Murrow High School Studio Theater Program Gayle Zeitlin, A.P. Communication Arts gzeitlin2@schools.nyc.gov (718) 258-9283 ext. 2600

Program Description The mission of the Edward R. Murrow High School Theater Program is to challenge students to become well-rounded, engaged, inquisitive theater artists. Throughout our student-artists' four-year sequential course of study all students will gain experience as actors, writers, readers, dancers, designers, directors, and critics, and will experience a variety of roles as members of an ensemble and cast.

Sequence of Required Courses 9th Grade – Theater Classics 1 and Theater Classics 2; Movement for Actors; Theater Arts 1 and 2 10th Grade – Acting Studio; Advanced Acting; Shakespeare 11th Grade – Devising Theater; Theater Genres; Physical Movement 1 and 2 12th Grade – Theater Research and Criticism; Senior Seminar; Ensemble Theater

Sample Student Schedule 9th Grade 11th Grade

Theater Electives Offered in the English Department Shakespeare Musical Theater Playwriting Advanced Playwriting Directing and Script Analysis Commedia Dell’arte/Masque Class Ensemble Theater Theater Business and Management

Theater Electives Offered in the Technical Theater and Music Departments Set Construction Advanced Set Construction Sound and Lighting Design Advanced Sound and Lighting Design Set painting Costuming Advanced Costuming Stage Makeup Musical Orchestra Variety of Choruses Variety of Bands and Orchestras Vocal Techniques Piano

Theater at Murrow Musicals Straight Plays Directors’ & Writers’ Workshop Ensemble Theater Production Dance Ensemble SING!

All of our sets and costumes are worked on and created by students under faculty direction.

Auditions Students will be asked to answer 5 questions in writing. Students will have as much time to answer the questions as needed. Once they have completed the questionnaire, students will be escorted to an audition room. Students will perform a one-minute monologue. We ask that the monologue be age appropriate. Then students will perform an pantomime (improvisation with no words), which they will have had time to prepare earlier. Students will have a choice from a few prompts.

What are we looking for? Monologues Preparedness –knows lines well-lines appear to be memorized, accurate and flow easily Enunciation - shows excellent expression, differentiation in pace, inflection, resonance, quality and enunciation. Stage Presence - appears comfortable performing. Good emotional commitment and energy. Vocal Dynamics - conveys a range of emotions for character Physical Dynamics - uses their body (gestures, business, blocking) to help reinforce what they are saying; body movement is usually textually motivated Comprehension - Choices indicate the actor has read the script and has a general understanding of the story/ characters Imagination and Commitment - consistently stays in character; often appears confident, believable, passionate and willing to take creative risks

What are we looking for? Pantomime Actor usually uses their body (gestures, business, blocking) to help reinforce the scene Their body movement is usually action motivated Actor consistently stays in character Appears confident, believable, passionate and willing to take creative risks

Ranking Rubric 50% Audition (72 points) 50% Academics (72 Points) Monologue – 56 points 7th Grade Grades – 60 points Pantomime – 8 points ELA – 15 points Questionnaire – 8 points Social Studies – 15 points Math – 15 points Science – 15 points Attendance – 6 points Tardiness – 6 points We then rank the students according to the overall number and send the rankings off to the office of enrollment. The office of enrollment is the one who makes the match and sends offers to students. We do not extend the offers ourselves.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Gayle Zeitlin at gzeitlin2@schools.nyc.gov