Theater
Share the Stage And Own the Moment.
Lower School: Playful Performance
The performing arts are woven into everyday classroom life. Students regularly take the stage — however small — through in-class skits, dramatic read-alouds, and short performances that build confidence and a love of storytelling. These experiences give young learners a playful and low-stakes introduction to theater.
Middle School: Communicate Confidently
- Grade 6: Students develop characters, learn dramatic structures, and explore setting and time period, with an emphasis on collaboration, rehearsal, reflection, and confidence.
- Grades 7 & 8: Students expand their skills through technical craft, monologue performance, personal storytelling, comedic scenes, one-act plays, improvisation, and Theatre of the Oppressed.
- Musical theater: A joyful and challenging opportunity to prepare for auditions, develop healthy vocal technique, read music, and create believable characters who carry their story through song.
Upper School: Theater and Performance Electives
- Acting: Learn scene study, monologues, character development, and stage presence.
- Musical Theater: A deep dive into the genre’s history and performance practice, culminating in a cabaret-style showcase that highlights each student’s growth and artistry.
- Combat Theater: Movement, stage combat, sword fighting, and ensemble work combine to create dynamic performances.
- Technical Theater: Hands-on experience in set construction, lighting, sound, and stage management.
Co-Curricular Theater Opportunities
Our co-curricular theater program offers students the chance to participate in fully staged productions that bring the Dawson community together. Each year, students may audition for the Fall Play and Winter Musical, with opportunities available onstage and behind the scenes.
Students interested in focused performance opportunities may also participate in One-Act productions, which offer a more intimate way to explore character, storytelling, and ensemble work. Technical theater students play a vital role in all productions, serving as designers, crew members, and stage managers.
