Theatre

Acting, voice, and dance: a well-rounded education.

Theatre magnet program

The VPA Theatre Department is a multifaceted, comprehensive training program for aspiring actors and performers. Offering courses in acting, voice, and dance, the program is designed to enhance and broaden the skill set of the actor. Every performance major will take classes in all three performance areas. Along with nurturing performance techniques, instruction in theatre history, directing, and theatre literature challenge and engage students in a well-rounded education. Students also learn and practice auditioning strategies to help them navigate the competitive professional and collegiate worlds of theatre.

Entire cast in medieval garb taking a bow
Two costumed students singing

Our Theatre magnet program builds every student.

Enrollment in the Theatre Department requires a substantial commitment of time: rehearsals run Monday through Saturday for most productions, and auditions for the first play begin in the first week of school. While it is not impossible to enjoy other extracurricular pursuits such as sports and clubs, it is also not easy to balance the theatre schedule with other major hobbies if one is cast in productions. Parents and students considering the program should be willing and able to meet rehearsal schedule needs.

While performing is clearly an objective of the theatre instruction, students are also challenged to practice self-reflection; explore the human experience, contemplating such aspects as motivation, fear, and inspiration; and through collaborative projects learn the skills of teamwork, leadership, and project management. An underlying philosophy of this department is “theatre builds character,” and students emerge as graduates who are self-aware and perceptive contributors to society.

Singer making a dramatic entrance through fog
Instructor with jazz dancers on stage
Students in James and the Giant Peach
Singer on balcony
Student pulling cart in Fiddler on the Roof
Actor crouched and appearing somber
Full cast and crew image on stage
Students singing and dancing in a nun costume
"Hello, Dolly!" singer in a feathered head dress next to dancers
Complex dance sequence in Fiddler on the Roof

What time commitment should be expected?

The program produces four mainstage productions annually—two musicals and two straight plays, traditionally one classical and one contemporary play—to offer students a variety of performance opportunities that allow them to further develop their skills and apply the techniques learned in class in real productions. Participation in these productions is through auditions; students not cast for a production are expected to participate in the technical aspects, and through this experience, performers gain knowledge of directing and stage management, along with other production-oriented skills.

Theatre Course Progression

Students spend three periods each day in their discipline.

Year 1

Acting 1/Drama 1 

Physical acting and warm-up techniques, audition skills and techniques, basic pantomime skills, monologue development, voice and diction technique, survey of dramatic literature, dramatic critique introduction to musical theatre skills ( voice and dance), theatre history with emphasis on Greek theatre. 

Technical Theatre and Intro to Musical Theatre 

1st Sem: Stage layout, lights, sound, set design and set building, stage management. 

2nd Sem: Dance and voice techniques and skills; basic music theory: vocabulary, meter and note/rest values. 

Year 2

Acting 2/Drama 2 

Meisner and Chekov acting techniques, Basic Neutral Mask, monologue and scene work, theatre history: Commedia Del’Arte, Improv, continued audition and performance skills and technique, contemporary dramatic literature. 

Musical Theatre 1 

Music and voice. Dance and movement skills and technique. Music theory, vocal development, music theatre audition skills, physical warm-up and dance styles and techniques. Choreography and collaborative project-based learning. Musical theatre repertoire and dance history. 

Year 3

Acting 3/Drama 3 

Playwrighting, improv and directing skills. Classical literature and acting styles including Shakespeare and Greek. College prep. 

Musical Theatre 2 

Music and voice. Dance and movement skills and technique. Music theory, vocal development, music theatre audition skills, physical warm-up and dance styles and techniques. Choreography and collaborative project-based learning. Musical theatre repertoire and dance history. 

Year 4

Acting 4 Honors/Drama 4 

Application of audition and acting techniques; College preparation; Modern dramatic literature; Collaboration and project based learning in a variety of group and individual projects; theatre pedagogy. 

Musical Theatre 3 

Music and voice. Dance and movement skills and technique. Music theory, vocal development, music theatre audition skills, physical warm-up and dance styles and techniques. Choreography and collaborative project-based learning. Musical theatre repertoire and dance history. 

Our Instructors

  • Sunny Smith

    DEPARTMENT CHAIR

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  • Johnnie Mnich

    THEATRE MUSIC DIRECTOR

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  • Cynthia Ashford

    THEATRE DANCE INSTRUCTOR

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Learn More

We are happy to help answer questions! Interested families can contact us to register for an info session, book a tour or set up a shadow day for your student:

Mr. Justin Adler, VPA Assistant
justin.adler@sarasotacountyschools.net
(941) 355-2967, ext. 65244

Ready to Apply?

Every application requires two parts: an online application and an in-person audition.