Playwriting and Sheltered Theatre Production

My name is Philip Levien, and I teach English and Drama at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California. Although I teach many classes — English 11, Types of Literature (a transition ELD/English course), Creative Writing, and Playwriting among them — there is a website which largely describes my work in one class: Sheltered Theater Production. To get a sense of how I work, you might wish to look at this site.  In this course, I work with students to cast, stage, rehearse, produce, and perform an abridged Shakespearean play. In the six years I’ve been teaching the course, we’ve performed The Comedy of Errors (2002), The Tempest (2003), Much Ado About Nothing (2004), A Midsummer Night ’ s Dream (2005), Twelfth Night(2006), and Who Am I This Time?(2007). To prepare for the performances, the students work to read, understand, memorize, translate, adapt, and act the script to make it accessible to our audiences of fellow students, families, and community members.

The students do a great job in mastering these texts for performances. This is, in part, because we work hard at building community.  This enables us to tackle different aspects of “gatekeeper texts”. And because we have such a diverse group of English language learners, special needs students, and student mentors who enjoy working together, the students learn to appreciate others and their differences. I try to bring these principles to my other classes as well.

Philip Levien

For more information click on:

http://quest.carnegiefoundation.org/~dpointer/phillevien/index.htm

Celebrating our 50^th year!

Be a part of our Award Winning Royal Tradition!

A measure of Excellence! ~ Come and be a part of our future!

We would like to invite you to our upcoming events!

Performing Arts “Royal Blue Revue” Performances ~ Feb. 21st & 22nd at 7pm, Auditorium

Madrigal Singers perform Ein Deutches Requiem at Carnegie Hall, New York ~ Mar. 10th

Enchanté, our Women’s Ensemble performs at the Royal Music Hall, London

And Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris ~ Mar. 24th thru Apr. 1st

Jazz Band travels to Reno Jazz Festival ~ Apr. 25th & 26th

Our Spring Musical! ~ “Damn Yankees” ~ May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, & 10th at 7 pm, Auditorium

Jazz and Concert Band in Concert ~ May 21st at 7 pm, Auditorium

Vocal Music Concert ~ May 29th at 7 pm, Auditorium

San Marcos Royals Performing Arts Department includes:

Madrigals, Vocal Ensemble Enchanté, Royal Knights, Mixed Chorus,

Theatre Arts, Stagecrafts, Play Production, Playwriting, Sheltered Theatre Production,

Color Guard, Winter Guard, Percussive Theatre, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Concert Band.

Performing Arts Chair and Director of Dramatic Arts, David Holmes, Ext. 355

Playwriting and Sheltered Theater Production, Phil Levien, Ext. 342

Director of Vocal Music, Carolyn Teraoka-Brady, Ext. 357

Director of Instrumental Music, Dan Garske, Ext. 259

4750 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara, Ca. 93110, (805) 967-4581

Please visit us! www.smhsroyalsband.org