Enrollment in the Theater Arts Career Academy will afford students the opportunity to be exposed to all aspects of theater. Students focus on the general study of dramatic works and their performance. This includes instruction in major works of dramatic literature, dramatic styles, types, and the principles of organizing and producing full live or filmed productions. Careers in theater, directing, technical theater, and the business of theater are addressed. Activities will include creating believable characters, understanding and practicing good rehearsal technique, improvising without scripted material, developing scene blocking, and critiquing performance.
Theater Arts students have many opportunities to perform for the public, attend professional theatrical performances, learn about college theater programs, and collaborate with theater professionals. Students completing this program also participate in the New Jersey Department of Education statewide Theater Exit Testing program.
THEATER I prerequisite: Scheduled Audition 10 Credits
First year theater students are afforded the opportunity to perform in a children’s theater show during the fall semester. An overall introduction to terminology required to create theater is covered throughout the year in study and practice. All students are also encouraged to work in a technical capacity for a production. Acting warm ups, improvisations, and dance fundamentals are enjoyed in the first year as well. Students cover reader’s theater and an overview of theater history.
THEATER II prerequisite: Theater I 10 Credits
Students in the second year of theater studies will continue to develop their understanding of styles and terminology used to create theater. They will perform in the touring production in the fall as well as audition for a musical and participate in other performance events. A more in-depth introduction to acting will cover scene study, monologue preparation, acting for the camera, voice and movement, and character analysis. American theater history and the musical theater history and style will be covered as well.
THEATER III prerequisite: Theater II 15 Credits
Third year students of the Theater program will participate in various plays in both performance and production capacities. They will continue to study dance and voice with specialists in the field. The business of theater will be taught and practiced as third year students begin to gain more responsibility for production decisions, promotion, and technical support of theater.
THEATER IV prerequisite: Theater III 15 Credits
The final year of Theater studies prepares the student for the New Jersey State Theater Exit Exam (performance and written) through monologue audition, cold reading audition, and written work. By this year, students will have covered lighting, set design, construction, stage management, and rehearsal rules as well as all areas of performance. Dramatic literature including Shakespeare and the American classics will be covered. By the final year, students may focus their time and energy on an area of theater to which they are best suited and gain help in college or career preparation.
Proposed Sequence of Courses
Algebra I Geometry Applied Math Business Management I
Dramatics & Theater I Phys. Ed/Driver Ed Theater Arts III Film & Video III Phys. Ed/ Health
Biology English 12
Film & Video I U.S. History I Journalism/ History of Film
English 9 English 10 English 11 Art for the Trades
Spanish I Spanish II Earth Science Pre-Calculus
Physical Science Film & Video II Spanish III Theater Arts IV
Phys. Ed/ Health Theater Arts II Phys. Ed/ Health
World History U.S. History II
Graduation Requirements
The following are high school graduation requirements as established through state law/regulations or Board policy.
Satisfactory completion of a Board of Education approved program consisting of:
4 years of English
4 years of Health/Physical Education
3 years of Social Studies (World History, U.S. History I, and U.S. History II)
3 years of Mathematics and 3 years of Science
1 year of Fine, Practical, or Performing Arts
1 year of Business Management
Senior Year Research Paper
1 year of a World Language (2 years for college prep)
Other minimum requirements are listed by shop specialty
A senior must take and complete a national or state-validated test in their vocational area. Students must take a class every period. There are NO STUDY HALLS. It is anticipated that students, on average, will graduate with 170 credits, inclusive of state-mandated and CTE requirements. Students must pass the HSPA in Reading, Mathematics, and Writing in order to receive a diploma unless exempt through the I.E.P. process.
Students who fail their Career Major/Academy Program or three or more courses for the entire year will not be re-admitted to WCTS for the following year.
Each course of study required for graduation shall include a statement of the required proficiencies to be mastered by the students enrolled in the course. Credit for each required course will be awarded upon the successful completion of the program assigned and satisfaction of the proficiencies identified. Students shall be given every reasonable opportunity to remediate and satisfy failed proficiencies.
Successful completion of remedial courses in HSPA English or HSPA Mathematics will count toward the total number of credits required for graduation. However, those courses will not satisfy the curriculum requirement for high school English or Mathematics.
