Technical Theatre and Design This course is designed for students who are interested in the technical aspects of theatre. Students will learn about and develop skills in stagecraft and in scenic, sound, and lighting design. The course will focus on specialized design and construction in collaboration with school productions. The course will involve both practical, hands-on projects and design work, and is structured to accommodate students with varying degrees of production experience. Students who encounter a scheduling conflict with a Science lab or Resource period may enroll in a modified half-block version of this course. This course fulfills the graduation requirement for fine and/or practical arts if taken as a full block.

Theatre 1: Theatre Workshop (Northfield Only) Theatre Workshop is the ideal course for students who would like to study, experience, and create live performances and theatrical stories for the stage. Students will explore many different character types through role playing, monologues, and scene work from scripts. Students will also become stronger team players through improvisational and theatre games as well as learn how to audition effectively for plays and musicals. In addition, students may choose to perform as an ensemble member in the Freshman Play. Anyone who wants to act in plays or musicals on New Trier stages should take this course to develop confidence and performance skills. This course fulfills the graduation requirement for fine and/or practical arts. This course also fulfills the Performing Arts Crew Apprenticeship Program.

Theatre 2: Acting Workshop This course is the entry point for Winnetka Campus students interested in theatre and performance. Students will learn techniques for creating a character from a play, using sense memory, emotion memory, script analysis, and scene study. In the second semester, students will research, prepare, and perform scenes from plays representing the major periods in theatre history. That work culminates in Dionysus Day, an all day festival of theatre. Students who encounter a scheduling conflict with a Science lab or Resource period may enroll in a modified half-block version of this course. Contact the Music & Theatre Department Chair for half-block enrollment approval. This course fulfills the graduation requirement for fine and/or practical arts if taken as a full block.

Theatre 3: Advanced Acting Techniques This full-year course provides the serious Acting student an opportunity to further develop their acting skills through the exploration of a variety of advanced acting methods and theories. Particular attention is given to methods of Sanford Meisner and Konstantin Stanislavsky, and explores the intersection of psychology and acting, heightening student self-awareness as explored in solo, original performances. Students engage in improvisational techniques on a regular basis and focus on responding to ensemble-members-in-the-moment. Significant written reflection and student led discussions assist students to become leaders in their own learning. In the second semester, students engage in a 5-week playwriting unit led by a visiting professor, resulting in an original 10-minute play written by each student. The 4th quarter focuses on the dissection of advanced script for character analysis, staging, design, and performance. Throughout the year, students attend performing arts division productions and submit written reflections that identify the use or opportunity to utilize Theatre 3 lessons. Students may contract at the start of each semester to take this class for 9-level credit. Students registered at the 9-level will complete additional, independent assignments outside of class time. This course fulfills the graduation requirement for fine and/or practical arts. 

Theatre 4: Advanced Acting and Directing Building on the skills introduced in Theatre 1, 2, and 3, the basic work of Theatre 4 is advanced scene study and performance as well as stage directing technique. Students will practice and apply new concepts as they prepare and perform scenes from realistic plays in the first semester. In the second semester, students will learn directing techniques and theory and direct a short play of their choice for classroom presentation. Additional units include Shakespeare in Performance and Monologue Performance. This course is designed for students who enjoy reading and writing about the art form as well as performing. It requires significant preparation and writing outside of class. The text Backwards and Forwards by David Ball will be utilized, as well as excerpts from Uta Hagen's A Challenge for the Actor. Students are expected to attend and critique two New Trier productions each semester. This course fulfills the graduation requirement for fine and/or practical arts.

Theatre 4: Advanced Acting Ensemble Building on the skills introduced in Theatre 1, 2, and 3, the basic work of Theatre 4 is advanced scene study and performance as well as stage directing technique. Students will practice and apply new concepts as they prepare and perform scenes from realistic plays in the first semester. In the second semester, students will learn directing techniques and theory and direct a short play of their choice for classroom presentation. Additional units include Shakespeare in Performance and Monologue Performance. This course is designed for students who enjoy reading and writing about the art form as well as performing. It requires significant preparation and writing outside of class. The text Backwards and Forwards by David Ball will be utilized, as well as excerpts from Uta Hagen's A Challenge for the Actor. Students are expected to attend and critique two New Trier productions each semester. This course fulfills the graduation requirement for fine and/or practical arts.