All Are Welcome
St. Mary’s offers a wealth of experience and performance-based training as a Drama Minor. Through our fall drama classes and winter productions we provide excellent instruction in acting technique from working professionals, as well as some opportunities for production stage management. Our program provides a unique forum for creative self-expression and a break from academics where students can play and have fun while learning valuable acting and related skills. Important skills easily transferable to other pursuits like Education where creativity, communication and collaboration are essential.
While some students come to us with extensive experience from high school drama, we have as many students begin their drama journey with us in our friendly, fun and creative classes. Our positive and supportive environment offers a great chance to learn and grow through a variety of acting experiences: improv, theatre games and acting exercises, extensive scene and monologue work, script writing, acting for film
and more. All culminating in our yearly productions!
Our approach is rooted in the “New York tradition” of authentic performance while striving for casting parity through our ensemble-style productions. STMU Drama currently offers two performance opportunities each year- final scene presentations in the fall and our two winter productions where our first year drama students write, rehearse and perform a Collective Creation play and our senior students appear in our MainStage Production.
For those looking to advance their current acting abilities, we can build on your previous experience and take you further on your journey. And for those new to drama, you will find an opportunity to build a solid acting foundation and develop other skills while meeting some awesome like-minded people.
Our students tell us that drama is a great place to meet new friends and build their St. Mary’s community and social circle. Through their drama experience they have found meaningful friendships which they retain throughout their time at St. Mary’s and beyond.
~ At STMU Drama- we always have fun, but we take our drama seriously-
I would recommend to everyone that is starting their first year at St. Mary’s to join Drama because it is an experience they will never forget! Plus you get to have a cool friendship with your profs so 10/10 would recommend!
Thank you,
Valeria
Our History
In the fall of 1999, Marilyn Potts was invited by Dr. Elaine Park & Dr. Pat Walsh to direct our first production: Nightmares & Other Holidays by John Murrell, presented in March 2000. With Dr. Park’s assistance Marilyn developed an Introduction to Acting class and during her tenure added 4 more courses to the Drama Program. Productions focused on Musicals, Shakespeare and Canadian playwrights, culminating in her final production of The Midnapore Cycle; a site specific historical drama written by Mieko Ouchi and based on the land where St. Mary’s resides. Filmed by Pyramid Productions it was distributed to all Calgary Secondary Schools.
In 2011, Marilyn was active in recruiting her successor, Joe-Norman Shaw, the Director of Company of Rogues Actor’s Studio and a professional actor & director with extensive national and international credits in theatre, tv & film. Joe started with a small but dedicated group of students and with the assistance of senior drama student, Lyndsay Tingley they mounted their first production of Tina Howe’s Museum in McGivney Hall, Winter 2012. Over the next few years the program continued to evolve and expand as student interest grew under Joe’s directorship while working with production stage designer Brad Leavitt and with Lindsay’s continued assistance in a part time role.
In 2016, Helen Young joined Joe as his full-time Drama Assistant and in 2017 they opened the new Heritage Centre with their world-premiere production of Eugene Stickland’s, First and Last. Together their approach has been to develop a performance-based program that includes professional actor training and live theatre performances with a focus on ensemble-style productions. Since 2017, our productions have included both Collective Creation work by our first year students and MainStage productions of published plays by our senior drama students. STMU Drama continues to offer two performance opportunities each year.
In 2024 we presented Progress by Geoffrey Simon Brown with a cast of 19 and a live rock band!
The drama program has had tremendous impact on my life and career at St.Mary’s. The instructors Joe and Helen do an amazing job of fostering a safe space for students. Regardless of what is going on in my life, I have consistently looked forward to drama. I have formed incredible friendships in this class. It can be difficult to make friends in a typical university classroom. The structure of drama makes it difficult not to make friends. This is an extremely valuable course. It is a space for students to experiment and express themselves. I changed my minor to drama after taking the first year drama course. It provides unique insight in to my English Major. It helps me understand the logistical aspects of literature. I have used it to better understand the plays in their written from. This class has made me a better public speaker and presenter. I highly recommend this class!
Best wishes, Michaela Messier
Production History Since 2012- Joe-Norman Shaw, Director of Drama
~All productions Directed by Joe-Norman Shaw except where indicated*~
- 2012 – Museum, by Tina Howe
- 2013 – A Wilder Evening: Our Town & Queens of France, by Thornton Wilder,
- *Queens of France (Director: Lindsay Tingley)
- 2014 – The Dining Room, by A.R. Gurney
- 2015 – Six War Years- Six War Years: 1939-1945- Memories of Canadians at Home and Abroad, by Barry Broadfoot; stage adaptation, James Forsythe and Sean Bowie.
- 2016 – Shape of a Girl, by Joan Macleod, ensemble adaptation by Eugene Stickland; *Wrecked, by Chris Craddock (Director: Charlie Day)
- 2017 – First and Last, by Eugene Stickland; Quotidian Collective (Collective Creation) ~ First and Last was commissioned by STMU & opened the new Heritage Centre~
- 2018 – Rimers of Eldritch, by Lanford Wilson; Momento Mori (Stmu Playwrighting class)
- 2019 – Cocktails at Pams, by Stuart Lemoine; Double Bill: A Walk in the Park (Collective Creation) & *Green Space, by Simon Mallett (Director: Belanna Hanes)
- 2020 – A Bar Off Melrose (Oliver Hailey’s writer’s workshop); Double Bill: I Can Explain (Collective Creation) & *Ghosts in the Machine, Eric Coble (Director: Christian Meyer) ~All shows cancelled due to Covid a week prior to opening~
- 2021 – Welcome to the Grind & Connection Unstable (Online-Collective Creation)
- 2022 – Off A Broken Road, by Stephen Spotswood; Community Affair (Collective Creation)
- 2023 – Radium Girls, DW Gregory; Double Bill: Below the Surface (Collective Creation) & Friday the 13th- by Jean-Pierre Martinez
- 2024 – Progress, by Geoffrey Simon Brown; Happy Kamperz (Collective Creation)
Drama class also made my university experience so much more positive by providing me with a safe space to be myself without worrying about what others would think about me. Even though the requirements for my drama minor were fulfilled by my third year, I still took an extra drama class in my fourth year just because of all the perks it came with. This may sound a little over the top but I really mean it when I say I can’t imagine how my mental health would be if I never took drama class. I will be forever thankful for all the support Joe and Helen gave me.
Thanks Joe Sueda
Program Courses
Not every course is offered every year.
This course offers students an introduction to the technique of acting. The focus is on acting, voice, movement and dramaturgical skills. These skills are taught through improvisation and scene study.
In a practical manner and in the context of theatrical production, students apply the more general foundation and practical skills outlined in DRAM 201 while participating in a production. The focus is on all components of performance including acting, movement, voice, dramaturgy, preparation, and rehearsal and performance skills.
Prerequisites: DRAM 201
Note: Students may obtain credit for both DRAM 203 and DRAM 205 only if they are taken in different academic years.
This course is designed for those students who wish to become involved in a theatrical production as a technician. Production skills will be taught through the Winter term production at St. Mary’s University. Admission to the course is by interview only. Students will take on technical roles after a placement interview with the instructor. The University will set an interview date approximately one month before the course begins. The focus of the course is on all components of production, including costume, lighting, makeup, properties, set, sound, stage management, house management and publicity. Includes six hours of practical application per week.
Prerequisites: Placement interview and DRAM 201 or permission of instructor
Note: Students may obtain credit for both DRAM 203 and DRAM 205 only if they are taken in different academic years
An advanced study of the techniques of acting focusing on theoretical and practical modes of performance. Advanced Acting continues to build on the knowledge, skills and practices introduced in DRAM 201 and 203. Through an in-depth study of the theory and application of the actor’s craft, students will develop research and performance projects focusing on classical and contemporary theatre including both monologue and ensemble work. Research and writing skills relevant to the discipline are incorporated throughout the course.
Prerequisites: DRAM 201, DRAM 203, and an audition or permission of the instructor
An advanced study of the elements of theatrical performance, using both theoretical and practical modes of analysis. Advanced Theatrical Performance continues to develop the knowledge, skills and practices introduced in DRAM 301, with an emphasis on implementation and critical analysis of performance results.
Prerequisites: DRAM 301 and an audition
This course develops skills used in DRAM 205. Production skills will be planned and executed in connection with the Winter term production at St. Mary’s University. Admission to the course is by interview only. Students will take on technical roles after a placement interview with the instructor. The University will set an interview date approximately one month before the course begins. The focus of the course is on all components of production, including costume, lighting, make-up, properties, set, sound, stage management, house management and publicity. Includes six hours of practical application per week. Enrolment in this course is contingent on the availability of mentors.
Prerequisites: DRAM 205 and interview
An advanced study of the techniques of acting, focusing on theoretical and practical modes of performance. Advanced Acting II builds on the knowledge, skills and practices studied and practiced in DRAM 301 and DRAM 303. Through an indepth study of the theory and application of the actor’s craft, students will develop research and performance projects focusing on classical and contemporary theatre, including both monologue and ensemble work. Research and writing skills relevant to the discipline are incorporated throughout the course.
Prerequisites: DRAM 301 and DRAM 303 or permission of the instructor
An advanced study of the elements of theatrical performance using both theoretical and practical modes of analysis. This course continues to develop the knowledge, skills and practices from DRAM 401, with an emphasis on implementation and critical analysis of performance results. Students in DRAM 403 will be expected to assume a leadership/mentoring role with their fellow actors.
Prerequisites: DRAM 401 and audition
A special project that offers a unique opportunity to experience drama through a site-specific production, travel study or collaboration. Topics will vary. Course may be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor
