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Notre Dame Academy
The world has changed. But the need for the theater is as strong as ever.
Take a look at our shows from past seasons.
Welcome to Drama at Notre Dame Academy where students are introduced to the rich historical tradition of the theatre. Rigorous emphasis is on theatre history, acting techniques, style & design, voice, and body awareness plus verbal and non-verbal communication skills. In developing a class ensemble, we learn to create art together and create points of view. Our standard based instruction is guided by the principles: CONNECT, CREATE, RESPOND, & PRESENT. Welcome to our virtual stage!
DTASC - Drama Teachers Association of Southern California
Notre Dame Academy is a proud member of DTASC and the Educational Theatre Alliance (EdTA), and the California Educational Theatre Alliance (CETA). These organizations create a network for theatre educators and provide students with performance opportunities in a diverse and professional adjudication.
THIS FALL - our students will be participating in 4 out of 8 virtual events at the DTASC competition on October 24th.
THESES CATEORIES include:
LARGE Group DRAMA - THE WOLVES by Sarah DeLappe
Directed by MARJAN L . '22 & JOSELIN O. '21
featuring: Mary C., Lauren D., Mariam G., Danielle J., Marjan L., Martha T., Ava H., Isabella M., Kailani M. & Madison R.
LARGE Group MUSICAL - GREASE by Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey
Directed by JULIA S. '22, NIA E. '22, & BRIANNA Z. '22.
featuring: Julia S., Nia El., Brianna Z., Kylen A., Isabella H., Noelle N., Kathryn S., Victoria A. & Zianne H.
LARGE Group COMEDY - SHE KILLS MONSTERS by Qui Nguyen
Directed by HELENA T. ' 22 & MARISSA G. ' 21
featuring: Karina G., Sophia H., Marley S., Helena T., Paulina V. & Emerson R.
SET & LIGHTING DESIGN - THE KING & I by Rogers and Hammerstein
Designers: GRACE K. '21, ELANOR S. '21, MILLA M. '21
The following photos are from last years LIVE competition which featured students performing at our October 2019 Drama Assembly. The scenes from the musical MATILDA went to the finals (the top ten competing against 80 schools from all over California). Notre Dame Drama students have a long history of placing in the competition and garnering first place in 2015 for the Musical category. Our Set and Lighting Designs have placed in the top three for the past 4 years.
What does a Virtual Drama Class look like?
“In this moment…as a professor, I’m pushing my students to become more actively engaged with the social and political realities of this new world order. I encourage them to shift their settings from autopilot and actually experience navigating the turbulence; look, listen, then respond with tools of resistance: a pen, a paint brush, a camera, a musical instrument, or even their own bodies. The only thing they can’t do is keep their eyes shut.” - Lynn Nottage - only woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice, teaches at Columbia University
“What stories are we telling and what are the stories we need to tell right now and why?" Diane Paulus Artistic Director of American Repertory Theatre at Harvard University
This summer, I spent reading over many texts to find characters whose stories continue to resonate. I corresponded with Charles McNulty, the leading theatre critic for The Los Angeles Times. I mused over the article Wide Awake in America, published in AMERICAN THEATRE magazine (2016). Theatre practitioners across the country were asked to address the climate of theatre in our world. Above are just a few highlights that have helped shape our study of playwrights, character and stories this fall . With these voices in mind, I have chosen plays that our students will explore from Sophocles to Lorraine Hansberry. These studies will be presented at our virtual Fine Arts Night, where the theme is What Worries You? Fine Arts Night will premiere December 5th. See our work below for how we have continued performing in an online world. We are also highlighting a lesson on pantomime from the master Marcel Marceau as we all long to break out of our ZOOM cages.
Into the Woods - Spring 2020
Although our Spring Musical 2020- Into the Woods was canceled due to the pandemic, we were proud of the months of rehearsal leading up to it. Click on the video below to get a taste of what we so wished had been live theatre.
Past Shows
Alumnae Features
Join alum Samantha West '16 for a discussion and reading of her Dartmouth Thesis Play - Sing the Body Politic.
Samantha West
Class of 2016
Take a deep breath for all those who can’t
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