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Theatre
At Moroles, the exploration of theater is divided into four general categories: foundations, creative expression, historical/cultural relevance, and critical evaluation.
To create a foundation, students learn basic theater terminology that can often sound like a foreign language. "Cross downstage," "Flood the legs with amber," "Principals have table work at 5." Foundations also focuses on welcoming each budding actor, designer, or crew member into an ensemble environment. In this world, the student belongs to a group while explore their own unique gifting.
In creative expression, the student moves beyond what they know to create something new. I encourage students to stretch themselves, to brainstorm every possible angle of an idea, and to always say "yes, and...". In creative expressions, we affirm each other's ability to tell stories, and are receptive to criticism or a new plot twist added by another creator.
The historical/cultural relevance section allow students to learn ancient expressions of theater, to travel the world (virtually) and walk onstage at the Globe or Epidaurus, and to learn empathy for our neighbors through contemporary theater. In this division, students will see what has been done. They will also see current artists of all types telling stories. My hope is that each student will see one artist who looks like them!
Finally, every student is taught to be a critic in their own right. In critical evaluation studies, students learn that their opinion matters. Students learn to document what they see and write (or vlog) about the show. This unit is about finding and strengthening the voice of each student.
How does that look in practice?
Student audition, design, and perform one show in the fall and one show in the spring. Students will also finish the year with several recorded monologues, some will even be new works written by the student. Each student will explore costuming, make-up/hair, lighting, sound, and set design.
Ms. Nelson, 4th-8th Grade Theatre Arts
"My name is Jamie Nelson. I began teaching at Moroles in January 2020. I received a BA in Drama from the University of Dallas and an MFA in Sound Design from California Institute of the Arts in 2004. I worked for a few years after grad school mixing musicals in Southern California and have had the opportunity to work with the Dallas Shakespeare Festival, Kitchen Dog, and the Dallas Theater Center here in the city. From 2009 to 2012, I had the privilege of teaching musical theater and beginning voice at the University of Dallas. It was there that I learned how much I love teaching young artists and being co-creators with them."