Theater

This course is designed to awaken the student’s imagination and cultivate a strong sense of play and ensemble. Classroom exercises will introduce fundamental concepts of acting such as: Action and Reaction, Focus, Motivation, Readiness, Specificity, Commitment, Following Impulses, Improvisation, and Building a Character. Through the creation of several ensemble compositions in the first term, students will learn how to effectively collaborate while also honing their own artistic expression and performance skills. Additionally, they’ll start to build a personal vocal-physical warm-up. Once the fundamentals of acting have been taught, the second semester will focus on applying them to text and scoring a script. To culminate, each student will perform in a fully rehearsed scene before an invited audience.

This movement-based acting class challenges students to embrace vulnerability with both the audience and fellow ensemble members. It fosters stage presence, confidence, and the belief that “I am enough.” Through practical stagecraft, actors will explore organic physical interaction to enhance storytelling and bring the play to life. The work in this class is based on the work of Tadashi Suzuki, Tina Landau and Anne Bogart’s “Viewpoints”, and incorporates mask work.

The focus of this course is on scene work. In the first semester, students will be introduced to a coherent, rigorous, and systematic approach to the art of acting. They will gain tangible tools they can begin to use for developing their role for the stage. By utilizing both an analytical and intuitive approach, students will discover and apply their own understanding about how to approach a theatrical/dramatic work. This provides them with an opportunity to synthesize the different approaches, as they continue to formulate the beginnings of their own process. The second semester focuses on finding material for the following year’s college audition season.

This course concentrates on audition technique, and builds upon the analysis skills developed in Theater 3. The first segment is devoted entirely to the college audition process, and is broken up into two sections. One focuses on analysis and development of contemporary pieces, and the other on Shakespearean. Both are then combined, and work on solidifying and transitioning the pieces for presentation begins. Spending a good length of time with this material enables students to deepen their personal connection to the text, and allow the words in the heightened poetry of their Shakespeare pieces to begin to sound like what they mean. The course culminates with a return to scene study, and furthering the ability to bring one’s self to truthful transformation and interaction.

“Speak the speech, I pray you…” This course introduces students to the fundamentals of performing Shakespeare. By exploring a variety of scenes and monologues, students will develop text analysis skills applicable to all of his works. The course provides practical tools to help actors confidently and authentically bring Shakespeare’s language to life, while demonstrating how Shakespeare training can enhance the actor’s performance of contemporary works and musical theater as well. This course is for Seniors and Postgraduate students.

This course introduces students to the requirements and genres of musical theatre, including the structure and expectations of the rehearsal room, a broad variety of repertoire, and the unique process of learning music, staging, and choreography. Students will discuss and analyze their material, understanding its contribution to the development of the art form. This class will lay the foundation for students to work successfully in their continued musical theater training.

The primary focus of this course is introducing the student to the “Acting the Song” process. Students will develop vocal and acting techniques that allow them to dramatically analyze and interpret lyrics and music. They will learn an approach to song interpretation, which includes specific methodology, appropriate terms, and detailed vocabulary. Each student will work on assigned songs from the Musical Theater Repertoire. Styles will include Standards, Classic and Contemporary material, consisting of both up-tempos and ballads. Students will prepare their pieces, coach, and then present them back-to-back in order to demonstrate versatility, and the ability to change from one style to another effectively.

This course builds on the skills developed in Musical Theatre II, and continues to focus on the development of the Acting the Song process. The repertoire becomes more challenging, both in terms of acting choices and vocal demands. Students will continue to work on both contemporary and traditional musical theatre ballads and up-tempos, and we will begin to focus on the skill of choosing material that best reflects the individual actor. Additionally, students are introduced to the study and performance of Pop/Rock & Radio songs. The class culminates in the study of scene to song work, where they will learn to craft smooth transitions from dialogue to song, and to create characters within the specific context of the chosen musical. We will work in tangent throughout the semester with the College Prep class to prepare for the fall prescreen: choosing, rehearsing, and coaching material.

The course is designed to build upon the skills developed in Musical Theater III, and focuses on preparing for college and university musical theater auditions. Students will continue to strengthen the skills necessary to successfully choose, analyze, interpret and present ballad, up-tempo and pop-rock pieces. They will further examine given circumstances, characterization, personalization, and their relevance to the expressive ideas of the librettist, composer, and lyricist. Selecting, cutting and presenting contrasting 16 and 32-bar pieces to demonstrate range, versatility and knowledge of styles is also covered. The course then moves into transitioning from scene work into song selections and presentations.

Theater Dance 1 establishes the fundamental concepts, skills, and movement vocabulary essential to musical theater dance. Students develop a strong technical foundation through physical conditioning, with an emphasis on strength, flexibility, and mobility. Class material focuses on foundational movement principles in jazz, ballet, and tap while introducing dance as a method of storytelling. Students also explore basic Pilates techniques to enhance body awareness and alignment. Outside of class, students are expected to practice conditioning exercises, review choreography, and maintain a reflection journal.

Building upon the fundamentals of Theater Dance 1, this course refines technical skills and expands movement vocabulary. Students deepen their understanding of jazz, ballet, and tap through more intricate choreography and increased attention to musicality, dynamics, and storytelling. Physical conditioning and Pilates continue to support the development of strength, flexibility, and endurance. Students are encouraged to refine their performance quality and begin exploring stylistic nuances. Outside of class, students are expected to practice conditioning exercises, review choreography, and maintain a reflection journal.

This course strengthens performance confidence by advancing technical proficiency, musicality, and artistic expression. Students refine their jazz, ballet, and tap technique through increasingly complex choreography and a broader range of musical theater dance styles. Original choreography and classic repertoire introduce students to musical interpretation and style-specific nuances. Pilates conditioning is incorporated with props (bands, rings, mini ball) to further develop strength, flexibility, and mobility. Students are expected to dedicate time outside of class to conditioning exercises, choreography review, and reflection journaling.

Designed for students seeking to refine their artistry, versatility, and performance skills, this course challenges dancers with intermediate to advanced movement concepts. Students strengthen their technical foundation in jazz, ballet, and tap. Emphasis is placed on storytelling, musical interpretation, and stylistic versatility for auditions, rehearsals, and stage performance. Pilates with props (bands, rings, mini ball) continues to support strength, flexibility, and mobility. Additionally, students explore the historical and cultural context of musical theater dance. Outside of class, students are expected to practice conditioning exercises, review choreography, and maintain a reflection journal.

Design and Production 1 introduces students to the backstage world of theatrical production, the design process, and the essential role of technical theater. Guided by Tharon Musser’s insight that “design is learning how to see,” this course challenges students to develop an awareness of how design shapes the stage and enhances storytelling. Through a combination of lectures, hands-on demonstrations, and guest speakers, students will build the skills and vocabulary necessary to analyze, discuss, and appreciate theatrical design. Core design fields are explored to provide an understanding of the artistry and technical expertise that create immersive theatrical environments. This course serves as a gateway to recognizing, respecting, and engaging with the creative processes that bring theater to life.

Design and Production 2 builds upon the foundations of theatrical design by immersing students in the processes used by scenic, lighting, and costume designers. Guided by Tharon Musser’s insight that “design is learning how to see,” this course challenges students to refine their ability to perceive, analyze, and create theatrical worlds through visual storytelling. With a focus on developing a designer’s vocabulary and technical skills, students will engage in lectures, hands-on demonstrations, and guest speaker sessions. This level 2 course provides expanded opportunities to apply design principles, working through the full creative process, from script analysis to concept development, culminating in models, renderings, or other representations of their design work. By deepening their understanding of how design shapes theatrical storytelling, students will gain practical experience in bringing their artistic visions to life.

Senior Students will study how a writer can push the basic forward motion of “what’s going to happen next” through the narrative. We will read a variety of contemporary plays and students can expect to act in their peer’s work and to improvise set-ups that will improve their understanding of the performance aspects of writing for the stage. The students will complete working drafts of short plays in the Student Directed Plays series.

Voice and Speech 1 is an introduction to the basics of voice production for live theater. Following the progression of exercises laid out in Kristin Linklater’s textbook “Freeing the Natural Voice: Imagery and Art in the Practice of Voice and Language” — and interwoven with the principles of The Alexander Technique – course content will cover alignment, breathing, resonance, range, power, articulation, emotional transparency, and how to work with text. Additionally, students will learn how to properly care for their instrument by building good vocal habits and learning how to rehabilitate the voice in times of strain, fatigue, or injury.

Voice and Speech 2 will be a deeper dive into the “speech” portion of voice and speech. In this course, students will learn the International Phonetic Alphabet and begin to work with dialects of the English language. Once a dialect is learned, they will perform either a monologue or scene in the given dialect. By the end of the term, students will be tasked with teaching a dialect to the class using the International Phonetic Alphabet and any other relevant materials.

This course will introduce students to the skills and concepts they need to be comfortable and confident in the musical theater space. Guided by Christine Riley’s “Music Fundamentals for Musical Theatre,” students will develop their ability to read a musical score as well as execute it both vocally and at the keyboard. Supplementing this work will be an ensemble-based exploration of musical theatre vocal technique, including basic anatomy, function, and registration. Students will complete this course equipped to learn efficiently and independently in their future musical theatre classes, rehearsals, and private lessons.

Musical Theater History is a survey course designed to introduce students to the roots, development, and ongoing evolution of the art form known as the Broadway musical. The course begins with a look at 19th-century popular entertainment and concludes with the current Broadway season. Along the way, students will become familiar with the composers, lyricists, playwrights, directors, choreographers, and designers who have made the musical what it is today, while also exploring the broader historical and cultural trends that have shaped Broadway and the theatre industry as a whole.

Weekly voice lessons provide individualized vocal training for each student, in support of the theater curriculum as a whole, and ultimately to support excellence in acting through song. Through 50-minute one-on-one sessions, students will develop healthy vocal technique, gain a deeper understanding of their own instrument, improve musicality and expression, and therefore build an exceptionally strong singing foundation. Skills developed in lessons include consistency, stamina, discipline, music preparation, committing to daily practice, and increasing all aspects of range (from dynamics, to pitches, to vocal styles). Repertoire will be assigned in support of the Theater Department’s goals, exploring vocal and musical styles from classic lyrical music theater to contemporary. Lessons are taught by highly trained and experienced Music and Theater Conservatory vocal instructors, who are themselves professional singers. Students beginning lessons will be assigned a teacher by Head of Voice, Teresa Winner Blume, and students continue to work with their assigned teacher throughout their time at Walnut Hill. Lessons will be scheduled during free blocks during the academic and arts day.

This class is a semester-long course in the Spring of the Junior year. College Prep is a deep dive into the college admissions process for students pursuing degrees in theater-related fields. The course works to answer the following questions: “What are the available programs of study?”, “How can I use my theater degree?”, “What should I consider when looking for a school?”, “What types of material should I be choosing for my college auditions?”, “What will be expected of me when I audition?”, and “What is the audition season timeline?” Students are mentored through generating an application list, creating a “package” of audition material that best showcases the strengths of the student, and setting a series of actionable tasks to keep students on track and feeling supported throughout the college admissions process. This course is led by the Department Director, Stephen Agosto, who is also the creator of the Musical Theater Common Prescreen. The course continues in the first semester of the Senior year.

This class is a semester-long course in the Fall of the Senior year College Prep is a deep dive into the college admissions process for students pursuing degrees in theater-related fields. The Senior year course is meant to support students as they enter the college audition season through the coaching of songs and monologues, the filming of application “prescreens”, the creation of an individualized checklist for application needs, and planning each student’s audition calendar. At the end of the semester, students are accompanied by the Department Director to the National UNIFIED auditions in New York City and Chicago. This course is led by the Department Director, Stephen Agosto, who is also the creator of the Musical Theater Common Prescreen.