In grade 5, the Theater Arts become an extracurricular activity. Each year, the 5th and 6th grade classes collaborate with each other to produce a play (for the past couple of years this has been a “Shakespeare in the Park” production in the school’s courtyard). The 7th grade serves as the ensemble for the middle school capstone performance: the 8th grade musical. These experiences have proven to unite students through a shared investment in the final product as well as a deeply emotional bonding experience. Students with a desire to learn more about the art of theatre and performance are encouraged to take part in these productions, as well as a number of theatre electives that are available during the school day. 

 

The Upper School provides students with several formal performance opportunities throughout the year. Students are given the opportunity to perform in a full-length play in the fall as well as a full-length musical in the spring. Some years also include a shorter production that is chosen, produced and directed by a senior student, or a mini-course at year’s end that is theatre related. Students also have the opportunity to choose between several theatre electives over the course of the school year. Each of these experiences inspires students to improve the skills they have been working on throughout the course of their theatrical career at Ellis.