GHS Theatre Arts

About Our Program:

The GHS Foothiller Players perform in 3 full-scale productions every year, and you can be a part of the action! We are recognized by the San Diego Theatre Educators Alliance as a Bravissimo Distinguished Theatre, meaning we have exceeded the requirements to be named one of the most comprehensive programs in the county. The Foothiller Players have received numerous District, County, and National awards for outstanding acting and technical performances, as well as First Place in many regional competitions such as the San Diego Shakespeare Festival and Drama Fest. Throughout the program, students also learn theatre technical skills including lighting, sound, and costume design, set construction, and other elements of theatrical production.

 

By their Senior year, most students are ready to audition at the college level and continue on to prominent collegiate theatre programs, many receiving performance scholarships. Many students go on to study Theatre Arts at the University level. Students have been accepted to BFA Theatre programs at UC Irvine, UCLA, Hartford, Montclair, and Concordia among many other outstanding Universities.

 

Additionally, as a part of the International Thespian Society, students are inducted as members into the Society in an ongoing basis.

 

All students, regardless of enrollment in a theatre class, are eligible to audition for the Fall and Winter productions and participate in Drama Club. However, the theatre classes are excellent preparation for auditions and will significantly increase your chances of being cast in a show. The Spring production is reserved for Advanced Theatre students only.

 

*Any student may audition for the Fall and/or Winter productions provided he/she meets Academic Eligibility requirements. Rehearsals are generally co-curricular and rehearse after school. Although many students choose to audition, working on the productions after school is NOT mandatory for students enrolled in Theatre classes.

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All courses meet the University of California Visual & Performing Arts  “f” requirement.

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Theatre Arts 1/2  (Beginning Theatre Arts)       (Course Number L290)

(Open to all students)

When you enroll in Theatre 1/2, you become a part of the award winning Foothiller Players! As a student in the Theatre program you will learn pantomime, improvisation, scene analysis, oral interpretation, theatre history, acting theory, playwriting, audition technique, and stage combat, among other areas of study. Theatre Arts 1/2 curriculum adheres to both California State Standards and National Common Core Standards for Theatre Arts.

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Theatre Arts 3/4 (Intermediate Theatre Arts)

Open to students who have successfully completed Theatre Arts 1/2 with at least a ‘B’. Theatre 3/4 provides opportunities for students who would like to develop their knowledge of technical theatre, directing, and expand their performance abilities. Visiting artists from the La Jolla Playhouse and Old Globe will frequently hold specialized workshops with Theatre 3/4 and above. These classes also take field trips to see several professional shows throughout the year. Previous shows include The Wiz, Memphis, Peter and the Starcatchers, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and many more!

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Theatre Arts 5/6  & Theatre Arts 7/8 (Advanced Theatre Arts)

By audition only, highly selective, open only to 10-12th grade students with successful completion of at least one previous year in Theatre Arts at GHS. These advanced classes become a performance ensemble for the Spring production. Students focus on prominent performance movements such as Viewpoints and Meisner Technique in addition to applying other modern theories of performance to their craft.

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Technical Theatre 1/2/3/4

Technical Theatre covers design basics of set, props, costumes, makeup, masks and puppetry, lights, sound, stage management, publicity, box office, house management and Theatre History.  In addition to design projects and assignments, students receive hands-on experience as a member of the design, building and running crews for the Theatre productions.  Students may also serve as crews for outside performances and assemblies.  This course serves as a hands-on, lab and project-based program giving the students real world experience in the elements of Technical Theatre. 

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Honors Theatre Conservatory 

Course fulfills the requirements and benchmarks of the National Core Arts Standards and concerns itself with upper level exploration of Theatre Arts. In this rigorous, fast paced course, students are expected to build on previous scaffolding in prior theatre courses on topics which may include, but are not limited to: scene study and analysis including relevant acting theories, playwriting, directing, production design and implementation, classical theatre including Shakespeare, dramaturgy, musical theatre, voice, movement, and theatre history. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Theatre 3/4 or teacher recommendation.

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CCAP Theatre (Acting 1/Acting 2/Voice and Movement)

In collaboration with Grossmont College, we are proud to offer college credit to our Sophomore-Senior students who satisfy the prerequisite requirement of taking Theatre 1/2. Students taking this course will graduate with up to 9 fully transferrable college credits from Grossmont College.