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  1. PROGRAMS
  2. APA Jr.
  3. Drama

Drama

Drama

To learn more about the Drama and Musical Theatre classes, watch the following Dwyer Middle School Drama video. 

Having a regular creative outlet is not just part of a well-rounded education – it is essential for a child’s emotional health and well-being. Producing a show brings the arts together and provides growth opportunities for all varieties of learners. For example, kinesthetic learners engage their bodies through dance; linguistic learners dive into the written and spoken word, spatial learners tackle set and costume design; and musical learners revel in the show’s score.

Besides being incredibly fun, musical theater helps young people develop many of the skills necessary for success in today’s world:  

Self-Confidence: Throughout the rehearsal and performance process, young performers discover how to take creative and emotional risks and learn to trust their abilities. 

Literacy: Students increase reading and writing skills at their own pace by immersing themselves in the story, reading and re-reading their scripts, memorizing their lines, and taking notes at rehearsal.

Communication: During rehearsals, students learn how to articulate their thoughts and questions and carefully listen to directions to improve their performances.

Imagination: Theater is most dynamic when the imaginations of its participants are fully engaged. Students make countless interpretive choices in design and performance to create a detailed, fictional world for their audiences.

Empathy: Through character work and story creation, young performers explore the lives of others. First-hand perspectives of new circumstances challenge prejudices and aid in developing well-rounded students and citizens. 

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: The amount of work required to put on a show successfully makes all participants valuable troubleshooters. Whether inventing mnemonics to remember lines, adjusting staging to show off everyone’s faces, or mastering a tricky scene change, students have countless opportunities to tackle challenges creatively.

Self-Discipline: Through prompt attendance at rehearsals and learning lines, music, and choreography on schedule, students acquire valuable self-discipline techniques and become reliable and trustworthy members of an ensemble. 

Community Awareness: A theatrical production provides ample opportunities to connect with our families and neighbors. Students can engage parents, community centers, and local vendors to help create sets, props, costumes, and publicity.

Public Speaking: Whether performing for their peers during rehearsal or for their school and local community during a performance, students gain expertise and confidence speaking in front of a group. 

Curricular Integration: A musical provides a rich and engaging springboard for students to explore many subjects in their classrooms and discover connections among various learning modes. Our ShowKitÒ came with show-related lesson plans in multiple subject areas.

Teamwork: Theater requires extensive creative input from all its participants. Students build an ensemble by working together to rehearse, construct, promote, and perform their show.  Every role – onstage or behind the scenes – is vital for the show’s success.

As you can see, our students will gain valuable life skills through their participation our productions.

2022-2023 School Year APA Jr. Info

The auditions for Ethel Dwyer Middle School’s Academy of Performing Arts Junior will be in person at a date to be determined.

Drama (Read on)
Musical Theatre (Read on)
Technical Theatre (Read on)
Show Choir/Chamber Choir/Orchestra/Band (See Mr. Reyes)

Technical Theatre

  1. Complete the APA Jr Application below. E-mail it to ebrock@hbcsd.us
  2. Arrange for an interview with Mrs. Chappell Brock

Musical Theater (7 & 8 only)

  1. If you need to redo your answers, submit a new elective choice form
  2. Once you submit the electives form, please complete the APA Junior Form. (It is super easy.)
  3. Prepare for your audition.

You need to prepare to perform 3 things for your audition:

  1. Perform a 30-second Monologue
  2. Sing a 30-second Broadway Musical song of your choice.
  3. Perform a dance, taught at the in-person audition.

Application are available here.

  • Click on the button above. E-mail Mrs. Chappell Brock at ebrock@hbcsd.us with any questions

  • Yes. Choose it in the electives online form and choose it instead of PE.

  • All sixth-graders must take at least 1 semester of Beginning Drama or a semester of choir before they may be placed in an acting class of another level. 

  • No. It is a mixed class with multi-level instruction.

  • At a date TBD in June. 

  • If you are planning on going to APA at HBHS and doing musical theatre there, we strongly suggest that you either take Mrs. Chappell Brock's dance class instead of PE at Dwyer, or that you enroll in either jazz, hip-hop or ballet after school. Also, we encourage you to take choir for at least a year or enroll in private vocal lessons after school. it is assumed that you will take Mrs. Chappell Brock's drama class to build your acting skills from the start.

  • E-mail Mrs. Chappell Brock at ebrock@hbcsd.us