Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts

Theatre

Instruction for Tennessee’s Young Thespians

The Theatre program provides an intensive and stimulating learning environment for performers and designers (yes, designers are back)! Our philosophy is simple — to supply an opportunity for the students to learn and grow as artists and individuals. Our program provides dedicated and focused training in theatrical studies, with an emphasis on the process of creating live theatre. Students are given every opportunity to explore, to question, and to take risks. The Theatre Program is a safe place where there are no wrong answers and no stupid questions. It is an environment fostering open communication and the exchange of knowledge and ideas. The mission of the Theatre Program is to instill in every student the respect and understanding of the theatrical process as it leads to a culminating theatrical performance. The student cultivates the knowledge, skills, and creative opportunities to realize their own potential and grow as an individual, an artist, and a craftsman.

Theatre Curriculum

Theatre students focus their studies on aspects of performance and design. Performance students will experience conservatory style courses that will include a variety of offerings such as Acting for the Stage, Musical Theatre, Devising, Shakespeare, Stage Combat, Acting for the Camera, Vocal Training, and Improvisation. Design students will participate in Scenic, Lighting and Costume design courses in addition to receiving hands on experience in each area. All students must demonstrate a willingness to participate and learn in all aspects of theatre.

Goals

The Theatre Arts discipline embodies four fundamental goals and component knowledge, processes, and skills which this Tennessee framework comprises. The goals are to enable the learner to:

Develop means of expression for the individual through the use of drama/theatre experiences
1. Sensory perception b. Emotional expression c. Imagination d. Movement e. Language f. Voice g. Artistic discipline h. Concentration i. Self-concept
Create drama/theatre through individual effort, group interaction, and artistic collaboration
1. Ensemble and interpersonal skills b. Problem solving c. Improvisation d. Acting e. Directing f. Playmaking and Playwriting g. Technical elements h. Theatre management
Experience drama/theatre in its multicultural, social, and historical contexts
1. Dramatic literature b. Theatre history and heritage c. Drama/Theatre in a multicultural society d. Roles and careers
Form aesthetic judgments of drama/theatre experiences
1. Elements of drama b. Audience c. Theatre and other arts d. Aesthetic response