Learning Outcomes- Theatre I
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 have an understanding of the components that create dramatic tension: objectives, obstacles, tactics, and stakes and will be able to utilize the components of dramatic tension in both improvisation and scene study.
3. Students will be skilled in the use of relaxation exercises and bodily expression.
4. Students will explore and understand the need for intense focus and concentration when performing.
5. Students will be able to analyze and dissect scripts for beats, objectives, and characterization.
6. Students will read and analyze the full text of any play that they are performing a scene or monologue from.
7. Students will be able to write a character biography.
8. Students will understand the importance of and strive to achieve sensory and emotional awareness and recall.
9. Students will be able to create a character based on observation, physical exploration and script analysis.
10. Students will have a working knowledge of stage directions and blocking.
11. Students will participate in ensemble and trust building activities.
12. Student will see and comment on a large variety of theatrical productions.
13. Students will be able to effectively criticize their own work and that of others.
1. 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) and Robert Cohen (Acting One).
2. The components that create dramatic tension: objectives, obstacles, tactics, and stakes, will be taught from the teachings of Constantin Stanislavski and Michael Chekov.
3. All of the above will be demonstrated through improvisation, scene study, and monologue preparation.
4. Selected videotapes will be used for information and/or exemplars.
5. All students will be required to keep a journal in order to record observations, class notes, character work, script analysis, etc.
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. Attempt to accomplish the task at hand with positive energy and persistence.
5. 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 student s 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. 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. Reflections on exercises and discussion.
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 Bio 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. Character analysis and concentration should be demonstrated in the performance.
8. 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.