1. Murrow High School Studio Theater Program
Gayle Zeitlin, A.P. Communication Arts
(718) ext. 2600

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Sample Student Schedule
9th Grade
11th Grade

5. 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

6. 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

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

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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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.

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