This residency will explore the use of drama techniques as motivation to improve and strengthen Language Arts skills. Students will experience literacy focused activities and be able to express, communicate and integrate that learning into successful application.

The program can be designed to align itself with any piece of the Language Arts curriculum and can be designed to be grade or skill specific. A theater professional will work with students and faculty through theater games, improvisations, story-telling, characterizations, writing and performing techniques.

In this course, students turn a book into a musical play. Over a 36-week period, each class will choose a portion of the book, write a script, create lyrics, and compose music to accompany the lyrics. During this project, students will examine songs, operas, and Broadway shows and learn how words and music can complement one another. The end product will be a performance with the various classes singing, acting, and providing musical accompaniment.

Using 6 different Operas from 6 distinct eras, we have created a program that will teach the basic elements of Opera, i.e. libretto, music, singers, etc. We also examine the Social and Historical factors surrounding the lives of each Composer.