Drama
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT EXCELLENCE
Christmas Tree Fundraiser Form
The M.E. LaZerte Drama Program, under the direction of Pamela Schmunk, has been selected to perform in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world’s largest and most prestigious arts festival, as part of the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF).
Of the 2000 high schools in the U.S.A. and Canada that were invited to apply, M.E. LaZerte was one of the 40 winning schools!
M.E. LaZerte Drama is recognized by Theatre Alberta and within Edmonton Public Schools as “the little program with the big heart.” For five consecutive years, we have produced entertaining main stage and dinner theatre productions, a multitude of one act plays and yearly free children’s theatre shows for elementary schools. Based on this body of work, LaZerte Drama has received numerous CAPPIES, city and provincial festival awards. Now, our next honor will be to represent Canada, Alberta, and Edmonton by performing Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Edinburgh from August 13-26, 2011.
Parents and students are paying for half of the trip costs out of their personal resources, and the group is attempting to raise the other half of the costs, $70,000, through fundraising and corporate and private sponsorship. If you would like to support excellence in youth theatre and have your name attached to this exciting project, here is how:
- Financial Gifts. Make your cheque out to “M.E. LaZerte School,” and write “Scotland Trip” in the memo line. Edmonton Public Schools has a registered charity number, therefore a charitable donation income tax receipt can be given for financial gifts over $25.00.
- Donated Items. March 11, 2011 the school will host a silent auction and dinner theatre, with all proceeds going to support the trip. You can donate new items or gift certificates for services to be auctioned. Income tax receipts will be available for donated new items (not services) if you provide an original receipt or invoice to verify the value of the product.
- Entertainment Bookings. You can book a group of drama students to do face painting for children or to perform short entertaining scenes from plays at your company party or gathering.
- General Fundraising. If you are interested in purchasing any of the following items, contact the school.
- Frozen Cookie Dough: sales in November.
- $10 World Waterpark Tickets for January 21st, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m.
- March 11th Dinner Theatre and Silent Auction Tickets, $25.00.
All supporters will be recognized on the M.E. LaZerte School website, in school newsletters, and in the programs at all of the drama student shows this year, including being listed as supporters in the program in Scotland.
More information is available from:
Pamela Schmunk (Drama Teacher/Artistic Director)
Telephone: 780.408.9800
Email: pamela.schmunk@epsb.ca
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Drama 10
3 or 5 Credits
Prerequisite: None
In the five credit course you will develop a sound dramatic rehearsal process while honing the basic skills needed in performance: movement, improvisation, speech, theatre studies, technical theatre and basic acting. The three credit course involves the same basic skill development but is less in-depth. Students intending to proceed to Drama 20 and 30 are strongly encouraged to take Drama 10 for 5 credits.
Drama 20
3 or 5 Credits
Prerequisite: Drama 10
Drama 20 focuses on deepening the six required disciplines: speech, acting, technical theatre, theatre studies, playwriting and improvisation as a tool for characterization. In acting, the focus is on developing an individual acting process, taking physical and emotional risks with character and developing rehearsal discipline in a paired and small group context. Memorization of text is an expectation. Design and playwriting elements are incorporated into a final project: short story adaptation or Murder Mystery.
Drama 30 The Actor-Director
5 Credits
Prerequisite: Drama 20
Drama 30 consolidates the six required disciplines: speech, acting, technical theatre, theatre studies, playwriting and improvisation as an acting tool but places its greatest emphasis on directing. Ability to memorize text accurately is an expectation. Directing skills are cultivated through non-realistic and realistic projects, selected scene study (i.e. Greek, farce, contemporary realism), and direction of a play cutting or ten minute short for full-scale public performance.
Advanced Acting 15
5 Credits
Prerequisite: Drama 10 or instructor permission
Advanced Acting 15 students join with Advanced Acting 25 & 35 students to form a theatre company/ensemble. Advanced Acting 15 is geared to the grade 10 student keen to perform in productions to enrich his/her class work in drama. The fall main stage production takes place in late November and M.E. LaZerte’s One Act Play Festival takes place in early April. The rehearsals/class runs Monday through Thursday 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Mondays are mandatory for everyone; otherwise, rehearsal schedules are given bi-weekly.
Advanced Acting 25
5 credits for 125 accrued hours
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Advanced Acting 15
Advanced Acting 25 is ideal for grade 11-12 students interested in applying drama class work to acting in major productions. Note that all AA 25 students are expected to be exemplary role models in the ensemble, as well as coordinate one area of Tech on the fall show (e.g. Stage Management, Design, Costumes, Public Relations, Sets, Lighting or Sound, CAPPIES leadership, or Running Crew.)
The fall main stage production will take place in late November and LaZerte’s One Act Festival in early April. Both provide ample opportunity to accrue instructional hours for the senior Advanced Acting student.
The Advanced Acting class will run Monday through Thursday 3:30-5 p.m. Rehearsal schedules will be issued monthly but Mondays (Full Company Call) are mandatory.
* All Advanced Acting students are expected to participate in the Student Discovery Series through the University of Alberta’s Drama Department to attend and critique four major productions.
Advanced Acting 35
5 credits for 125 accrued hours
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Advanced Acting 25
Advanced Acting 35 provides the senior Drama student with two key components: performance opportunities with greater challenge (i.e. the main stage production) and the opportunity to direct a one act for LaZerte’s One Act Festival. These two expectations combine to challenge and consolidate the AA 35’s creative potential and leadership. The fall main stage production will take place in late November and LaZerte’s One Act Festival in early April. Both provide ample opportunity to accrue instructional hours for the senior Advanced Acting student. The Advanced Acting class will run Monday through Thursday 3:30-5 p.m. Rehearsal schedules will be issued monthly but Mondays (Full Company Call) are mandatory. All Advanced Acting students are expected to participate in the Student Discovery Series through the University of Alberta’s Drama Department to attend and critique four major productions.
Please Note: All AA 35 students must submit One Act proposals, including student written works, to the instructor by October 1, 2010 to be considered for the One Act Festival.