Theatre

Headed by Broadway veteran Mrs. Leslie Goddard Baum our award-winning McNicholas Theatre Department boasts 4 levels of theatre class education for academic credit - a full complement of theatrical training and education during the regular school day.

Students are trained in all disciplines of the theatrical arts, including acting, theatre history, basic technical theatre, stage management, directing, producing, theatre criticism, playwriting, and audition and interviewing techniques.

In addition to classroom experiences and showcases, students can participate each year in our mainstage performances, as well as our active Improv Troupe and all-school Talent Show.

Professional workshops from various industry professionals, including Master Classes in Theatrical Design through Northern Kentucky University and visiting performers from Broadway Across America tours. Theatre classes also take trips to professional theatres including Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Playhouse in The Park, and The Aronoff Center to complement their classroom training. Additionally, senior students have the opportunity to participate in the locally sponsored or Thespian-sponsored college auditions known as the Unifieds.

Three photos of students rehearsing in theatre class. Three photos of students performing on stage.

Theatre Course Offerings

Theatre Appreciation & Performance

Theatre Appreciation & Performance concentrates on the fundamentals of both the performance and technical areas of theatre. Students will explore the historical roots of theatre, learn basic acting skills, participate in stage productions/stage management, and practice basic directing techniques. Emphasis is on developing individual interpretive and organizational skills, as well as performance appreciation.

Theatre Practicum

Technical Theatre

The Production Classroom

The Production Classroom covers pre-production (producing, design, marketing, stage management), the production binder, performance, post-performance reflection/ assessment, and theatrical troubleshooting. Students will build creative, theatrical portfolios to showcase their design work as they learn real world marketing techniques, organization skills, and problem solving that will apply in the theatre world and beyond.

Acting Styles

Acting Styles is an advanced acting class that covers advanced actor warm-ups and games, stage vs. film acting, performing the song, commercials, and cold readings. Students will explore the techniques of great acting teachers like Uta Hagan, Konstantin Stanislavski, and Chekov Technique. Students will apply these techniques to monologues, scenes, and songs with a class showcase at the end of the semester.

Acting and Directing

Acting and Directing covers directing styles and tools by exploring different types of performance like Theatre of the Absurd. Students will explore The Actor’s Purpose as it pertains to auditioning, rehearsal, and character development. Projects will include devised theatrical performance, one acts, duet scenes, and creative writing projects with a class showcase at the end of the semester.

Theatre Boosters

The Theatre Boosters is an active group of parents and friends of McNicholas who help our students reach their artistic potential by supporting productions and fundraising opportunities. They boost our theatre program’s efforts in a number of ways:

Set construction and painting
Costume design
Distributing promotional materials
Participating in fundraising activities
Soliciting local businesses for program ads
Preparing food for the cast and to sell at fundraisers and concessions
Staffing concessions during productions
Arranging transportation to regional and state competitions

In This Section

McNicholas theatre has pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and develop confidence...One of the things I really enjoy about McNick theatre—students of all grades connecting and working together for the same goal.

Gavin, Class of '21

Leslie Baum

Theater Teacher and Director

B.F.A., New York University