Programs

The Upper School Theater Arts Program offers four levels of Theater Arts classes, which introduce and explore the techniques and skills of acting. Students are given detailed instruction in the process of acting through exercises, scene study, and performance. Students study with guest theater professionals, as well as participate in trips to New York and the North Carolina School of the Arts. The Upper School produces two main stage shows--one in the fall and one in the winter--that are extracurricular and two smaller productions in the Woodward Theater. In addition, there are opportunities for students to participate in a one-act play, improvisation presentations, sketch comedy and workshop productions.

Middle School Theater Arts classes are offered for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. Students study elements of the "performer's process" in creating theater. Two productions are presented on the main stage of the Hendrix-Chenault Theater yearly as extracurricular events, and are open for participation to all Middle School students for both on-stage and backstage roles.

Technical Theater is designed to provide and develop the skills needed to succeed in the demanding world of Technical Theater. Working with a select group of upper school students, the program explores technical theater from conceptual design work to the nuts and bolts that complete a production. Technical Theater students run the main stage shows for the Upper School and Middle School Theater Arts productions.

Faculty
Chris Ekholm, Lovett's new Middle School theater arts teacher, has been a professional actor for 20 years, performing in theater, film, television, commercials, radio voice-overs, training films, and live industrials. He won the 2005 Suzi Bass Award for Most Outstanding Actor for Atlanta theater and has appeared on many of Atlanta's stages including: Alliance Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Horizon Theatre, True Colors Theatre Company, Jewish Theatre of the South, and Theatre in the Square, where he won four Jennie Awards. In addition, he has worked with such people as Steve Martin, John Lithgow, and Tyler Perry. Most recently, Mr. Ekholm has appeared in Tyler Perry's House of Payne on TBS and a Georgia Lottery commercial. He also teaches and directs young people and adjudicates at the Georgia Theatre Conference and Shorter College. Mr. Ekholm is a member of Actors' Equity Association and Screen Actor's Guild, and has a bachelor of fine arts in acting from Florida State University.

Michael Halad has been the technical theater director at Lovett for five years and was an assistant professor at Davis and Elkins College for nine years. He earned a B.A. and a B.S. from Davis and Elkins College and a master's in scenic design from West Virginia University in 1993. As a scenic designer, Michael has worked with several professional theaters around the Atlanta area, including Actor's Theatre of Atlanta, the Theatrical Outfit, The Aurora Theatre, and The Jewish Theatre of the South. He has also worked with Georgia Shakespeare on several of their productions as a props designer. At Lovett, he has designed the scenery for Mousetrap, The Diary of Anne Frank, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He teaches technical theater in the Upper School at Lovett and works extensively with both the Middle and Lower School drama and musical programs.

Katie McCreary has experience as a lighting designer in Atlanta at Georgia Shakespeare (Treasure Island, Robin Hood), The Center for Puppetry Arts (XPT 2007, Ghastly Dreadfuls' Compendium of Graveyard Tales and Other Oddities), Horizon Theatre (9 Parts of Desire), Actors Theatre of Atlanta (Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol), and GSU Players (Antigone). Regionally, Katie's designs have been seen at Keystone Repertory Theater and Actors Theatre of Louisville. She has worked Off-Broadway as an assistant lighting designer at The Public Theatre (Ruby Sunrise), and The Culture Project (The Treatment). Katie has degrees in both theater and elementary education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She has worked as a professional theater electrician at theaters throughout the country, including Georgia Shakespeare, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Theatre-by-the-Grove. She has taught theater at the YES! Summer Program, Camp Shakespeare, and as a guest artist at Nancy Creek Elementary.

David Silverman is new to the Upper School this year after having joined the Lovett community in 2006. David brings to Lovett his 16 years of experience as a professional actor. In 2006, he was named "Best Actor in Atlanta" by Creative Loafing magazine. His professional credits include dozens of national commercials for Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Lotion, Turner Classic Movies, Florida Tourism, and Bojangles Chicken. Mr. Silverman's local and regional commercial credits include ads for The Georgia Lottery, Krystal, America's Home Place, Shoe World, Advance America, Kroger, and two and a half years as the on-camera spokesman for Bell South Mobility DCS. He was also heard on the radio for the likes of Quik Trip, Bell South, and Hank Aaron Toyota. David has appeared in countless training videos for Coca-Cola, Bell South, The Home Depot, UPS, Chick-fil-A, and many others, and he earned a role in the HBO film, "Warm Springs," winner of the 2005 Emmy Award for Best TV Movie. On stage, his credits include productions with The Alliance Theatre, Theatre in the Square, Actor's Express, Theatrical Outfit, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Theater Emory, ART Station Theatre, Jewish Theatre of the South, and many others. Mr. Silverman is a member of Actors' Equity Association, a graduate of The University of Miami, and a lifetime member of The Accidental Comics improv comedy troupe.