Theatre 1
(Introduction to theatre)
Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Today!
Work on the performance aspect of your monologue / scene - do you have a character? Who is your character?
Bellwork:
Watch the video
How well do you know your character? Describe your character.
How can you project your character to help the audience understand him or her?
Friday, 16 January 2026
Today!
Find your monologue or Duet - from the textbook…
Read your monologue to the class - from the stage.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
How well do you have your Monologue Memorized?
For the Exam - it does not need to be perfect - but you should do your best .
Thursday, 15 January 2026
Today!
Find your monologue or Duet - from the textbook…
Bellwork:
Watch the video
How much work does it take to be a vocally proficient actor?
Do you need to train / work your voice if you are not singing in a show?
How important is your voice as an actor?
Wednesday, 14 January 2026
Today!
Find your monologue or Duet - from the textbook…
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Can you be heard?
What is projection?
What is articulation?
Do you need to do both?
Can you add emotion while projecting?
Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Today!
Work on your monologue / scene.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Compare the movie to the staged musical…
What are your take-aways… Which did you feel had stronger performances? Which would you prefer to see? Why? Are movies better than live theatre?
Monday, 12 January 2026
Today!
Find your monologue or Duet - from the textbook… Start working on memorizing those lines!
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Take notes on how to memorize a monologue… this also works for dialogue… basically, it is memorizing things…
Friday, 09 January 2026
Today!
Find your monologue or Duet - from the textbook…
Bellwork:
Watch the video
What are your thoughts on this play? How is pantomime used?
Thursday, 08 January 2026
Today!
More methos acting.
Discuss How to be a ready actor.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
What can you take away from this?
Does this change the way you think about acting? Explain…
Wednesday, 07 January 2026
Today!
More Cold Reading - developing and showing characters that work - making choices.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Would you rather be the lead in a musical or in the ensemble?
Why?
What are your thoughts on these ensembles?
Tuesday, 06 January 2026
Today!
Reading of the script - cold readings.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
What is Method Acting?
What are your thoughts on this style of character work?
Monday, 05 January 2026
Today: Auditions! What directors look for in an actor and how to do cold readings.
Journals DUE today
Bellwork:
Watch the video
The Music Man tells the story of a con artist Harold Hill…
Q: Is this a show you would like to see? Why or why not?
Friday, 19 December, 2025
Today!
Create your puppets - using shadow puppets to tell your story. We are going to the Gym to work…
Happy Holidays
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Dance Dance Dance
Thursday, 18 December, 2025
Today!
Day 4 – Sharing & Reflection
✔ Perform a script read or simple puppet presentation ✔ Watch other groups respectfully ✔ Complete a written reflection
Bellwork:
Watch the video
How do you make a shadow puppet?
Let’s work on drawing out the characters we need for our shadow puppet theatre.
Wednesday, 17 December, 2025
Today!
Day 3 – Read-Through & Revision
✔ Read your script aloud as a group ✔ Revise confusing or long sections ✔ Finalize your script and assign roles
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Q: What are some similarities and differences between Theatre and Movies? Did you enjoy this clip? Why?
Tuesday, 16 December, 2025
Today!
Day 2 – Script Writing
✔ Write a rough draft of your script ✔ Focus on clear dialogue and strong character voices ✔ Make sure your story has a beginning, middle, and end.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Being familiar with the parts of the stage is vital as an actor or a techie.
Q: From watching the video, what did you learn about the anatomy of the stage?
Monday, 15 December, 2025
Today!
Day 1 – Brainstorming & Story Planning
✔ Learn about puppetry and storytelling ✔ Decide on characters, setting, and problem ✔ Complete a story outline
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Singin’ in the Rain offers a lighthearted depiction of Hollywood in the late 1920s, with the three stars portraying performers caught up in the transition from silent films to "talkies".
Q: Is this a show you would like to see? Why or why not?
Friday, 12 December, 2025
Today!
Finish reading scenes.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Dance Break. Allowing yourself a dance break greatly increases your chances of happiness.
What are your thoughts on dance breaks? Have you ever felt lie randomly dancing?
Thursday, 11 December, 2025
Today!
Are you finished with your Duet scene? If so - we will read them. Then - Chapter 6…
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Improv Everywhere: Best Buy Uniform Prank Q: What did you think of this performance?
Wednesday, 10 December, 2025
Today!
Substitute - work on duet scenes.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
n/a
Tuesday, 09 December, 2025
Today!
Write a scene about 2 characters trying to make a change - the scene can take place any where - but we should be able to understand the setting based on the dialogue.
The entire scene should last 2-3 minutes.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Hairspray tells the story of teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues stardom as a dancer on a local television dance show and rallies against racial segregation.
Q: Is this a show you would like to see? Why or why not?
Monday, 08 December, 2025
Today!
Finish Chapter 5 - Acting.
Complete questions on Page 157. “Recalling Ideas” 1-11.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Julie Andrews:
-Appearances:The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, The Princess Diaries
What do you think of this performance?
What were your thoughts on the Shakespeare play?
Friday, 05 December, 2025
Today!
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Shakespeare in the Schools
Richard III
Thursday, 04 December, 2025
Today!
Chapter 5 - through page 134
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Improv Everywhere: The Mute Button Q: What did you think of this performance?
Wednesday, 03 December, 2025
Today!
Improvisation -
And finish up Chapter 5.
Discuss Richard III - and how to be an audience member.
Bellwork:
Improv Example: Numbers Game
Q: What did you think of this performance?
Tuesday, 02 December, 2025
Today!
Continue Chapter 5. p92-117
Bellwork:
Watch the video
House managers are vital for making sure that audiences have a great experience at the theatre!
Q: From watching the video, what did you learn about being a house manager for theatre?
Monday, 01 December, 2025
Today!
Chapter 5 -
Bellwork:
Watch the video
-Appearances: Dear Evan Hansen, Pitch Perfect
Q: What did you think of his performance?
Ben Platt
Tuesday, 25 November, 2025
Today!
Improvisation / Theatre exercises.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying tells the story of young, ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch, who, with the help of the book How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, rises from window washer to chairman of the board of the World Wide Wicket Company.
Q: Is this a show you would like to see? Why or why not?
Monday, 24 November, 2025
Today!
Bellwork:
Watch the video
-Appearances: Wicked, Frozen, Rent
Q: What did you think of her performance?
Friday, 21 November, 2025
Today!
Read Chapter 4. Voice and Diction.
Pages 59 - 91
Write down key terms (Vocabulary) - and the definitions.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Friday, 21 November, 2025
Today!
Read Chapter 4. Voice and Diction.
Pages 59 - 91
Write down key terms (Vocabulary) - and the definitions.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Just Dance is great choreography practice because it gets you moving, helps you learn choreography quickly, and helps you learn by watching!
What are your thoughts on trying to dance in front of others? How is this different than acting in front of others?
Thursday, 20 November, 2025
Today!
Read Script - with character.
Make it real. Make it big.
Speak with intention…
Bellwork:
Watch the video
It has long been debated whether or not William Shakespeare actually wrote his famous plays…
Q: Do you think Shakespeare actually wrote his plays?
Wednesday, 19 November, 2025
Today!
Read Script - with character.
Make it real. Make it big.
Speak with intention…
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Projections in theatre are used in multiple ways: helping with lighting effects, projecting scenery, and creating special effects. Projection effects can be subtle or spell-binding, adding texture and depth to the show.
Q: From watching the video, what did you learn about being a projection designer for theatre?
Tuesday, 18 November, 2025
Today!
Read Chapter 4. Voice and Diction.
Pages 59 - 91
Write down key terms (Vocabulary) - and the definitions.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Light and sound board operators are crucial to making sure that actors are heard and seen from the audience.
Q: From watching the video, what did you learn about being a board operator for theatre?
Monday, 17 November, 2025
Today!
Read Chapter 4. Voice and Diction.
Pages 59 - 91
Write down key terms (Vocabulary) - and the definitions.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Moving in from Chicago, newcomer Ren McCormack is in shock when he discovers the small Midwestern town he now calls home has made dancing and rock music illegal!
Q: Is this a show you would like to see? Why or why not?
Friday, 14 November, 2025
Today!
Read your scene again. Who are these characters? Can you describe the characters based on the scenes?
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Dance Friday - Just Dance
Thursday, 13 November, 2025
Today!
Discuss Chapter 1.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
What are some differences between stage acting and film / TV acting?
Wednesday, 12 November, 2025
Today!
Finish reading play… (monologue show)
Bellwork:
Watch the video
What are your thoughts on the performance? What would you do differently?
Tuesday, 11 November, 2025
Today!
Finish Reading Script… discuss character
Bellwork:
Watch the video
-Appearances: Shrek the Musical, Hamilton, Something Rotten, Into the Woods
Q: What did you think of his performance?
Monday, 10 November, 2025
Today!
It’s time for a little improvisation - remember… focused energy over silliness.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Annie tells the story of a little girl that lives in a horrible orphanage in New York City, but is asked to come live with bazillionaire Mr. Warbucks!
Q: If you created a sequel to Annie, what would the plot entail?
Friday, 7 November, 2025
Today!
IT’s time for a little improvisation - remember… focused energy over silliness.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Just Dance
How does movement help actors better prepare for acting?
Thursday, 6 November, 2025
Today!
Opening Night - The Game’s Afoot!!! 6:30PM
$5 or 3 cans of food.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Wednesday, 5 November, 2025
Today!
Finish reading A Simple Task - discuss characters.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
What are your thoughts on the characters created in the scene? Are they believable?
Tuesday, 4 November, 2025
Today!
Read Script - A Simple Task
Bellwork:
Watch the video
-Appearances: Shrek the Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Music Man, Little Women, & The Drowsy Chaperone.
Monday, 3 November, 2025
Today!
Welcome to Quarter 2. How did you do quarter 1? What are your plans for quarter 2?
Let’s find a duet scene / a scene between 2 people - that is atleast two pages long.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Tennessee Williams was an American playwright. His best known plays are The Glass Menagerie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Night of the Iguana, and A Streetcar Named Desire, which is thought by many to be one of the finest American plays of the 20th century.
Q: If you were writing a play, what would you start with first? Characters, story, setting, etc.?
Friday, 31 October, 2025
Today!
Improvisation.
This is a ______! A What?
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Did this video help you learn some new (or old) dance moves?
Thursday, 30 October, 2025
Today!
Paint a wall? Maybe -
Bellwork:
Watch the video
What are some techniques you learned - and how can you use these techniques to paint beyond the theatre?
Wednesday, 29 October, 2025
Today!
Did you find a monologue yesterday? Keep searching…
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Set design is an important part of theatre. One of the few Tony awards NOT won by Hamilton in 2016 was set design. That award went to the amazing set design for the musical She Loves Me. Taking place in 1930s Budapest, the set is an amazing dream-like art deco explosion with amazing automation.
Q: What kinds of details did you see on the She Loves Me set?
Tuesday, 28 October, 2025
Today!
Read more scripts - find ONE monologue that would be interesting to share. You will need to be able to describe the character.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
-Maria in The Sound of Music
-Christine in Phantom of the Opera
-Fairy Godmother in Cinderella
-- Marian in The Music Man
Q: What did you enjoy most about her performance?
Monday, 27 October, 2025
Today!
Let’s take some time looking for monologues…
Bellwork:
Watch the video
What did you learn about monologues?
Friday, 24 October, 2025
Today!
Script Reading continues. Find - and read out loud, a monologue that is interesting to you.
How do we develop character?
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Just Dance is great choreography practice because it gets you moving, helps you learn choreography quickly, and helps you learn by watching!
Thursday, 23 October, 2025
Today!
Script Reading continues. Find - and read out loud, a monologue that is interesting to you.
How do we develop character?
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Did you know… many actors got their start on Broadway… or worked to get there. Any surprises?
Write about something that was interesting - or that you did not know about the video.
Wednesday, 22 October, 2025
Today!
Script Reading continues. Find - and read out loud, a monologue that is interesting to you.
How do we develop character?
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Bunraku is a traditional form of Japanese puppet theatre. It takes multiple people to operate the puppets in realistic ways and incorporates musicians and chanters as well. The tradition has been around for hundreds of years.
Q: What is your opinion from what you have seen of bunraku theatre? Is this something you would like to see? Explain why.
Tuesday, 21 October, 2025
Today!
Script Reading continues. Find - and read out loud, a monologue that is interesting to you.
How do we develop character?
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Pyrotechnics can be used in theatre whenever something like an explosion has to occur on stage. Many safety requirements surround the use of pyrotechnics to make sure it works the same and safely each night.
Q: What did you learn about what it takes to simulate an explosion on stage through this video?
Monday, 20 October, 2025
Today!
Read Scripts!
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Beauty & the Beast came to the Broadway stage in 1994, with score by Alan Menken. It has amazed audiences for 29 years since.
Q: If there was a B&tB sequel, what would happen in the plot?
Wednesday, 15 October, 2025
Today!
Thoughts on your monologues? Did you write yours? If not, write yours.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
On stage, actors of all genders wear makeup to make their facial expressions easier to see, and to help them communicate who the character is. A makeup designer will set a tone for the whole show through makeup.
Q: From watching the video, what did you learn about being a makeup designer for theatre?
Tuesday, 14 October, 2025
Today!
Write your monologue. In your notebook, write a one minute monologue from you.
Bellwork:
SUB
What are three characteristics of a good monologue?
Monday, 13 October, 2025
Today!
Look for a monologue… how do you perform a monologue?
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Lin Manuel Miranda’s first hit is set over the course of three days in Washington Heights, a largely Latin-American NYC neighborhood, and tells the stories of the people who live there.
Q: Much of In the Heights has to do with where is your “home?” What do you think of when you think of “home.” Is it here? Is it somewhere else? What will it be in the future?
Friday, 10 October, 2025
Today!
It’s Friday - so after you dance - let’s do some Theatre games!
Bellwork:
Just Dance - why not? It’s something to do - even things that are a struggle can be fun!
What do you like about dancing? What are your struggles with dancing?
Watch the vide
Thursday, 9 October, 2025
Today!
From Wednesday: Write a duel (2-person scene) about your theatre ghost. You can have two people and the ghost be what they saw - or one person and the ghost. Expand on what you did to create a 2 minute scene with dialogue.
Today: Act this out.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Improv Everywhere is a New York City based group known for carrying out “pranks” in public spaces. One of their most famous “missions” was the “Frozen Grand Central Station” prank where over 200 people froze in place in NYC’s Grand Central Station for 5 minutes.
Q: Would you participate in a mission of Improv Everywhere? What kinds of skills does it take to be involved?
Tuesday, 7 October, 2025
Today!
Installing walls
Bellwork:
Watch the video
A carpenter is in charge of building the sets and getting them ready for the performance.
Q: From watching the video, what did you learn about being a carpenter for theatre?
Monday, 6 October, 2025
Today!
Acting a story…
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Matilda is a musical about a girl named Matilda that has special powers. Matilda does not come from the best home and her powers end up getting her in trouble at her school – led by the horrible Ms. Trunchbull…
Q: What do you think of this medley? Do you think Matilda is a show that you would like to be in?
Friday, 3 October, 2025
Today!
It’s Friday - so after you dance - let’s do some Theatre games!
Bellwork:
Just Dance - why not? It’s something to do - even things that are a struggle can be fun!
What do you like about dancing? What are your struggles with dancing?
Watch the vide
Thursday, 2 October, 2025
Today!
Improvise the scenes
Bellwork:
How does physical theatre help develop a scene?
"Write a short scene with no spoken dialogue, only stage directions and actions."
The scene must tell a story.
Watch the vide
Wednesday, 1 October, 2025
Today!
Act out scenes (using improvisational skills) of the various scenes created as the Bellringers.
Bellwork:
"Imagine the ghost of a famous actor haunts your school theatre. Write a scene where a student encounters them."
One page!!
Watch the v
Tuesday, 30 September, 2025
Today!
Set building - putting legs on platforms.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
A sound designer and a sound mixer work with balancing music, actors’ voices, and sound effects to make sure the audience hears everything crystal clear every night. A sound mixer sits at the soundboard bringing up microphones and blending the sounds together each night.
Q: From watching the video, what did you learn about being a sound mixer and being at the soundboard each night?
Monday, 29 September, 2025
Today!
Stage the Shakespeare scene… can you?
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Dear Evan Hansen is a musical about a lie that becomes a viral social media sensation and the aftermath of it all for a teenager with anxiety. Evan wants more than anything to belong. With lie after lie, the story grows, and soon Evan must decide if he will tell the truth and risk losing his new life.
Q: What do you think this song, "Waving Through a Window," is talking about? Does social media make it harder or easier to connect with others?
Friday, 26 September, 2025
Today!
Let’s look back at the scripts from last week - would you perform them? Why why not?
How about reading a schene from Shakespeare?
Bellwork:
Watch the video
-
Why do we dance on Fridays?
Thursday, 25 September, 2025
Today!
How about reading a scene from Shakespeare?
Let’s act out the scene…
Bellwork:
Watch the video
-
What did you enjoy most about his performance?
Wednesday, 24 September, 2025
Today!
How about reading a scene from Shakespeare?
Bellwork:
What is a Ghost Light? What is the myth behind why they are used – and what is the practical reason for having a ghost light?
Tuesday, 23 September, 2025
Today!
How about reading a scene from Shakespeare?
Bellwork:
Watch the video
Puppetry: Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance that involves the manipulation of puppets – inanimate objects, often resembling some type of human or animal figure, that are animated or manipulated by a human called a puppeteer.
How can puppetry be used on stage? What skills are needed for puppetry? What did you find most interesting about puppetry?
Monday, 22 September, 2025
Today!
Let’s look back at the scripts from last week - would you perform them? Why why not?
Today - I am collecting notebooks! Leave on front of stage.
Bellwork:
Watch the video
-A choreographer is the person responsible for creating all of the dance/movement in a show, teaching it to the performers, and perfecting its look on the stage.
Q: What kinds of training and skills does a choreographer need?
Friday, 19 September, 2025
Agenda:
Learn
Bellwork:
Dance!!
Just Dance is great choreography practice because it gets you moving, helps you learn choreography quickly, and helps you learn by watching!
What is something you would like to be able to do better?
Thursday, 18 September, 2025
Agenda:
Script Reading
Set building…
Bellwork:
Watch the video
-Originated the role of Deloris in Sister Act
-- Commander Paylor in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay
Witch in Into the Woods
Wednesday, 17 September, 2025
Agenda:
Continue Script Reading - this time, set up the scene…
Bellwork:
Watch the video…
Pantomime is the art of acting without words. Charlie Chaplin is one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry. His career spanned over 75 years in the business.
Q: Why was Chaplin’s pantomiming effective? Were you able to understand the plot?
Tuesday, 16 September, 2025
Agenda:
Continue Script Reading - this time, set up the scene…
Bellwork:
Watch the video…
A prop director oversees all props activities!
Q: From watching the video, what kind of skills do you think it takes to be a good props director? Is this something you think you could do?
Monday, 15 September, 2025
Agenda:
Script Reading. Let’s read another script.
Bellwork:
Hamilton: An American Musical is a sung-and-rapped-through musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It tells the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton. The show draws heavily from hip hop, as well as R&B, pop, soul, and traditional-style show tunes. At the 2016 Tony Awards, Hamilton received a record 16 nominations and won 11 awards, including Best Musical.
Q: How is Hamilton a legacy to the world of theatre? What groundbreaking new ideas did it use that could impact the future of theatre?
Friday, 12 September, 2025
Agenda:
What are your thoughts on learning dance steps?
Continue Script Reading…
Bellwork:
Just Dance
Just Dance is great choreography practice because it gets you moving, helps you learn choreography quickly, and helps you learn by watching!
Thursday, 11 September, 2025
Agenda:
Script Reading…
Bellwork:
Q: List two new words and definitions you learned from Lin Manuel!
Lin Manuel Miranda
-Wrote and starred in Hamilton
-Wrote In the Heights
-Wrote the soundtrack for Encanto
Wednesday, 10 September, 2025
Agenda:
Work on physical comedy
Bellwork:
What is physical comedy?
How can you be comical without being silly - or are they the same thing?
Tuesday, 9 September, 2025
Agenda:
Explore Costume area
More pantomime work
Bellwork:
Watch the video…
What do you think about Wardrobe? What did you find interesting about this job? Would you be interested in doing something like this?
Monday, 8 September, 2025
Agenda:
Work with music… How does music help a scene?
Introduction to Pantomime
Bellwork:
West Side Story (music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim) was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. The story, set in a working class, multicultural neighborhood of New York City in the 1950s, explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs.
Q: How does the sound of the music you heard show the different types of emotions in West Side Story?
Friday, 5 September, 2025
Agenda:
What are your thoughts on learning dance steps?
What are concentration games?
Bellwork:
Just Dance is great choreography practice because it gets you moving, helps you learn choreography quickly, and helps you learn by watching!
“You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful” - One Direction
Thursday, 4 September, 2025
Agenda:
What are your thoughts on this performance?
What aspects did you find interesting - and what did you find less interesting?
Theatre Space…
Acting Exercises…
Bellwork:
Watch the video!
Wednesday, 3 September, 2025
Agenda:
Take notes on Greek Theatre…
Acting Exercises…
Bellwork:
Why do you think Greek Theatre is important, today?
(watch video)
Tuesday, 2 September, 2025
Agenda:
Take notes on Stage Managing…
Small Tour of
Theatre Space…
Acting Exercises…
Friday, August 29, 2025
WICKED tells the story about what happened before Dorothy showed up in Oz. How did Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West become who they are? The musical was nominated for 10 Tony awards and won 3 and remains enduringly popular today.
Q: What three things stood out the most to you in this video? Do you think you would like this show? Why or why not?