DRAMA AT WESTOWNE 

​"Having a regular creative outlet is not just part of a well-rounded education - it is essential for a child's emotional health and well-being. Producing a show brings the arts together and provides growth opportunities for all varieties of learners. For example, kinesthetic learners engage their bodies through dance, linguistic learners dive into the written and spoken word, spatial learners tackle set and costume design, and musical learners revel in the show's score." MTI (Musical Theater International)

Literacy

Students increase both reading and writing skills through script reading, immersing themselves in the story, memorizing lines, and taking notes. Inventing mnemonics to remember lines, mastering tricky scene changes, and adjusting staging allow students countless opportunities to further develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Team work

Theater requires extensive creative input from all participants. Members build unity by working together to rehearse, construct, promote, and perform the show. Every role, on and off stage, is vital for the show's success. Empathy is developed while actors work on their character development and story creation. Communication skills are refined as students learn to articulate their thoughts and questions while carefully listening to directions for performance improvements. Community awareness can expand as students see parents, community members, and vendors help create sets, props, and costumes.

Self-Confidence

The rehearsal and show process helps young performers learn to trust their abilities and discover how to take creative and emotional risks. When participants are fully engaged, a production has the most dynamic performances. It allows students to make countless interpretive choices to create a detailed and fictional world for their audiences.