Theatre Arts

In this course, students will push their theatre artistry to the max by exploring and studying Performance Stage Craft with Theatre Professionals! Learn to harness your acting and creative sensitivity to the world around you in this Beginner to Advanced Process Course. This course will provide students with a solid foundation in using one’s inner and external resources. The culmination of these skills will be employed in learning the basics of characterization and successfully landing a role.

The greatest resource in this course is the student, and their discovery and development of their potential to explore the human condition creatively as a student artist. Join us and become part of the mission to foster societal growth through theatre arts.

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Course Highlights

In Theatre Arts, students will...

• Gain an understanding of professional theatre industry standards through workshops with professionals in the field, applying industry knowledge to your theatre practice, and attending live productions at both large and small world-class theatres such as Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Definition, Rivendell, and Pegasus Theatre Chicago.
  
• Learn a diverse canon of American plays and playwrights to inspire their own original works such as original plays, monologues, and spoken word; compete in playwriting competitions; and participate in writer’s workshops guided by working playwrights.
  
• Develop a toolbox of acting techniques in comedy and drama rooted in the fundamentals of performance including voice, speech, and movement, and learn how to use their imagination while building an ensemble with other high-level high school theatre artists from around the city.
• Perform monologues and scenes for class, college auditions, and local and national competitions throughout the year which builds confidence for job interviews, public speaking, and leadership.
• Identify and understand what makes them stand out from other artists to give a foundation for future creative endeavors. Students will be prepared to audition for small and large theatrical and film productions by then end of the course.

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VIRTUAL GALLERY SPACE

CLASS SYLLABUS

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2020-2021

Alondra Morales as Aunt Ester from
"Gem of the Ocean"

Clalinda Davis as Canewell from
"Seven Guitars"

Annika Alfaro as Mame Wilkes from
"Radio Golf"

Gabriel Morgan as Sterling Johnson from
"Radio Golf"

Christiana Blout as Bynum Walker from
"Joe Turner's Come and Gone"

Tarrance Turner as Solly Two Kings from
"Gem of the Ocean"

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2019-2020

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2020 Virtual Spring Showcase

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Past Student Work

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Meet the Teachers!

Meet Sarah!
Sarah Mostad is in her 17th year of teaching in Chicago, her 14th in CPS. Ms. Mostad started with the Advanced Arts Program back in the fall of 2011 co-teaching Honors Theatre Arts.

Ms. Mostad won the Heart of The Schools Award with the Archdiocese of Chicago, was nominated for a Golden Apple Award, and has won several grants over the years to bring various projects to her various schools. Ms Mostad partners with several area theatres including Steppenwolf, Goodman, Court Theatre, Pegasus Theatre Chicago and has additional educational relationships with Victory Gardens and Rivendell theatre. As a board member, Ms. Mostad serves as president of the board with Pegasus Theatre Chicago and Secretary with Akvavit theatre, a theatre company dedicated to contemporary Scandinavian theatre. In her past life, Ms. Mostad assistant directed, stage managed, acted, directed, and produced around the Chicagoland area.

One of Ms. Mostad's greatest joys is seeing alums from the AAP program growing their careers in Chicago theatre scene and beyond.  They are bring their talents and activist hearts to rising generations of theatre artists. Be seen. Be heard!

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Meet Tyronne!
Tyrone Phillips is the founding Artistic Director of Chicago’s Definition Theatre and currently leading a capital campaign for the organization's new home in Woodlawn. Named one of Newcity's Players—the 50 leaders of Chicago’s theater, dance, opera and comedy culture of 2020, he is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has also studied abroad at Shakespeare’s Globe. As a first generation Jamaican-American, Tyrone is passionate about equity and inclusion in the entertainment industry and has completed advanced anti-racism training to lead change in our community through education. 

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