Theater Arts Courses Offered at Huntington High School
The Huntington High School curriculum guide contains a pair of interesting theater arts courses. The two half-year, half-credit classes are among a long list of English Department electives students can choose from.
English teacher Michael Schwendemann, who also serves as the school’s drama club advisor, has helped develop the two courses into the popular ones they are today.
“Mike Schwendeman is a masterful performer and educator who combines both talents as our eminent instructor of theater arts,” said Joseph Leavy, district director of humanities. “Students who experience 'Schwendy's' methods leave class enriched and motivated to explore their inner actor."
“Theater Arts A: Modern Drama” can be used to fulfill graduation requirements if taken as a senior. Students in grades 9-11 can only take the class as an elective.
“Modern drama trains audiences for contemporary theater,” according to a course description. “Through the examination of plays and the possibility of attending performances, students are brought to the awareness that [an] audience plays a crucial and critical role in bringing a play to life.” The course requires a final research project.
“We discuss a various number of philosophies,” Mr. Schwendemann said. “Existentialism, surrealism, naturalism and how they were taken out of the theoretical and put on the stage through the use of language, setting, music and movement with authors spanning the 20th and 21st centuries, exploring the past thereby giving us the ability to move forward.”
In “Theater Arts B: Theatrical Performance,” students develop their skills in performance. “Through improvisation and scene work as well as study of theory and utilization of games and exercises, students explore their potentials as actors, gain poise and self-awareness,” states the course description. “Students must keep an actor’s journal.”
To enroll in the second course, students must successfully complete the first one. The second one requires videotaped final projects as well as various performances.
“The class culminates in a performance of a play dealing with a topic of social relevance,” Mr. Schwendemann said. “In the past we have dealt with bullying making friends, accepting others for who they are and this spring we will tackle the subject of cyber-bullying. The students have always responded to my classes with great enthusiasm. Kids teaching kids is a joy to watch in action.”
Mr. Leavy said that “Theater Arts A” has an enrollment of approximately 20 students this fall. “Theater Arts B” has a smaller number of students participated, which is appropriate “for the type of performance activities and workshops this class provides.”
For more information about these courses or any other Huntington High School English course contact Mr. Leavy at 673-2079 or jleavy@hufsd.edu.
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