The Drama Department mounts a full-scale secondary production during the spring semester. The department alternates yearly in producing either a musical or a straight play. However, there have been many years when multiple productions have been mounted at different times of the year. Consistently, the Drama Department is involved with the Annual Variety Show, the Christmas Concert, the School Showcase Series, and the Spring Production in addition to the performances mounted by the acting class.

 

The PCA Drama Department offers a yearlong acting class and the opportunity to be involved in a large-scale spring production as well as numerous smaller performances throughout the year. The department’s acting class focuses on studying the various methods and techniques used in film and stage performance. The course begins with a focus on the instrument of the actor--his body. Students learn relaxation techniques and body isolation exercises and spend the majority of the first quarter performing group and individual pantomimes. This approach helps the actor to first get in touch with his physicality before adding other essential components to his performances. Also included in the first quarter are sessions that incorporate imaginative journeys, sense memories, and concentration games. The second quarter finds the actor exploring his voice. Actors practice diction and projection exercises, vocal variety, word coloring poetry, hymn readings, and laugh through many tongue twisters. The first semester culminates with an evening of lip-sync performances, which highlight the mastery of the first semester’s work.

 

The second semester dives into the emotions and motivations behind an intense character study. The class completes numerous readings by instrumental authors and teachers on acting techniques and analysis by C. Stanislavski, U. Hagen, L. Strasberg, and A. Bogart. Additionally, the actors are taught how to prepare and interact by using situational objective driven improvisations. These readings and improvisational techniques are then put into practice with a two-character scene study that the actors prepare and perform for visiting student audiences. The fourth quarter opens with a brief study of Shakespeare, his language, and speech analysis. Students then work in teams to analyze and construct a vivid oral interpretation or Reader’s Theater performance using a selected monologue from a Shakespearean play. The actors finish the year with an individual comedic monologue performance that is filmed for analysis and posterity. Throughout the year, students are also encouraged to grow and mature in their critical analysis of other performers by using constructive criticism and offering alternative solutions to scene or monologue problems.

 

Get to know our drama department by watching the slide show below of some of our past performances.  We hope to see you at a performance soon.