"The true purpose of arts education is not necessarily to create more professional dancers [or actors] or artists. [It’s] to create more complete human beings who are critical thinkers, who have curious minds who can lead productive lives.”
-Kelly Pollock
Washington Township High School's Theatre Arts Academy is a four-year, comprehensive program designed to foster students' personal, intellectual, and social development, while arming them with skills and experiences necessary for potential future careers in the performing arts. The Academy focuses on the exploration of the human condition through dramatic literature and performance. Students in the Academy will develop a greater awareness of themselves and an appreciation and understanding of the arts and the world around them.
The Academy also provides students with learning experiences that develop the 21st-century skills of communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, which are needed for students to succeed in the competitive global economy and workplace. Students will be able to take part in a number of events including class productions, all-school productions, statewide dramatic competitions, and academy showcases. Articulation agreements are also in place with Camden County College and Rowan University, whereby students can earn dual credit for college while enrolled in high school classes. Additionally, guest artist residencies and partnerships are a staple of the program. Partnerships exist with Rowan University, Camden County College, Paper Mill Playhouse, and more. |
Core Academy Courses
Dual Credit Agreements are in place with Camden County College and Rowan University for all levels of Theatre Academy Courses
Theatre Academy I (Grade 9) is a fast-paced, hands-on course that will introduce our incoming academy students to the foundations of theatre and performance. Through improvisation and basic acting technique, students will develop imagination, spontaneity, creative risk-taking, responsiveness, ensemble skills, and problem solving. History of the theatre exposes students to the script analysis of classical works and leads them to an understanding of the development of theatre. We strive to create well-rounded artists who are as comfortable performing on stage in improvisation, plays, or musical theatre. For the objectives and advanced mastery of this course to be fully achieved by the individual student, all students enrolled in this course are expected to participate in an end-of-year showcase, which will require commitment during after-school hours.
Prerequisite(s): Theatre Arts Academy acceptance.
Prerequisite(s): Theatre Arts Academy acceptance.
Theatre Academy II (Grade 10) provides our second-year academy students with the opportunities to build on the foundations necessary to clarify their interests and passions in the arts, specifically theatre. They will explore audition technique through cold readings and prepared monologues. Emphasis will be on interpreting drama, producing drama, and the fundamentals of play production while developing and reinforcing vocal skills, acting techniques, and improvisation. Musical theatre will be introduced as well as a more in-depth study of character analysis. For the objectives and advanced mastery of this course to be fully achieved by the individual student, all students enrolled in this course are expected to participate in a touring children’s theatre production, which will require commitment during after-school hours.
Prerequisite(s): Theatre Academy I and recommendation of the academy instructor.
Prerequisite(s): Theatre Academy I and recommendation of the academy instructor.
Honors Theatre Academy III (Grade 11) In this advanced-level, performance-based course, students will be exposed to advanced acting techniques and styles, complex group scene work, theatre history, directing for the stage, and theatrical research, critique, and dramaturgy. Additional aspects of the course may include writing and individual assistance on college audition materials such as audition monologues, songs, resumes, headshots and website portfolios in addition to acting for film. For the objectives and advanced mastery of this course to be fully achieved by the individual student, all theatre students are expected to participate in a class play production, which will require commitment during after-school hours.
Prerequisite(s): Theatre Academy I, Theatre Academy II, and recommendation of the academy instructor.
Prerequisite(s): Theatre Academy I, Theatre Academy II, and recommendation of the academy instructor.
Honors Theatre Academy IV (Grade 12) is an advanced-level performance course designed to continue the study of theatrical and production skills gained in all previous academy courses. Through a group ensemble, students will continue to study advanced acting techniques, improvisation skills, American Drama, directing, scene study, and elements of theatre production. Preparation for the academy exit examination will also be a vital component of this course. For the objectives and advanced mastery of this course to be fully achieved by the individual student, all students enrolled in this course are expected to participate in a full-scale fall production, which will require commitment during after-school hours.
Prerequisite(s): Theatre Academy I, Theatre Academy II, Honors Theatre Academy III, and recommendation of the academy instructor.
Prerequisite(s): Theatre Academy I, Theatre Academy II, Honors Theatre Academy III, and recommendation of the academy instructor.
How to Apply
Auditions for the Theatre Academy Class of 2029 will occur on
Saturday, January 4th, 2025, from 10am-2:30pm
Please sign up here for an audition time slot.
Saturday, January 4th, 2025, from 10am-2:30pm
Please sign up here for an audition time slot.
During their appointment time on the day of auditions, applicants will register, take part in a group warm-up, and then will deliver a short monologue from memory and an additional performance piece for our panel of adjudicators in a private session.
- Registration: Parents/guardians are asked to drop off their children promptly at the time assigned. When they arrive, students will be asked to sign-in and have a digital photo taken. Since all audition sessions are closed to the public, parents/guardians should arrange to pick up their children at the conclusion of the session.
- Group Theatre Exercise: Applicants will participate in a group warm-up session, which will consist of theatre exercises and improvisation. This session will not be judged as part of the audition.
- Monologue Performance: Monologue must be chosen from the Washington Township Theatre Academy Monologue Bank. Please use the rubric included in the packet to prepare, and be sure to consult our tips as well Monologues will be performed once, then applicant will be given direction from one of the adjudicators. Applicant will then perform the monologue for a second time, applying the direction that was given to them.
- Additional Performance Piece: Applicants will prepare either an additional contrasting monologue, which can be chosen from any play, movie, or monologue book, or a 16-32 measure cut of a song from a Broadway musical. If you are choosing to perform an additional monologue, please be sure that it contrasts from the one you chose from the Washington Township Theatre Academy Monologue Bank (i.e. your first monologue is a comedic monologue, so you are choosing a dramatic monologue for your additional performance component). If you are choosing to perform a song from a Broadway musical, be sure you are using a 16-32 measure cut, and that you have the backing track, with no additional vocals, available to play from your phone. An accompanist will not be provided, and no a capella auditions will be accepted. Please use the rubric included in the packet to prepare, and be sure to consult our tips as well.
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If you have any questions about the audition process, please do not hesitate to reach out to
Mr. John Stephan, Theatre Director, at [email protected].
Mr. John Stephan, Theatre Director, at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the audition requirements for your program? Students must select and memorize a monologue from our Monologue Bank and prepare an additional performance piece: either an additional contrasting monologue, which can be chosen from any play, movie, or monologue book, or a 16-32 measure cut of a song from a Broadway musical. They should present both performances with full commitment and understanding of the character. Students will also be required to participate in various improvisational and movement warm ups during auditions.
- Who is allowed to audition? Incoming ninth graders residing in the Washington Township School District are eligible to audition for acceptance into the Washington Township High School Theatre Academy.
- What is the main focus of the your program? The main focus of the program is straight theatre, with various components of acting for the camera, theatre history, technical theatre, and musical theatre.
- What if I have little or no experience? Students attending the program come from varying levels of experience. Some of our students may have vocal coaches, acting coaches, and dance instructors, while others have hardly been on stage before, but wish to learn and study the craft. The main requirement, along with a basic aptitude for the arts, is a passion for theatre arts. Many of our students discover a desire to pursue play writing, technical theatre, design, directing, etc. However, they must all take performance exams throughout the four years of attendance.
- What can I do with a certificate from this program? A background in theatre prepares you for a variety of choices at the collegiate level, for example many of our students have an interest in going to school for acting, while others explore related fields in communications, radio, film, television, arts administration, education, and pre-law. Further, the skills obtained by studying the arts are transferable to any and all careers and will only benefit the student in a multitude of ways.
- Must students pass the exit exam in order to graduate? Students must complete a performance and a written exit exam in their senior year utilizing their training and educational experience during their 4 years in the Washington Township High School Theatre Academy. The exit exam is tied to the final grade in the senior year as well as allows the student to obtain their certificate of completion in the arts at graduation.
- What is on the exit exam? The exam is in two sections: a performance exam and a written exam.
During the performance or practical exam, students must perform a memorized monologue and a cold reading of another monologue for adjudicators who are theatre professionals and/or college professors. The written exam consists of information covered during the four-year program which may include theatre history, acting techniques, vocal and movement techniques, and aspects of theatre production.