Section 27.310  Drama/Theatre Arts

 

By October 1, 2024, all candidates for an endorsement in Drama/Theatre will be required to complete a program aligned to the National Association of Schools of Theatre Handbook Competencies (2020), published by the National Association of Schools of Theatre, 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston VA 20190, and available at https://nast.arts-accredit.org/accreditation/standards-guidelines/handbook/. (No later amendments to or editions of these guidelines are incorporated.) The standards effective until September 30, 2024 are as follows:

 

a)         The competent drama/theatre arts teacher possesses knowledge of the basic vocabulary of theatre, including elements, processes, and tools.

 

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        understands the sensory elements, organizational principles, and expressive qualities of drama/theatre:

 

i)          sensory elements – movement and sound spectacle;

 

ii)         organizational principles – plot and conflict, setting, character, language, rhythm, and unity;

 

iii)        expressive qualities – emotion, mood, ideas, and dynamics.

 

B)        understands artistic process of drama/theatre:

 

i)          comprehension – perceiving and responding;

 

ii)         translation – imaging and creating;

 

iii)        performance – communicating and evaluating.

 

C)        understands tools of drama/theatre:  body, voice, and mind.

 

D)        understands support tools in drama/theatre: costume, set, lights, props, makeup, and sound.

 

2)         Performance Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        identifies and applies elements, processes, and tools within story-making, improvisation, and pantomime.

 

B)        identifies and applies the elements, processes, and tools within acting.

 

C)        identifies and applies the elements, processes, and tools within directing.

 

D)        identifies and applies the elements, processes, and tools within designing and craft.

 

E)        identifies and applies the elements, processes, and tools within playwriting.

 

b)         The competent drama/theatre arts teacher possesses knowledge and skills needed to create the informal and formal processes utilizing elements of theatre.

 

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        understands voice production.

 

B)        understands the principles of acting.

 

C)        understands the principles of improvisation and pantomime.

 

D)        understands creative drama, process drama, and story making.

 

E)        understands the expressive qualities of mood, emotion, and ideas in a dramatic performance and production.

 

2)         Performance Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        analyzes the development of voice and movement techniques.

 

B)        applies voice techniques.

 

C)        analyzes and applies characterization techniques and procedures.

 

D)        analyzes and applies the principles of improvisation and pantomime.

 

E)        applies creative and process drama and story-making techniques.

 

F)         identifies factors and techniques in writing, selecting, and producing plays for performance.

 

G)        analyzes and applies the use of sensory elements in dramatic performance and production.

 

H)        analyzes and applies skills and techniques used in movement and stage blocking.

 

c)         The competent drama/theatre arts teacher possesses knowledge and skills needed to perform theatre within the given educational drama setting.

 

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        understands the principles of design in a technical production.

 

B)        understands theatre facilities and their characteristics.

 

C)        understands directing techniques and procedures.

 

D)        understands principles and techniques of auditioning, casting, and crew selection.

 

E)        understands theatre auditorium management skills and concerns.

 

F)         understands appropriate safety procedures and relevant legal requirements in a theatrical setting.

 

2)         Performance Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        applies directing skills in stage movement and blocking.

 

B)        applies actor-coaching skills.

 

C)        applies oral interpretation skills.

 

D)        applies skills in designing and constructing scenery.

 

E)        applies skills and techniques in theatrical lighting and sound.

 

F)         applies make-up skills and procedures.

 

G)        applies costuming skills and procedures.

 

H)        analyzes dramatic material for a theatrical production.

 

d)         The competent drama/theatre arts teacher possesses knowledge and skills needed to evaluate theatre using theatrical assessment criteria.

 

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        understands the evaluation of students' theatrical performance.

 

B)        understands specialized theatre arts instruction.

 

C)        understands professional resources for theatre arts.

 

D)        understands the assessment and interpretation of students' theatrical performance.

 

2)         Performance Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        designs assessment strategies appropriate to specialized theatre arts instruction.

 

B)        identifies and uses professional resources for theatre arts.

 

e)         The competent drama/theatre arts teacher understands and analyzes the role of theatre and dramatic literature within a culture.

 

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        understands the basic principles of theatre.

 

B)        understands theatre and drama criticism.

 

2)         Performance Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        analyzes the organizational principles of dramatic literature.

 

B)        identifies types of dramatic literature.

 

C)        analyzes the use of literary techniques in dramatic literature.

 

f)         The competent drama/theatre arts teacher understands and analyzes the developments in and distinguishing characteristics of historical and contemporary theatrical works by style and period in a variety of cultures.

 

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        understands the distinguishing characteristics of period and style found throughout the historical development of drama in a variety of cultures.

 

B)        understands the historical development of theatrical performance and production.

 

2)         Performance Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        analyzes the historical development of drama through characteristics of period and style.

 

B)        analyzes the historical development of theatrical performance and production.

 

g)         The competent drama/theatre arts teacher understands and analyzes major works and playwrights from historical and contemporary periods within a variety of cultures.

 

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        understands theatre of the Classical Greek and Roman periods.

 

B)        understands theatre of the Medieval, Elizabethan, and Jacobean periods.

 

C)        understands theatre of the Renaissance.

 

D)        understands theatre from the Restoration through 1800.

 

E)        understands theatre of the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

 

F)         understands contemporary American and world theatre.

 

G)        understands theatrical traditions and dramatic literature of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

 

2)         Performance Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        analyzes the historical development of drama.

 

B)        identifies the major works of playwrights throughout the historical development of drama.

 

C)        analyzes the historical development of theatrical performance and production.

 

D)        analyzes how the functions of theatre shape and reflect ideas, issues, or themes in a variety of cultures.

 

h)         The competent drama/theatre arts teacher is able to relate knowledge and skills within and across the arts.

 

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        understands the function of theatre as an art form.

 

B)        understands the relationship of theatre to other art forms.

 

C)        understands the relationship of theatre to other subject areas.

 

2)         Performance Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        analyzes the function of theatre as an art form.

 

B)        analyzes the relationship of theatre to other art forms.

 

C)        identifies ways to integrate theatre with other subject areas.

 

i)          The competent drama/theatre arts teacher understands and is able to apply pedagogical knowledge and skills appropriate to the teaching of the fine arts.

 

1)         Knowledge Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        understands child development and the psychological principles of learning as they apply to drama/theatre education.

 

B)        understands current age-appropriate and special needs methods and materials in all fields and levels of drama/theatre education.

 

C)        understands the need for continuing study, self-evaluation, and professional growth.

 

2)         Performance Indicators – The competent drama/theatre arts teacher:

 

A)        articulates a logical rationale for the role of drama/theatre in the school curriculum, including philosophical and social foundations for drama/theatre education.

 

B)        identifies and applies techniques for assessing students' backgrounds, aptitudes, skills, interests, and special needs appropriate to a school drama/theatre program.

 

C)        develops age-appropriate learning experiences to meet identified needs.

 

D)        identifies and applies teaching methods for integrating drama/theatre with other art forms and other subject areas at age-appropriate levels.

 

E)        identifies and applies technology appropriate for a school drama/theatre program at age-appropriate levels.

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 8630, effective May 12, 2020)