TECHNICAL THEATRE CLASSES
Theatre Class Sylabi for 2020-2021
The technical theatre pathway is a college and career oriented pathway that prepares students for the production aspects of theatrical production. This program explores the production and design of costumes, lighting, scenery, and sound for theatre. Students in all classes use tools, techniques, and technology to support and implement their own and other artists' designs.
So, why should I take more than one of these classes?
Fair question.
The truth is that theatre is a dynamic, living art. Every single day you participate, you learn something new about how people feel and think. More than that, you learn vital communication tools that are not fully explored in other classes. Technical theatre classes provide immediately applicable skills that can be used in a variety of work environments. Both pathways take the social issues from humanities classes and combine them with the analytical skills honed in english and science classes in order to tell stories that change lives. The technical theatre classes go even further, adding physics, chemistry, trigonometry, and geometry in almost everything we do. Basically, theatre APPLIES everything a student should be learning in their core classes.
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But these are not skills that just happen. Just like everything in life that really matters, Theatre requires focus, discipline, and practice. The payoff is that every theatre class you take makes you more proficient and more skilled.
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Besides. It's a lot of fun.