Second Semester Acting Class Syllabus

Second Semester Acting Class Syllabus

January 8, 2013

Dear Acting Student:
Welcome to our beginning acting class.  I hope you will enjoy this class and will grow and develop as an actor, a student and a human being.

Each day the acting class will start with vocal exercises, stretches, physical warm-ups and acting exercises - some of them fun, some of them weird. But everyone is expected to participate and the grade will be based in part on participation and cooperation.

We will do theatre games which are for the most part fun, and do require everyone to get up on her or his feet and participate. The games do serve a purpose and are designed to help the young actor grow.
You will pair up or work in small groups of three or four and create scenes and/or pantomimes according to a set guide line which you will perform for a grade.

As the semester progresses, you will select, rehearse and perform two short scenes with an acting partner.  By working on these short scenes with different acting partners, you will learn how to create and develop a character.  The process which you will use to create a living, believable character will include improvs and exercises you will perform in front of the class, and written work on the character which will include creating a background for the character, a day in the life of the character, objectives of the character, and a “Who-What-Where-When” journal on the scene. These will be turned in for a grade. The scenes will be committed to memory,  performed in front of the class with blocking and props, and will be videotaped.

You will rehearse with me twice. You will present to me what you have created on your own; I will direct and block your scene which you will then rehearse. A few days later you will rehearse the scene for me but this time fully memorized, with props and blocking. You will then be scheduled to perform the scene  in front of the class. The class will learn to critique the scenes in a respectful and supportive way. Due to the nature of the class, cooperation and participation are  integral parts if the grade.  One cannot work in theatre without getting up on one's feet and participating; nor can one do theatre without cooperation with one's fellow actors or with one's director/teacher.

As a member of the Performing Arts Magnet, you will be expected to usher and work tech on at least one show per semester and to see all of the plays and dance and vocal productions put on by the magnet.

This should be a fun but also very demanding class. Because of the nature of the class it is important that we treat each other with respect at all times so that we feel safe to create.

The grades will be determined by the following:

Participation/Cooperation: 60%
Scene: 20%
Written Work: 10%
Outside participation in magnet productions: 10%

The week’s agenda will be posted at hollywoodhighschool.net under teachers’ blogs, under jbridges and under Beginning Acting. You are expected to check it at least once a week to keep abreast of the class’s agenda. If you have a question please feel free to contact me at jkatbridge@aol.com.

Sincerely,
KATE BRIDGES