Theater Studies and Life Lessons

As part of the development of the Ann Belsky Moranis School of Arts, Ohr Torah Stone's Shavei Rachel High School offers a matriculation program in theater arts. The course of study fulfills the state-required curriculum, which includes performing onstage, creation of a monologue, cast productions, history of theater, and exploration of inner spirituality through the dramatic arts.

All 10th-grade students at Shavei Rachel take a course in Introduction to Theater, which specializes in communications and art. "The main goals of the course are helping students search for their inner selves, gain confidence and overcome the shyness and awkwardness that is so common at this age," explains drama teacher Nurit Goodman. "We explore body language and intonation, and work on developing communication skills. With the help of music and simple props, students learn to express themselves through role playing and improvisation."

The course also focuses on theatrical production, including direction, stage design, lighting and makeup. "Studying drama means learning to work as a team member, and cooperating to produce a dramatic production," stresses Goodman.

Beyond the Footlights
The class attends a number of professional productions, after reading and analyzing the scripts. After the performances, they discuss the performances and the actors' interpretations of specific roles. "A high point of the course was meeting with an actress after her performance in "Six Actors in Search of a Play" by Pirandello, and learning how she prepared for her role," the drama teacher says.

Effects of the theater course are clearly apparent in the personal development of individual students. For one girl, the course's exercises were a means of working through a traumatic event she had experienced but never confronted. And in end-of-the-year feedback, another young woman wrote, "My experience in drama has contributed a lot to my life. I have so much more self-confidence in every aspect of school!"