It's a Whole New Year!!

Hello to all Ranch hands old and new and welcome to the blog for the award winning SWGHS Theatre Department and the 2013-2014 school year!  We have many exciting adventures to look forward to this year.  Let's begin with a few house keeping items:

But first an (inspirational?) message from the author of The Fault in our Stars John Green!

1. The Southwest Theatre Space is still operational.  If you are Intermediate Theatre or Honors

Advanced Theatre and your account is still active there is no need to restart your account.  I am slowly, but surely cleaning out old students and updating the Wiki.  Beginning Theatre this page will be a constant reference for vocabulary, homework and calendar updates you will need to sign up for access unless you only want to have read-only access.  Please utilize the link connected to your class when accessing assignments, notes and/or vocabulary.

2. Edmodo will be used for all classes to turn in written assignments.  Quizzes and instructions will be posted on Edmodo and the Wikispace as well.  Each class has their own page within Edmodo.  Please be sure to check Edmodo as well as the Wiki at least twice a week for updates.

3. Parents the blog corbinsclassroom will be update at least bi-weekly with information about what is occurring in each class.  Look for the name of your student's class in BOLD and read below.  Normally at the beginning of the blog there will be general announcements for everyone then specific information for each class below.  You may wish to subscribe to this blog so that you will receive email notifications when it is updated.

4. Follow @swghtd for more realtime updates.  Whereas the blog may be updated bi-weekly, the Twitter account will be updated at random in case of rehearsal schedule changes, assignment due date changes or simply as reminders to parents and students of what materials might be needed for class the following day.  You do not have to have a Twitter account to view the updates, simply set the link as a favorite in your browser on the device of your choice (or all devices) and check it at least once a day for updates.

Beginning Theatre
The syllabus will be handed out on Monday.  You will have until Friday to turn it in for a 100 test grade.  After the syllabus is checked off, it is your responsibility to keep track of it so that you might know the units of study.  Please get a folder that is designated specifically for Beginning Theatre because you will turn in assignments in this folder and it will be used as your continual assessment portfolio.
Monday we will go through basic procedures and expectations and begin our unit on basic improvisation.  One BIG RULE... "DO OR DO NOT!  THERE IS NO TRY!" - Yoda
If you simply choose to do the activity you will have a blast in this class so do not hold back because then to paraphrase Master Yoda, "You will fail because you don't DO!"  Simply doing the activity fully will be awesome and you will continue to grow with each experience.  Remember do not be afraid to try new things and make bold choices; fear is the path to the dark side of the Force.

Intermediate Theatre

Oscar Wilde

The syllabus will be handed out on Monday and due on Friday for a 100 test grade.  Remember to hold onto your syllabus because it has all the needed information for this semester.  Please get a folder that is designated specifically for Intermediate Theatre because you will turn in assignments in this folder and it will be used as your continual assessment portfolio.  We will review procedures and expectations on Monday as well as learn and rehearse new expectations for the semester.
Monday we will also review the first basic rules of improv.  Throughout the week we will review and learn other improvisational techniques.  From there we will move into studying Oscar Wilde and The Importance of Being Earnest.  The language in Comedy of Manners is quite witty and has many double entendre's.  We will use many techniques and practices in order to best understand the language through vocabulary as well as cartooning.
Comedy of Manners through the play.  Do not get discouraged because we will all work together to workshop and understand the play.  Remember just as The Dark Knight fell, you will, but you must ask, "Why do we fall?"

Honors Advanced Theatre
Welcome back to old members and welcome to new members of i.e.!  Remember you are the example, the standard, the goal to which all others strive to emulate.  You must hold this ideal and represent yourself well on and off campus.  You are a reflection of years of work and what it truly means to be a part of the SWGHS Cowboys Theatre Department!
We will review the syllabus on Monday and it is due for check-off on Friday for a 100 test grade.  Please have a folder designated for this class as all work will be placed in this folder and collected throughout the semester.  NCTC will be briefly discussed as well as the performance calendar for the year.  NCTC costs $450.00 initially, not including bus transportation; therefore it is not set in stone as to whether or not we will be attending, but let's see how we can get there!
Monday we will also begin to work on our collaborative playwriting projects.  If these plays are well written and well received they will be performed on the SWGHS stage.  Let's knock this one out of the park and as the bar was set high last year!
Remember, if you are not cast as an actor on stage you will be required to work on crew, marketing, design or the many other tasks required to put up a production.  It is going to be a great semester... LINE MEMORIZATION WILL BE A MUST CHECKED EARLY AND OFTEN!!  You have reached the pinnacle of your high school theatre career and the expectations are high, I know you will meet and exceed them.  We will have ups, downs, lefts and rights, but as long as we work together we will be successful, you just gotta be willing to "take the hits!"

Let's all have a great semester this fall.  I am looking forward to seeing all of you on Monday!!