The Complete Works of William
Shakespeare
The Complete Works of William
Shakespeare
A Shakespearean
Glossary
Words sweetly placed
and modestly directed
Learning Outcomes- Advanced Theatre
1. Students will have a working understanding of the major principles of acting and acting as an art and will increase their ability to express themselves artistically and communicate effectively.
2. Students will put into practice the components that create dramatic tension: objectives, obstacles, tactics, and stakes.
3. Students will understand the importance of and strive to achieve sensory and emotional awareness and recall.
4. Students will explore and understand the need for intense focus and concentration when performing.
5. Students will read and analyze the full text of any play that they are performing a scene or monologue from.
6. Students will be able to analyze and dissect scripts to find both beat changes and character traits.
7. Students will be able to create a character based on observation, physical exploration and script analysis and be able to write a detailed biography.
8. Students will be skilled in the use of relaxation exercises and bodily expression.
9. Students will be able to demonstrate correct patterns of speech, intonation, projection, and articulation.
10. Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of stage directions and blocking.
11. Students will participate in ensemble and trust building activities.
12. Through scene work and script analysis student will explore the history and meaning of the works of William Shakespeare.
13. Student will see and comment on a large variety of theatrical productions.
14. Students will read and discuss several writings on acting and theatre and will be able to discuss them in detail.
15. Students will be able to effectively criticize their own work and that of others.
1. Primary Readings will be from Uta Hagen (Respect for Acting, A Challenge for the Actor), Constantin Stanislavski (An Actor Prepares), and Richard Boleslavsky (Acting: The First Six Lessons)
2. Activities encouraging ensemble, sensory and emotional awareness and recall, relaxation, physical awareness, and trust will be adapted primarily from the teachings of Viola Spolin (Improvisation for the Theatre), Augusto Boal (Games for Actors and Non-Actors), Uta Hagen, and Constantin Stanislavski.
3. The components that create dramatic tension: objectives, obstacles, tactics, and stakes, will be taught from the teachings of Constantin Stanislavski and Michael Chekov.
4. Character work will stem from the work of Uta Hagen as outlined in Respect for Acting and A Challenge for the Actor.
5. All of the above will be demonstrated through improvisation, scene study, and monologue preparation.
6. Selected videotapes will be used for information and / or exemplars.
7. All students will be required to keep a daybook in order to record observations, class notes, character work, script analysis, etc.
8. All students will read and perform a scene from one of the works of William Shakespeare.
On a daily basis students must
1. Give dependable and consistent individual contribution.
2. Have promptness and regularity in attending class.
3. Make appropriate comment and/ or criticism often.
4. Stay focused on the task at hand.
5. Concentrate on their own work and not be distracted by the presence of classmates.
6. Explore their emotional and sense memory.
7. Attempt to accomplish the task at hand with positive energy and persistence.
8. Refrain from excessive giggling/ laughing as this is counter productive to achieving the focus.
STUDENTS WILL BE GRADED ON THEIR PARTICIPATION ON A DAILY OR WEEKLY BASIS
Improvisation is used to allow students to explore characters, as well as explore dramatic structure and conflict. Students will:
1. Stay focused on the task at hand.
2. Concentrate on their own work and not be distracted by the presence of classmates.
3. Explore their emotional and sense memory.
4. Refrain from excessive giggling/ laughing as this is counter productive to achieving the focus.
5. Focus on achieving their objective.
6. Use a variety of tactics to achieve their objective.
7. Set appropriately high stakes and play them appropriately.
8. Work and rehearse effectively with their partner.
All students will keep a Day Book that should be written in (A MINIMUM OF THREE PARAGRAPHS) every day that the class meets. It will be collected and evaluated periodically by the instructor. It should include:
1. All class notes on lectures and discussions.
2. Personal reflections on exercises and discussion stating how the exercise made the student feel.
3. Reactions to class readings.
4. All notes given to the students by the instructor and peers on Improvisations, scenes or monologues.
5. Character notes.
1. The entire play that the assigned scene or monologue is from must be read and analyzed for character features.
2. A well written Character Biography must be completed based on the above.
3. The text of the actual scene or monologue must be dissected for beats and objectives.
4. The scene or monologue must be thoroughly memorized by the assigned date.
5. The scene or monologue must be rehearsed efficiently using time given as well as rehearsals outside of class time. Wasted rehearsal time will reflect negatively.
6. Beats and objectives should be demonstrated in the staging and performance of the scene or monologue.
7. Use a variety of tactics to achieve their objective. These tactics should be reflected in beat changes.
8. Character analysis and concentration should be demonstrated in the performance.
9. Students will record criticism from the instructor and the class and will demonstrate improvement based on that criticism in future showings.
THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE OBSERVATIONS
1. Students are required to see THREE theatrical productions each quarter. At least one of these three must be a LIVE performance. The remaining 2 can be films or videotapes based on plays. The Westport Public Library has many such productions available. A list of appropriate titles is available on this website.
2. Students are required to complete a THEATRICAL PRODUCTION OBSERVATION SHEET for every production viewed.