Theatre

Theatre Foundations   (1 Period) - YEAR 1
Theatre Design and Production I-H - for TDP track  (1 Period) YEAR 2
Theatre Company I
Theatre Company 2-H  (2 Periods)

Sample Elective Classes

Theatre Design and Production II (highly encouraged for TDP YEAR 3 or 4)
Art I
Drawing and Design
Painting I

Course descriptions can be viewed in the High School Program of Studies

Theatre Arts

*Note: The schedule above is a sample only. Students should always review course selections with school counselors and refer to the current Charles County Public Schools High School Program of Studies.

CTE CourseCTE Recommended

Prior to the Audition

• Attend the Spotlight on CTE at McDonough High School Auditorium. (Recommended)
• Practice the audition component to be demonstrated at the audition.

Description of the Audition

Select and perform a 1 minute memorized monologue from the list below. Make sure to show us a character unlike yourself. After all the monologues and songs have been performed, the students auditioningwill participate in improvisation games to check willingness to try and creativity.

Audrey From Little Shop of Horrors

Oh no. It’s just a daydream of mine. A little development I dream of. Just off the Interstate. Not fancy like Levittown. Just a little street in a little suburb, far, far from urban Skid Row. The sweetest, greenest place-- where everybody has the same little lawn out front and the same little flagstone patio out back. All the houses are so neat and pretty. . .” Cause they all look just alike. Oh, I dream about it all the time. Just me. And the toaster. And a sweet little guy. Like Seymour

Alice (As in Alice in Wonderland):

What a lazy day. With nothing to do. Perhaps I should have followed my sister when she left. ” Come along. Back to the house and I’ll fix you some tea. Don’t you want some tea, Alice?” I replied, “Not yet dear sister. I’m going to stay here for a while. By the stream. In the sunshine. I’ll have my tea later, thank you” (she sighs) Oh I do wish something unusual would happen. Something very unusual indeed

Matilda from Matilda

He’s over there under those coats. Where he’s been for the last hour. You see, unfortunately, Nigel suffers from the rare but chronic sleep disorder, narcolepsy. The condition is characterized by the sufferer experiencing bouts of chronic fatigue and falling suddenly asleep, often without knowing or any warning at all. You see he fell asleep, and we put him under the coats for safety. Didn’t we? Didn’t we??

Narrator from PUFFS:

Heroes. Made. Not born. Except, sometimes...they are born. On a gloomy night, in a far away, magical land called: England. Ah! A giant! Aw, a baby. His parents: dead. But he lives. He is the boy who lives. He has a scar. On his forehead. Shaped like...you know. You get it? You are familiar with this boy? Forget about him. This story is not about him. Ah! Another orphan. His parents: also, dead. Killed in a freak chocolate frog accident. Please don’t ask. This boy is whisked away to live with his uncle in the even more magical land of Cattlepoke Springs, New Mexico.

Bruce from Matilda

Okay, look, alright, I stole the cake. And honestly, I was really, definitely, sort of almost thinking about owning up…maybe? But the thing was I was having a lot of trouble with my belly. You see, the Trunchbull’s cake was so good that I’d scoffed it down too quick and now it was beginning to fight back.

Audition Choices for Acting Pathway

Audition Rubric for Acting Pathway

Day of the Audition

• Arrival: Applicants should arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late may not be admitted into the audition.
• Attire: Performance Applicants should arrive wearing lose fitting clothing to be able to move for the Improvisation portion
  • Hair must be secured away from the neck and face. No loose jewelry (e.g. necklace, bracelet, hoop earrings) is to be worn for the audition.
• Accompanying Adult: Parents are to drop off applicants and return at the conclusion of the audition.
• Audition Duration: Approximately 3 hours.
• Unforeseen Illness or Emergency: If the applicant cannot attend or complete the scheduled audition due to an unforeseen illness or emergency, please immediately contact 301-934-2944. Please leave a detailed voicemail if the call is not answered up by a live operator. Please be aware that auditions will not be rescheduled without documentation verifying the illness or emergency.
• Inclement Weather: In the event that school activities are canceled due to inclement weather, auditions will be postponed. All emergency closing and cancellation information will be posted on the CCPS automated information line,301-934-7410 or 301-932-6655. Closings and cancellation announcements may also be made through local media.
   

After the Audition

• Students will be notified if callbacks (second round of auditions) are required.
• Students will be notified in February, or March if postponed because of inclement weather, if they are accepted into the program.

Prior to the Audition

• Attend the Spotlight on CTE at McDonough High School Auditorium. (Recommended)
• Practice the audition component to be demonstrated at the audition.

Description of the Audition

Applicants will be given the expectations and procedures for a professional dance class environment and be expected to implement and apply the given expectations as a part of the audition process.

Dance applicants will participate in a movement experience to determine the students’ potential for success in a Dance program. Students will be evaluated on their ability to perform given movements, create movement, and demonstrate the aptitude necessary for success in a rigorous Dance program. Candidates for dance will demonstrate their interest, ability, and talent at the audition through the following activities:

Movement Experience

Applicants will be evaluated for their ability to perform movement sequences as demonstrated by the instructor both in the center floor as a larger group and traveling across the floor in smaller groups. Applicants will also be evaluated on their ability to apply corrections/feedback when given by the instructor. Movement sequences will have one or more of the following concentrations:

• Coordination of upper/lower body
• Rotation/mobility of the hip
• Use of weight, plié, and gravity
• Alignment and mobility of the spine
• Head-tail connection in floorwork
• Ability to propel the center of gravity through space
• Ability to transfer weight
• Ability to demonstrate balance/control
• Ability to elevate/jump
• Line/extension/range of motion
• Musicality and rhythmic organization
• Performance quality/artistic expression
• Ability to sequence movement through a given combination

Composition

Applicants will be given a list of adjectives and action words to use in constructing a composition they create on their own and in constructing a composition that is structured in collaboration with others. Each applicant will be judged on his/her ability to answer the task, to demonstrate creative potential, and to project during the performance.

Structured Response

Applicants will be given a one-on-one opportunity to verbally articulate their interest in the dance program. They will be evaluated on their expression of interest.

Dance Audition Evaluation Components

Day of the Audition

• Arrival: Applicants should arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late may not be admitted into the audition. 
• Attire: Applicants should arrive wearing attire that is conducive to movement (e.g. leotard, footless or convertible tights, fitted white t-shirt, black dance pants).
  • Please, no jeans or restrictive clothing. 
  • Ballet slippers are the preferred footwear for parts of the audition and will enhance the candidate’s ability to perform certain movements. Ballet slippers will be made available for students who need them on the day of the audition.
  • Bare feet will also be required for parts of the movement experience.
  • Hair must be secured away from the neck and face. No loose jewelry (e.g. necklace, bracelet, hoop earrings) is to be worn for the audition.
• Accompanying Adult: Parents are to drop off applicants and return at the conclusion of the audition.
• Audition Duration: Approximately 3 hours
• Unforeseen Illness or Emergency: If the applicant cannot attend or complete the scheduled audition due to an unforeseen illness or emergency, please immediately contact 301-934-2944. Please leave a detailed voicemail if the call is not answered up by a live operator. Please be aware that auditions will not be rescheduled without documentation verifying the illness or emergency. 
• Inclement Weather: In the event that school activities are canceled due to inclement weather, dance auditions will be postponed. Postponed auditions will occur on the designated inclement weather date. All emergency closing and cancellation information will be posted on the CCPS automated information line,301-934-7410 or 301-932-6655. Closings and cancellation announcements may also be made through local media. 
• Letters of recommendation and portfolios are not accepted; applicants do not need to come prepared with choreography for the audition.

After the Audition

• Students will be notified if callbacks are required
• Students will be notified of their acceptance in February or March, depending on when they attended the audition.

Prior to the Audition

• Attend the Spotlight on CTE at McDonough High School Auditorium. (Recommended)
• Practice the audition component to be demonstrated at the audition.

Description of the Audition

Perform a 1 minute ( 16 bar ) selection of one of the provided musical theatre songs listed below. The instrumental track will be provided from YouTube or you may bring your own. After all the monologues and songs are done, the group will be asked to do some Improvisation games to check willingness to try and creativity.

Musical Theatre Rubric

• Pick ONE of the songs to SING with the provided accompaniment track that is in your vocal range and showcases your voice the best.
• You will sing 16 bars so make them your best. Once you have learned the song, memorize it, put a little movement to it, and create the character from the Broadway show—make sure you are making choices about who this character is and make it as different from you as possible.

Prior to the Audition

• Attend the Spotlight on CTE at McDonough High School Auditorium. (Recommended)
• Practice the audition component to be demonstrated at the audition.

Description of the Audition

Examples: Design, Scenic, Paint, Lights, Sound, Digital Projections, Costumes, Makeup, Stage Management, Set Construction, Theatrical Marketing and Properties.

PowerPoint Portfolio – You will present your PowerPoint technical portfolio from your application explaining what you created, your artistic process (decision making), and then answer questions about your work.  Each presentation should be no longer than 5 minutes with 5 minutes for questions.

Sample Technical Theater Portfolio

Day of the Audition

• Arrival: Applicants should arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late may not be admitted into the audition. 
• Attire: Performance Applicants should arrive wearing lose fitting clothing to be able to move for the Improvisation portion 
  • Hair must be secured away from the neck and face. No loose jewelry (e.g. necklace, bracelet, hoop earrings) is to be worn for the audition. 
• Accompanying Adult: Parents are to drop off applicants and return at the conclusion of the audition.
• Audition Duration: Approximately 3 hours.
• Unforeseen Illness or Emergency: If the applicant cannot attend or complete the scheduled audition due to an unforeseen illness or emergency, please immediately contact 301-934-2944. Please leave a detailed voicemail if the call is not answered up by a live operator. Please be aware that auditions will not be rescheduled without documentation verifying the illness or emergency. 
• Inclement Weather: In the event that school activities are canceled due to inclement weather, auditions will be postponed.  All emergency closing and cancellation information will be posted on the CCPS automated information line,301-934-7410 or 301-932-6655. Closings and cancellation announcements may also be made through local media. 

After the Audition

• Students will be notified if callbacks (second round of auditions) are required.
• Students will be notified in February, or March if postponed because of inclement weather, if they are accepted into the program.