Download Theatre XXXX - Mentis

Theatre 2337.001
Improvisation
Fine Arts Room 137
Instructor: Joe Chapa M.F.A.
Office : 152 FA
Office # 817-272-2567
E-Mail- [email protected]
Credit: 3 hours
Class Meets: Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-10:50
Office Hours T-Thurs 11-12 Friday by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course is intended to provide students with an overview of modern
improvisation techniques as taught by Viola Spolin, The Second City, The
Groundlings, and The Improv Olympic. These core skills are useful to the
performer and the director, as well as the instructor. Special emphasis will be placed on techniques used to
build an ensemble
Additionally, this class offers an introduction of improvisation as it has been used by the instructor in
professional auditions and performances pertaining to commercials, mocumentary style pilots, improv and
sketch comedy troupes, and script development.
This is a hands-on participation class. The best way to learn to improve is to get up and fail! FAIL! FAIL!
Only by failing can we truly understand how to succeed.If you have trouble with getting up in front of
people and making a fool of yourself, then I suggest you look for another class. 
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Given rules and instruction based on the various modern improv acting
schools (Viola Spolin, The Second City, The Groundlings, The Improv
Olympic,) students will be able to perform improv.
2. Students will have a through knowledge of exercises and techniques used
in improvisational theater, as well as modern “short-form,” and “longform”
improv games.
3. Students will have knowledge of the history of improvisation, and where it stands as an artform in our current culture.
4. Students will be able to reflect on the uses of improv and theatre games for the development of
acting technique.
5. Students will be able to reflect on the use of improv to solve problems as
directors, writers, or actors.
6. Students will be able to use improv techniques to develop characters for
use in improvisations, as well as scripted work.
7. Students will be able to reflect on the uses of improv and theatre games to
support their spiritual beliefs.
8. Students will be able to lead each other in improvisations and theatre
games.
11. Students will be able to co-direct and perform an improvisational comedy show.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Students must attend class and participate in class activities.
2. Students must read the assigned textbooks and participate in class
discussions. Students will observe improvisation exercises and provide
constructive feedback or side-coaching when prompted.
3. Students will be required to keep a journal. The journal will include
observations regarding improvisation techniques, exercises, and theatre
games.
ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to come to class on time and prepared for that day’s activities.
Students are allowed three absences. Every absence after the third will result in a 7 point
reduction in the final grade. It is the student’s responsibility to inquire about any missed
information or assignments prior to the next class meeting. Two late arrivals constitute
an absence. After ten minutes, a tardy is considered an absence. If class has begun,
please enter as quietly as possible. Please be aware of what it is you are interrupting by
your late arrival.
RECOMMENDED TEXBOOKS:
Salinsky and White. The Improv Handbook: Continuum International Publishing
Halpern, Charna with Del Close and Howard Johnson. Truth in Comedy: The Manual of
Improvisation. Meriwether Publishing LTD, 1994
SUGGESTED READING:
Napier, Mick. Improvise: Scene from the inside out. Henniman Drama, 2004.
Goldberg, Andy. Improv Comedy. Samuel French, 1992.
Week One January 17-19
Rules of the Class What is Improvisation? What is comedy?
Week 2 January 24-26
What was Improv? What should it be?How to Improvise: Getting Started. The
importance of storytelling and spontaneity.
Week 3 Jan 31=Feb 2
Say yes! And what comes next
Week 4 Feb 7-9
Status/Going through an unusual door.
Week 5 Feb 14-16
Learning to work together being changed
Week 6 Feb 21-23
Twitching, topping and Paperflicking
Week 7 Feb 28-March 2
Perform Group Project 2. Creating and playing Characters
Week 8 March 7-9
Miming. MID TERM Maestro and Test 1
Week 9 March 14-18 SPRING BREAK!!!!!
Assigment Create a character and monologue from Spring Break! There must be a story
with the character.
Week 10 March 21-23
Perform Character Monologue Tuesday. Breakfast social Thursday
Week 11 March 28-30
Playing games and Control freak
Week 12 April 4-6
One Mind Many Bodies. Working together How to Improvise in Public.Group
Project # 3 Public scenes
Week 13 April 11-13
Continued work on Public scene and practice for final
Week 14 April 18-20
Week 15 April 25-27
Work on Final presentation and review terms for the final exam
Week 16 May3-5
PERFORMANCE FINAL Rehearsal
Performance/Final May 12 8-10:30 am
Grading
The Grade percentage of course requirements are as follows:
Group Project research
Improv. artists
50 points
Group Performance 1 Maestro
25 points
Mid-term Test 1
Mid-term Maestro
Character monologue
Breakfast Social
Public Scene
UTA Shows
Performance Final
Written Final
Journal
50 points
25 points
50 points
20 points
50 points
20 points
50 points
50 points
10 points
The Following Grading system will used for this class
100-90 =A 89-80=B 79-70=C 69-60=D anything below 59= F
Americans with Disabilities Act
University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal
equal opportunity legislation; to reference public law 93112, The Rehabilitation Act of 1973. With the
passage of the new federal legislation entitled Americans with disabilities A D A, pursuant to section 504
of the rehabilitation act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities
enjoyed them by all citizens.
As a faculty member, I am required by law, to provide "reasonable accommodation" to students with
disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the bases of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests
with informing faculty at the beginning of this semester and in providing authorized documentation through
the designated administrative channels.
Academic Dishonesty
It is the policy of the University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is a completely
unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic
dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with university regulations and procedures. Discipline may
include suspension or expulsion from the university. "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to
cheating,plagerism,collusion, the submission in for credit off any work or materials that are attributable in
whole are in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any Act designed to give
unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts hearing aid" (the Regents Rules and
Regulations, Part one, chapter six, section 3.2, subdivision 3:22)
Syllabus is subject to change depending on class progress