4:30-7pm Tuesdays

& 11am-2pm Saturdays

September 17-October 29

  Melodrama (/ˈmeləˌdrämə/) – A sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions. Horror and Melodrama were made for each other; from the legends of old, to the Grand Guignol of France, to the Monster Movies of Universal Studios, no combination of genres has had as large an impact on society as a whole. From classic cinema and literature to Broadway musicals and internet memes, there is hardly a medium this combination hasn’t touched. Our class will explore horror and melodrama both independently and together using examples from literature, television and film. We will also have workshops on makeup and special effects that will teach historical stage and film techniques for creating some of the most horrifying scenes on screen which will be put into practice as they write, direct, star in, score, and produce their own melodramatic horror short film. This year we have a little something special to throw into the mix… For the last two years, we have taught students about the horror genre, how it works, and how to put it into practice on film. This year is going to be a little bit different as we intend to include a live stage element to our showcase as well sure to send shivers up your spine. Moppets must have explicit adult permission to watch and read the examples chosen for this class. While the teaching aids have not been chosen yet, below is a list of examples that may be studied further. Literature:

• The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathanel Hawthorn
• The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe
• Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

Movies:

• The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari -1920
• The Shining -1980
• Hereditary -2018
• Mommie Dearest -1981
• Black Swan -2010

Stage:

• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
• The Phantom of the Opera
• The Grand Guignol