Eighth Grade

 

Course Description: Students continue to apply ensemble skills through pantomime, improvisation, and acting. They design and create simple scenery, costumes, props, lighting, sound, music, and/or makeup for dramatic presentations, using research skills as needed to gather resources. Students begin to create original scripts and adopt appropriate literature into scripted material for presentation.

 

Creating

TA8.CR.1 Organize, design, and refine theatrical work. a. Differentiate the physical, emotional, vocal, and social dimensions of a variety of characters. b. Compare the relationships and interactions between characters by analyzing character motivation (objectives, obstacles, strategy, action, stakes, outcome). c. Incorporate dramatic elements through improvisation. d. Connect theatre vocabulary to the application of theatre performance. e. Identify and demonstrate both ensemble and leadership skills in the rehearsal process. f. Evaluate the effectiveness of artistic and technical elements used in a theatre production. g. Design and create scenery, props, costumes, lighting, and sound. h. Assume different roles and responsibilities in the rehearsal process.

 

TA8.CR.2 Develop scripts through theatrical techniques. a. Classify different points of view in a story. b. Identify, analyze, and articulate the structure of a script. c. Utilize improvisation techniques to generate script ideas. d. Use the dramatic writing process to generate a script.

Performing

TA8.PR.1 Act by communicating and sustaining roles in formal and informal environments. a. Demonstrate the physical, emotional, vocal, and social dimensions of a character in different types of theatre performances (e.g. rate, pitch, volume, inflection, posture, facial expression, motivation, physical movement). b. Demonstrate appropriate ensemble skills throughout a performance. c. Use appropriate listening and response skills during performances.

 

TA8.PR.2 Execute artistic and technical elements of theatre. a. Incorporate artistic and technical elements into a theatre production. b. Resolve conflicts in technical applications.

Responding

TA8.RE.1 Engage actively and appropriately as an audience member. a. Evaluate the role and responsibility of the audience as an integral part of media productions. b. Articulate why the relationships between the audience and performers are critical to the success of theatre productions. c. Examine the differing audience relationships (e.g. various venues, performance styles). d. Demonstrate appropriate audience behaviors.

 

TA8.RE.2 Critique various aspects of theatre and other media. a. Recognize the role of dramatic criticism in media production. b. Utilize specific criteria to articulate dramatic criticism. c. Apply principles of dramatic criticism as both an audience member and participant. d. Implement appropriate changes based on dramatic criticism.

 

Connecting

TA8.CN.1 Explore how theatre connects to life experience, careers, and other content. a. Investigate and prove common themes and structure among theatre and other disciplines. b. Defend how theatre reflects life. c. Incorporate multi-disciplinary aspects into a theatre performance. d. Identify and analyze professions associated with different forms of production (e.g. director, stage manager, designer, technician, playwright, actor).

 

TA8.CN.2 Examine the role of theatre in a societal, cultural, and historical context. a. Compare and contrast how theatre evolves through time. b. Examine how culture is defined through theatre and other media. c. Apply advanced research skills to obtain appropriate cultural and historical information to rationalize artistic choices (e.g. costuming, make-up, the setting of a time period in relation to the play). d. Discuss the theatre’s role in reflecting the culture of a society.