(a) General requirements. Students may fulfill fine arts and elective requirements for graduation by successfully completing one or more of the following theatre courses: Theatre Arts I, Theatre and Media Communications I (one credit per course), and Theatre Production I (one-half to one credit).
(b) Introduction.
  (1) The fine arts incorporate the study of dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts to offer unique experiences and empower students to explore realities, relationships, and ideas. These disciplines engage and motivate all students through active learning, critical thinking, and innovative problem solving. The fine arts develop cognitive functioning and increase student academic achievement, higher-order thinking, communication, and collaboration skills, making the fine arts applicable to college readiness, career opportunities, workplace environments, social skills, and everyday life. Students develop aesthetic and cultural awareness through exploration, leading to creative expression. Creativity, encouraged through the study of the fine arts, is essential to nurture and develop the whole child.
  (2) Four basic strands--foundations: inquiry and understanding; creative expression; historical and cultural relevance; and critical evaluation and response--provide broad, unifying structures for organizing knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire. Through the foundations: inquiry and understanding strand, students develop a perception of self, human relationships, and the world using elements of drama and conventions of theatre. Through the creative expression strand, students communicate in a dramatic form, engage in artistic thinking, build positive self-concepts, relate interpersonally and integrate knowledge with other content areas in a relevant manner. Through the historical and cultural relevance strand, students increase their understanding of heritage and traditions in theatre and the diversity of world cultures as expressed in theatre. Through the critical evaluation and response strand, students engage in inquiry and dialogue, accept constructive criticism, revise personal views to promote creative and critical thinking, and develop the ability to appreciate and evaluate live theatre.
  (3) Through diverse forms of storytelling and production, students will exercise and develop creativity, intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, problem solving, and collaborative skills. Participation and evaluation in a variety of theatrical experiences will afford students opportunities to develop an understanding of self and their role in the world.
  (4) Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.
(c) Knowledge and skills.
  (1) Foundations: inquiry and understanding. The student develops concepts about self, human relationships, and the environment using elements of drama and conventions of theatre. The student is expected to:
    (A) understand the value and purpose of using listening, observation, concentration, cooperation, and emotional and sensory recall;
    (B) develop and practice theatre preparation and warm-up techniques;
    (C) develop and practice stage movement techniques such as mime, pantomime, stage combat, Laban, Lecoq, or Viewpoints consistently to express thoughts, feelings, and actions non-verbally;
    (D) develop and practice effective voice and diction to express thoughts and feelings;
    (E) analyze characters by describing attributes such as physical, intellectual, emotional, and social dimensions through reading scripts of published plays;
    (F) demonstrate a working knowledge of the language of theatre such as stage terminology, elements of theatre, or theatrical conventions;
    (G) analyze and describe the interdependence of all theatrical elements;
    (H) define the roles of and appreciate the collaborative relationships between all artistic partners such as playwrights, composers, directors, actors, designers, technicians, and audience;
    (I) identify and practice memorization skills;
    (J) identify the principles of improvisation; and
    (K) identify and recognize the importance of safe theatre practices.
  (2) Creative expression: performance. The student interprets characters using the voice and body expressively and creates dramatizations. The student is expected to:
    (A) demonstrate safe use of the voice and body;
    (B) define creativity as it relates to personal expression;
    (C) employ effective voice and diction to express thoughts and feelings;
    (D) use physical, intellectual, emotional, and social awareness to portray believable characters and convey a story when applying acting concepts, skills, and techniques;
    (E) employ physical techniques consistently to express thoughts, feelings, and actions non-verbally; and
    (F) create, write, and refine original monologues, improvisations, scenes, or vignettes that reflect dramatic structure to convey meaning to the audience through live performance or media forms.
  (3) Creative expression: production. The student applies design, directing, and theatre production concepts and skills. The student is expected to:
    (A) develop and practice technical theatre skills;
    (B) apply technical knowledge and skills safely to create or operate theatrical elements such as scenery, properties, lighting, sound, costumes, makeup, current technology, or publicity;
    (C) perform a role such as actor, director, designer, technician, or editor in production decision making and collaborate with others in a production role to tell a story through live theatre or media performance; and
    (D) demonstrate responsibility, artistic discipline, and creative problem solving by concentrating in one or more areas of theatre production such as acting, technical theatre, or theatre management.
  (4) Historical and cultural relevance. The student relates theatre to history, society, and culture. The student is expected to:
    (A) portray theatre as a reflection of life in particular times, places, and cultures;
    (B) relate historical and cultural influences on theatre;
    (C) identify the impact of live theatre, film, television, and electronic media on contemporary society;
    (D) appreciate the cultural heritages of world drama and theatre and identify key figures, works, and trends in dramatic literature;
    (E) appreciate the multicultural heritage of United States drama and theatre and identify key figures, works, and trends in dramatic literature; and
    (F) identify and appreciate the innovations and contributions of the United States to the performing arts such as theatre, melodrama, musical theatre, radio, film, television, technology, or electronic media.
  (5) Critical evaluation and response. The student responds to and evaluates theatre and theatrical performances. The student is expected to:
    (A) analyze and apply appropriate behavior at various types of live performances;
    (B) recognize theatre as an art form and evaluate self as a creative being;
    (C) offer and receive constructive criticism of peer performances;
    (D) evaluate live theatre in written and oral form with precise and specific observations using appropriate evaluative theatre vocabulary such as intent, structure, effectiveness, and value;
    (E) evaluate film, television, or other media in written or oral form with precise and specific observations using appropriate evaluative theatre vocabulary such as intent, structure, effectiveness, and value;
    (F) explore career and avocational opportunities such as theatre education, arts administration, performance, design, management, and playwriting in theatre or media and evaluate the training, skills, self-discipline, and artistic discipline needed to pursue such opportunities;
    (G) use technology such as electronic portfolios, research projects, and journals to document and present information in a clear and coherent manner; and
    (H) connect theatre skills and experiences to higher education and careers outside of the theatre.

Source Note: The provisions of this §117.315 adopted to be effective July 28, 2013, 38 TexReg 4575