acting spring 2014

THEA 221: Acting ISpring 2014(TR 2:30-4:20)

Instructor: R. Boucher Office: Brodie Hall 173BHours: TR 10AM-11:15 AM & by appointment Phone: 585-245-5842E-mail: [email protected] Books: An Actor Prepares Constantin Stanislavski

Description:

Techniques designed to free the actor, to promote active acting, and to introduce approaches to building characterizations. Workshop performance required. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances will be required. Prerequisites: THEA 100 or THEA 140 or permission of the instructor. 0.000 OR 3.000 Credit hours 2.000 Lecture hours 2.000 Other hours

Performances: You MUST see these shows! You will write a two page review on the acting (3 characters specifically analyzed) of this show.

LOST WOMEN OF TROYFrom EuripidesTranslated by Hanoch LevinDirected and choreographed by Dr. Randy Barbara KaplanPefromances: 4/30-5/4

** Tickets sold at the Brodie Box Office 245-5833 or online at www.geneseo.edu/bbo*These shows will fill up. Get your tickets early--No excuses for missing it!!!!

Extra Credit

Running Crew:No more than a total of ten extra credit points (fifty hours), and no fewer than two extra credit points (ten hours).

To the tune of 2 points granted for each ten hours' worth of work, it comes to:

10 hours = 2 points20 hours = 3 points30 hours = 6 points40 hours = 8 points50 hours = 10 points

Writing Review:

If you feel you need extra credit in order to ensure you achieve your goal gradewise, you can see a show on campus.

You must write a 2 FULL page review. Each extra credit review has the potential to receive up to 3 extra points towards the final grade. These must be handed in with 1 week of closing night.-12 point font-double spaced-1 inch margins all the way around-analyze 2 elements of the show. These may include: acting, directing, lighting/sound design, set design, choreography, or costumes.

Extra Credit Shows: TBD

** Tickets sold at the Brodie Box Office 245-5833 or online at www.geneseo.edu/bbo

Course requirements and Policies:You must be here to improve your craft. Anything less than full participation and energy will meet with a lower grade, specifically, you may miss only 3 classes without losing participation points. Absence #4 will meet with a loss of 5 pts; #5 an additionally 5pts. More absences will require a meeting with me which could lead to course failure. This class will involve exercises and “games” that will focus on improving your skills as an actor. Though there will surely be moments that you will feel silly, or perhaps unsure if the exercise or “game” is improving your skills, rest assured that it is all part of the process. Therefore, a good attitude regarding the classroom activities is a necessity! If there is anything that is making you uncomfortable, please do see me privately and we will surely find some compromise.

Additionally: I have assigned the reading of one of many great texts on the art of acting. You will note that, for the most part, I have assigned about a chapter a week. Part of the following week’s discussion will be on the text. As with the exercises, the reading is designed to force you to be in continued contemplation of the craft. I do not plan to lecture to you about the text, but to discuss the text with you as intelligent artists. So: READ!

Grading: (NB: each performance will include a brief, 1 page character analysis with

history and objectives of the character).

Attendance/participation: 10ptsGroup Poem Scene: 15ptsOpen Scene with character analysis : 15ptsMonologue (devised):Performance: 15pts

:Text 5pts

Review Paper (2 page min.): 10ptsStanislavski Paper (2 page min.): 10 ptsFinal Scene with character analysis: 20pts

Total: 100pts

95-100 = A90-94 =A-88-89 = B+84-87 = B80-83 = B-78-79 = C+74-77 = C70-73 = C-68-69 = D+64-67 = D60-63 = D-Below 60 = E

Writing Assignments:Apart from in-class writing, all work must be typewritten or computer printed. The paper size must be 81/2 by 11 inches. All work must be double-spaced, spell-checked and self-edited. The print size must be 12 and the font, “Times New Roman.” Your assignment Heading must be at the top, left hand side of your paper (unless I require a cover page) and must include:Your Full NameThe Course NumberMy NameDateAssignment Name Unless due to a documented absence, late work will be accepted only within one week, with a 2 point loss for every day late. After a week, the piece will receive a failing grade. Because of the ease of e-mail, it should not be difficult to get work to me. I check my e-

mail every day.

Cheating/Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the dual act of presenting or claiming the words, ideas, or creations of others as your own. Plagiarism may be intentional--as in a false claim of ownership-- or unintentional-- as in failure to document sources using MLA, APA, CBE, or other style sheets (we will concern ourselves mainly with MLA). Presenting ideas in the exact or nearly exact wording as found in the primary or secondary sources constitutes plagiarism, as does patching together paraphrased statements without in-text citations. Each faculty member will determine appropriate responses to plagiarism. Plagiarism, or cheating, can result in receipt of a failing grade on an assignment or the course, removal of student from a class, or expulsion of a student from the college. Students who are caught cheating on an exam will receive a zero for that exam. Students caught plagiarizing will receive a zero for the writing assignment and may receive an F for the course if more than one incident of cheating or plagiarizing has occurred in the course.

A personal note on plagiarism:It has become increasingly easy to detect plagiarism and locate primary sources. Save yourself the trouble and only hand in original work.

Disability Policy: Accommodations: SUNY Geneseo will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented physical, emotional, or cognitive disabilities. Accommodations will also be made for medical conditions related to pregnancy or parenting. Students should contact Dean Buggie-Hunt in the Office of Disability Services ([email protected] or 585-245-5112) and their faculty to discuss needed accommodations as early as possible in the semester.

Disruptive Behavior:The use of cell phones, texting, instant message and talking are obviously disruptive and not allowed in class. If you must have a conversation, please leave the room and return when finished. Students who fail to honor this courtesy will be asked to leave the class

Classroom Policies:Dress: As we will work vocally and physically, dress comfortably. We will be moving, so wear loose fitting clothes and athletic shoes.

Attitude: This is a workshop, and I insist that it is a comfortable place for artists to work on their craft. While constructive criticism should be welcomed, I will not tolerate nastiness or insulting behavior. An example of acceptable discussion would be: “I liked how you _______, but have you thought about __________?

SCHEDULE

tel:585-245-5112

mailto:[email protected]

Topic/Activity Reading For Today

T 1/21: Course OrientationIntroduction and syllabus. Warm ups and visualization

Syllabus

R 1/23: Warming up, etc…discuss ch.1Tug of war, etc

An Actor Prepares Ch. 1

Week 2T 1/28 Discussion and

Exercises:Givens and reality

An Actor Prepares Ch. 2 & 3

R 1/30 Discussion and Exercises:Movement Units

Choose and begin working group scenes

For Homework, break an everyday activity down into specific units to perform next class

Week 3

T 2/4 Perform Movement Units exerciseDiscussion and Exercises


For Homework, observe a stranger in a public place and note nuances and movement to create a character, then have that “person” perform same activity you used for Units exercise

R 2/6 Perform observation exerciseDiscussion and Exercises


Week 4

T 2/11 Exercises:Subtext and intentions

R 2/13 Rehearse Group scenes

Hand out Open scenes/choose partners


Week 5

T 2/18 Rehearse Group scenes

R 2/20 Perform Group scenes

Week 6

T 2/25 In-class practice open scenes

Work on Objectives


R 2/27 Breaking a text down by Beats/Units


Week 7T 3 / 4

Open Scene Rehearsal


R 3/6 Open Scene Rehearsal


Week 8

T 3/11 Open Scene Rehearsal


Week 9 Spring Break

T 3/18 Spring Break

R 3/20 Spring Break

Week 10

T 3/25 Exercises/discussion An Actor Prepares Ch. 12

R 3/27 Devised Monologue workshop one

Week 11

T 4/1 Devised Monologue workshop two

An Actor Prepares Ch. 13 & 14

R 4/3 Devised monologue rehearsal 1

An Actor Prepares Ch. 15 &16

Week 12

T 4/8 Great Day! No class!

R 4/10 Devised monologue rehearsal 1

Stanislavski Paper Due

Week 13

T 4/15Devised monologue rehearsal 2

Week 9: T 10/22:

Exercises/discussionR 10/24: Exercises/discussion

HW: An Actor

Extra Credit Reviews:Reviews must be 2 pages in length discussing at least three (2) different aspects of the performance. Such aspects would be acting, directing, set design, costume design, lighting, or script. Comments such as, “The play was good,” are not sufficient; I want to know what specifically you thought was good or bad and why.

Performance review: Critique and analyze 3 actors. Focus on all of the skills/elements

R 4/17 Final Scene Rehearsal

Week 14

T 4/22 Final Scene Rehearsal

R 4/24 Final Scene Rehearsal

Week 15 See LOST WOMEN OF TROY 4/30-5/4

T 4/29 Final Performance

R 5/1 Final Performance

Week 16

T 5/6 Discussion on LOST WOMEN OF TROY

LOST WOMEN OF TROY Due today!

we have been discussing in class.Make sure the writing is College Level: absence of grammar errors and typos (proofread!!!!).

Review Rubric: Character #1______/2.5Character #2______/2.5Character #3______/2.5Writing______/2.5

Monologue Rubric:

Evidence of rehearsal:_____/3Knowing the textConfidence in material

Moment to moment Intentions:_______/3Clear Objectives:_________/3Movement:_______/2Voice:_______/2Analysis_____/2 (1 page)

Open Scene Rubric:


Connection with partner:_______/2Logical use of text:________/2Moment to moment Intentions:_______/2Clear Objectives:_________/2Movement:_______/2Voice:_______/2Analysis_____/1 (1 page)

Group Scene Rubric:


Connection with partners:_______/2Logical use of text:________/2Moment to moment Intentions:_______/2Clear Objectives:_________/2Movement:_______/2

Voice:_______/2Analysis_____/1 (1 page)

Rubric for Stanislavski Paper:You will write a 2 page paper analyzing one chapter from the text and telling me how you have applied it or plan to apply it to your own acting.

Understanding of his method:_____/4Applying to your own growth:______/4Writing:______/2

Rubric for Final Scene:

Evidence of Rehearsal:______/3Knowing the textConfidence in materialSmoothness of execution

Teamwork:_______/2Clear Objectives:_________/3Movement:_______/2Voice:________/2Intentions:______/3

Rubric for Final Character Analysis:-minimum 2 page, in-depth analysis of scene character

#1 History_____/2Objective in scene_____/2Super-objective______/1

acting spring 2014

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