Mariemont recognizes the value of theater not only in the growth and education of those students interested in pursuing careers in performing arts or theater management, but also in the development of any student whose future might include teaching, public speaking, or event / project management.
We have designed a largely extracurricular theater program that introduces students to progressively more sophisticated challenges, both on stage and off.
Our theater experience begins at the elementary schools, where students are given the opportunity to participate in class productions - emphasis is on participating in a collaborative effort, understanding the components of a stage production, and learning the basics of stage performance including stage movement, vocal projection, and the role of cause and effect in acting.
In junior high, we raise the bar - casting is more competitive, and expectations for cast and crew are higher. Students learn more advanced blocking and acting, and are introduced to the use of light and sound to create mood, theme, and plot. Students are encouraged to expand their acting ability and to take greater risks in their roles; crew is expected to learn all the basic technical aspects of sound, lighting, and stage management.
The high school productions are directed by professionals, and are cast and managed as professional productions with a youth cast. Directors encourage students to become a much larger part of the creative process, collaborating in the development of characters and action. Students focus on more advanced techniques including character and scene analysis, timing, and improvisational techniques. The crew focuses on the range of options available in sound and lighting, and the impact of stage management on creative content.