The Drama program at Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School is designed so that within each course and grade level our students can expect to learn and train alongside other students, teachers, guest artists and community partners from diverse backgrounds. We'll help you identify and develop your unique strengths and talents, and empower you to become your best self as an actor, theatre practitioner and human. Through studio classes, live productions, and industry collaborations, you'll become a versatile and skilled performer and arts curator.
The Drama program includes staff, many of whom are specialists in their fields as both working professionals and university arts students. The drama program services the needs of artistically talented students, some of whom are exploring the possibility of a career in the Arts while others simply enjoy the arts and want to develop their skills.
Through the Dramatic Arts, students develop amongst many life skills, a sense of self-awareness, self-confidence and a sense of well-being. The engagement involved in creating provides experiences which promote a sense of wonder and joy. The drama department at Pierre Elliott Trudeau nourishes and stimulates students’ creativity, teaches students more about the world around them, allows differenitaed learning where students can make their thinking seen and heard using different media and conventions, and finally enables students to connect with and share their identities.
The Dramatic Arts program at Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School, inspires and challenges actors, writers, directors, dancers, singers, designers and technical theatre production crew to raise the standard of practice in live arts and entertainment while encouraging our students to be curious risk takers who are committed to social change. Students learn in the Dramatic arts when: they learn experientially; use the creative process while developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes of each arts discipline; artistic expression is a creative means of clarifying and restructuring personal experience; it affirms identities and upholds multiple world views; it includes students across the spectrum of ability, achievement, and interest.
The following are the courses offered grades 9 through 12 within the Drama and Performance Arts program at Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School;
🎭 DRAMA Grades 9-12 will unlock your potential as a stage actor, director, playwright and creator. We'll help you identify and develop your unique strengths and talents, and empower you to become your best self as an actor, artist and human. (Course codes, ADA101, ADA201, ADA3M1, ADA4M1)
🎭 FRENCH IMMERSION DRAMA Grade 9 will provide the same dynamic curriculum as the grade 9 Drama English course uniquely in French counting towards your French credits.
👯♂️ DANCE Grades 9-12 focuses on developing the technique, creativity, and artistry essential for successful dance expression in a diversity of dance genres. (Course codes, ATC101, ATC201, ATC3M1, ATC4M1)
📐 PRODUCTION & DESIGN Grades 11-12 prepares you for design, production work, crewing, and other elements of technical theatre stagecraft. (Course codes ADA301, ADD4M1)
🎶 MUSICAL THEATRE Grades 11-12 increased confidence, enhanced communication skills, improved physical fitness, and developed creativity and memory. It also fosters teamwork, discipline, and empathy, while improving cognitive functions like concentration and problem-solving. Students will have the choice to participate with on and off stage roles or both. (Course codes ADB3M1, ADB4M1, prerequisites grade 9, 10 or 11 Drama)
Performance Enrichments - Students will have opportunities to access a variety of different performance opportunities in our community and beyond including;
- MOSAIC - A showcase of the culminating Dramatic Arts courses each semester.
- CABARET - Our annual winter talent showcase
- ARTS NIGHT - A performance night, Celebrating the Arts within PETHS
- MUSICAL THEATRE - Our annual spring Musical showcase
Guest Artists- Industry professionals are invited to co-plan and co-teach workshops and devise drama and dance works using a variety of performance arts conventions. Some of these workshops that have been incorporated into the programming are but not limited to, Stage Combat, Playwrighting, Clown, Commedia Dell'Arte, Laban Movement and Dance Choreographers.
Community Partnerships Integrating arts and cultural field trip programming students will have an opportunity to participate in various enrichments to their Drama experience, make connections between their own experiences and works in the arts, between different art forms, and between art works and the lives of people and communities around the world. Some of these partnerships include;
- Tarragon Theatre
- Young People’s Theatre
- National Theatre Festival - DramaFest
- Theatre Passe Muraille
- Shaw Festival
- National Ballet of Canada
- Canadian Opera Company
- The Second City
- Markham Flato Theatre
- Unionville Theatre Company
Teachers
Ms. M. Boyd-Navazo (Department Head) - maya.boyd-navazo@yrdsb.ca
Ms. D. Campanotti
Ms. B. Caraghin
Ms. K. McGibbon
Mr. A. Rajah
Ms. K. Stevenson