Drama

About Our Drama Program

Lakeridge’s drama program strives to provide quality theatre education to diverse student-artists who seek intellectual, physical, and emotional challenges as performers, designers, technicians, and patrons. The program encourages all students to engage in various theatrical experiences, creating artistic work across multiple genres, producing high-quality school theatre, offering constructive criticism, and fostering connections for a deeper understanding of each other. This holistic approach ensures that students not only develop their craft but also grow as individuals, building empathy and collaborative skills that extend beyond the stage.

Lakeridge High School Presents

Chicago, Performing in Fall 2024

Drama Courses

Our outstanding drama program offers comprehensive courses and extracurricular activities to nurture students' theatrical talents and provide rich performance opportunities. Acting 1 introduces students to acting, theater terminology, and history, emphasizing physical movement, verbal skills, and character creation through scenes, monologues, and improv techniques. Acting 2 builds on these foundations, delving deeper into various performance styles and theater history, including an intense Shakespeare Scene Unit. Acting 3 further develops students' acting skills, focusing on improvisation, character and scene analysis, and monologue repertoire, culminating in staged readings of student-developed one-act plays. The Musical Theater Workshop immerses students in musical theater, focusing on character performance through song, with a semester-end showcase of Broadway-style reviews. Performance Seminar provides an in-depth study of monologues and scenes in a Master Class format, with performances at the semester's end. Theater Tech offers hands-on experience in set design, props, costumes, lighting, and sound, with opportunities to serve as backstage crew for school productions.

Drama Extracurricular Activities

Beyond the classroom, the drama program's extracurricular activities are equally impressive. The Fall Musical is a large-scale production involving students from all grade levels, with rehearsals held after school and performances in early November. The Winter Play, performed in February, rotates genres annually and is aimed at upperclassmen, though all students are encouraged to audition. The Spring Play, traditionally the Freshmen/Sophomore Play, is student-directed, providing leadership opportunities for upperclassmen and performance roles for underclassmen. LHS 2nd Stage offers students a deeper understanding of theater through student-produced shows in the Black Box Theatre, allowing them to explore modern and edgy productions, playwriting, and various aspects of theater production. These extensive offerings ensure that students gain a well-rounded and immersive experience in the dramatic arts, fostering creativity, teamwork, and a deep appreciation for theater.