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 Acting:
Advanced Acting is a new class offered in the 2025-2026 School year. This class does require an audition in the winter/spring of fifth grade. This class will perform a non-musical piece at MPAC with full production support. We will learn about improv, script writing, performance techniques, advanced drama approaches to text, and more. This class features guest artist, workshops, and field trips throughout the year.
Course Description - Advanced Musical Theatre:
Advanced Musical Theatre students are MSGA's musical 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 Musical 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.
2018-2025 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 Acting:
Advanced Acting is a new class offered in the 2025-2026 School year. This class does require an audition in the winter/spring of fifth grade. This class will perform a non-musical piece at MPAC with full production support. We will learn about improv, script writing, performance techniques, advanced drama approaches to text, and more. This class features guest artist, workshops, and field trips throughout the year.
Course Description - Advanced Musical Theatre:
Advanced Musical Theatre students are MSGA's musical 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 Musical 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.
2018-2025 Advanced Drama Productions:
- Our School Musical -- Aladdin Jr., Annie Jr., Beauty and the Beast Jr., Frozen Jr., The Lion King Jr., Newsies Jr., Disney's Descendants The Musical
- 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 and 2024 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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LUCY PERKINS (MUSIC DIRECTOR)- Lucy Perkins has been teaching music professionally for 11 years. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 2014, she taught elementary music and beginning band in Connecticut before moving to Atlanta. Since then she's had the privilege of teaching music at MCAA. Ms. Perkins was raised in the theater and enjoyed performing in musicals in her hometown, Mobile, Alabama. She has music directed many shows including Oliver JR, Annie JR, and Fiddler on the Roof Jr. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, Zoe.
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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. |
