ACTING COMPANIES
lnstructions for Preparing Your Scene
You will be given several class days to complete this work and memorize your lines. Be productive. Be creative. But above all, be communicative.
1. Appoint a director and cast the scene. When you perform, each person in the company should have a chance to be on stage with several lines.
2. Read through the scene aloud, at least once, preferably twice. Just as you have done before. Decide collectively on the cuts, and make the cuts right away.
3. Your scene should not take longer than ten minutes to perform. Read the scene aloud after you’ve decided on the cuts, timing yourselves, and making necessary adjustments.
4. Allow extra time--performing a scene takes more time than just reading it.
5. Talk about characters-what they want in this scene, how they talk and move. This is to be a more prepared and polished performance than the ones you have been doing all along. Give special attention to movement. This element of your work is critical. You don’t want to just stand there! Try moving different ways. Try a different tone as you speak. Experiment!
6. Plan costumes and props. Everyone should be in black. You may have a prop or two if you want. In some scenes this might be critical--papers, for instance, or a handkerchief.
7. Appoint a prompter and establish clear signals about how the prompting will be handled.
8. Give your acting company a name.
9. If you like, plan extra touches like music, sets, programs.
10. Arrange for videotaping of the scene on the stage of the Mueller.