There are many opportunities for students to participate in productions throughout the year. The after-school theater and film program at BCD allows students to become members of a collaborative team with a singular goal. The fun, excitement, and hard work involved necessitates that each student play an integral role in the process, daring to contribute their own thoughts and ideas in safe environment. Members of the cast and crew engage together in artistically challenging productions that model both sound theatrical practices and positive group dynamics. Students learn to make themselves and their work public while celebrating the work, ideas, and processes of ensemble mates. The guiding principle of the BCD theatre and film program is to provide an arena in which students come into their own by consciously searching for and finding each other as both human beings and artists. Through this process, they learn to regard themselves and others as enough from the get-go. Executing theatre and film work in this respectful manner, each student can feel free to answer his or her own questions in an honest manner and receive vigorous direction within a space of acceptance. The teacher presents a clear vision and is both proactive and highly energetic so that specific advances may arise out of each student's own tenacious exploration.

The 5th and 6th graders work on original material under gentle, knowledgeable instruction. Through brainstorming, improvisation, games and writing exercises, the casts create short pieces of theatre that draw on their own interests, ideas, and strengths. The focus is on the process: finding one's voice, respecting all ideas, and practicing theatre fundamentals. The end result is the proud presentation of that work to the school community. The 6th grade production takes place in late fall with the 5th grade show happening in late winter.

In the Upper School, students have the opportunity to take their interests to the next level. Autumn is the time for a small 8th and 9th grade production. Through the expansion of their knowledge and skill at improvisation and collaboration, students will engage in a completely improvised performance. This might be an original story with improvised scenes, a sketch comedy improvisation show (akin to Whose Line Is It Anyway?), or even a "Choose Your Own Adventure" play where the audience's choices guide the story. In the winter, students in Grades 7 through 9 audition for a full-scale production giving them experience with a larger ensemble, involvement in the technical aspects of scenery, lighting, props, and costumes, and the thrill of telling a story on a larger scale. This production might be a full-length drama, a musical, or Shakespeare, differing from year to year. Finally, there is a small digital film production in the spring. Students write a screenplay through a collaborative process that includes ideas from all participants. They then set about producing the project learning about acting for film, camera work, continuity, editing, and more. All Upper School performances and screenings will take place at the Winthrop Theatre.

Limits of Participation for Upper School Students:
Participation in the after-school theater and film program is limited in the following manner:

• Fall: 9 students (seniority by grade, then first-come, first-served)
• Winter: No set cap (audition to determine correct number for given show)
• Spring: 12 students (Seniority by grade, then first-come, first-served)
• 7th graders may do only 1 season of theater (Winter)
• 8th graders may do any 2 seasons of theater/film
• 9th graders may do any 2 seasons of theater/film and petition for 3

Petition Committee will consist of at least the Theater Director and the Head of Upper School.