Syllabus

Thea 105, Basics of Performance

2 credit hours

Text Required:  McGaw, C. & Clark, L, Stilson, K..  Acting is Believing: A Basic Method. Ninth Edition, Harcourt Brace: 2006.

Required Plays:  Students are required to see two plays performed in the area.  Students should anticipate a cost of $20.00 - $30.00 for play tickets.  Many of these performances occur in the evenings and weekends in and around the Spokane area.  Students are responsible for their own transportation.

Course Description
Theatre 105 is an introduction to the art of stage performance, emphasizing exercises for developing acting skills.  It includes focus on stage terminology, awareness of what physical and mental skills are necessary, understanding of basic skills in movement and voice, practice in the elements of characterization through script analysis and performance in solo and duo acting situations.

This is definitely a performance-oriented class.  Students should be ready willing and able to participate in the exercises that require memorization, out of class time in rehearsal and performance for classmates and camera.  There is also a considerable amount of writing and some observations of plays performed in the area that is required.  The class contributes to the skills in observation, writing, verbal and physical expression, and interpretation of dramatic literature as well as movement and vocal skills.

The information in this class will be conveyed through the text, lectures, videotape, and group activities.

The student need not be a theatre major to enroll.  The skills would be valuable for anyone but especially those who are focused in the communications area.  There is no prerequisite.

Course Outcomes

1. You will be able to prepare appropriate movement for a character in a scene.

You will demonstrate that you have achieved these skills by

·        Writing down planned/anticipated movement (blocking) in a scene.

·        Performing the scene in class using the planned movement.

·        General Education Abilities
Wellness, Communication, Critical/Creative Thinking

2. You will be able to memorize lines from a script.

You will demonstrate that you have achieved these skills by

·      Performing a memorized one to two minute monologue for the class.

·      Performing a memorized scene with one or two other actors for the class.

·      General Education Abilities
Communication, Aesthetic Response, Critical/Creative thinking, Informational literacy

3. You will be able to use basic acting tools and principles in developing an acting performance.

You will demonstrate that you have achieved these skills by

·        Participating in classroom exercises that experientially teach various acting skills and techniques, respecting and supporting the work of all members of the class.

·        Complete written quizzes and a final that address acting tools and principles.

·        Turning in a written plan for movement.

·        Turning in a written analysis of the given circumstances of the scene/monologue.

·        Performing a monologue from a play.

·        Performing, with two or three partners, a two or three person scene from a play.

·        General Education Abilities
Critical/Creative Thinking, Aesthetic Response, Communication, Informational Literacy

Attendance
Your attendance is essential to your success in this course.  Most of the course relies on participation in classroom activities.  You are allowed only four absences from class; excused or unexcused.  After three absences, your grade will be lowered one full grade point for each missed class session.  For example, if you had enough points for an ‘A’ but missed five class sessions, the highest grade you can receive is a ‘B.’  Two instances of tardiness equal one absence.
Reliability is one of the most important aspects of an actor.  Attendance is as much a part of the class as any of the assignments since much of what we do involves in class exercises.  Also, your attendance can adversely affect the grades of your acting partner(s).

Assignments

Attend play productions: The student will turn in 2 ticket stubs with programs from performances they attended. 30 points (15 each)

Terminology Quiz: Acting terminology quiz.  25 pts.

Blocking score: The student will design their physical movement for a scene.  25 pts.

Memorization Exercise: Student will demonstrate memorization of a monologue and scene.  50 pts. each, 100 points total.

Monologue performance: Student will perform a one to two minute monologue.  100 pts.

Writing/Given Circumstances: Student will write out the Given Circumstances of a scene.  25 pts.

Quiz 2: Chapters 2 and 3 of the textbook.  25 pts.

Duo Acting Performance: Student will perform a short scene with an acting partner.  100 pts.

Quiz 3: Chapters 4 and 5 of the textbook.  25 pts.

Final Exam: Chapters 1 – 7 of the textbook and lecture material.  75 pts.
Final scene and monologue performances will be scored during the final.

TOTAL:  530 PTS.

Grading
Out of 530 pts.
500 – 477 points (90% or above) = A
476 – 424 points (80% - 89%)     = B
423 – 371 points (70% - 79%)     = C
370 – 318 points (60% - 69%)     = D

Doing each assignment completely is a ‘C’.  Work that is above average falls into the ‘B’ range.  Work that is outstanding earns enough points for an ‘A’.  Determine the grade that you would like to earn and do the assigned work accordingly.  The quality of your work determines your grade.

Some the work in this class will be graded through classroom presentations, where your work will be seen by your peers.

Classroom Behavior
Please arrive to class on time since late arrivals and early departures are disruptive to other students.  Lateness is a terrible habit for an actor and will keep people from working with you.  Do not begin side conversations with other students since this not only distracts you and the person you’re conversing with, it distracts others as well and is disrespectful to everyone in the room.  This is deeply disrespectful of your fellow students when they are presenting their work to the class.  Acting is hard work and involves a great deal of emotional risk.  Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.  Also, please be considerate of everyone’s point of view.  We all have different tastes and may have various beliefs, which will influence our ideas and reactions to plays.  Remember, nobody’s response is wrong.  Respect each person’s viewpoint.  It is vital that we maintain a safe place for people to share their ideas and responses.

Turn off and put away cell phones, iPods, etc. before class begins.

Scene Work and Rehearsal
You will be rehearsing scenes with your partner outside of class.  For your scenes to work well, expect to spend  3 - 6 hours weekly rehearsing a 3 – 5 minute scene.  This is true of your monologues as well.  BOS 001 will be available for rehearsals as will BOS 231.  You have a responsibility to your scene partner to make this happen because your actions can adversely affect your partner’s experience in this course.

Props/Costumes
Bring props that are needed for your scenes.  Rehearse with the props and with costumes.  Miming keeps you from connecting with the characters’ world.  This is an acting class, not a mime class.
Plan to provide props and costumes yourselves.  You only need items that approximate the costumes and props that are needed – do not try to bring in antiques or spend energy looking for rare/hard to find or expensive items.  These may be stored in BOS 227A for safekeeping. 

Center for Educational Access:
NIC provides services and accommodations to students who experience barriers in the educational setting due to learning, emotional, physical, mobility, visual or hearing disabilities.  For more information please contact Sharon Daniels-Bullock in the Center for Educational Access in the College Skills Center, Seiter Hall, Rm. 207.  Telephone 769-5947.

Plays and dates*:

Sept. 13 - 29, (Wed – Thu: 7:30 p.m., Fri. – Sat. 8:00 p.m., Sat/Sun matinees: 2:00 p.m.)
The Rainmaker by Richard Nash
Interplayers Ensemble
174. S. Howard, Spokane
509-544-PLAY (7529)
http://www.interplayers.com
$10.00 students with ID card, $21.00 general admission, matinee $15.00

Sept. 29 – Oct. 28, (Thurs. 7:30 p.m., Fri/Sat: 8:00 p.m., Sun. 2:00 p.m.)
South Pacific
Spokane Civic Theatre
1020 N. Howard, Spokane
1-800-446-9576
http://www.spokanecivictheatre.com
$24.00 general admission, 12.00 students, there may be student rush tickets 30 min before curtain

Sept. 21 – Oct. 6 (Tues, Wed, Thu: 7:30 p.m., Fri./Sat. 8:00 p.m., Sat/Sun: 2:00 p.m.)
Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Eugene O’Neill
Actors Repertory Theatre
Spokane Falls Community College
3410 W. Ft. George Wright Drive, Bldg. 5: Communications Bldg.
509-838-4013
http://www.actorsreptheatre.com
$10.00 students with ID card

Oct. 12, 13, 7:30 p.m.
Broadway Bound by Neil Simon (adult language and themes)
Oct. 18 – 28, Nov. 1 – 3, Nov. 8 – 10, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 4 at 2:00 p.m.
The Rainmaker by Richard Nash
Lake City Playhouse
1320 E. Garden Ave.
Coeur d’Alene, ID
208-667-1323
http://www.lakecityplayhouse.org
Tickets $16.00 general admission, $13.00 students

Oct. 25 - 27, Nov. 1 – 3, 7:30 p.m.
Eastern Standard, by Richard Greenberg (very strong language, adult themes)
NIC Theatre Arts
NIC, Schuler Auditorium
FREE;   House opens 7:00 p.m.

• Some plays that you see may contain material that you find uncomfortable or offensive.  I encourage you to attend and attempt to understand the choices made by the playwright and the production company.  See me if you have concerns or questions.
• There are usually a variety of styles and genres of plays to see.  The plays that are on this list have been chosen on the basis of their literary value and that the company creates the production first and foremost on the basis of the text, and not on available resources.  It is my hope that you see at least one play that pleases you.  See me if you have concerns or questions.
• 10 points for ticket stubs and programs from seeing plays in the area.

Recommended Reading
An Actor Prepares.  Constantin Stanislavski.  Theatre Arts Books.
Acting: The First Six Lessons.  Richard Boleslavsky.  Theatre Arts Books.
Audition.  Michael Shurtleff.  Walker Publishing Co.
On Acting.  Sanford Meisner.  Vintage Books.
Respect for Acting.  Uta Hagen.  Macmillan.

Tentative Course Schedule

Auditions for Eastern Standard, Sept. 5,6  7:00 p.m., Schuler Performing Arts Center