Overview

This course is for students who wish to learn the fundamentals of the dramatic arts. Students will learn experientially by researching theatre history, exploring the fundamentals of voice and movement, developing improvisational skill, critiquing plays, developing characters, and analyzing scripts. The course will culminate in a series of scene partner performances.

Units

1) Unit 1: Introduction to Theatre Arts
- Introduce basic information on the spaces and types of modern American Theatre
- Understand the historical styles / development of Western Drama

Unit 2: The Monologue
- Introduction of basic voice and movement techniques
- Students will work with individual monologues
- Introduction of improvisation to develop a sense of character, location, and context
- Analysis of script through objectives, actions, and beats within a scene

Unit 3: Theatre Analysis
- Basic understanding of themes / areas of theatrical production
- Practice in analysis and evaluation of theatrical performances

Unit 4: Scene Work
- Continued study on voice and movement techniques
- Continued improvisational study with focus on character interaction
- Introduction to the fundamentals of directing and blocking
- Instruction in rehearsal management
- Performing in scenes focusing on acting objectives and character response

Final Exam  
- Student will perform in a series of scenes cumulating as their final project

Requirements

Students will be expected to actively engage in the art of acting and develop their   role as active and supportive audience members.  Students will also be expected to attend at least one theatrical performance outside of class (NHHS performance or a professional performance with specific consent) and write a critical analysis of the elements of production.

Course Methods & Resources

Konstantine Stanislavski
     Kristen Linklater
     Viola Spolin

Major Projects

Unit 1

History of Theatre Unit Test

Unit 2

Monologue Performances

Unit 3

Theatrical Analysis Paper

Almost Maine
     Show Dates: Oct 25th, 26, & 27th

Unit 4

     Scene Performances

Final Exam

Final Cumulative Presentation
  

Grading

Homework – 10%
     Classwork – 10%
     Participation – 40%
     Projects / Presentations - 40%

Quarter 1 - 40%
     Quarter 2 - 40%
     Final Project -20%