January 27, 2014 - January 31, 2014 Agenda for Introduction to Theatre

Monday, January 27th:

Divide class into casts
Work with FOOLS on cutting

Tuesday, January 28th:

Divide class into cast

Work with BILOXIE BLUES on cutting

Wednesday, January 29th:

Divide class into cast

Work with BILOXIE BLUES on cutting

Thursday, January 30th:

Divide class into cast

Work with HOUSE of BERNARDA BLUES

Friday, January 31st:

Divide class into cast

Work with new group: Kira, Tiaja, Jeryah, 

January 21, 2014 - January 24, 2014 Agenda for Introduction to Theatre

Tuesday, January 21st:
Work with FOOLS on cutting second section
Read and cut Scene 3

Continue rehearsing:
THE HOUSE of BERNARDA ALBA
BILOXIE BLUES

Wednesday, January 22nd:
Continue working with FOOLS on cutting second section

Continue rehearsing:
THE HOUSE of BERNARDA ALBA
BILOXIE BLUES

Thursday, January 23rd:
Rehearse and block second section of FOOLS

Continue rehearsing:
THE HOUSE of BERNARDA ALBA
BILOXIE BLUES

Friday, January 24th:
Rehearse and block second section of FOOLS

Continue rehearsing:
THE HOUSE of BERNARDA ALBA
BILOXIE BLUES 

January 13, 2014 - January 17, 2014

Monday, January 13th:

Welcome and Check in!

Tuesday, January 14th

No class today

Wednesday, January 15th:

Break into groups and rehearse the first act of your play 

Work with THE HOUSE of BERNARDA ALBA

Thursday, January 16th:

Break into groups and rehearse the first act of each play cutting 

Work on THE HOUSE of BERNARDA ALBA 

Friday, January 17th:

Break into casts and rehearse the first act of each play cutting

Continue working on the THE HOUSE of BERNARDA ALBA 

Syllabus for Introduction to Theatre; January 13, 2014

Welcome to Introduction to Theatre, where you will be introduced to the world of theatre. I hope this class will be fun and educational and exciting for you.  In this class you will be introduced to the art and craft of acting, where you will learn about character development, script analysis, theatrical terms and conventions.  You will also learn about proper theatre protocol in terms of working with other actors and with the director, and appropriate behavior both as an actor and as an audience member.

In the beginning of the semester, we will continue working on the shows we were rehearsing during the fall semester: THE HOUSE of BERNARDA ALBA, BILOXI BLUES and FOOLS. We will perform these half hour cuttings on Thursday, March 6th at 3:30 and Friday, March 7th at 3:30 and 7:00 in the auditorium.  There may be a few after school rehearsals during the week of the performances, but they will be kept to a minimum. This is a major part of your grade and it is imperative that you perform in these scenes.

After the performances on March 6 and 7,  we will then move on to working on three to five character scenes to learn about creating characters:some of the things we will learn will be about the character's background, the character's history; her/his relationships with the other characters; the character's objectives or motivations. We will use acting exercises such as the "Inciting Event", where you will create a scene which occurs before the play which sets up your character's situation.  Other acting exercises will be the "Entrance Exercise" which is where you enter the room as the character, bringing in with you the character's experiences from the past day.  The "Exit Exercise" is where you exit the room as the character, going into another space, going towards another objective, or destination.  We will also borrow from the great acting masters, such as Sanford Meisner, Stella Adler, Uta Hagen, and of course, Constantin Stanislavski.

The class will start with some vocal, relaxation and/or acting exercises and some theatre games.  Then I will work with one or two groups per class session on blocking, script analysis and character development.  For each scene you do, you will create the "inciting event", the "entrance exercise" and the "exit exercise". After two or three rehearsals with me, you will then perform the scene (WHICH MUST BE MEMORIZED!)  before the class, which will be taped.  You will watch the tape and write a reflection on your work, following a format which will be provided for you.

During the final performance of the scene, you must have the scene memorized exactly the way it is written, you must perform the blocking and the direction as we rehearsed, and you must use props.

You are expected to keep a three-pronged light weight folder in which you are expected to keep all handouts, including this, and your scripts.  You will be given a copy of your script and you are expected to BRING IT EVERY DAY! If you do not, you will receive an "F" for that day; you will be loaned a copy of your script in exchange for some collateral property (cell phone, shoe, backpack). When you return the borrowed script, your property will be returned to you. If you lose your script, then you will have to copy the script out by hand.  Copies are at a premium and there is a very small quota per month to make copies.

There is NO EATING NOR DRINKING FROM CANS in class. We have had in the past a major infestation of rats and cockroaches from food left behind and sticky residue from spilled soft drinks. The custodial staff has been drastically cut and Room 503 is never swept, mopped nor cleaned, except when your teacher does it.  And it's a big room.

You will be graded on your participation.  You are expected to participate in all the acting and vocal exercises and theatre games at the beginning of the class, and in all of the assignments and rehearsals of the scenes.  When you are not rehearsing with me, then you must be in your assigned areas rehearsing with your fellow actors.  When you perform your scenes you must have your lines and blocking memorized and perform the scene to the best of your ability.  Failure to do so will result in a much lower grade and perhaps failing the class.

The class will only be as good as we all make it. Please be aware that you are working with other people and that your behavior and effort will affect them, their work and their grade.  Furthermore, it is imperative that we create an atmosphere of respect - respect for our fellow students, respect for the director, and respect for ourselves.  Please show respect by refraining from rude comments or actions, or talking or texting during class.  Please do not text during other students' scenes.  Please remember that it is ILLEGAL and against district policy to record another student during school. Students can only do their best work when they feel safe and valued, so please give positive support during students' performances.

The grading scale is as follows:

90% - 100% = A
80% -   89% = B
70% -   79% = C
60% -   69% = D
Below 60%  = Fail

Participation: 30%
Scene Work: 40%
Group Work: 30%

I look forward to working with you and helping you grow as a young adult, a student and as an artist.

________________________________________________________________________________

Student:
I have read and I understand the requirements of the class:
________________________________________________________________________________

Parent or Guardian:
I have read and I understand the requirements of the class:
________________________________________________________________________________

2014 Agenda for Acting Class

January 13 - 17:

Break into groups and rehearse the first scene again.

Work with the first act of THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA

Work with the first act of FOOLS

Work with the first act of BILOXIE BLUES

Work with cast of BERNARDA ALBA to cut the second act

January 20 - 24:

Cut the second act of BERNARDA ALBA (Must include the fight scene between Adela and Martirio, and the scene when Poncia tries to warn Bernarda about the way she treats her daughters.)

Cut the second act of FOOLS

Cut the second act of BILOXIE BLUES (Should include the scenes where the soldiers are discussing their favorite fantasy, the harassment of Epstein by Toomey, etc)

January 27 - 31:

Continue cutting the second act of BERNARDA ALBA

Continue cutting the second act of FOOLS

Continue cutting the second act of BILOXIE BLUES

February 3 - 7:

Run Act 1 and Act 2 of BERNARD ALBA

Run Act 1 and Act 2 of FOOLS

Run Act 1 and Act 2 of BILOXIE BLUES

Block Act 2 of BERNARD ALBA

Block Act 2 of FOOLS

Block Act 2 of BILOXIE BLUES

February 10 - 14:

Cut 3rd Act of BERNARDA ALBA

Cut 3rd Act of FOOLS

Cut 3rd Act of BILOXIE BLUES (Should include the scene between Wykowsky and Epstein, and the epilogue.)

Run Acts 1, 2 and 3 of BERNARDA ALBA, FOOLS and BILOXIE BLUES

February 17 - 21:

Block the 3rd Act of BERNARDA ALBA, FOOLS and BILOXIE BLUES

February 24 - 28:

Run the entire plays 

March 3 - 7:

Run the entire shows with lights, props, costumes

Performance: 

Thursday, March 6th @ 3:30

Friday, March 7th @ 3:30 and 7:00

March 10 - 14:

Look for small cast short plays; cast, begin rehearsing

March 17 - 21:

Begin initial rehearsing:

History

Relationships

Motivation 

Focus

Blocking 

March 24 - 28:

Blocking rehearsals

March 31 - April 4:

Blocking rehearsals

April 7 - 11:

Rehearse

The Most Pivotal Moment

April 14 - 18:

Spring Break

April 21 - 25:

Rehearse 

The Most Pivotal Moment

April 28 - May 2:

Rehearse

The Entrance Exercise
Meisner Exercises

May 5 - 9:

Rehearse 

The Entrance Exercise
Meisner Exercises

May 12 - 16:

Rehearse

The Exit Exercise
Meisner Exercises

May 19 - 23:

Rehearse

The Exit Exercise

May 26 - 30:

Rehearse

Final Performances for Senior

June 2 - 6:

Finals