Acting the Method

Overview

Acting has existed in one form or another for thousands of years. Ever since stories were first dramatized by playwrights, these artists were needed to breathe life into the characters that previously existed only in the imagination.Over the centuries, this art form has undergone significant changes, the most important of which was Stanislavsky’s creation of his ‘system’ or ‘method’.

A combination of physical / vocal technique and psychological analysis, this ‘method’ was centered on the notion of action. Acting is about doing. Stanislavsky believed all of a character’s actions had an underlying reason, a motivation. Actors would define these motivations through objectives.

Stanislavsky developed a wide range of techniques for his ‘method’:

•          Bits and Tasks

•          Emotion Memory

•          Given Circumstances

•          Magic “If”

•          Objectives

•          Observation of Reality

In this class, we will study the techniques of Stanislavsky’s ‘method’ and apply them to theatre from antiquity and the present day. 

Course Objectives

• Discuss the artistic choices a playwright makes in a dramatic work and how these influence the interpretation and message of the work (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level II, 1CE). 

• Research the historical background of a script as a basis for interpretation and presentation (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level II, 2CE).

• Identify and describe the significant dramatic arts from various period of theatre history; for example, Origin, Greek and Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, Restoration, 17th century to the contemporary (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level II, 3CE).

• Analyze a dramatic and theatrical work in the context of its time period and culture (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level III, 2CE).

• Compare and contrast motivations and reactions of characters confronting similar situations (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level III, 4CE).

• Develop a complete character using physical, emotional, and vocal techniques in a memorized scene or monologue (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level II, 1PR).

• Demonstrate the collaborative skills necessary for producing a scene with an ensemble (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level II, 2PR).

• Pre-block and direct peers in a scene, applying the principles of composition to create an effective stage picture (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level II, 4PR).

• Sustain convincing multidimensional characters, while developing contrasting pieces and monologues for presentations, auditions, and inclusion in a portfolio (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level III, 1PR).

• Use accurate terminology in dramatic and theatrical activities (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level III, 6PR).

• Use self-evaluation strategies and audience response to improve artistic works and experiences (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level II, 5RE).

• Justify personal artistic choices made throughout the artistic process and after self-evaluation (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level III, 6RE). 

Attendance/Participation

Because of the performance nature of this class, attendance is mandatory. Excessive unexcused absences will negatively affect a student’s grade. If a student is absent, he/she has the number of days absent to make up any missed work. For example, if Jane is absent for three days, she has three days to make up the work she has missed. Please remember: an absence impacts the individual student as well as each student with whom he or she may be working.

In class, students always need to be:

• Attentive

• Positive

• Supportive

Effort is incredibly important; a student should always try his or her best in every classroom activity and take risks in his or her work.

*Please Note: Students are required to participate in all classroom activities including (but not limited to) acting exercises, discussions, group activities, physical / vocal warm-ups, and rehearsals. When students would like to participate in class, they must raise their hand. 

Audition

Students are required to audition for the spring production using the audition techniques learned in class. They will be graded on the effectiveness of their audition. Students are encouraged but not required to be in the production or any of the other productions produced by New Albany High School. The production for which the students will be auditioning this year is Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

The auditions for Macbeth will be held after school in the Mini Theater on Tuesday, December 8th from 3 P.M. – 6 P.M. with callbacks being held on Wednesday, December 9th from 3 P.M. – 6 P.M. If a student is unable to attend the auditions, he or she must see Mr. Lemberg immediately.