Fine and Performing Arts

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Drama and Musical Production Program

The art form of theatre represents people in time and space, their actions, and the consequences of their actions. Theatre education expands students' ability to understand others and communicate through language and action, and provides a unique opportunity for integrating the arts by linking dance, music, and visual arts elements in performance and production. Theatre includes acting, improvisation, storytelling, mime, playmaking and playwriting, direction, management, design and technical theatre, and related arts (Massachusetts Arts Curriculum Framework, 1996).

Drama I (fall) and Drama II (spring) are offered to students in grades 6-8 as part of the Arts Block elective program. Students may take one or both drama electives. During the winter trimester, students may elect to participate in producing a musical, which is performed for the public in March.

In Drama I, students explore improvisation, storytelling and story structure, and the elements of both drama and theater. We begin each class with a warm-up and focus exercise. This may include relaxation and guided imagery, movement, and sound. Students explore both silent and spoken improvisations, narration of simple tasks, animal improvisations, and mime in understanding the nature of drama. As a class, they build community and trust. In the first part of the term, Drama I students choose picture book stories and rehearse them to perform for students in grades K-2. As the term progresses, students work on scenes from contemporary plays. The class culminates in the presentation of these scenes.

Drama II is open to new and continuing students. Group improvisation, monologue, and scene study form the basis of this class. Students learn to listen and respond to each other in imaginary situations. They explore the use of voice, gesture, and emotional recall in projecting emotion in scenes and in creating characters. Mid-term projects are individual monologues presented to the class. Final projects comprise scenes for invited audiences.

The BFCCPS Department of Fine and Performing Arts prides itself on presenting a fully staged musical every year. This requires an enormous output of person-power by the teaching staff, as well as a great commitment from the students. All students in grades 6-8 who wish to participate are cast. Generally, more than a third of the middle school student population is in the cast, and others help with sets, lights, and sound. Auditions are held at the beginning of the second trimester. The audition committee, led by drama director Ms. Betty Lehrman and music director Mrs. Carol Babineau, determines which students are best for which roles. Particular attention is paid to the ensemble, who sing, dance, act, and form the backbone of every show. 

The BFCCPS community works together to create the technical aspects of each production. Technical director Mr. Benjamin, Ms. Lehrman, and art teacher Mr. Perna design the sets, lights and sound. Parent volunteers are invaluable, coordinating costumes, props, publicity, rehearsal volunteers, and the cast party. Music teacher Mr. Matthew Boday coaches the set crew.  The cast, their siblings, parent volunteers and staff work together to create the scenery and props which bring the production to life.

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Department of Fine and Performing Arts 
announces the 2009-2010 Middle School Musical,

 Performances will be held Friday and Saturday evenings, March 5th & 6^th, 2010 at 7:00 pm,

and will be open to the public.