Acting
I, THE 1100.07
Monday, Wednesday - 12:30 to 1:50
Instructor: Dr. E. Teresa Choate
Office: VE 417
Office Hours: Mon. 2:00 - 3:20 & Tues.
3:30 to 4:50, or by appt.
Office
phone: 629-7090
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• Required Text: Acting One, third edition, by Robert Cohen
•Additional Texts: You will be selecting a scene or a
monologue for your final performance.
There are
several anthologies on in-house reserve in the library (ask for “Choate’s
acting reserve”).
You may also
need to check out or buy scripts (depending on what scene(s)/monologue you
perform)
as you are
expected to have read the entire script.
•Performance: You are required to attend
Of Mice and Men, Kean University
Series Production.
Performances are
Feb. 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.
•Course Objectives (i.e. What you’re suppose
to accomplish in this class):
Understand that
acting is something everyone does all the time.
Learn to basics of effective acting.
Learn how to analyze a text and
character for performance.
Experience public performance as a
performer.
Experience public performance as an
observer.
Learn how to assess your own
performance.
Learn how to assess the performance of
others.
•Grade:
Participation, in class performance of
exercises, attendance — 35%
Scene (3-4 minutes) — 15%
GOTE for Scene — 10%
Final scene or
monologue (2 actors, length = 6 minutes; monologue, length=3 minutes)— 20%
GOTE for final scene or monologue — 10%
Performance evaluation (Of Mice and Men): 10%
•Attendance:
Take the following into careful
consideration before choosing to stay in this class. This
class is
activity based, and you are expected to attend every class session. Since this class is based on
group activity,
there is no way for you to make up missed class work. Therefore, on your third
unexcused absence
your final grade will be dropped one complete letter. For every additional
unexcused
absence after the initial 3, your final grade will be dropped an additional
letter. 3 unexcused
tardies equal
one unexcused absence. Exiting the
classroom during class, except in the case of an
emergency, will
constitute a tardy. Also, leaving class
early constitutes a tardy if under 20 minutes
are remaining in
the class and as an absence if over 20 minutes are remaining in the class. Excused
absences &
tardies must be applied for in writing and documented (examples: a doctor’s
signature
with contact number). This policy is strictly enforced; the grade
you blow will be your own!
•Attendance on your assigned performance days:
You are responsible for switching with
another scene if you are unable to perform on the day assigned.
Failure to do so
will result in the at fault individual(s) having his/her/their scene grade
dropped two grade letters.
In the case of a
documented, excused (as determined by the professor) absence, there will be no
penalty.
•Order of Performance:
Your performance
dates will be selected by lottery several days before the first performance
date.
Those not
present at the lottery will perform at the beginning of the first day of
performance.
All lottery days
and performance days are noted in your attached syllabus.
•Written Work: Performance assessment must conform to
college standards. Spelling and
grammar will
affect the grade. Must be computer
generated, double spaced, standard margins.
Written work
will dropped one grade letter for every day late.
Written performance assessment paper:
Based on what you have read and experienced
in
class concerning
the art of acting, you are to evaluate the performances of 4 actors (your
choice).
Identify the
actors by their name and their character’s name. Be specific in your evaluation of their
performance:
note what you observed about each character’s Goal(s), Other(s), Obstacles,
Tactics
and Expectation
to Win, as well as their physical and vocal morphing. Cite specific examples from
the
performance. 3 pages. (DO NOT SUMMARIZE THE PLOT.)
•Attire: Comfortable, loose fitting tops and
pants, soft-soled, flexible shoes. In
class activities
restricted due
to improper clothing will significantly lower your class participation grade. You
are
also responsible
for locating appropriate costumes.
•Classroom Etiquette: As this is a graded performance
class, please turn off any electronic
equipment that
may emit sound, thus disturbing actors and audience. If you come late to class
(see tardy
policy above) on a performance day, do not enter the classroom until the
current performance is over.
No eating in
class. (This isn’t the movies; it’s
live!)
•Callboard:
All students
should check the callboard daily for personal notes, class changes,
audition
notices, and announcements. The
callboard is outside VE118.
•Disabling Condition:
In order to ensure full class
participation, any student with a disabling condition requiring
special
accommodations (e.g. tape recorders, special adaptive
equipment, special note taking, or test
taking
procedures) is strongly encouraged to contact the professor at the beginning of
the course.
Also as this is
a performance class that involves movement, if you have any disabling conditions
that restrict or
affect your movement, please notify the professor in order to avoid
injury.
Documentation
required.
•Academic Dishonesty:
Per the Student
Handbook of the Communications and Theatre Department:
“Plagiarism,
cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of “F”
in the course.”
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Syllabus
(subject to
change)
NOTE: Each class will
begin with physical & vocal exercises.
Wed. Jan. 17 - Orientation (or “what am I doing in
here?!”)
Acting - we do it all
the time (some just better than others)
Ensemble exercises
(getting to know you)
To Do: Read
the Introduction
Mon. Jan 22 - Seven things you need to succeed
Trust exercises
(learning to depend on your teammates)
To Do: Read
Lesson 16
**Last day to
withdraw with 100% refund
Wed. Sept. 24 - The Actor’s Instrument: Your Body
Neutral Mask Work -
getting rid of self
Mon. Sept. 29 - The Actor’s Instrument: Your Body
continued
Neutral Mask Work,
cont. - becoming another
To Do: Read
Lessons 13 & 14
Wed. Sept. 31 - The Actors’ Other Instrument: Your Voice
Being heard
&understood, emotion and becoming
the other
To Do: Lesson
1
Mon. Feb. 5 - First lesson in acting (& life):
Establish goal and battle obstacles
To Do: Lesson
2
Wed. Feb. 7 - Second
lesson: You’re not out there alone, include the other
To Do: Lesson
3 & memorize the contentless scene on p. 30
[Memorize
it solidly!! Practice out loud with
someone before coming to class.]
Mon. Feb. 12 - Third lesson: What you’re saying is
only the tip of the iceberg
To Do: Lesson
4
Wed. Feb. 14 - Fourth lesson: How to get what you want
To Do: Lesson
5 & memorize thoroughly 1 of the speeches on pgs. 48-50
[Practice out loud
with someone following the text before coming to class.]
Determine what
specifically it is this character expects to win and come prepared to
perform for that
win. If you do not know the play, make up
who you are, who you
are talking to, and
what the situation is.
Mon. Feb. 19 - Presidents’ Day, NO CLASS
Wed. Feb. 21 - Fifth lesson: Expect the impossible
To Do: Lessons
7 through 11
**Duet Scenes
assigned**
LOTTERY: to
determine performance date and order of Duet Scenes
Mon..Feb. 26 - How to prepare a scene for performance
To Do: Prepare
Duets for performance
To Do: Lesson
6 & prepare a GOTEsheet on the character in your scene
Wed. Feb. 28 - Discussion of GOTEsheets
DUE: GOTEsheet
Rehearse Duet Scenes
in class
Mon. March 5 - SPRING BREAK, revel and make merry!
Wed. March 7 - SPRING BREAK, revel and make merry!
Mon. March 12 - Rehearse Duet Scenes in class
Wed. March 14 - Dress rehearsal of Duet Scenes on March
21 in front of class
(NOTE: offbook, all
props and costumes in place)
To Do:
Rehearse and work monologue
Mon. March 19 - Dress rehearsal of Duet Scenes on March 26
in front of class
(NOTE: offbook, all
props and costumes in place)
To Do:
Rehearse and work monologue
Wed. March 21 - PERFORMANCE OF DUET SCENES
Mon. March 26 - PERFORMANCE OF DUET SCENES
To Do: Form
Final Scene grouping (2 actors) & locate Final Scene
(6 minutes) or
locate Final Monologue (3 min)
Wed. March 28 - Improvisation, doing it without a script
LOTTERY: to
choose performance dates and order of Final Scenes/Monologues
DUE: Typed or
xeroxed copy of Final Scene or Monologue with actors’ names
and role assignments
for approval
To Do: Lesson
26
Mon. April 2 - Getting the scene/monologue ready &
Performance suggestions
Monologue actors
choose a rehearsal partner
To Do: start
working on GOTEsheet for character in Final scene/monologue,
start rehearsing with
your scene partner
Wed. April 4 - Rehearsals of all Final
Scenes/Monologue
Mon. April 9 - Rehearsals
of all Final Scenes/Monologue
DUE: Written
performance evaluation Of Mice and Men
Wed. April 11 - Dress Rehearsal of Final
Scenes/Monologues on April 18 with all set,
costumes, and prop
elements in place and memorized
Mon. April 16 - Dress Rehearsal of Final
Scenes/Monologues on April 23 with all set,
costumes, and prop
elements in place and memorized
Wed. April 18 - PERFORMANCES OF FINAL SCENES OR
MONOLOGUES
[Please invite
guests]
Discussion of final
scenes
DUE: GOTEsheet
for final scene/monologue
Sign-Up for Redo
of previous scene (only one redo per student
allowed unless space
permits)
Mon. April 23 - PERFORMANCES OF FINAL SCENES OR
MONOLOGUES
[Please invite
guests]
Discussion of final
scene
DUE: GOTEsheet
for final scene/monologue
Sign-Up for Redo
of previous scenes if any spaces left
Wed. April 25 - Redo any previous scene/monologue for an
upgrade (xerox of
previous
evaluation form, highlighted to indicate areas worked on for improvement,
and revised
GOTEsheet also required)
Mon. April 30 - Redo any previous scene/monologue for an
upgrade (xerox of previous evaluation
form, highlighted
to indicate areas worked on for improvement, and revised GOTEsheet
also required)
Wed. May 2 - Catch-up day if needed, so keep open