"Take risks, make mistakes, and get messy."
NESA's Musical Theater program offers an intensive four year performance-based curriculum designed to prepare triple-threat actor/singer/dancers for success in university and conservatory programs, and eventual careers in the professional theatre. MT majors take classes in acting, voice, and dance each semester. Students seek mastery of multiple musical, dance, and acting styles. Performance opportunities include mainstage, black box, and student productions.
ACTING
First-year students alternate between acting and voice on a 3-week rotation throughout the year. You will train in the fundamentals of the techniques of acting, with focus on ensemble work, relaxation, imagination, beginning voice/movement work, improvisation, connection, trust, monologue preparation, and stage make-up. You will view and research important actors of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, observing the changing acting styles of the time. You will learn how to read plays and build a specialized vocabulary necessary for the discussion of dramatic analysis, critique, and performance work.
Acting II (Grade 10)
You will train in Stanislavski-based realism, with specific focus on ensemble, scene work, subtext, script analysis, monologue preparation, play reading, emotional life, and voice/movement work. You will also study the history of actor training and continue to develop performance analysis and stage make-up skills.
Acting III (Grade 11)
You will train in Shakespeare/Verse, with specific focus on scansion, characterization, breath, style, monologue, and scene work. You will study and analyze the great classical performers through film and audio recordings. You will also study Shakespeare's life and the Elizabethan world.
Acting IV (Grade 12)
You will do advanced work on ensemble, scene work, scene breakdown, mask work, character analysis, play reading, theatre history, subtext, emotional life, and voice/ movement. Your performance work will focus on modern plays, as well as on-camera film acting.
Auditioning (Grade 12)
Seniors who plan to audition for college BFA training programs can take this course for intensive work on the specialized skill of auditioning. You will prepare 6 monologues from three different areas: contemporary, modern, and classical plays.
Acting for Film & TV (NESA elective)
Any NESA major can take this elective. You learn and practice the technique of acting for the camera. Semester 1 focuses on the study and creation of silent films, while semester 2 moves to the use of spoken dialogue. You will observe the work of major film stars of the 20th century and research the historical area that their work reflects. In addition to performance, you will also storyboard, film, edit, and score class film projects.
Vocal Pedagogy II (Grade 10)
Vocal Pedagogy III (Grade 11)
Vocal Pedagogy IV (Grade 12)
DANCE
This course is a basic introduction to a variety of styles of dance and dance class etiquette. The class stresses basic techniques in ballet, tap, and jazz, as well as proper strengthening and stretching techniques. Dancers learn basic kinesthetic and spatial awareness with others, and to communicate using proper stage terminology and directions. The class will perform as a group in the spring dance concert.
Beginning Character Dance (Grade 10)
This course focuses on daily technique in a variety of styles of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, and theatre dance. The students perform basic jazz technique including jazz center warm-up, progressions, turn and leap combinations, and jazz pirouettes. Basic tap technique include shuffles, flaps, buffalos, maxi-fords, and drawbacks. The students express ideas and emotions through movement and work on stage presence and style. The class will perform as a group in the spring dance concert.
Intermediate Character Dance (Grade 11)
This course builds on daily technique in a variety of styles of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, and theatre dance. The students work to understand ballet, jazz, tap, and theatre dance combinations by observation, imitation, and verbal instruction. This enables students to prepare for musical theatre dance auditions for college or performances. The class will perform as a group in the spring dance concert.
Advanced Character Dance (Grade 12)
This course continues to build on daily technique in a variety of styles of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, and theatre dance. The students will practice learning combinations of different styles quickly and correctly and preparation for college and professional auditions. The course utilizes mock auditions and audition scenarios as a tool for the students' understanding of the process. The class will perform as a group in the spring dance concert.
