Theatre Overview

Student reading Shakespeare

Theatre is designed to give students opportunity to experience drama as a significant and rewarding activity and to enable students to demonstrate knowledge of the historical background of drama. The content includes, but is not limited to, recognition of the different genres of drama (tragedy, comedy, farce, melodrama, musical) and the elements of playwriting; use of oral communication skills such as appropriate voice levels, gestures, posture, and language; understanding of the importance of drama as a reflection of society; and recognition of drama as a self-rewarding activity that involves the identification of the unique worth of the individual, the motivation behind human behavior; and the dynamics of interpersonal relationships.

When dramatic performances are being prepared, rehearsed or produced, instructional activities ideally will be provided in a theatre, auditorium, or a room with a stage. When dramatic literature is being studied, instructional activities will be provided in a general classroom setting. Student activities and experiences will include, but will not be limited to, selecting and preparing material for a performance; rehearsing for a performance; performing for a class or public group; practicing character development, mime, solo, duet, and ensemble acting; participating in full-length plays; creating and applying makeup; building sets; stage managing and directing; managing props; selecting and creating costumes; voice-building and projection; and improving enunciation and pronunciation, control of body movement, and writing scripts for a production.

Theatre Donation Requests

  • 6 ft ladder.

  • Script fund - money to purchase script licenses.

Theatre Audition Information

Auditions will be conducted in 10 minute time slots. Each student will audition individually.  Please bring a current photo (5x7 or smaller) with you to the audition. You may include this on a resume (optional) with a list of schools, studios, theaters or programs where the applicant has received training.  Additional Guidelines:

  • Review the IFAA rubric for theatre arts auditions

  • At the beginning of the audition, include an introduction with you name and grade

  • No costumes; wear comfortable clothing

  • Prepare two memorized monologues, one dramatic and one comedic, 1-2 minutes each

  • Source published plays or monologue anthologies (often available for free at libraries and online)

  • Monologues should be age appropriate

  • Each audition will require a "cold reading" of lines; materials are provided by the judges and will be age appropriate

  • No original works

IFAA cannot recommend a specific work or anthology, but some of the following titles might be a good place to start:

  • "Monologues for Teenage Girls" by Susan Pomerance

  • "Winning Monologues for Young Actors" by Peg Kehret

  • "Audition Speeches for Young Actors 16+" edited by Jean Marlow

  • "Monologues for Young Actors" edited by Lorraine Cohen

  • "The Methuen Audition Book for Young Actors" by Anne Harvey

  • "Neil Simon Monologues" by Neil Simon

  • "Monologues from the Classics" by Shaun McKenn