Course Code:
THEA 100
Credits:
3
Calendar Description:
"Introduction to Acting" makes theatre accessible to a wide cross-section of students. Its goal is to teach students how to use their voices and bodies to create engaging, fully realized dramatic characters. Students are exposed to such elements of the actor's craft as improvisation, projection, enunciation, and movement. Although the skills taught in this course are especially applicable to theatre, they can also benefit students personally, academically, and professionally.
Date First Offered:
2003-01-01
Hours:
Total Hours: 45
Lecture Hours: 3
Total Weeks:
15
This course is offered online:
No
Pre-Requisites:
None
Non-Course Pre-Requisites:
None
Co-Requisites:
None
Rearticulation Submission:
No
Course Content:
First, students are taught to view their bodies as acting instruments: Emphasis is placed on vocal exercises, stretches, improvisation, and movement. Attention is also devoted to theatre history, terminology, and the various backstage roles that must be filled in order for a production to be a success. As students become more confident in their abilities, the focus shifts to character development. Students select short monologues to perform for their classmates. They learn how to analyze their roles and create complex, believable characters. Also, they learn how to cope with stage fright and recover if they forget their lines. Finally, the class is divided up into groups, and each group is assigned a scene to memorize, rehearse, and present to the public. Alternatively, the entire class collaborates on a short play.
Students should wear loose, stretchy clothing that facilitates movement.
Note: In keeping with the collaborative nature of theatre, our class will occasionally welcome visitors from the community. At the discretion of the instructor, these individuals may be invited to watch or even to participate in student performances.
WEEK I
-Introduction
-Course expectations
-Technical terms
-Theatre sports
WEEK II
-Physical exercises
-Vocal exercises
-Improvisation
-Scoring physical actions
WEEK III
-Movement
-Objectives and obstacles
-Blocking
-Ancient Greek theatre (read excerpt from Oedipus Rex by Sophocles)
WEEK IV
-Watch community theatre production
WEEK V
-Character development
-Medieval theatre (read excerpt from Everyman)
WEEK VI
-Character development
-Elizabethan theatre (read excerpt from Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare)
WEEK VII
-Character development
-Careers in theatre (guest presentation from theatre professional)
WEEK VIII
-Scene development
-Restoration theatre (read excerpt from The Country Wife by William Wycherley)
WEEK IX
-Scene development
-Canadian theatre (read excerpt from from Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapustasing by Tomson Highway)
WEEK X
-Group performance rehearsal
WEEK XI
-Group performance rehearsal
WEEK XII
-Group performance rehearsal
WEEK XIII
-Group performance rehearsal
WEEK XIV
-Dress rehearsal
WEEK XV
-Public performance
-Clean-up
-Cast party
Learning Outcomes:
-Demonstrate an understanding of basic acting terminology and techniques.
-Discuss the intricacies of character and scene development.
-Appreciate the offstage roles that must be filled in theatrical productions.
-Recognize the major movements in the history of Western theatre.
-Develop substantial, complex dramatic characters through rehearsal.
-Perform with confidence, clarity, and commitment.
-Overcome stage fright and recover from missed lines.
-Collaborate with fellow students on group performances.
-Evaluate scripts based on both their performance requirements and their literary merit.
-Analyze and critique the performances of other actors.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will possess the tools they need to express themselves through acting. They will have enhanced creativity, increased self-confidence, and improved communication skills. In addition, they will be prepared for oral presentations, group discussions, collaborative projects, and many of the other challenges of post-secondary education and the workplace.
Grading System:
Letters
Passing Grade:
D
Grading Weight:
Assignments: 85 %
Participation: 15 %
Number of Assignments:
8
Nature of Participation:
attending class, engaging in class activities, collaborating with other students, demonstrating a positive attitude, memorizing lines, rehearsing monologues and scenes, submitting assignments on time
Writing Assignments:
four writing assignments (movement score, character analysis, scene analysis, production concept)
Percentage of Individual Work:
80
Percentage of Group Work:
20
Other Pertinent Information:
This course transfers to SFU as FPA 1THRSTU (3 credits)
Course Offered in Other Programs:
Yes
Other Programs:
Academic Program
Associate of Arts Degree
Associate of Arts Diploma - Fine Arts
Education Assistant
Additional Comments:
Number of Assignments: 4 performance assignments; 4 writing assignments
MARKING CRITERIA FOR ACTING ASSIGNMENTS:
-Preparation: Does the actor understand his or her character’s motivations? Does the actor understand the script as a whole? Has the actor carefully considered his or her body language, blocking, and line delivery?
-Presentation: Is the actor’s voice audible? Is the actor’s performance clear and accessible to the audience?
-Accuracy: Has the actor memorized all of his or her lines and blocking? Is the actor’s performance consistent and controlled?
-Focus: Has the actor brought his or her character to life? Does the actor perform with emotional intensity and authenticity? Does the actor remain in character throughout the entire performance? Does the actor interact well with other actors?
-Creativity: Is the actor’s interpretation of the role interesting, exciting, and original? Does the actor’s performance reflect a lively, perceptive engagement with the script?
MARKING CRITERIA for WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
A Overall excellence in writing; originality, thoroughness, and spark in content; ideas that reflect a close examination of the topic.
B Good, coherent writing with few errors; thoroughness and coherence in content; ideas that reflect a close examination of the topic.
C Adequate, coherent writing, albeit with some major errors; a generally acceptable reading of the topic.
D Somewhat weak writing but still generally comprehensible to the reader; some understanding of the topic.
F Very weak writing with many errors; little understanding of the topic.
LATE PAPERS:
In the interest of fairness to other members of the class, students will be penalized 5% for every day that their assignments are late. Assignments will not be accepted if seven days have passed since their due date. Exceptions will be made for students who are experiencing medical or personal emergencies. Please contact me ahead of time if you know that you are not going to be able to hand an assignment in on time.
PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism is intellectual theft. It occurs when a writer uses another person’s words and/or ideas without giving him or her credit. Here are some common examples of plagiarism:
• Using words and/or ideas from a book, journal article, Web site, or other source without giving the original author credit.
• Handing in a paper written or revised by another student.
• Handing in the same paper to two different instructors (dovetailing).
• Copying another student’s work while writing a quiz, in-class essay, midterm, or final exam.
• Downloading an essay from the Internet.
Plagiarism is a VERY SERIOUS academic offence. It is grounds for failure of this course. In extreme cases, plagiarism may result in expulsion from Northern Lights College (see p. 9 in the Northern Lights College 2006-07 Student Handbook for details). In order to avoid committing plagiarism, students should do the following:
• Put quotation marks around any material that is directly quoted from another source.
• Put in-text citations after any material that is either directly quoted or paraphrased from another source.
• Prepare thorough, properly-formatted bibliographies.
• Consult with their instructor if they have any questions or concerns.
Most writing handbooks contain information about the various systems of documentation employed in academia. Students in this course should follow the Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines.
TYPICAL EVALUATION METHODS AND % OF TOTAL GRADE
Attendance and participation - 15%
Movement Score (2 pages) - 5%
Movement Performance - 5%
Monologue Performance #1 - 10%
Character Analysis (2 pages) - 5%
Monologue Performance #2 - 10%
Scene Analysis (3-4 pages) - 10%
Final Performance - 30%
Production Concept -10%
Monologue