R 10

Syllabus

Acting I, THR101

Course Description

This course is designed for beginning acting students to learn the fundamentals of the art and craft of acting. Students will focus on physical and vocal awareness, the basics of character creation through script analysis, exercises, improvisations, as well as monologue and scene study.

Course goals

This course aims to achieve the following:

· To introduce students to the concept of acting as a process and a craft.

· To make students critically aware of standards and what makes a good actor.

· To develop a basic understanding of acting history, script and character analysis, and terminology.

· To heighten the powers of observation, concentration, invention, and imagination.

· To explore and develop the actor’s holistic instrument.

· To gain and maintain confidence while performing in front of others through an awareness of the self and the physical space onstage.

· To acclimate freshman students to college life and to the BFA Actor Training Program at Michigan State University.

· To foster life-long strategies for well-being as artists.

Requirement of Students

· Attendance, focus, listening, and active participation in each class.

· Applied understanding of terms/theory covered in readings, class discussions, writings, and exams.

· Submit assignments on time. Meet memorization deadlines. Present performance projects on time.

· Demonstrate professionalism inside and outside of the classroom. Adhere to rules set forth in the department’s handbook.

· Rehearsals outside of class will be required. Being disrespectful of your partner’s time may result in penalties.

· Respect, support, and encouragement of classmates.

· Devices must be silenced. Using a device which distracts you or your classmates is not permitted.

· Clean studio policy: Studio must be kept clean and restored following each class. Students may not depart until the studio has been restored. No food or beverage is permitted besides water.

Assignments

General Policies:  All assignments are subject to change. Written assignments must be uploaded to D2L (with the exception of certain in-class assignments). MS-Word Documents are the only acceptable format. No PDFs or other formats, please. Any assignment submitted past the due date in D2L may either be rejected or graded with a penalty, at the discretion of the instructor. This is a studio class with daily active participation. Your attendance, support and enthusiasm along with a concentrated daily effort significantly affect your final grade. Some scenes and other class content may include mature or controversial content. Please feel free to speak with your instructor about any concerns.

 

There are five performance projects (10 points each). They are:

· Moment of Reality (Object Exercise):You will create a 2-minute scene of genuine human behavior and be graded on the reality and honesty of this work.

· Open Scene (A/B):Your partner and scene maybe assigned to you. You will be developing this scene through script analysis, rehearsal, and presentation in class on the assigned date.

· Observation and Embodiment Performance:You will take on the physical characteristics of another by studying a subject of your choosing outside of class. You will present your character research for the class on the assigned date.

· Scene:Your partner and scene will be assigned to you. You will study, rehearse and perform.

· Monologue – Live Audition:You will select, study, and rehearse a monologue on an assigned date in class. Look for a 60-90 second, contemporary (1970s-present) piece. You will perform this monologue in a mock audition in the classroom.

 

Your performances will be assessed according to your own ability to comprehend and execute the work. You will be evaluated with consideration of your individual progression and not in comparison to your classmates’ level of previous knowledge, experience, or progression.

 

· Exams:There will be an exam during the semester covering readings and class vocabulary that accounts for 10 points.

· Character Analysis (2): You will focus on one character in your assigned scene and monolgue and complete an analysis style TBD by instructor, totaling 5 points.

· Written Responses:There are a total of 10 brief written responses. Specific prompts are found in the Dropbox on D2L. 9 responses should be minimum 250 words. The final response is 4 pagesand worth 7 points.

· Critiques:2 completed critiques will be 5 points each. All critiques should be at least 500 words and be submitted to D2L in MS Word format. The critiques will be for an assigned department production:

· The Miller Plays.   The Pasant Theatre at the Wharton Center. Student tickets are $12 or sign up to usher. October 12-21. Sold out shows are not an excuse for not doing the assignment.

· Men on BoatsStudio Theatre, Auditorium Bldg. Student tickets are $12 or sign up to usher. Nov. 9-18. Sold out shows are not an excuse for not doing the assignment.

 Course Calendar*

Class 1, Aug 30

Introduction. Syllabus. What is acting? Style. Coursepacks. Department communications. Ensemble building.

Class 2, Sept 4

Discuss reading 1.01, 1.02 & 1.03. History of acting. Ensemble building.

Due: Response 1 on D2L (2:59PM). Experience/goals for class.

Due: Reading 1.01, 1.02, 1.03

 

Class 3, Sept 6

Ensemble building/Improv. Acting emotion vs acting objective. Physical & vocal warmups.

Discuss reading 2.01, 2.02, 2.03 &2.04

Due: Reading 2.01, 2.02,

 

Class 4, Sept 11

Introduce Moment of Reality (Object Exercise) and review reading 3.01 in class. Introduce “the six steps”.

The actor’s warmup. Improvisation. Review 3.02 in class.

Select 5 people for feedback for 24th

Due: Reading  3.01, 3.02 & 3.03

Class 5, Sept 13

First look at objective, tactic, obstacle..

5 Students- Moment of Reality for feedback.

Due: Reading 3.04 & 4.04

Class 6, Sept 18

Moment of Reality for feedback.  Review 3.04 in class: how to give feedback.

Due: Response 2 on D2L (2:59PM). “The Six Steps” for your Moment of Reality & Moment of Reality for Feedback

Class 7, Sept 20

Moment of Reality for feedback. Review: Stanislavski terms. Review subtext, inner monologue, Discuss readings 4.04 & 4.06. Discuss reading 4.01.Theatre terminology. Review reading 8.04 in class.

Due: Readings 4.01, 4.02,4.03 & 5.04

Class 8, Sept 25

Moment of Reality for final grade.

Due: Moment of Reality performance

Class 9, Sept 27

Finish Moment of Reality final grades.

Discuss transference and sense memory, finish theatre terminology. Introduce open scenes. Review readings.

Due: Moment of Reality

Due: Response 3 on D2L (2:59PM) only for those who went 9/25

Due: Reading 4.07 & 4.08

Class 10, Oct 2

           Vocabulary Exam

          Review reading 4.06. Open Scene Rehearsal.

          Due: Response 3 on D2L (2:59PM) for those that went 9/27

          Due: In-class exam on vocabulary/readings (reading 8.04).

          Due: Reading 4.06

          Due: Extra credit writing

Class 11, Oct 4

Open scenes rehearsal.

Due: Response 4 on D2L (2:59PM). Open scene subtext & inner monologue

Class 12, Oct 9

Open scenes rehearsal.

Class 13, Oct 11

Open scene presentations.

Dramatic Structure. Assign Scenes & Partners

Due: Open Scene presentations

Due: Reading 5.01, 5.02 & 5.03

Class 14, Oct 16

How to write a critique Review 8.02 in class.

Character Analysis, Scoring, Scene analysis.

Due: Read This is Our Youth

Due: Reading 5.05, 8.01 & 8.02 

Class 15, Oct 18

Introduce Observation and Embodiment Performance Project.

Due: Read reasons to be pretty

Class 16, Oct 23

Observation and Embodiment in class Exercise

Due: Response 6 D2L (Part 1): Observation and Embodiment Project

Due: Print out copy of your scene 

Class 17, Oct 25

Scene Rehearsals

Due: Critique #1

Class 18, Oct 30 

            Scene rehearsals

            Due: Response 5 on D2L (2:59PM). Dramatic Structure Worksheet

Class 19, Nov 1

            Scene rehearsals 

Class 20, Nov 6

Scene Rehearsals

Class 21, Nov 8

Improv class day with Kevin

Class 22, Nov 13

Final Scene Presentations

Due: Final Scene Presentations

Class 23, Nov 15

Voice and Movement

Due: Reading 6.01 & 6.02

Class 24, Nov 20

Observation and Embodiment Performances. Picking a Monologue

Due: Character Analysis Poem

Due: Observation and Embodiment performances.

Due: Reading 7.02 & 7.03

Due 11/25 at 11:59: Response #7

Nov 22 – NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING

Class 25, Nov 27

Monologue rehearsals.

Due:Reading 7.01 (auditioning), Critique #2

Class 26, Nov 29

Monologue Rehearsal

Due: Reading 7.05 (Types) & 7.07(Screen Acting)

Due: Response 8 on D2L (2:59PM). Monologue Analysis.

Class 27, Dec 4

Monologue Rehearsals

Due:Reading 7.04 (Industry) & 7.06 (resumes)

FINAL Class 28, Dec 6

Due: Mock Auditions- Monologue Final

Due: Response 9 on D2L (2:59PM). Coaching response.

FINAL ASSIGNMENT (due on D2L at December 12th at 2:45 PM)

v. Due: Response 10 on D2L (2:45AM). An extended analysis of your work in this class, your progress, strengths, challenges, things to keep practicing, etc.

vi. Submit SIRS course evaluation online:  https://sirsonline.msu.edu