The theatre program at Trenton Central High School has three major components: the CTE theatre program, the International Thespian Society, and the After School program. Further details of each component can be found below.
CTE Theatre
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) program for general theatre at Trenton Central High School is designed to prepare students for professional theatre. Being one of the younger CTE programs at TCHS, we are developing this program with our partners at McCarter Theatre, Passage Theatre, and Princeton University. (There are others in the works so please occasionally check out our partners on the Partnership page.) Over the course of three years, the students learn acting techniques, theatre history, technical production skills, stage and house management, and arts administrative business.
To be clear, a CTE program is beyond a regular academic course and far beyond an elective. A CTE program has to meet the following requirements:
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- Follow a coherent sequence of not fewer than three identifiable CTE courses
- Have classroom instruction combined and coordinated with field, shop, or laboratory experiences, structured learning experiences, or other instruction/experiences
- Have academic content that is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for secondary programs
- Include career and technical content that meets New Jersey Student Learning Standard 9.3 Career and Technical Education and industry-recognized skill standards and/or an employer-verified industry-based skill standards lists
- Incorporate industry-approved or state or nationally-recognized skill standards, catalogs of performance objectives; text books, and/or other curricular materials appropriate to the CTE program or program of study;
- Have an appropriate third-party end-of-program technical skills assessment, when available [we have been accepted into a pilot testing program]
- Receive industry-recognized credential when applicable and available [once the test becomes official, students will receive a certificate of accomplishment from an organization recognized in the industry];
- Include opportunities to participate in Structured Learning Experiences (SLEs);
- Included opportunities to participate in Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) [for theatre, this is still being worked out across the nation]; and
- Have a district/agency career and technical education safety and health plan.
International Thespian Society Troupe 8266 |
After School Theatre |
Established by the Educational Theatre Association, the International Thespian Society is the honor society for any high school student involved in theatre. Troupe 8266 was established at Trenton Central High School in 2016. Students earn their induction by attaining at least ten points of excellence in at least two different areas of theatre. Each point is worth ten hours of work. The areas include: acting, production, writing, business, officers, and more.
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The after school program allows students who are not a part of the CTE to still express themselves through theatre. Students learn through workshops on acting, audition preparation, management crew, lighting and sound, and stage combat. Students from the CTE program can reinforce what they learn and take on responsibilities within this program.
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