Drama Program

ECLC and Lower School

All students in Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and fourth grade will particpate in a grade level production. The productions are widely anticipated by parents and students alike. The students prepare well with fantastic direction and the performances never disappoint. These introductory experiences offer a starting point for life-long interest in drama and help our students develop self-confidence and public speaking skills.

Examples of the work done in the past can be found at these links:

Kindergarten Play
2nd Grade Play
4th Grade Play

Intermediate/Middle School

All fifth- through eighth-grade students explore the wonderful world of drama while in Intermediate/Middle School (I/MS). Each grade level takes a bi-weekly drama class for a full academic quarter that focuses on the fundamentals of performance. These skills include character creation, story-telling, improvisation and scene work.

All I/MS students also have the opportunity to participate in the annual I/MS play. Open to all fifth- through eighth-graders, the I/MS play is a great opportunity to showcase their talents. The 2009 I/MS winter musical, “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown,” featured sixty of our I/MS students. In 2010 the I/MS students treated the community to a fabulous production of "Aladdin".

Upper School

The Upper School (US) drama department offers students many opportunities for exploration and performance. Drama 1, the full year drama class, focuses on strengthening the essential skills of the actor through improvisation, character building, monologue and scene work.

US drama also offers the opportunity for students to participate in Drama Festivals. In 2009, 14 US drama students will participate in the Palmetto Dramatics Association and South Carolina Thespians High School Theatre Festival.

Production opportunities also offer US students a chance to showcase their talents. Each year, the Heathwood Players present a full scale musical. In spring 2009, the US will proudly present, “How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.” This popular Broadway show earned seven Toney Awards, including Best Musical, and was the 1962 recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. In 2010 the Upper School brought "Guys and Dolls" to the stage of the Belser auditorium to the delight of all. The drama students provided a special treat for our community with an all-school production of the timeless classic "The Sound of Music" in the spring of 2011.