Welcome To WRT!

The West Ranch High School Theater Department has showcased a variety of performances that demonstrate the students' talents and the department's commitment to quality theater. Now dubbed “West Ranch Theatre,” that tradition of quality and excellence continues!

Our Mission

West Ranch Theatre consists of five major components and student groups: Performers, Crew, Tech and Tech Designers, Stagecraft and Competition Core. These groups are organized within three Classroom Settings: Theatre III production, Theatre Stagecraft and Theatre II Advanced Performance. Theatre I stands alone as an introductory class in which students develop and determine their interests and skill sets. The goal of West Ranch Theatre is to treat the classroom as a working theatre company, where productions and performances are student led, with guidance from the Teacher/Program Director. This offers as close to a real world and career oriented experience as possible.

History

The Theatre Arts program began in 2005, the same year that the West Ranch campus opened. Originally staging their plays and musicals in classrooms, the department eventually moved its productions to the school theater after its completion in 2009. Since its first production, the program has put on numerous musicals, student-written plays and much more, aimed at both families and traditional audiences. Chris Cook was the founding director, dubbing the group “West Ranch Drama.” During this time, the program established its roots and enjoyed many successes, both competitively and at the box office. Since Mr. Cook’s time, WRT has undergone a few iterations, Including “West Ranch Theater Arts,” as well as being led by knowledgeable and dedicated Theater Masters such as Michael T. Smith and Justin Barnes. In 2023, Mr. Jarod Spradling took over as the new Program Director, adopting new branding and a new direction.

Future Endeavors

West Ranch Theatre plans to explore new avenues in the years ahead. This includes a functional scene shop and technical theatre curriculum, more vigorous regional theatre competition, California Thespian membership, student playwriting and playwrights’ festival and a structured three production mainstage season. By focusing on student artist growth and quality productions, West Ranch Theatre aims to instill in its students a lifelong passion for the arts. Equipping them with the skills, confidence, and creativity to succeed in their future endeavors, whether on stage or behind the scenes.

WEST RANCH THEATRE COURSES

THEATER ARTS 1A: INTRODUCTION TO AND APPRECIATION OF THEATER ARTS

Grades 9-12

Theater Arts 1A/B is a year-long introductory level course designed to expose students to the theatrical arts.

Semester 1 focuses on Improv, theatre games, basic components of theatre, stagecraft basics and script reading and analysis. Other structured activities include introductory stagecraft, costuming, makeup and skit comedy.

Semester 2 focuses on the three main theatre disciplines: Acting, Directing and Playwriting offering learning opportunities in each one of those roles. These activities will include scene work, staging, blocking, characterization, sketch comedy, world theatre, basic script writing, introductory Shakespearian theatre and Sketch comedy. Emphasis is placed on the collaborative nature of the theatrical arts while building on students’ creativity, confidence, dedication, personal responsibility, and the ability to work as an ensemble.

THEATER ARTS 2 A/B: ADVANCED PERFORMANCE

Grades 9-12

(*If student has not completed Theater Arts I A/B or is an incoming Freshman, student will need to interview with instructor to determine placement.)

Theater Arts 2 A/B is a rigorous one-year course for intermediate students who want to further their training in acting and performance in a scene-study and workshopping environment.

Semester 1 offers instruction crafted as a traditional Broadway/Hollywood style workshop with scene-partnered study of scripted works. Building from California Arts Standard (CAS) for Theatre performance, activities include detailed script analysis, detailed vocal and physical characterization, identifying and utilizing emotional values and emotional intelligence and the processing of director/playwright intent. Students will study a variety of scripted works including, Classic/Shakespearean works, American Contemporary works as well as Modern and Cultural works. Students will Learn and apply a variety of study methods including Meisner, Strasberg and Checkov.

Semester 2 focuses on theatre production, playwriting and acting for other mediums. Students will act as a theatre troupe and produce, direct, act, design and perform scripted works as a collaborative group. Additionally, students will learn Playwriting and the process of writing for the stage. These activities include, freewriting, Standard American Formatting (SAF) for script, spatial relationship, effective dialogue, story structure and perception shift. These activities culminate with a staged reading of student works. Lastly, students will learn the practice of transferring performance for the stage to other mediums such as film television and other media.

*Students in Theatre II will have opportunity to compete in local and regional theatre festival competitions.

*Students in Theatre II will be eligible to audition for theater productions on our mainstage.

THEATER ARTS 3 A/B: ADVANCED THEATRE ARTS PRODUCTION

Grades 9 -12

(*If student has not completed Theater Arts I A/B or Theater Arts II A/B, student will need to interview/audition with instructor to determine placement.)

Theater Arts 3 A/B is a rigorous one-year course for advanced theater students pursuing an intensified study of the theatrical arts through play production. Students will participate in, rehearse and perform in the school’s fall play, winter performances and spring musical productions. Students will audition for each production. In addition to stage performance, students will also make contributions in the technical areas of play production including stage management and design in the areas of sets, costumes, makeup, props, lights and sound. Emphasis is placed on the collaborative nature of the theatrical arts which requires creativity, dedication, personal responsibility, and the ability to work as an ensemble.

*Attendance to after school rehearsals and performances are a requirement of this course.

*Students in Theatre III will have opportunity to compete in local and regional theatre festival competitions.

THEATER ARTS 3 A/B: THEATRE STAGECRAFT

Grades 9-12

Theatre Stagecraft is a course designed to train students in the crafting of technical theatre. Activities will include props and set construction, carpentry, lighting and sound operations, painting and texturing techniques and theater maintenance. This is a hands-on course that gets students working with the tools and techniques of theatrical production in a practical way supporting West Ranch Theater play productions.

Students will also learn the best practices of theatre safety and will be certificated in theatre safety through a course offered by NFHS (The National Federation of State High School Associations) in conjunction with the Educational Theatre Association (ETA.)

West Ranch Theatre

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