Honors Actor's Studio

Overview

Utilizing the knowledge of acting techniques and theatrical production gleaned in “Acting the Method”, students will create, rehearse, and perform projects for public audiences. They will function like a theatre company, acting, designing, directing, publicizing, producing, stage-managing, and writing their assigned projects.

Students will study two movement-based approaches to theatrical performance: the Suzuki Method of Actor Training and Viewpoints. The Suzuki Method’s “principal concern is with restoring the wholeness of the human body to the theatrical context and uncovering the actor’s own innate expressive abilities”. Viewpoints “allows actors to function together spontaneously and intuitively…develop[ing] flexibility, articulation, and strength in movement and makes ensemble playing really possible”. These techniques serve as counterpoints to Konstantin Stanislavsky’s psychological system, but they also can be used in conjunction with his method.

Students also will study the Meisner technique, which was developed by acting teaching Sanford Meisner. Meisner had been exposed to method acting at the Group Theatre, but he disagreed with that approach and its reliance on affective (or emotion) memory. “Meisner maintained an emphasis on ‘the reality of doing’, which was the foundation of his approach.” He believed the interaction between characters, “the dynamics between people, the body language, the tone of voice, the quality of the exchange between one human and another,” gave energy and tension to a scene. Meisner said, “All of my exercises were designed to strengthen the guiding principle…that art expresses human experience”.

Stanislavsky’s system, the Meisner technique, the Suzuki Method, and Viewpoints are all tools actors can utilize for all performances, both inside and outside of class.

Topics for class projects may include:

  • Acting Methodologies
  • American Theatre
  • Chamber Theatre
  • Composition / Moment Work
  • Project LEED
  • Robot Theatre
  • Shakespeare
  • Theatre for Social Change
  • Theatre of the Absurd
  • "What is art?"

Objectives

  • Use drama and theatre heritage and art forms to communicate a philosophical, ethical, or social issue (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level IV, 2CE).
  • Analyze dramatic and theatrical texts on the basis of physical, social, and psychological dimensions of the characters (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level IV, 4CE).
  • 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).
  • Write a play, screenplay, or radio play (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level III, 4PR).
  • Collaborate with others to develop a unified design for a production (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level IV, 2PR). Select, cast, block, and direct an original or published play for performance (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level IV, 4PR).
  • Integrate the essential skills from other academic disciplines to support and execute a dramatic or theatrical production (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level IV, 5PR).
  • Describe how drama and theatre can affect social change, both globally and locally (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level II, 4RE).
  • Use self-evaluation strategies and audience response to improve artistic works and experiences (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level II, 5RE).
  • Assess how drama and theatre provide a social voice (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level III, 3RE).
  • Justify personal artistic choices made throughout the artistic process and after self-evaluation (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level III, 6RE).
  • Evaluate variations of universal themes across different dramatic works (High School Content Statements, Achievement Level IV, 1RE).

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.

Exit Portfolio

At the end of the school year, each student will complete an exit portfolio of their work in this class and in the department utilizing Google Sites. A detailed list of requirements for the portfolio will be distributed by Mr. Lemberg at the end of the first semester.

In Google Docs, students also must complete a cover letter, a detailed résumé of the student’s theatrical work, and two headshots, one commercial and one theatrical.

Audition

The ability to audition well is a valuable skill for any actor; with this ability, he or she will have a better chance of being cast in shows. Auditioning teaches the actor how to market himself or herself to a potential employer. The techniques of auditioning are not limited to the world of film, television, and theatre but can be utilized for any job interview.

Because the skill improves the more an actor auditions, students are required to audition for both productions New Albany High School is producing this school year: Kiss Me, Kate by Cole Porter, Sam Spewack, and Bella Spewack and Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Their grade for the Kiss Me, Kate audition will be participation-based, while for Macbeth 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 auditions for Kiss Me, Kate and Macbeth will be held after school in the Mini Theater. If a student is unable to attend the auditions, that student needs to see Mr. Lemberg immediately.