Students in the Theater and Speech Arts program work with drama, poetry and prose, bringing them to the stage for audiences small and large. By exploring the rich experience of the actor and interpreter, we explore literal meaning, dive into theme, subtext and connotation. We also guide students to explore the ways in which language, sound patterns, rhythms and structure intertwine in great works of theater and literature to derive meaning, and the ways in which a speaker can use layers of sound and other details to create their own artistic moment. Students delve into the lives of characters, discovering motivation and intention...losing themselves in the acting process.

The practical benefits from this training are evident in the child’s early studies, from “nailing” an English exam to excelling in poetry and reading aloud. Students attain variety in vocabulary and comprehension, immersing themselves in theatre and literature, from classic to contemporary works, and from poetry to prose. Theater and Speech students acquire a broad sensibility and insight into the human experience. As students seek to understand and convey the meaning of pieces ranging from Winnie The Pooh to Ode to the West Wind, and bring characters to life, they discover layers of thought, emotion and meaning that profoundly affect who they are and how they view the world. Within every piece of theater and literature, we find ideas that resonate deep within us that help us find a bit of ourselves.

Public speaking and storytelling are major components of the Theater and Speech Arts program that benefit students in training them to think, create and shape their own ideas. With the skills they are learning from this program, they will share their ideas with an audience in a manner that is in the moment, alive and responsive. These skills are very powerful. Public speaking training is the element of the program that is most closely tied to success in academic and work situations. Students learn to craft and deliver a message that will influence and persuade an audience, mastering the main goals that parents seek, speaking effectively and achieving success.

Storytelling is a similar presentation style that may be even more powerful than public speaking. Storytelling accesses personal stories and our own repertoire of experience. The great benefit in storytelling for students is their ability to shape a narrative, embellishing it with unique details, and to connect it with their audience. Storytelling is our most authentic means of communication, and it helps students find their own voice and personal speaking style.

Students in the Theater and Speech Arts program work with drama, poetry and prose, bringing them to the stage for audiences small and large. By exploring the rich experience of the actor and interpreter, we explore literal meaning, dive into theme, subtext and connotation. We also guide students to explore the ways in which language, sound patterns, rhythms and structure intertwine in great works of theater and literature to derive meaning, and the ways in which a speaker can use layers of sound and other details to create their own artistic moment. Students delve into the lives of characters, discovering motivation and intention...losing themselves in the acting process.