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Mr John Morris
Instructor/Department Chair
Technical Director
Office 799-7800 x5107
jrmorris@interact.ccsd.net

Technical Theatre I and III
Theater Systems, Stage Management, Film Studies
Recruitment Coordinator
International Exchange Coordinator
Director, Designer
JohnTorreGrossaSGsm.jpg"I am in my 21st year of teaching in the Clark County School District. In that time I have taught acting, directing, design and theatre technologies, and arts and humanities.  I got my degree in Theatre Production from Weber State University, and my teaching credentials from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  I have worked as an actor, stage manager, set designer, lighting designer, theatre manager and technical director.  I am a member of the Educational Theatre Association and the United States Institute of Theatre Technologies.  I served as department chair/facilitator for the Las Vegas Academy Theatre Department for five years, during which time we toured three productions to the Thespian Conference and built our season subscription base.  I have designed and technically directed five International Thespian Conference Main Stage shows, including designing and technically directing the Thespian National Cast production of Ragtime.  For 14 years I was artistic director for New Vision Theatre, a theatre company I co-founded with my wife, Holly, which features teens performing original material to illustrate health and life issues for their peers.   I was very proud to be QVegas Magazine’s Person of the Month in August 2004 for my direction of, and involvement in, our recent production of The Laramie Project. I am also now a proud "Insurgent," and work with Insurgo Theater Movement, and have directed for Off-Strip Productions at The Onyx Theater.

I have two children. Anna is a senior at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, and Daniel is a senior tech major at LVA.

I have had the distinct honor and pleasure to take groups of students to Poggibonsi, Italy (that's in Siena, in the heart of the Tuscany region) to the Roncalli Theatre Festival in April 2006, April 2008, and April 2010, where we toured Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Venice, Rome, Verona, the Ruins of Cassero, and Siena.  In 2006 we took our original production of You Want Freedom Fries with That? which we also performed  as a part of the Short Play Project.  In 2008 we toured a cutting of the acclaimed play, Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum, and in 2010 we toured a version of our 2009 LVAT production of Almost, Maine by John Cariani.

In 2007, 2009 and 2011 we hosted students from two schools in Poggibonsi,
Roncalli High School and da Vinci Middle School.  We will once again return to the Roncalli Theatre Festival in March of 2012.

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This is a picture of me with my daughter, Anna, a former student at LVA.

We are in San Gimignano in Tuscany.

2006
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This is a picture of me with my son, Daniel, currently a junior at LVA.

We are on the tallest tower in San Gimignano in Tuscany.

2010
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The girls and me on our first trip to Tuscany after a full afternoon of shopping
 in Siena, Italy.  Behind us is the Torre del
Mangia on the Piazza del Campo.

2006
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The Americans and The Brits on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, April 2008.  Ponte Vecchio means Ancient Bridge.  This is the only original bridge across the Arno River in Florence, because Hitler destroyed the rest of them during WWII.

2008

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One of the best experiences I have had as a teacher was working with playwright William Mastrosimone in 2009 on a new version of a play he wrote (and I produced) ten years ago called BANG BANG YOU'RE DEAD.  Go here to see photographs of the production.

Information about the new version is available from Icarus Plays.

My goals as a teacher are:
  • to value every student
  • to really prepare students for higher education and real world experiences
  • to be an educational innovator
  • to present and reveal the educational environment as a mirror of society, and not a shelter from it
  • to help young people learn to love to learn
  • to celebrate pluralism and dwell in diversity.

The best way to reach me is to email me at jrmorris@interact.ccsd.net.  I promise to get right back to you in whatever manner you request.  The best time to reach me in my office (702-799-7800 x5107) is between 830 and 1030am, or between 2 and 3 pm.  I have an open door policy; if you would like to visit with me or tour the facilities, contact me and I will make time for you."

Classes and Curriculum

Technical Theatre I

Course Scope:
The Technical Theatre I curriculum at Las Vegas Academy will introduce the many aspects of technical theatre and theatrical production, and acquaint the student with the craft skills necessary to produce live theatre.  Students will receive basic instruction in scenery construction and rigging, stage lighting, sound, properties, costumes and backstage responsibilities.  Strong emphasis will be placed on knowledge of safety practices, theatre terminology and backstage procedure.  Students will be required to assume technical responsibilities for various productions produced by the Performing Arts departments.  Tech Theatre majors will also be required to learn basic drafting for the theatre, including orthographic projection, elevations, and simple perspective drawings, and develop their knowledge base of dramatic literature.  In addition, LVA students have the unique opportunity to learn from industry professionals.
This course requires a $40 Materials Fee, payable now.  Make checks payable to Las Vegas Academy and write Tech Fee in the memo line.

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Technical Theatre I
Course Scope and Goals     
 
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Technical Theatre I
Curriculum Guide

You need Adobe© Acrobat© to read .pdf files.  If you don't have it, get it here.  (Macintosh OSX Preview can also read .pdf files.)

Technical Theatre III

Course Scope:
The Technical theatre III curriculum at LVA emphasizes collaboration, leadership and higher-level problem solving skills as they relate to production elements and show execution.  Tech III students will be required to lead crews, participate in the creative process and obtain hands-on experience in the production and presentation of a theatrical production.  Emphasis is placed on: preparation for college interview/acceptance; leadership roles for Academy Theatre and other school-sanctioned and sponsored events that take place in the Performing Arts Center, Lowden Theater for the Performing Arts, Academy Theatre Black Box and other performance-designated venues on campus; conception and presentation of an annual showcase presentation; and preparation for a career in entertainment technologies, or developing leadership and collaboration skills that will benefit the total person in any career path.  Satisfactory completion of the Technical Theatre III course will result in CCSD Competency Certification in Theatre Technologies.
This course requires a $40 Materials Fee, payable now.  Make checks payable to Las Vegas Academy and write Tech Fee in the memo line.

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Technical Theatre III
Course Scope and Goals

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Technical Theatre III
Curriculum Guide

These rules and procedures apply to all my classes.
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Classroom Rules
and Procedures


Stage Management/Theatre Crafts

Course Scope:
This one-year course is a hands-on, practical study of the role of a stage manager in both academic and professional settings.  Responsibilities of the stage manager in pre-production, rehearsal, performance and post-production situations will be explored. 
Theatre Crafts, especially properties, will also be examined, including the importance and historical significance of properties to theatrical productions, proper execution of a properties plot, acquisition of period-appropriate props, and construction and craft techniques that contribute to the plot. Both aspects of this class will provide opportunities to develop a resumé and portfolio.

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Stage Management/Theatre Crafts
Course Scope and Goals


Theater Systems

Course Scope:
This one-year course emphasizes the hands-on, holistic approach to the integration of lighting, sound, special effects, intelligent lighting systems, and computer software systems into a cohesive, unified impression. This coursework will emphasize laboratory experimentation as well as actual performance application. The appropriate use of technology is an integral part of this course. This course may be repeated for credit.

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Theater Systems
Course Scope and Goals


Film Studies I

Course Scope:
In this one-year course, students study the development of the American film as an art form and a social phenomenon. The course surveys century genres, eras, trends, directors, studios and moguls. Students will focus on the techniques of acting as they apply to the electronic and film media. Class work will focus on class discussion and criticism of various films. The appropriate use of technology is an integral part of this course. This course will fulfill either the one arts/humanities credit or one of the elective credits required for graduation.
This course requires a $20 Materials Fee, payable now.  Make checks payable to Las Vegas Academy and write Tech Fee in the memo line. An additional fee of $20 may be required in the 2nd Semester.

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Film Studies
Course Scope and Goals