Ingraham Theatre is a student-centered program that provides a comprehensive theatre experience, with hands-on opportunities for learning in many aspects of production, both onstage and backstage, including: acting, scenic design, set, prop, and costume construction, stage management, lighting design and engineering, sound design and engineering, directing, producing and fundraising.
Students in Ingraham Theatre classes work together to produce two plays (fall and winter) and a musical every year. Each production has a student assistant director, stage manager, student lighting and sound designers, and costume managers. Once the a production is underway, with roles cast and the backstage team in place, students drive the course of the production. Some students only audition for roles; others never do. Some students try both.
The hallmarks of Ingraham Theatre are creativity, collaboration and community.
The Theatre program also offers Theatre I (Intro to Acting) for those students looking to improve their skills on stage. There are other opportunities for students to perform outside the main stage productions through dRAMaRAMa: The Student Directed One-Act Festival, Improv Club, and the Musical Theatre Cabaret.
Classes
Theatre Beginning
This introductory course is for all students looking to develop skills in acting and performing in front of others. Public speaking, creative problem solving, and collaboration are explored through creative activities, voice and movement exercises, improvisation, story structure, creating character, and scene study.
All are welcome, no prior experience is required.
Technical Theatre – Beginning
This production-oriented course provides a foundation to stagecraft skills and safety procedures preparing students for industry and college study of technical theatre. Students receive an introduction to theatre terminology, scenic design and construction, lighting, sound, properties, costumes, make-up, special effects, theatre management and stage management.
Technical Theatre – Advanced
In this advanced level course students continue to develop their skills in the areas of Technical Theatre and Design. Students in this course are expected to understand, apply, analyze and assist in the creation of a unifying concept for a production in one or more of the following disciplines: lighting, sound, properties, set construction, special effects, costumes, make-up, theatre management or stage management. Students may choose a technical theatre focus, assist, and then lead the design process for a main stage production including development of a design portfolio.
Play Production
This course prepares students to use the skills and techniques of acting and performance in one or more plays produced for a public audience. This course mirrors professional theater standards, culminating with a full-scale production of a play. Students enrolled in the course may also have opportunities to work in areas of theatre production including directing, scenic design and construction, costuming, properties, stage management, promotions and publicity.
Students audition for a role in either the fall or winter plays in order to enroll in the class.
Musical Production
This course prepares students to synthesize the skills and techniques of acting, singing, dancing and performance into a musical theatre production for a public audience. Throughout this process students develop community by working as an ensemble. This course mirrors professional theater standards, culminating in a full-scale production of a musical.
Students audition for roles in the musical in order to enroll in the course.
Heidi Oveson has been teaching at Ingraham High School since 2000. She has a degree in K-12 Music Education with a secondary instrumental emphasis from WWU in Bellingham, WA and a Masters in Theatre Production and Design from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, OR. Since starting her career at Ingraham High School, the orchestra program has grown from 8 students to three full orchestra classes including Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. Ingraham Orchestras regularly receive Superior and Gold Level awards from regional orchestra festivals and competitions. As the theatre teacher Ms. Oveson directs and produces at least two plays and a musical every year with the students at Ingraham. Heidi was awarded the Golden Acorn from the Washington Parent Teacher Association and in 2016 was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award from the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle.
When not at Ingraham Heidi performs as the principal violist with the Lake Union Civic Orchestra. Heidi lives in Shoreline with her husband Paul and son Henry Forrest.
Ingraham Performing Arts Boosters 