Download DRAM 100 - Queens College Academic Senate

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DRAMA 100: INTRODUCTION TO ACTING
PROF. CHARLES REPOLE
This is a liberal arts course that uses elements and techniques of
acting as the vehicle for developing an awareness of the role played in
human life by: observing and listening to, performing and participating
in, and appreciating and understanding the creative arts. The course
satisfies the Queens College liberal arts Appreciating or Participating in
the Arts (AP) requirement as well as the CUNY core curriculum
Creative Expression (CE) requirement. It investigates the creative
process and the art of collaboration. The student becomes more fully
aware of his or her own uniqueness and develops skills in successfully
interacting with other adults. It is specifically the development of
these skills that will enable a person to be more present, articulate and
assured in any career path chosen. Many hours are spent developing
collaborative partnerships in doing simple acting improvisations or
more complex scene study exercises.
This course directly teaches the skills of observing and listening to,
performing and participating in, and appreciating and understanding
the creative arts and how they are interrelated. This course will also
acquaint students with the specific mode of acting as a form of
creative self-expression while enhancing its appreciation and teaching
its skills of participation.
WORK IN CLASS
Will include: Oral presentations; written assignments; theatre games;
improvisations; physical, sensory and emotional explorations;
monologues; character analysis and scene study. The working
relationship between the actor and director will also be investigated
and written about.
WORK OUTSIDE OF CLASS
Will include: preparations for oral presentation, journal entries,
rehearsals and preparation for the various exercises or scenes, and
written assignments dealing with the craft of acting and a play analysis
of “Picnic”, by William Inge.
Students are required to attend two departmental productions, be
involved in the “talk backs” following the productions and write a
critique of the acting and the theatrical elements that were
successfully or unsuccessfully achieved (based on reading, discussions
and exercises discussed and or performed in class) for each
productions.
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Students must also attend a professional public performance outside of
the College and prepare an oral presentation and a written critique of
the performance as related to the assignments and exercises done in
class
All of these written assignments (critiques) must be 4-5 pages in
length.
Further writing assignments will include a paper (2-3 pages in length)
discussing the important elements of each chapter in ““Acting: The
First Six Lessons”, Richard Boleslavsky, as well as a paper (4-5 pages
in length) comparing and contrasting acting techniques with public
speaking techniques discussed in ““How to Overcome Public Speaking
Fear”, by Arlen Busenitz.
A written journal will be handed in at the end of the semester detailing
with in class experiences, readings and exercises. To be discussed
first day of class.
GRADING WILL BE BASED ON THE TOTAL PROCESS OF THE
COURSE
1) ACTIVE PARTICIPATION: Participation in classroom exercises and
discussions (10%)
2) PREPARATION AND THOUGHTFULNESS of assigned exercises (10%)
3) THE DETAIL AND SCOPE of written assignments (30%)
4) THE DETAIL AND SCOPE of oral presentations. (30%)
5) FINAL WRITEN EXAMINATION (include all the material covered
during the semester) FIANAL ORAL PRESENTATION on a subject to be
assigned (20%)
3 HOURS OF CREW WORK ARE ALSO REQUIRED, active participating in
backstage work of a production.
TEXTS:
1] “Acting: The First Six Lessons”, Richard Boleslavsky
2] “The Family of Man”, Edward Steichen
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3] ONE FULL LENGTH PLAY -“Picnic”, by William Inge,
4] “How to Overcome Public Speaking Fear”, by Arlen Busenitz
WEEK 1:
Course Syllabus for semester: Discuss what will be expected
during the semester
Why took class
Theatre Games – creating a safe place to explore acting
Homework
Read the introduction and first chapter of, “Acting: The First Six
Lessons” and write a paper (2-3 pages) on what were the most
important ideas about acting expressed by Boleslavski.
Bring in a quotation about “Acting”
Prepare a Song or Poem as a Monologue/Character
Must be memorized
WEEK 2
1) Acting: The first Six Lessons - Discuss the Introduction &
Chapter 1
2) Acting quotations – read and discuss
3) A warm up exercise or improvisation or sense memory work
4) Discussion of 5 W’s = Who, What, When, Where, Why – when
building a character – exercise to illustrate
5) Perform First Monologue – Song (lyric) or Poem done as a
character - discuss characterization (Need/ what do I want –
Obstacle/ what’s in my way Action/ how am I going to get it
Homework:
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Read Chapter 2 in, “Acting: The First Six Lessons” and write a
paper on what were the most important ideas about acting
expressed by Boleslavski.
Observation: written assignment –observe 3 people eating
(breakfast, lunch or dinner) – do not tell them you are watching.
Compare and contrast how each ate and suggest a type
character that would eat that way and why (2-3 pages).
WEEK 3
Acting: The first Six Lessons - Discuss Chapter 2
Oral Presentations: eating observation and characterization
Discussion of Acting Techniques : a) Observation
b) Concentration c) Relaxation
Door exercise – (Where was I ? – Where am I ?– Where am I
going ?
Homework
Read Chapter 3 in, “Acting: The First Six Lessons” and write a
paper on what were the most important ideas about acting
Create and Character: Select a picture from “The Family of Man”
and become a person in that picture. Answer the 5 W’s and
present that character in class next week
WEEK 4
Acting: The first Six Lessons - Discuss Chapter 3
A warm up exercise or improvisation or sense memory work
Oral Presentation: Character for “The Family of Man”
Discussion of “Stage Area” and Theatrical Terms and practice
using terms.
Homework
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Read Chapter 4 in, “Acting: The First Six Lessons” and write a
paper on what were the most important ideas about acting
Mask Exercise: Definition of a mask (in your words) - Find a
mask and without using voice act out (through mime) the 5 W’s
– tell a story through physical movements and sense memory
only.
Critique of outside professional production (4-5 pages)
WEEK 5
Acting: The first Six Lessons - Discuss Chapter 4
A warm up exercise or improvisation or sense memory work
Continue “The Family of Man” Characterizations
Perform Mask Exercise
Pair Up Partners for Scene work – begin looking for scenes to
work on in 2 weeks.
Homework
Read Chapter 5 in, “Acting: The First Six Lessons” and write a
paper on what were the most important ideas about acting
“Picnic” by William Inge - read play and chose a character the
speaks to you and write a detailed description of his or her life
before the circumstances in the play, what are his or her likes,
dislikes, fears, troubles, good qualities, bad qualities and how
they were changed in the course of the play. Also describe the
differences in mores and manners of the time period. Paper: Play
Analysis.
WEEK 6
Acting: The first Six Lessons - Discuss Chapter 5
A warm up exercise or improvisation or sense memory
Class discussion about “Picnic” and selected papers read and
discussed – define the “Spine” of the play
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Exercise dealing with Characters in Picnic
Homework
Read Chapter 6 in, “Acting: The First Six Lessons” and write a
paper AND prepare oral presentation of a review of “Acting: The
First Six Lessons”
Bring in Scene that you have decided upon. Be very familiar and
ready to present first reading
WEEK 7
Acting: The first Six Lessons - Discuss Chapter 6 and oral
presentations of book review
A warm up exercise or improvisation or sense memory work
Begin scene work
Homework
“How to Overcome Public Speaking Fears” Read introduction and
Secret #1 and Secret #2 Written Paper comparing the
similarities of Public Speaking and Acting.
WEEK 8
Class Discussion - Compare Public Speaking and Acting
A warm up exercise or improvisation or sense memory work
Finish Oral Presentations of Book
Finish first reading of Scenes
Homework
“How to Overcome Public Speaking Fears”
Read Secret #3, Conclusion and Bonus Materials – Prepare oral
presentations discussing important elements of book
Bring in “Trigger Prop” (a prop that triggers an emotion –
personal to you).
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Continue to work on Scenes/ Memorize and stage
WEEK 9
Continue Class Discussion – Compare Public Speaking and Acting
– Oral Presentations
“Trigger Prop” exercise.
Second round of scenes – Memorized and Staged
Homework:
Written critique of Drama, Theatre and Dance Production
Continue to work on Scenes / Memorize and Stage
WEEK 10
A warm up exercise or improvisation or sense memory work
Finish Second round of scenes.
Hand in critique of Drama, Theatre and Dance Production
Homework
Add a trigger prop and costume element to memorized and
staged scenes. Be very aware of immediate circumstance
(Time/Place)
Begin looking for a monologue
WEEK 11
A warm up exercise or improvisation or sense memory work
Third and Final Round of Scenes
Homework:
Find a Monologue and be very familiar with it
WEEK 12
A warm up exercise or improvisation or sense memory work
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Finish final scenes if necessary
Do all monologues
Homework:
Continue work on Monologues Memorize and Stage and add a
trigger prop and costume piece
WEEK 13
A warm up exercise or improvisation or sense memory
Perform Monologues
Homework:
Continue work on Monologues
Critique of second Drama, Theatre and Dance production (must
be handed in by day of final.
WEEK 14
A warm up exercise or improvisation or sense memory work
Finish Monologues
WEEK 15
Final Examination – written / oral presentations. (Day will be
assigned by College)