Education | Cape Henlopen High School's
Theatre Arts Academy

Cape Henlopen High School Theatre Arts Academy is an exciting new program developed by Program Director, Ken Skrzesz in collaboration with the Cape Henlopen School District, that offers students a four-year sequential course of learning that will prepare students for a college career in theatre or enhance life skills needed for success in the working world.

Students entering the Theatre Arts Academy program will need the following qualities:  imagination, self-discipline, stamina, and personal initiative. The course work, designed to reveal the joy of performing while creating educated audience members, will influence student work in every aspect of the high school experience.

Students will develop exemplary work habits, both as an individual and as part of a group, in a nurturing, creative community within the school. Analytical and critical thinking and writing skills will be developed while watching live theatre during Cape Henlopen High School productions, as well as performances by professional actors.

Theatre Arts Academy students will make connections between the arts and their lives through ongoing creative and engaging projects.

The 4-year program includes:

Theatre Fundamentals, Level 1 This class introduces basic tenets of theatre:  imagination, communication, conceptualization, and design. Theatre Fundamentals explores the basics of theatre history, production, and playwriting. This course will also prepare students in a children’s theatre work that will tour throughout the district. End-of-semester performances, as well as attendance at several student and professional productions (with assigned written analyses) are additional requirements of the course.

The Actor’s Instrument, Level 2 The first semester of this course is MOVEMENT FOR THE ACTOR, and allows students to become aware of their bodies as instruments of communication. Students explore basic locomotor and stationary movement patterns through yoga and jazz dance, as well as historical musical theatre dance styles (i.e. - Charleston, Swing, Polka, Waltz, Tango) and stage combat. The second semester offers VOICE FOR THE ACTOR, when students begin to use different aspects of vocal communication. Issues are addressed such as correct vocal placement, diction, articulation, regional speech habits, and pitch. Students apply their vocal knowledge to both spoken and sung repertoire. End-of-semester performances, as well as attendance at several student and professional productions (with assigned written analyses) are additional requirements of the course.

Acting in the American Theatre, Level 3 Utilizing the fundamentals put into place by the previous two years of study, students focus upon specific acting techniques and apply those techniques to theatrical literature of 20th Century America (O’Neill, Williams, Wilder, Inge, Simon, Hellmann, etc…) Students are engaged in play exploration through reading, analysis, and monologue and scene work.  In the second semester, students are guided in directing projects that will result in an evening of one acts. Several performances throughout each semester, as well as attendance at several student and professional productions (with assigned written analyses) are additional requirements of the course.  Internships are available with Clear Space Productions for students enrolled in this course.

Acting in the World Theatre, Level 4 In this final year of study, students apply their knowledge to both historical and contemporary playwrights from around the world.  The plays of Shakespeare, Moliere, Ibsen, Shaw, Chekhov and others bring an awareness of the classics, while contemporary American and European performance art styles guide students toward the current creative output of new voices in the theatre. Several performances throughout each semester, as well as attendance at several student and professional productions (with assigned written analyses) are additional requirements of the course. Internships are available with Clear Space Productions for students enrolled in this course.

To find out how to participate in this program, please contact the Guidance Office at Cape Henlopen High School:  (302) 645-7711

Ken Skrzesz, Program Director

Executive Director of Clear Space Productions, Inc. is an active master teacher of acting and movement and a guest choreographer throughout the United States.  His long-term teaching posts have included the Carver Center (a performing arts high school in Baltimore), Goucher College, Southwest Missouri State University, University of North Carolina and private schools throughout the country. Ken has served as the Executive Director of Kinetics Dance Theatre and the Director of Student Life for the School of American Ballet in New York City. He specializes in the modern dance technique of Jose Limon and the Stanislavski acting technique. His extensive theatre background includes professional theatre performances in over 20 roles and the direction and/or choreography for more than 50 plays, musicals and operas. Ken earned his MFA in dance performance and choreography from UNC-Greensboro and received his BFA in performance and choreography from Towson University. Ken was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Towson University in 1992 and from UNC-Greensboro in 2008. In 1995, Ken received an award from the National Endowment of the Arts through the Howard County Arts Council, and was awarded the Individual Artist Award for Excellence in Choreography from the Maryland State Arts Council in 1995, 1999 and 2001. In 1985 Ken received the Mayor’s Award for Distinguished Service in the Arts and in 1997 Ken was nominated for the Governor’s Award for Arts Educator of the Year. Ken is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and a Registered Yoga Teacher.  Ken’s former students are currently appearing on Broadway in MAMMA, MIA!, CHICAGO, THE LION KING and HAIRSPRAY, and appear in numerous professional dance companies, television shows, movies, regional theatre productions and national tours.  

^ back to top