Edison High Theater Director

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Mr. Larry McCormick
Thomas A. Edison High School Theater Director

Biography:

Contact Mr. McCormick
E-mail: Director@edisondrama.com
Drama Office Phone Number: 703-924-8014

See a video about Edison Theatre here

Mission and Aims of the Edison Theater Arts Program
Under the direction of Mr. Larry McCormick
(in alignment with the IB Theater program)

The mission of the Thomas A. Edison High School Theatre Department is simple: we want our students to realize their academic and artistic potential. First, we seek to foster a lifelong love and participation in the Theatrical Arts. We do this by offering a number of educational opportunities for students whether they seek to enhance their confidence in oral expression, develop recreational performing talents, or focus on applying these skills professionally.

We believe that all students deserve an opportunity to grow through the exploration and experimentation in the Theater. We do not limit students at any level of coursework, and we strive to involve as many students as possible both on-stage and off in our extra-curricular productions. We purposefully select scripts that both stretch our students while offering numerous opportunities for students to grow.

Through our relentless pursuit of excellence in Theatre Arts, we are committed to fostering hard work, integrity, personal responsibility, and respect for self and others. We aim to help students understand the nature of the Theatre: to understand it by performing Theatre as well as by studying Theatre; to understand Theatre not only with their minds but with their senses, their bodies and their emotions; to understand the diverse forms Theatre takes in cultures other than their own; and through this understanding to better understand themselves, their society, and their world. Through exploration and engagement in the Theater, students will discover the value and impact of the arts in society and culture. The goal is create lifelong learners, performers, and patrons of the arts.

We encourage you to participate in theatre at Edison. Parents, community members, and students: all are welcome! There is something for everyone.

Mr. Larry McCormick, Theater Director
E-mail: Larry.McCormick@fcps.edu

About Theatre at Edison:

Just ten miles from Washington D.C. is a diverse public high school where students engage in the Theatre Arts to learn and grow as performers and as people. Established in 1963, Thomas A. Edison High School has always traditionally been a relatively small public high school in terms of the size of its student population in relation to other schools in the D.C. area. Edison offers students a variety of academic and extra-curricular opportunities including a thriving Theatre Arts program with two dedicated teachers and an active International Thespian Troupe #4328. Last year, Edison proudly inducted a troupe of 32 new thespians. Edison’s Cappies Critics team is often singled out for excellence in critical reviews of area school productions. Most importantly, the Edison Theatre Department prides itself on its welcome policy which has helped it to blossom into a diverse group of students from a wide variety of academic and social backgrounds.

Edison students may elect to enroll in Theatre Arts courses which provide a foundation in all aspects of the Theatrical Arts in addition to supporting the extra-curricular mainstage productions. Students begin with Theatre Arts 1 (typically taken in ninth grade) with a focus on the building blocks of acting including intensive voice, body, and imagination work. Students then progress through the Theatre curriculum onto Theatre Arts 2 with a focus on Theatre history and performance.

In addition to Theatre 1 and 2, most students continue onto the International Baccalaureate Theatre program as a two year elective during the junior and senior years. In the IB Theatre classes, students study a range of Theatre theorists including, but not limited to, Stanislavsky, Meyerhold, Adler, Meisner, Brecht, Suzuki, Grotowski, and Boal, etc. Students also study a variety of theatrical styles and movements from The Method, Kabuki, Noh, Bunraku, Javanese Shadow Puppetry, American Musical Theatre, and more. Coursework is balanced between research, textual analysis, and production work. The IB Theatre experience culminates with each senior selecting, casting, and directing a One Act play, creating a 2500 word Research Commission on a theatrical tradition of choice, presenting a detailed Play Analysis, and compiling a portfolio to showcase and document their work and growth over the two years of IB Theatre. Their work is graded and moderated by IB examiners. In Fairfax County Public Schools, only 7 of the 26 high schools offer IB Theatre. Edison is the only school to offer two sections of the class at the year one and year two levels. Being the only high school in Fairfax County offering both IB Theatre I and II is truly the crown jewel of Edison’s Theatre program. It is a testament of Edison’s commitment to the IB program and its importance as the anchor of the Theatre program as it continues to flourish with each year. In the entire D.C. metro area, only 14 schools offer IB Theatre. It is a unique program that demands greater exploration and skill development from our Theatre students.

The Edison Theatre extra-curricular productions are fully supported by the administrators and the community. Edison students have numerous opportunities to showcase their skills and talents through theatrical productions which include both plays and musicals and to work with Edison IB Film students on film projects. Travel to New York City (’03, ’04, ’05), London (’06), and Walt Disney World ('08) provide further opportunity to see professional theatre and participate in workshops, as well as in the local D.C. area.

Participation in the Edison Theatre Arts program requires a considerable commitment of time and energy. Many of the Edison Theatre students also maintain a rigorous schedule of coursework in a broad range of academic studies and many are IB Full Diploma candidates. In addition to involvement in the Theatre program, many are leaders in the school serving in the Student Government, athletic team captains, club presidents, etc. In short, Edison Thespians thrive on their passion for the Theatre and strive for excellence on stage and off.