ABOUT MSGA DRAMA
Course Description- Theatre Arts:
Places! Curtain going up! Theatre Arts is intended to orient the students to the basic skills and concepts of theatre in the classroom. It is designed to inspire creative activity, develop an appreciation and understanding of theatre, and develop skills concerning the various aspects of play production. This class does not require an audition or previous experience! We learn about improv, script writing, performance, technical theatre, and more! This class features guest artist, workshops, and field trips throughout the year.
Course Description - Advanced Drama:
Advanced Drama students are MSGA's elite theatre performing group. This audition only course focuses on the art of musical theatre acting and the essentials of play production. In this "workshop" style class, students will receive vocal, dance, and acting instruction to develop students for a future in the performing arts. The Advanced Drama students perform the school musical, several showcases, and skits for school/community performances. Students in this group will represent MSGA at local, state, and national events throughout the school year.
2018-2024 Advanced Drama Productions:
Places! Curtain going up! Theatre Arts is intended to orient the students to the basic skills and concepts of theatre in the classroom. It is designed to inspire creative activity, develop an appreciation and understanding of theatre, and develop skills concerning the various aspects of play production. This class does not require an audition or previous experience! We learn about improv, script writing, performance, technical theatre, and more! This class features guest artist, workshops, and field trips throughout the year.
Course Description - Advanced Drama:
Advanced Drama students are MSGA's elite theatre performing group. This audition only course focuses on the art of musical theatre acting and the essentials of play production. In this "workshop" style class, students will receive vocal, dance, and acting instruction to develop students for a future in the performing arts. The Advanced Drama students perform the school musical, several showcases, and skits for school/community performances. Students in this group will represent MSGA at local, state, and national events throughout the school year.
2018-2024 Advanced Drama Productions:
- Our School Musical -- Aladdin Jr., Annie Jr., Beauty and the Beast Jr., Frozen Jr., The Lion King Jr., Newsies Jr.
- Our Fall Dessert Theatre Showcase - Fright Night!
- Adjudicated performances at the Junior Theater Festival - Best Overall 2019
- Winter/Spring Fine Arts Showcases with MSGA Chorus
- Blue Devil Day Performance
- Marietta City Schools Bus Driver Appreciation Brunch
- 5th Grade Show on the Road
- 5th Grade Preview Night
- Mock Conference Videos
- School Skits for Blue Devil News and Advisement (Anti-bullying, Red Ribbon, PBIS)
- Announcers for School Events
- MHS Homecoming Parade Float - 2022 and 2023 Best Overall Float Winner!
MSGA DRAMA STAFF
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JOSH WATERS (DIRECTOR) -Josh is a graduate of CCCEPA at Pebblebrook and has a BFA from The Theatre School, DePaul University in Chicago. He has performed on stage & screen from New York to Los Angeles. He has performed at I.O. West, Second City, The Improv, and Radio City Music Hall. Josh's favorite credits include The O.C., House, Bravo's The IT Factor L.A., Remember the Daze, and Carolina. As a member of Theatre Phoenix, Josh taught improv and storytelling to inner city youth in Los Angeles for many years. Josh is the drama teacher at Marietta Sixth Grade Academy. Josh has taught performance classes with Due West Center for the Arts, Bravo Dance Company, and City Springs Theatre. Recently, Josh was seen as a guest star on one of the final episodes of the Peabody Award winning series Rectify. Josh was awarded the honor of Outstanding New Employee at MSGA for 2019 and received the Mayor's BE SOMEBODY Award in 2020. At The Junior Theatre Festival in 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Freddie G Fellowship. Josh has been named a BEST OF COBB winner five times. Mr. Waters is the current Teacher of the Year at MSGA. Josh is married to his high school sweetheart, Nicole, and they have two sons, Ethan and Nolan.
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JULI BOLAÑO (MUSIC DIRECTOR)- Ms. Juliana Bolaño began her musical studies in her hometown of Lakeland, Florida, where she attended Harrison School for the Arts and performed with her choirs at ACDA conventions at the state, regional, and national level. She then attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida, where she studied Music Education and began studying choral conducting with her mentor, Dr. Andrew Larson. She most recently graduated from Georgia State University with a Masters in Choral Conducting, where she studied with Dr. Jennifer Sengin and Dr. Deanna Joseph. She also performed in Georgia State’s opera productions of Dido and Aneas and Suor Angelica, as well as being a chorus director for their recent production of Carmen. Outside of Georgia State, she has also performed with the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra for Dido and Aneas, where she performed as the Spirit and as a chorus member. She currently works at Peachtree United Methodist Church as a full time staff singer. Juliana has also branched out into research - she has presented at the Georgia State University Graduate Conference in 2022, the University of Toronto Graduate Music Conference, and the Tennessee ACDA Conference in 2023 on her research on Nun-Composers of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods. When she is not working, she likes to write music, play soccer, and spend time with her friends and two cats, Frankenstein and Zuko.
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TOOTIE BERNIARD (PRODUCTION ADVISOR)- Ms. Tootie is our Drama production advisor. Ms. Tootie has been a valuable part of Marietta Schools for over ten years. She has received the Marietta City Schools Employee of the Month, the Marietta Touchdown club 12th Man Award, the GEM Award, and Cobb County Touchdown Club Volunteer of the year award. She has coached the JV and Freshman cheer at Marietta High School, and she assists with our choreography at MSGA Drama. She is also a Mentor for the Marietta Mentoring for Leadership Program. She has three sons, all of which graduated from Marietta High School. A 2022 winner of the MCS Superintendents Award and the 2024 Mayor's Award, Ms. Tootie is also a BIG Saints fan, but we still love her.
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KATIE PILSON (CHOREOGRAPHER)- Katie has loved musicals since she was young! She started performing on stage in musicals when she was 12 years old! She also took dance starting at a young age and was teaching dance by high school. She has directed, choreographed, and/or performed in multiple shows including Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific, Oklahoma, Music Man, 42nd Street, Oliver, Annie Junior, Aladdin Junior, Moana Junior, Little Mermaid Junior, and many more. She led MSGA DRAMA to win the Excellence in Dance award at JTF2020. Katie is the newest full time staff member of MCS Theatre and teaches K-8th. Currently accepting private dance clients, she looks forward to many more shows at MSGA!
CAROLINE MARSHBANKS (COSTUMER/PRODUCTION ASSISTANT)-Caroline is excited to be back for another year! This will be her sixth production with MSGA Drama. She has been a costume designer for about ten years, but has been involved in theater since she was born. From being in the ensemble to stage managing, Caroline has develop a love of all aspects of musical theater. Some of her favorite productions throughout her life have been Shrek (Due West Theater), The Lion King (MSGA Drama), Seussical the Musical (Jubilation), and Oliver (The Theater Project). There are so many more shows that have helped shape Caroline’s theater career. She is so grateful that Marietta City Schools has adopted her in and she can’t wait to costume for seven of the city schools this year. Caroline would also like to thank her parents for their support and education in the arts. She would not be where she is at without their example and talent for theater and visual arts. |
