Through practical exercises such as improvisation, script analysis, and the study of monologue and ensemble materials, students are actively engaged in the fundamentals of performance. The course places particular emphasis on the interpretation and translation of the dramatic script, providing a basis for exploring characterization, motivation, and transition.
Emphasis is placed on developing the student’s listening and reacting skills as they begin to work with scene partners. Using the works of contemporary playwrights, students will focus on discovering elements in the script that serve as the basis for characterization.
ACTING GOALS
To understand the concept of theater as a space through stage direction and theater “houses.”
To provide an awareness of theatre as a process including audition, casting, rehearsal, production, critique, and artistic appreciation.
To provide students with an understanding of theater as a performance, i.e., physical awareness and control (stage movement, warm-up techniques, vocal expression, safety/responsibility), creativity, concentration, and positive self-concept.
To provide an understanding of the theater forms, historical periods of drama (mime, Greek, Roman), literary types of drama (comedy, tragedy, serious, farce), and forms of production (musical theater, children’s theater, melodrama, mime and pantomime).
To provide students with a secure foundation in interpersonal communication skills, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
In this introductory class, students will explore the history of theater, theater terms, character development and script analysis
Classes include exercises in movement, improvisation, character development, vocal expression, articulation and projection, sensory awareness, emotional recall, working in the moment, given circumstances, and text analysis.
Students continue their journey in the world of theater. They will explore more in depth, characterization, script analysis and performing techniques. Students will also be performing and responding to their own and others’ class work and performances through writing and discussion.
The goal of the course is to provide students the opportunity to explore a variety of acting methods. Students will be introduced to acting as a process. Emphasis will be placed on acting exercises, physical and vocal awareness and practical (honest and committed) application of techniques and theories.
Advanced Actors will be involved with THREE major productions throughout the year and District & State competitions in the Fall.