The fall play is a one-term mainstage, process-to-production experience. Students are cast by audition. The term begins by focusing on script analysis and character development and then students engage in the rehearsal process to bring the play to fruition alongside the technical theater and costuming students. Placing equal focus on the process as well as the product, students build collaboration, creative problem solving, empathy, and leadership skills as well as performance skills. Students entering this process should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment. 

Rehearsals are each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. Past shows have included Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Visit, The Laramie Project, Trap, Marian, The True Tale of Robin Hood, Radium Girls, and Noses Off. Participation in the play will be confirmed following auditions.

Fall Tech Theater is a one-term, production-based activity where students practice Technical Theater skills related to the public performance of the Fall Play Activity at Beaver. This activity is open to both experienced and inexperienced technicians; it includes on-the-job training which prepares students to take on necessary challenges. Technical theater roles may include stage management, run crew, set, props, lighting, projection, and sound production. Fall Tech Theater offers dedicated students a chance to build essential skills such as effective communication, problem solving, organization, iteration, and leadership. Past shows have included flown scenery, running water, projection mapping, sculpture, prop building, and textured scenic painting techniques. Students entering this activity should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment. 

Fall Tech meets each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. Based on the size of the crew and production needs of the play, participation will be confirmed during the first week of the term.

Fall Costume Construction and Design is a one-term, production-based activity related to the public performance of the Fall Play Activity at Beaver and may include costume work on the Middle School Fall Play.. The term begins by focusing on script and character analysis to inform the design and construction process and then students bring the play to fruition alongside the performers and technical theater students. Past projects have included pattern making, construction, fabric painting, jewelry making, and hair and make-up design and execution. Students entering this activity should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment. 

Fall Costume Construction and Design meets each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. 

The Fall Afternoon Band is an ensemble that focuses on contemporary styles such as rock, pop, jazz, and R&B. The ensemble is open to the following instrumentation: vocalists, woodwind, brass, string, and rhythm section instruments (guitar, bass, piano/keyboard, and percussion). Students should have at least one full year of experience on their instrument or voice and multiple areas of expertise are welcome and encouraged. This student-driven ensemble works with the instructor to select repertoire that they are interested in playing together, based on the experience and instrumentation of the participating students. Past repertoire has included everything from Aretha Franklin to Adele, and Mumford & Sons to Miles Davis. Rehearsals culminate in an in-school performance at an Upper School meeting.

Visual Arts Workshop is a place for all student artists to explore their own creativity and find new ideas and techniques. Through instruction and peer feedback, students will hone their existing artistic skills while being introduced to a range of themes and concepts. There will be opportunities for directed peer critique for those that are ready for intense constructive dialogue. Students will also have an option to formally display their work on campus. Students interested in joining Visual Arts Workshop should be prepared to share their artistic background and goals prior to enrolling in the activity.
Meets in the McElwain, Monday through Friday 3:45 – 5:00 pm.

The Experimental Theater Project is a workshop style, student-driven process, exploring various theater styles and immersing students in the experience of creating a piece of theater. Recent topics have included Theater of The Oppressed, Comedia del Arte, Neofuturist, Immersion Theater and Radio Plays. In this unique theatrical experience, plays may be devised or taken from source material. The term culminates in three public performances. Placing equal focus on the process as well as the product, students build collaboration, creative problem solving, empathy, and leadership skills as well as performance skills. Students entering this process should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment and collaboration. 

Rehearsals are each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. Past projects have included The Boal Project, 30 plays in 60 minutes and The Arte of Comedy. Participation in the play will be confirmed following auditions.

This is a one-term, production-based activity where students practice costume design and construction skills while working on the Advanced Theater Play and the Middle School Musical. The term begins by focusing on script and character analysis to inform the design and construction process and then students bring the play to fruition alongside the performers and technical theater students. Past projects have included pattern making, construction, fabric painting, jewelry making, and hair and make-up design and execution. Students entering this activity should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment. 

This activity meets each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. 

Winter Tech Theater is a one-term, production-based activity where students practice Technical Theater skills while working on the Advanced Theater Production. This activity is open to both experienced and inexperienced technicians; it includes on-the-job training which prepares students to take on design, production, and devising challenges. Technical theater roles may include stage management, run crew, set, props, lighting, projection, and sound production. Winter Tech Theater offers dedicated students a chance to build essential skills such as effective communication, problem solving, organization, iteration, and leadership. Students entering this activity should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment.

Winter Tech meets each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. Based on the size of the crew and production needs of the play, participation will be confirmed during the first week of the term.

This activity is open to all students, from the novice to the advanced dancer, who are interested in exploring dance through a variety of styles including (but not limited to) Jazz, Funk, Musical Theater, Modern, and Latin dance. In this workshop-style class, dance skills will be practiced and key performance concepts will be discussed. The daily routine will include warm-up,stretch, and movement drills.  Overall the focus is on improving coordination, balance, efficiency, strength, flexibility, and rhythm. Performance routines will be developed over the course of the term. This activity meets daily from 3:45pm-5pm and counts towards the fitness requirement.

The musical is a one-term mainstage, process-to-production experience. Students are cast through acting, dancing and singing auditions. The cast works throughout the rehearsal process to bring the play to fruition using music, dance and character development to tell the story, alongside the technical theater and costuming students. Placing equal focus on the process as well as the product, students build collaboration, creative problem solving, empathy, and leadership skills as well as performance skills. Students entering this process should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment. 

Rehearsals are each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. Past shows have included In The Heights, Hairspray, Rent,Dreamgirls, Something Rotten, and Mamma Mia.. This activity counts towards the fitness requirement. Participation in the play will be confirmed following auditions.

Spring Tech Theater is a one-term, production-based activity where students practice Technical Theater skills related to the public performance of the Spring Musical Activity at Beaver. This activity is open to both experienced and inexperienced technicians; it includes on-the-job training which prepares students to take on necessary challenges. Technical theater roles may include stage management, run crew, set, props, lighting, projection, and sound production. Students entering this activity should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment. Spring Tech Theater offers dedicated students a chance to build essential skills such as effective communication, problem solving, organization, iteration, and leadership. Past shows have included flown scenery, turntables, projection mapping, sculpture, prop building, and textured scenic painting techniques. 

Spring Tech meets each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. Based on the size of the crew and production needs of the play, participation will be confirmed during the first week of the term.

Spring Costume Construction and Design is a one-term, production-based activity related to the public performance of the Spring Musical Activity at Beaver. The term begins by focusing on script and character analysis to inform the design and construction process and then students bring the play to fruition alongside the performers and technical theater students. Past projects have included pattern making, construction, fabric painting, jewelry making, and hair and make-up design and execution. Students entering this activity should be highly motivated and interested in an intense and exciting experience that requires a great deal of commitment. 

Spring Costume Construction and Design meets each day from 3:45pm-5:30pm. In the weeks leading up to the performances, Saturday rehearsals are added as well as late rehearsals ending at 6:30pm the week before the show, 9:00pm the week of the show, and later into the evening for the actual performances. 

BVR HAX is a student-led programming team that is divided into three branches: the instructional branch dedicated to learning the foundations of programming, the software development team dedicated to working on collaborative coding projects, and the advanced branch dedicated to furthering coding knowledge through applying code to different projects. Regardless of one’s ability or interest, the goal of BVR HAX is ultimately to offer a space for any programming enthusiast.

Program runs in the afternoon, 4 days/week (Mon-Thurs) from 3:45-5:00.

The Hiatt Independent Afternoon Opportunity allows for students to volunteer at a nonprofit after school for seven hours per week. Many students choose a nonprofit based on an established relationship they have with an organization. They may also meet with someone in the Hiatt Center to brainstorm ideas. This afternoon program does not take place on campus, and it is up to the student to arrange for transportation to the volunteer site.

During the term, students write a reflection describing their volunteer experience. You can read more about it here.

Students who sign up for this activity must complete this learning agreement by the end of the first week of the term during which they will volunteer. The student will determine their schedule with the nonprofit pending approval from Ms. Latour in the Hiatt Center.