“It’s not about you!”
Carol Cadby
Chair, Theatre Arts Department
At Yorktown High School, the emphasis of the
Theatre Arts Program is on collaboration and ensemble building. The department’s motto - “it’s
not about you!” - means that each student’s worth is
Recent Shows & Virginia High
School League Awards
An Adaptation of Julius Caesar (1999)
YORKTOWN
HIGH SCHOOL
1st Place District, 2nd Place Regional, 1st Place State
Bury the Dead (2000)
2nd Place District, 2nd Place Regional
Antigone (2001)
Nevermore: Edgar Allan Poe the Final Mystery (2001)
Subway Dreams (Original Play, 2001)
1st Place District, 2nd Place Regional, 3rd Place State
Carnival (2002)
Mosquito (Original Play, 2003)
2nd Place District, 5th Place Regional
Our Town (2003)
The program also emphasizes the writing of original
material. Throughout the four year program, students write, stage and present performance pieces to
express themselves, validate their ideas and develop
a strong self-concept.
The Secret Garden (2004)
Governing Alice (2004)
2nd Place District
The Tempest (2005)
measured by their contribution to the group. The
program strives to involve each student in the group
process and recognizes the value of his or her efforts regardless of natural talent or skill level. The
Yorktown Theatre Department is a safe and nurturing place in which students expand comfort zones,
challenge perceptions and experiment with ideas.
2nd Place District
Blood Wedding (2005)
The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail (2005)
Metamorphoses (2006)
Fear Itself (Original Play, 2006)
Seussical (2006)
Oedipus (2007)
1st Place District, 2nd Place Regional, 3rd Place State
Dracula (2008)
2nd Place District, 2nd Place Regional, 3rd Place State
Peter Pan (2008)
The Imaginary Invalid (2009)
1st place District, 1st place Regionals
Nora’s Lost (2010)
2nd Place Virginia Theatre Association
1st Place District
Invitees to SE Theatre Conference
James and the Giant Peach (2010)
One Person Shows (2001-2010)
Design by Debra Basilis
Photography by Jim Coates
Print Production by the APS Print Shop
By focusing on ensemble, experimentation, original
work and self-awareness, the Theatre Arts Program
enables high school students to develop highquality, conceptually creative productions that challenge and excite both the actor and the audience.
1st Place District, 4th Place Regional
Animal Farm (2007)
Theatre Arts Class
The Theatre Arts Program at Yorktown is committed to teaching students all aspects of theatre including acting, directing, playwriting and technical theatre. Students are part of an ensemble that stays intact as they progress through the conservatory style
training where each year-long course builds upon
the prior year’s work. Performance opportunities
are available for all students throughout the year.
The hallmark of the program is its experimental
approach to theatre. In the classroom and during
rehearsals, students are encouraged to take initiative
and think “outside the box” to find new interpretations of plays and original representations of ideas.
This process challenges their perceptions of the
world and broadens their understanding of theatre.
East of the Sun, West of the Moon (Original Play,2002)
Theatre Arts Class
The Theatre Arts Program
Half hour one act monologues prepared and performed by
students. Between 15 and 20 performances per year portrayiing characters such as Mohammed Ali, Joan of Arc, Vivien
Leigh, Helen of Troy, Imelda Marcos and Spiderman.
Theatre Arts
Program
“It’s not about you!”
5201 North 28th Street
Arlington VA 22207
Phone: 703-228-5414
http://yhspatriot.yorktown.arlington.k12.va.us
Theatre Arts Program Boosters:
http://www.yhstheater.org
Metamorphoses, 2006
Theatre Arts Courses
Technical Theatre Courses
Theatre Arts I is an introductory year where students
build a foundation in team work, ensemble acting, voice,
movement, choral readings, improvisation, scene
study, character analysis
and monologues.
The
goal of the class is to establish a nurturing, safe
environment where students can experiment with
all aspects of theatricality
and take creative risks
without fear of judgment.
Technical Theatre I is an introductory survey course designed to expand the student's knowledge and skills in technical theatre. Students focus on at least three areas: lighting, set construction, costuming, make-up, properties, publicity and stage management. Working as a team, students
engage in analyzing plays to understand conceptual design,
and provide technical support for a variety of theatrical
events.
Technical Theatre II & III expand and build on the theatre production knowledge gained the first year. Students
tackle more complex theatrical design concepts, assume
responsibility for at least one area of production and provide technical leadership and management of those techni-
Partnerships & Guest Artists
The Theatre Arts Program
continually works with professional theatre organizations
and guest artists to enhance
student learning. Recent partners include Signature Theatre, Arlington Cultural Affairs,
The Comedy Spot, and
George Mason University.
Recent guest artists include
Bowen McCauly Dance, Shizumi (Japanese dance/theatre),
Mark Jaster (mime), Scott
Julia Tasheva (Puppetry)
Kerns (stage combat), Dana
Fisher (sewing), Marcia Gardner (playwriting) and Rick
Weinard (set construction), Julia Tasheva (puppetry) and
Wyckham Avery (Commedia Del’Arte).
Theatre Arts I Class
Theatre Arts II is a skills-development course where
students learn about acting, characterization, auditioning, playwriting, directing and self-development. As a
culminating project, students write, stage and act in a
five-minute “opposite character” monologue. The class
also produces a contemporary American play with accessible content and text. Recent productions include
Check Please, Cut, This is a Test, Curtain Call to Arms,
and Candid Shots.
Imaginary Invalid, 2009 (top left); Dracula, 2007 (top right);
Oedipus 2006 (center and bottom right) and Seussical 2006
(bottom left).
Theatre Arts III is a skills-enhancement year dedicated
to advanced acting techniques, advanced directing and
further self-development.
Acting
and directing techniques include
Hagen, Meisner, John Converse,
Viewpoints and Laban Efforts exercises as well as Neutral/Character
Mask work. Students are also involved in the production of a textdriven, classical play with high concepts and heavy emotions. Recent
productions include Dracula, Oedipus, Blood Wedding, Eumenidies,
Antigone and The Visit.
Theatre Arts IV is a performance
year where students apply knowledge from preceding theatre courses
to develop an original 30-minute
One-Person Show based on an historical character. Each student researches and writes a script, designs
sets and properties, and produces and
performs their piece in school and in
a professional performance venue.
Peter Pan, 2008
All-School Production and Virginia
High School League Competition
Once a year the Theatre Arts Department produces a show
with participation from the entire school. This is a venue
for students at all levels to enhance their skills, and further
develop techniques taught in the classroom. In addition to
the all-school show, advanced theatre students perform a
play in the Virginia High School League One Act Play
Competition.
Theatre IV One Person Shows
Independent Study is available to selected students by application during their final year in the program. Students
pursue studies related to their individual areas of interest
such as directing, playwriting, stage management, and theatre education.
Nora’s Lost (2010)
Fear Itself (Original Play), 2006
Community Outreach
The Theatre Arts Program’s collaborative approach reflects
Yorktown’s commitment to
community outreach. Theatre
students engage younger students in their education: each
year, they perform matinees of
their class shows and conduct
theatre workshops at local middle and elementary schools.
Theatre IV students also take
their One-Person Shows to local
performance venues. Outreach
encourages younger students to
become involved in theatre as a
life-changing experience and
public performances provide
entertainment for the local community.
The Visit, 2006