The seventh grade drama classes finished their first unit last week on public speaking.  To wrap things up, they spent some time reflecting on their experiences and what they had learned; specifically, they focused on their strengths and weaknesses as a speaker.  To read these insights and enjoy their final speeches, check out any of the 7th grade students blogs!  Below are just a taste of some of the outstanding final speech performances.

Justin S.:  ”How to Pitch in Baseball”

JustinSdemo

Aria S.:  ”How to Make a Palacsinta”

Ariademo

After bringing our Shakespearean sonnet performances to a close in our 8th grade drama classes, we took some time to try our hand at writing sonnets of our own!  Students had to follow the structure of a sonnet:

• 14 lines (3, 4-line stanzas and a rhyming couplet)
• iambic pentameter (10 syllables per line)
• a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg
• and a topic focused on one idea or problem that gets solved or finalized in the couplet.

All students handed in their attempts and I (Mrs. Roche) picked what I thought were the 5 best entries in each class period.  From there, I read the 5 nominees to anonymously to the class, and the class voted on the best sonnet.  Overall, there were many strong and inspiring entries–I was very impressed.  The two winning sonnets (one from each class) are transcribed below.  Enjoy!

Period 8 Sonnet Winner:  Mick R.

Period 9 Sonnet Winner:  Jamie S.

The spring play, “The Straight Skinny,” has wrapped auditions.  Check out the cast list at the spring play website!  Click here to go to the site!

Students in the 8th grade drama class are currently working on memorizing and performing a Shakespearean sonnet.  This assignment combines our Shakespeare unit with our speech unit:  Oral Interpretation.  Students are required to pick one of the four sonnets we have worked on in class:  18, 29, 73, or 130.  They are currently working on memorizing their choice.  We have spent time interpreting each for their message, tone, and technical elements.  Now, it’s time to get ready to perform!  In Friday’s class, we were drilling sonnets for memorization.  Here’s a rotating set of pictures from both classes.  Enjoy!

Due to the winter weather, all after-school activities  have been cancelled today.  Therefore, the spring play information meeting will be held TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH  in Mrs. Roche’s room after school.  Please try your best to come.  If you cannot attend, please see me as soon as possible.  Thanks.

A reminder to all students interested in auditioning for the Spring Play, “The Straight Skinny.”  There will be an information meeting after school tomorrow, Tuesday, February 9th, at 3:30 in Mrs. Roche’s room.  It is very important for all interested in auditioning to attend.  If you would like to audition, and cannot attend this meeting, be sure to see Mrs. Roche in person ASAP.  See you there!

Today in our 8th grade Drama classes, we were treated to 3 fabulous performances by the freshmen in New Trier High School’s Theatre One class.  They had worked to adapt several classic short stories into 20-minute dramatic performances.  The actors were strong, the stories, engaging, and our 8th graders were enthusiastic and appreciative of their work.  We ended the time with a question-and-answer session, in which we gave feedback to the actors; but it turned into the actors telling the 8th graders all the life-giving reasons to take theatre in high school.  It was a wonderfully encouraging time!

Below are some photos of the New Trier performances.  THANKS NTHS!!!!

It’s that time of year again!  Time to be thinking about auditions for the Spring Play!

The play this year is a drama, “The Straight Skinny.”  If you are interested in knowing more about it, including audition dates, rehearsal schedule, and relevant announcements, visit the play website at http://avoca37.org/springplay/ or click on the link here on my page at the right.

As the final project for first semester’s 7th graders, each student memorized, costumed, and performed a monologue, or one-person acting speech.  Monologues were taken from larger plays or monologue collections.  We focused on creating characters that were real–breathing and feeling as we really do in different moments of our lives.  With realism the top priority, many students were able to make a great leap in their acting abilities.  Below are a few of the outstanding performances seen in class.  Great job to all my first semester 7th graders!  See you in 8th grade!

This is Brian’s monologue of an ambivalent high-achiever (Period 2).

Brianmonolweb

This is Jordi’s monologue of a nervous girl about to donate blood (Period 2).

Jordimonolweb

This is Andrew’s monologue of a first…umm…date? (Period 3)

Andrewmonolweb

At the end of our semester, the 8th graders challenged themselves to expand their acting range into the dramatic genre.  Students were assigned to work in pairs on preparing, costuming, and directing a scripted scene from a play, with a focus on realistic dramatic emotion.  Many students did their best work they’d done in the three years in Speech and Theatre class. Performances were excellent, all around.  Below is an example of one of the strong performances, courtesy of Samantha and Max in period 9.  It is from the scene, “Who’s Mad?”

MaxSamanthaweb