Drama

The Art of Theater

Drama at Brearley offers girls the chance to learn the art of theater in ways both practical and intellectual. The program stresses attention to detail, the strengthening of the power of observation, the development of empathy and the use of language to explain, persuade and describe. Many types of theater are explored, including Ancient Greek drama, Shakespeare’s plays, modern drama, musical comedy, operetta and farce.

Drama as a Collaborative Endeavor

Theater succeeds only when every participant supports the larger effort. Students design lights and sound and work with a costumer on wardrobe, hair and makeup.  Girls also generate their own opportunities to make theater happen.  Class VIII works with drama teachers to script an original play for performance in early spring. In Class XII, students may receive academic credit for writing, directing, producing or appearing in a production.

Extracurricular Options

Brearley’s after-school productions give a broader taste of what playmaking is. Student crews design, build and paint scenery and work with faculty and visiting artists. In the Upper School Tech Club, run by students working with a faculty advisor, girls who want to learn technical theater are mentored by more experienced students and may later become mentors themselves. Boys from other schools are invited to audition for these major productions.