BEGINNING ACTING
Welcome to Beginning Acting. The class is taught by Kate Bridges. The class is a "round robin" class which means that you will be in the acting class for about four weeks; then, after the fourth week you will transfer into a new class, which will be either dance with Ms. Thompson or dance with Ms. Goldschein or Stage Craft with Kate Morrison or Voice with Mr. Sacks. Each class will last approximately four weeks and you will then go into the next class. In the spring you will decide which of the four disciplines (acting, dance, music or stage craft) you are interested in and you will be enrolled in one of the four classes.
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. One of the assignments will be given during the second week of class where you and two other actors will each create characters and a scene during which you incorporate three predetermined phrases.
The next acting assignment will be the observation exercise which is where you choose a person whom you know. You will "become" this person in a one to two minute scene where this person is involved in some activity you have seen this person do. You may use props, other actors and you may speak as the person. This activity will be assigned during the first or second week of class.
As the four weeks progress, you will select a short scene with an acting partner, and 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 may 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
