Creative Drama & Acting

Classes at Imagination Stage progress through two related, but different genres: Creative Drama and Acting. While they share foundational skills, their shape, scope and goals are different.

From Kindergarten through grade 3, students work within the world of Creative Drama, a nonperformance, process-centered medium, in which dramatic activities (as well as music and visual art) are used to foster personal growth and teamwork. Classes encourage students to create and share through structured, active, open-ended, physical and vocal exploration.

Classes for grades 4 through 12 continue to work on the creative process, but begin to focus on acting and the actor’s tools: body, voice, mind and imagination. Training evolves into the specific process of approaching both the rehearsal and performance experience through the acquisition and application of high-level technique.

FALL COURSE OFFERINGS

Please note: All listed classes are available for registration EXCEPT for those noted as "Full" or "Closed". Website information is updated every day, at least once.

Grades K–1
Creative Drama
Students use their bodies, voices, minds and imaginations to explore both classic and contemporary stories. Classes encourage creative expression and promote confidence and self-esteem while working on skills such as active listening and sharing. Connections to stories are made through dramatic play, music, movement and visual art.  Most classes use a theme to focus student learning.

Create a Story
Students explore the structure of dramatic stories by using familiar folktales and fairytales as the basis for building new stories. They bring the stories to life using the actor’s tools of the body, voice, mind and imagination. Students learn to improvise, gain an understanding of character and environment as well as develop personal confidence and the ability to work in a group.

Drama & Music
Creative dramatics and music activities are integrated in this fusion class. Students develop expressiveness, awareness, coordination, rhythm, flexibility and balance through an active exploration of stories and songs blended with movement and visual art.

Grades 2–3
Mystery Theatre
A fun opportunity to explore acting and the mystery genre! Students learn about the actor’s tools, dramatic structures, character creation and teamwork to devise mysterious characters and scenes through improvisation and theatre games. In the spring semester, students are encouraged to join the continuation class.

Create a Character
In this challenging class, students work on developing characters within the context of a familiar story. Students are encouraged to make physical and vocal choices, to develop simple character biographies and are introduced to the concept of character motivation while learning to work in an ensemble, communicate ideas and take direction. In the spring semester, students are encouraged to join the continuation class.

Grades 4–5
FUNdamentals of Acting
This fun skill-based class is designed to introduce young actors to a technique for creating sustainable and believable characters for the stage. The class focuses on building ensemble, listening skills and creativity using basic text work.

Acting Intermediate
This class introduces students to concepts of acting for the stage, such as dramatic action, given circumstances and text analysis. Students explore guided improvisations, group exercises and open scenes, while creating truthful moments, specific character choices and learning to work as an ensemble. (Previous experience required)

Improvisation
This class introduces students to a style of acting that encourages spontaneous character and conflict choices. Students work with theatre games and short form scenes which address important theatre skills such as listening, clarity, confidence, timing and teamwork to develop intuitve and exciting performers.

TEENS

FUNdamentals of Acting
This fun skill-based class is designed to introduce young actors to a technique for creating sustainable and believable characters for the stage. The class focuses on building ensemble, listening skills and creativity using basic text work.

Acting
This class introduces teens to sophisticated concepts of acting for the stage, such as dramatic action, given circumstances and text analysis. Students explore guided improvisations, group exercises and open scenes, while creating truthful moments, specific character choices and learning to work as an ensemble.

Improvisation
This class introduces students to a style of acting that encourages spontaneous character and conflict choices. Students work with theatre games and short form scenes which address important theatre skills such as listening, clarity, confidence, timing and teamwork to develop intuitve and exciting performers

Shakespeare Project
(by permission) This class is a two-semester commitment. Students will be working on an abridged version of The Tempest for an April performance. In the fall semester, students focus on the classical style of acting and the exploration of the characters, emphasizing vocal and physical clarity and strength.  Students explore the elements of Shakespeare’s texts, such as verse, meter and poetic devices while refining the actor’s process through acting exercises, text analysis and scene-work. In the spring, students will work specifically on creating a performance piece of The Tempest to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday. Registration requires permission of the mentor.

Teen Improv. Troupe
This class takes students on an exploration of character creation, storytelling and the nature of ensemble work, all while honing a rapier-like wit. Students work on developing listening skills, spontaneity and creativity which they then unleash on an unsuspecting audience.

Online Registration for fall 2008 begins June 15

Questions?
Contact your mentor:

Grades K-1
Julie Schroeder
301.280.1638
jschroeder@imaginationstage.org
Grades 2–3
Madeleine Burke
301.280.1642
mburke@imaginationstage.org
Grades 4–5
Nikki Kaplan
301.280.1624
nkaplan@imaginationstage.org
Grades 6–8
David Markey
301.280.1646
dmarkey@imaginationstage.org
Grades 9–12
Madeleine Burke
301.280.1642
mburke@imaginationstage.org

Imagination Stage
Students learn:
Grades K–3:

• Communication Skills
• Social Skills
• Active Listening
  Rhythm
• Melody
• Problem Solving Skills
• Confidence
• Empathy

Grades 4–5:

• Motivation
• Acting Technique
• Appreciation of History
  and Culture
• Concentration
• Confidence

Teens:

• Acting
• Stage technique
• Articulation of Feelings
  and Ideas
• Relaxation
• Concentration