The Theatre Department
Mission Statement
The Classical Magnet Theatre Department encourages students to connect academic subjects to theatre as a pathway to understanding and appreciating the arts and the world around them. Through performance, design and construction, students will learn, explore and study classic dramatic texts and their own original pieces culminating in interdisciplinary Paideia Coached projects.
Ms. Marydell Merrill Ms. Merrill has a degree in Theatre Performance from Penn State University. A member of Actors’ Equity Association she has performed with Long Wharf Theatre and Connecticut Free Shakespeare. She provides audio description for the vision impaired at Yale Repertory Theatre and Hartford Stage Company. Ms. Merrill has presented workshops for Yale Repertory Theatre’s Will Power! Teacher Workshop, Connecticut Association for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance, and several Educational Theatre Festivals. Recently she was named the Chapter Director of the Connecticut Chapter of the Educational Theatre Association. At Classical Magnet School she has directed Guys & Dolls, Jr., A Raisin in the Sun, Into the Woods, Jr., Electricidad, Bang, Bang You’re Dead, Romeo & Juliet, Oklahoma! and Anon(ymous).
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Ms. Brett Dubow Ms. DuBow has a degree in Theatre Production from the University at Albany – SUNY and worked professionally as a stage manager at the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, New York and The Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville, Florida. In addition, she completed a double Masters in Educational Theatre and English Education from New York University in the spring of 2006 and now teaches Classical’s technical theatre courses and works as Technical Director for the Classical Theatre Department’s shows.
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Grade |
Course Title |
Text(s) |
Additional Major Readings |
Major Themes Explored |
Major Skills Developed |
Essential Questions |
Field Trips |
Coached Projects |
6th-7th |
Introduction to Performance |
Basic Drama Projects by Fran Averett Tanner (Unit 7) |
Persephone |
Cycle of Life |
Script Writing, Pantomine, Improvisation, Physical Awareness, Breath Control, Dictation, Cooperation and Memorization |
What is a theatre? Why is theatre important? What is a play? How do we turn a written script into a theatrical performance? | Playwriting project and performance of Persephone | |
8th |
Introudction to Performance |
Shakespeare for Kids by Colleen Aagesen and Margie Blumberg |
A Midsummer Night's Dream and Scenes from Shakespeare by Michael Wilson |
Relationships and Humor |
Script Writing, Collaboration, Playwriting, Character Development, Listening, Analysis and Annotation |
Who was Shakespeare? What was an Elizabethan Theatre like? How do we turn a written Shakespearean script into a theatrical performance? How do we adapt Shakespeare to contemporary scoeity? | Playwriting project and performance of Shakespearean Scenes | |
9th-12th |
Theatre Performance 1 |
The Technique of Acting by Stella Adler |
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Courage and Perserverance |
Script Writing, Memorization, Improvisation and Design Basics |
How do I train my instrument? | Students will attend a performance of Tartuffe | Playwriting project, Shakespeare Recitation and various monologue and scene work |
9th-12th |
Theatre Performance 2 |
The Technique of Acting by Stella Adler |
Our Town by Thornton Wilder and The Crucible by Arthur Miller |
Conflict, Family, Perception vs. Reality |
Script Writing, Characterization, Breath Control, Dictation and Movement |
What is an objective? How do I create a character? | Students will attend a performance of Tartuffe and visit the Eugene O'Neil house | Playwriting project, Shakespeare Recitation, various scene presentations and performance of Our Town |
9th-12th |
Theatre Performance 3 | The Technique of Acting by Adler Stella | Plays Children Love: Volume II edited by Coleman He |
