Performance Elements of DramaActors must maintain control over certain physical actions such as:

Acting-empathy, character motivation, and analysis

Speaking-breath control, diction, expression

Non-verbal Expression- gestures

Speaking

Actors must fine-tune their methods of speaking in order to be understood and to best portray the character

The actor must not only be heard, but must remain IN CHARACTER at all times

http://youtu.be/J7LbT1Hw2lY

Non-Verbal Expression

The use of body language communicates a great deal about the character to the audience

Often an actor ‘speaks’ more with a nonverbal reaction than with any words that could be written

Acting

Remember that there is a difference between the characters in a dramatic piece and the actors portraying those characters

“How does an actor assume a character’s identity and ‘become’ a different person?”

Acting Cont.

If an audience feels empathetic emotions toward a character in a given situation, they will likely consider that performance successful

Together, the cast, the crew, and the audience create the show

The Guildhall School

For this video clip, please write down these questions as they are a part of your notes(Answer them as the clip proceeds): http://youtu.be/R9zpXFvEWG4

1. Why do you think the instructor was yelling out various colors? How did the students respond to this?

2. What is the most important ‘muscle’ for an actor? Why do you think this is true?

3. What does the ‘Acting Technique’ prepare you for?

Three Types of Stages

Arena

Stage built in a theatre that is similar to a sports arena

Sometimes called ‘Theatre in the Round’

Actors make their entrances and exits from the ‘house’(audience)

Thrust

One part of the stage thrusts into the house so that the audience is seated on three sides of the acting area

Proscenium

Most common type of stage

Composed of a proscenium arch(walls facing the audience) that ‘frame’ the acting area

Actors make entrances and exits from the backstage areas in the wings

Stage Directions

Upstage- away from the audience

Downstage- toward the audience

Stage Right/Left- Determined from actor’s point of view when looking toward the audience

‘Please Copy Down in Notes’