NHSI Theatre Arts Institute students choose between a focus of study in Performance or Stage Management & Design/Tech. All students take core classes that explore acting, voice & movement. In the afternoon, Performance students also take performance theory, text analysis, elective classes, and are assigned to a crew to assist with the final productions.
Morning Acting/Voice & Movement Core Classes
Students are broken up into groups of approximately 15-17 students for their core classes. Each student will spend 75 minutes in each of their morning core classes; one focused on acting techniques and one focused on voice & movement techniques. Each of these classes contains rigorous physical and vocal warm-ups under the direction of a Faculty member and a Faculty Associate.
“As a performer, I felt more in touch with my body and my emotions than I ever have before.” – 2019 Cherub
All Institute Meeting
The entire Theatre Arts Division will meet for various things: announcements, presentations, special guests, and college information sessions.
Afternoon Classes & Crew
Performance students spend a dedicated afternoon period to Text Analysis and Performance Theory classes.
All Theatre Arts students will serve on a crew for final productions. There will be an afternoon crew assignment, during which students work to build the sets, costumes, lights, etc. for each production. Students will also be placed on a run crew for performance week, for a different production than the one they perform in.
A huge variety of electives will be offered. Performance students will submit their preferences for consideration, and will be enrolled in three elective courses, which will meet every other day throughout the summer schedule.
Classes meet every other day for 50 minutes. There is a free period scheduled every other day. THE BELOW SCHEDULE IS A SAMPLE, ACTUAL SCHEDULES WILL VARY. Students will receive their exact schedule in the first few days of the program.
| Example: | A Day | B Day | |
| Period 1 | 1:00 – 1:50 pm | Performance Theory | Text Analysis |
| Period 2 | 2:00 – 2:50 pm | Elective | Elective |
| Period 3 | 3:00 – 3:50 pm | Crew | Free Hour |
| Period 4 | 4:00 – 4:50 pm | Crew | Elective |
Rehearsal
Every student will be placed in a production company where they can exercise the skills and techniques they are learning from their classes in a real-world setting. The scripts are ensemble pieces, emphasizing collaboration and connection amongst the casts. Students spend every evening in rehearsal for their production. The companies will perform twice during the last week of the program.
View past production photos in our Theatre Arts Photo Gallery.
“The structure of the program made me feel stimulated and challenged without being overwhelming and I loved ending with rehearsal every day.”
