Performing Arts Practicum Fall Semester 2011 Course Guidelines and Syllabus Instructor: Llyn Scott Email: 11yn_scott@hotmail.com CFL Theater/SF theater (09/13-27) Time: 9:00-12:00 Tuesday *course BLOG coming soon
Textbook: Jack Frakes, Acting for Life. Colorado: Meriwether Publishing (*Caves Bookstore) Course description: In this course students will learn to use their bodies and voices to
communicate effectively both verbally and nonverbally and improve their abilities to read and respond to behavior in other people with sensitivity and intuition. Students will sharpen their reading skills to analyze dramatic texts and translate this information into other modes of expression such as creative characterization and improvisation. Students also will become familiar with acting techniques, examples of compelling acting performances, and the
differences between acting for the stage and camera. By learning how to write scenarios and then short plays drawn from their imaginations and experiences, students are expected to appreciate drama as a form of personal narrative and gain new insights into the art of playwriting and ultimately, theater and culture. As a result, students will become more discerning judges of art and aesthetics. Journals, weekly exercises, readings, and other activities are expected to have a cumulative positive effect and students should keep up with all assignments.
Course goals: Through this course, students will have the opportunity to become better team players and respect diversities and abilities of others. Students also will gain a holistic
understanding of themselves and a sense of self-worth. This course aims to encourage students to develop a lifestyle that is creative, generous, ethical, joyful, and discerning.
Teaching Materials:
Robert Epstein on Sanford Meisner
http://www.scene4.com/archivesqv6/2000-2001/html/re-rep.html
Meisner Repetition Exercise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDgEKDTkgb4 Lloyd Williamson Physical Technique
http://www.loydwilliamson.com/webpages/Technique-Preface.htm Uta Hagen’s Acting Class, DVD
Sanford Meisner Acting Technique http://www.completeactorstraining.com/about.html Viola Spolin, Improvisation for the Theatre http://www.spolin.com/violabio.html Video Diary - Acting Scenes from Meisner Technique http://vimeo.com/28495824 Video classes at the Guildhall School http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=R9zpXFvEWG4&NR=1
AWOL: http://www.redbirdstudio.com/AWOL/acting2.html Ken McCoy’s Guide for Actors
http://www2.stetson.edu/csata/thr_guid.html#Actors How to write a 10-minute play
http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-write-a-ten-minute-play-a239415
Tentative Schedule
09-13 What is acting and what’s it good for?
ASSIGNMENT 1: Actor’s Journal #1-Make contact; establish a relationship (mostly nonverbal) with a child you don’t know (MRT, bus, crowd, etc.) 7 entries with ½ page write-up including date, time, place, physical description of child, type and progress of interaction, conclusion;
ASSIGNMENT 2: Complete World View questions-answers (1-2 pages protocol format) ASSIGNMENT 3: Read Ch. 1-2; Prepare X-ercises p. 16 “Finding Your Own Sounds” and Create your own Sound Story” - solo or duo performance, 2-3 minutes.
09-20 Discussion: How does my world view relate to acting? *Perform Sound Stories
ASSIGNMENTS: Read Ch 3-4; Prepare X-ercise in Basic Stage Movement, p. 29-30 and use Traits from Ch 13 p. 180,182; and select Business from Ch 4 p. 36-37 (from list 1-34)
09-27 Who can act and what difference does creativity make? *Perform X-ercises.
ASSIGNMENT 1: Actor’s Journal #2 Sensory awareness-sight, sound, taste, smell, touch;
7entries, ½ page each
ASSIGNMENT 2: Prepare 1 Pantomime X-ercise p 36-37 ASSIGNMENT 3: Learn stage terminology and symbols
10-04 Where do we find stages and what features do they have in common? *Perform X-ercise;
ASSIGNMENT: Read Ch 5; review the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
Field Trip 10-08, 2:30 matinee National Theatre, A Musical: Chen Cheng-Po’s Life *required http://www.chenchengpo.com.tw Buy your ticket from Julie Lee, department office.
10-11 Guest facilitator, Igor Wu (NTUA); ASSIGNMENTS: Review Chaps. 1-4 for Quiz 10-18 30-minute Quiz; Ch 5 Voice and Diction practice; Introduce guidelines for writing the Original 5-minute play based on myth, legend, or autobiography
ASSIGNMENT 1: Actor’s Journal 3, Write 5 scenarios for development as 10-minute play ASSIGNMENT 2: Read Ch 6-7 (Acting Advice, Practical Skills); Prepare 4-minute X-ercise 10-25 How does the actor integrate his/her voice and body expression? *Perform X-ercise;
ASSIGNMENT: Prepare 5-minute original scripts for Midterm Performance; casting
11-08 Practical coaching for voice and body expressiveness; Take home test on Chapters 1-7 11-15 *Midterm Original 5-minute plays
ASSIGNMENT 1: Actor’s Journal #4 Street Scenes Observations, 7 entries ASSIGNMENT 2: Read Ch. 8-9
11-22 Lecture/discussion; How is a performance different from real life? How do I know if I am acting?
ASSIGNMENT: Prepare 3-minute original monologue with movement X-ercise 11-29 Nicole Wang, Guest artist dance workshop
ASSIGNMENT 1: Read Ch. 10-11 (Actor’s Process, Basic Techniques);
ASSIGNMENT 2: Actor’s Journal #5 Response to Dance Workshop
12-06 Lecture/discussion: Acting onstage; does that relate to real life? *Perform monologue X- ercise
ASSIGNMENT 1: Read Ch. 13-14 (Character Traits and Emotions)
ASSIGNMENT 2: Prepare Scene Studio #1, 10-minute original play (to be read aloud) 12-13 Introduction to different roles of the director and actors in rehearsal process; rehearsals
*Required attendance, Little Women, senior play Dec. 15-17, 2001 12-20 *Reading aloud Scene Studio #1 - original 10-minute plays
ASSIGNMENT 1: Read Ch.15-16 Prepare Scene Studio #2 Performances of selected original 10-minute student plays
12-27 10-minute play rehearsal and preparation
ASSIGNMENT: Prepare Rehearsal Notebooks with character analysis and blocking notations 01-03 *Performances Scene Studio #2 original 10-minute plays
ASSIGNMENT: Review for Final Exam; Complete Rehearsal Notebooks (extended class times)
01-10 Final Exam on Chapters 8-11 and 13-16; Rehearsal Notebooks DUE Course Evaluation
5 Actor’s Journals (and any other written work) 15%
X-ercises and Original Monologue 20%
2 Scene Studios with scripts 25%
1 Midterm take home test 15%
1 Final Exam with notebooks 25%
Course Protocols
Attendance is absolutely required; for any anticipated absence, please notify the instructor in person ahead of time.
Please wear light-colored comfortable, loose clothing suitable for movement and game activities.
Bring your textbook for every class.
Assignments must be prepared and delivered/performed on the DUE date.
Written assignments such as Journals and Notebooks must be submitted on A4 size paper and typed, times roman font, 12 point, with title of assignment, full name, ID number, and date in the top left hand corner
