Download Introduction to Theatre and Theate Advisory spring play writeup

Introduction to Theatre
Introduction to Theatre Advisory
SPRING PLAY WRITE-UP
Your write up must be two, double-spaced, typed pages. It must be uploaded to
turnitin.com before class on Friday, May 12th (Thursday, May 11th for periods 1 and 2) .
Remember you must use examples from both acts of the play.
Choose three (3) of the following questions to answer:
1. Do you think the play said anything about stereotypes? What messages did the play
communicate?
2.
What issues were raised and what lessons could be learned from the play? (Do not write
a plot description or summary – I saw the play.)
3.
How did the lighting affect the play? How did the lighting give the audience information
about the characters, ideas, or plot? Pick a specific scene and write about the effect the lighting
had on that scene.
4.
How did the scenery and the set affect the play? How did the set give the audience
information about the characters, ideas or plot? Pick a specific scene and write about the effect
the scenery had on that scene.
5.
How did the music affect the play? Beyond the lyrics, how did the music give the
audience information about the characters, ideas or plot? Pick a scene and write about the effect
the music (or song) had on that scene.
6.
How did the costumes affect the play? How did the costumes give the audience
information about the characters, ideas, or plot? Pick a specific scene and write about the effect
the costumes had on that scene.
7.
Pick a character and discuss how that character was or was not stereotypical. What parts
of the character seemed to follow the stereotype? What parts did not? When and how did you see
this?
8.
How does this play comment on issues of today? What does it tell us about modern
times? How does it relate to your life?
For Cast and Crew
Please answer at least three questions
1. What did you learn, both in general and about yourself, throughout the course of the
rehearsal or building process and the techs and performances?
2. Did you start off with one set of assumptions and end up with another?
3. Did you start off with one set of behaviors and end with another?
4. Did you figure anything out about performing, sets construction, lighting or any other
aspect of theater that you didn’t know before? Describe these things.
5. Describe the ways in which you succeeded at your job. What did you do
well?
6. Describe the ways in which you might have done your job better.
You may also answer any of the questions from the top section
Play Write Up Suggestions
Do
Don’t
Describe specific moments in the play.
Example: When Joan twisted her ring and shook her
head violently, you could tell how disturbed she was.
Write about what the actors did and how they did it.
Example: The actress playing Joan walked hesitantly
with a limp. She spoke very slowly and seemed to
have trouble coming up with what to say.
Describe specific choices made by specific actors (or
the director, designer, etc.).
Example: Andrew was almost always looking at the
floor.
Be very specific and detailed about what you saw in
the play.
Example: Andrew slumped his shoulders and
shuffled his feet. He didn’t look other characters in
the eye until the very end.
Summarize the plot.
Example: Joan hit the orderly on the
head with a book and then ran away.
Describe the characters.
Example: Joan was a sick person who
was not taking her medication.
Apply the things we have learned from class to the
play.
Example: The actor playing Andrew used non-verbal
communication by the way he slumped his shoulders,
walked slowly, and kept his hands in his pockets.
Use paragraphs
Clearly answer the questions.
Use 12 point font and double spacing.
Provide your observation (example) and then explain
what it means (interpretation).
Retell story points or scenes.
Example: Joan and Andrew didn’t like
each other and they disagreed about
what to do with the money.
Only name the effect of the actors’
choices without talking about how
they created that response.
Example: I really hated how Joan
treated Andrew. She was a horrible
aunt and Andrew was right to hate
her.
List character’s actions
Example: Andrew was a very shy and
withdrawn person. He didn’t stand up
for himself to his evil aunt.
Write one long stream of thought
block of text.
Use introductions or conclusions to fill
space and make the paper longer.
Use spaces in between paragraphs,
titles at the top, or different fonts to
make the paper longer.
Repeat yourself or “fluff up” your
writing.
Remember:
Full length play titles are italicized: Waiting Until Dark, Romeo and Juliet, Phantom of the
Opera.
Song titles, short plays, short stories, and episode titles are in quotation marks: “Star Spangled
Banner,” “Measure of a Man,” “The Lottery.”