Middle School Theatre

Students in 6th and 8th grade have the option of choosing theatre as their fine arts elective. 6th grade drama meets under the instruction of Amanda Ledbetter. 8th grade theatre is instructed by both Amanda Ledbetter and Matthew Hendrix. Students learn about the fundamentals of theatre within the classroom through various activities, skits, rollplaying, and writing assignments.

Humans, as beings created in the very image of God, are blessed with talents and abilities, as well as a need for creative outlet in which to display those gifts. Recognizing these truths, Middle School Theatre Arts provides students with an opportunity to explore their talents and express their feelings through the theatrical arts, both on and off the stage. By learning to better utilize their talents, students can discover ways in which they can glorify God by worshipping through rehearsal and performance.

Middle School Theatre Arts 6 and 8 teach the basic fundamentals of theatre, including terminology and skills needed to create believable characters and to develop a confident stage presence, with the 8^th grade class delving deeper into these areas. The courses provide an introduction to the world of theatre, allowing students to explore this realm of creative arts and to develop skills that can be used not only on the stage, but also in their lives. Course objectives are met through various activities designed to stretch the students, such as role-playing, journaling, script writing, and in-class performances. Opportunities for the students to perform outside of the classroom include skits performed as part of our chapel worship experience.

For more information, please contact Amanda Ledbetter or Matthew Hendrix.

8th Grade Theatre performs in MS Chapel October 1st:

God made each of us with a special longing in our hearts. This longing is to find meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and joy in our lives. Augustine is credited as being the first person to call this a "God-shaped hole" in everyone. He recognized that only God could truly satisfy this longing that He created in us. Satan, however, strives to win little victories by keeping that space in our hearts and souls empty. He brings distractions into our lives that turn our focus away from God and toward the meaningless offers of this world - alcohol, money, vanity, and many others. When we find ourselves still searching for what will make us complete, we feel lost and desperate, which may lead us to desperate actions of harming ourselves. Jesus died to set us free from all that. His blood has washed us clean and allows us to come back into a relationship with Him, as He desires of each of His children.

This skit serves to illustrate this fact of human life. God creates a human in His own image and enjoys fellowship with her. But it isn't long before Satan brings distractions and deception into her life. With each new temptation, the girl drifts further away from God, who keeps calling her back to Him. When she tries to get back to Him on her own, she finds herself beaten down by the world and its sins. But when she stops relying on her own strength and cries out to God, He rushes in, rescues her, and restores her.

Scenes from the 8th grade theatre class' performance in MS Chapel on October 1st, 2008: