THA 101-805 INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTOR’S ART Fall 2017
Mondays & Wednesdays 12:30-1:45pm
Instructor: Raeleen McMillion Class Room: T 7
Office: T266 Office Phone: 229-4947
Office Time: W 2-3:30pm & By Appt. E-mail:
CATALOGUE LISTING
101 Acting for Non-majors. 3 cr. U. An introduction to basic acting techniques of personalization, focus, and scene study explored through participatory and collaborative exercises and assignments. Prereq: Non-Theatre major.
Actual Time Investment Expectation: 40 hours of direct classroom instruction; 18 hours rehearsal; 15 hours reading & research (plays, research materials, & academic articles); 15 hours prep for in-class performances/presentations; 10 hours attending performances; 10 hours written analysis & observation; 10 hours reflection & self-assessment. Total: 120 hrs.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The student will be introduced to the actor’s art and craft with study and practice of historical context and theoretical
development of Modern Realism; and through a variety of theatre games and activities which are designed to address: voice/speech and body awareness, stage skills, approaching a text of dramatic material, improvisational work, emotional life, problem-solving, creation of character, rehearsal and performance process, observation/analysis of performance, and theatre appreciation. Practical performance opportunities are an important part of this process.
REQUIRED SCRIPTWAITING FOR LEFTY by Clifford OdetsAvailable on D2L, free & download-able
Also available in hard copy in the Golda Meir library.
REQUIRED READINGExcerpts from a variety of sources, including:
Respect for Acting by Uta HagenThe Actor In You by Robert Benedetti
The Voice Book by Michael McCallionAn Actor Prepares by K. Stanislavski
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (newspaper)American Theatre (magazine)
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
1. Folder or binder to collect handouts & your work. Bring this to class every day.
2. Paper, a pen, and a pencil. Bring these to class every day.
3. A water bottle with a cap or other type of closure.
4. Your script. Once we start rehearsing, bring this to class every day.
5. Appropriate clothes that allow freedom of movement and maintain a sense of decorum. Dressing in layers is usually a good idea. Tennis shoes or bare feet preferred; no flip-flops, no high heels, no boots, no house slippers.
COURSE GOALS
- To introduce the student to the art and craft of the professional actor, exploring a variety of performance skills.
- To gain an understanding and appreciation for the development of modern acting styles and for acting as a resource for other studies and life skills.
- To experience situations, ideas, cultures, and motivations outside her/his experience through the exploration and creation of character.
- To gain an awareness of local theatre performance spaces and performance styles.
- To practice critical analysis of her/his own work and the work of fellow students in the class, as well as performances in the community, by applying knowledge and practice of skills gained in class.
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
— George Eliot (1819-1880) English Novelist
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COURSE REQUIREMENTS/EXPECTATIONS
1. Students must participate fully in each class session. This includes keeping an open mind and positive attitude.
2. Students must bring with them to class every day materials required to do the work.
3. Students must dress appropriately for freedom of movement.
4. Students must be acquainted with a range of local theatre opportunities.
5. Students must attend two (2) local live theatre performances. (Information on discounted or free tickets will be available.)
6. Students must complete all homework assignments in a timely fashion. Homework assignments will include reading, light research, rehearsal of exercises and scenes, memorization of dramatic text, some writing, and creative & performance projects. Students may be given the opportunity to repeat unsatisfactory assignments.
7. There will be a final exam project which is designed to assess the student’s cumulative understanding of course material through practical application in performance.
G.E.R. Rationale
This course meets the PSOA GER criteria because it:
• Introduces students to the historical, critical, and theoretical dimensions of acting;
• Asks students to create performances, both solo and in collaboration with a small group or an acting partner;
• Asks students to learn a variety of skills & techniques involved in performance;
• Requires students to identify and analyze their own work as well as the work of fellow classmates and the work of amateur and professional actors in the community.
GER Shared Learning Goals
The three shared learning goals for this GER course are:
1. Studies knowledge of Human Cultures and the Natural World including breadth of knowledge and the ability to think beyond one’s discipline, major, or area of concentration. This knowledge can be gained through the study of the arts, humanities, languages, sciences, and social sciences.
2. Challenges the student to use effective Communication Skills including listening, speaking, reading and writing.
3. Intercultural Knowledge and Competence including the ability to interact and work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures; to lead or contribute support to those who lead; and to empathize with and understand those who are different than they are.
GER Shared Learning Goal Outcomes
Theatre 101 addresses the following UW systems Shared Learning Goals (SLO)
1. Studies knowledge of Human Cultures and the Natural World.
- Assignment:Contextual Research of 1930’s America
- Course Goal: To provide an historical context of the Working Class Struggle in Agit-Prop Drama.
- Outcome: Students will research the historical connections and contemporary repercussions of the American Labor Movement and its connections to The Civil Rights Movement.
- Assessment: See rubric below
2. Challenges the student to use effective Communication Skills including listening, speaking, reading and writing.
- Assignment:Performance Response Charts
- Course Goal: To develop critical thinking skills, personal evaluation skills and personal communication skills.
- Outcome: Students will practice effective written & oral communication by evaluating acting skills.
- Assessment: See rubric below
“Make voyages—attempt them! There’s nothing else.”
--Tennessee Williams, American playwright
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GER Shared Learning Goal Outcomes, cont.:
3. Intercultural Knowledge and Competence including the ability to interact with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures; to lead or contribute to those who lead; and to empathize with an understand those who are different than they are.
- Assignment:Final Exam Performance of Prepared Scenes
- Course Goal: To work with partners to develop an authentic performance of scenes form WAITING FOR LEFTY by Clifford Odets.
- Outcome: Students will read, research, study, rehearse and perform scenes from dramatic text representing both Modern Realism and Agit-Prop styles of theatre.
Assessment: See rubric below
REQUIRED ATTENDANCE TO PERFORMANCES
1. UWM Student Show produced by Theatre Dept.
2. Locally Produced Professional Theatre Performance.
OPTIONAL ATTENDANCE TO EARN EXTRA CREDIT (2 @ 25=50 points possible)
Any professional locally produced theatre performance. You may choose from the following companies (show schedules & other information may be found online): Next Act Theater, Renaissance Theaterworks, First Stage Children’s Theatre, In Tandem Theatre, Next Act, Windfall Theater, or Milwaukee Repertory Theater. One Extra Credit show can be ComedySportz. You may also choose to attend an additional UWM show on campus. If you want to attend a show not listed here, be sure to get it okayed by me before you do or you may not get credit for it!
EVALUATION
How Points Are Earned:
Some assignments will earn credit or no credit; others will earn points. Unsatisfactory assignments may have the option to be re-done.
Your final grade will be based on an accumulated number of points and an assessment of non-graded assignments over the course of the semester. Please refer to the form “Class Calendar & Assignment Tracker” to determine the number of points possible for each assignment.
There are 1,000 possible points for the entire semester. Letter grades correspond as indicated in the following scale.
Points Grading Scale:
There are 1,000 total points possible for the course.
970-1000A+870-909B+770-809C+670-709D+
940-969A840-869B740-769C640-669D
910-939A-810-839B-710-739C-610-639D-
0-609Not Passing
“The journey is the reward.”--Tao Saying
Tao-Te-Ching is an ancient Chinese philosophy
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EVALUATION, continued:
Attendance & Participation
Evaluation of attendance and participation in the class will be assessed according to the following rubric. All students are expected to contribute to the progress of the class. Students may gain extra credit points for outstanding participation. Students will lose points for conduct disrespectful to other students and/or disruptive to the class. It is not possible to earn points if you are not in attendance. In-class work missed cannot be “made-up”.
Rubric for Assessment of Attendance/Participation
Maximum Points Possiblefor each Class / Criteria for Maximum number of Points
15 / Attend class on time / Engaged, creative, thoughtful, energetic, positive & collaborative
8 / Attend class late / Engaged, creative, thoughtful, energetic, positive & collaborative
6 / Leave class early / Engaged, creative, thoughtful, energetic, positive & collaborative
3 / Excused Absence* / No participation possible.
0 / Unexcused Absence / No participation possible.
*An excused absence will be determined at the discretion of the instructor.
Presentations/Performances
Prepared assignments of presentations and performances will include, but are not limited to, the following: Observation Replay and Character Study, Response to Live Theatre Performances, Rehearsal, Contextual Research, Reading, & Worksheets. Please refer to the Class Calendar and Assignment Tracker/Evaluation Rubric for specific number of points per assignment, due dates, and specific criteria for each assignment.
General Rubric for Assessment of Performance and Presentation Assignments
Grade / CriteriaA 90-100%
of total points / Cogent, collaborative (when applicable), creative, original, strong performance style, evocative, interesting, compelling, superb grasp of all performance aspects including preparation & rehearsal, physical & vocal life of character. Interactive (when applicable), evidence of progress made since first rehearsal, evokes emotional response in audience.
B 80-89%
of total points / Clear, well presented, interesting, collaboration is strong (when applicable), involves audience (when appropriate), points, themes, and ideas are clear and communicated well, progress made since first rehearsal, presentation flows in a holistic manner, characters are clearly delineated, solid application of physical & vocal life character choices.
C 70-79%
of total points / Presentation is clear, collaboration is not apparent and/or weak (when applicable), attempts to involve audience are limited or non-existent (when applicable), somewhat unfocused or unclear, limited progress made since first rehearsal. Character work apparent, but limited vocal and/or physical expression.
D 60—69%
of total points / Sloppy, thrown together at the last minute, rushed, one person leads the entire group (when applicable), no acknowledgement of audience, generally unfocused, disjointed and not understandable, character work extremely limited, use of gestures extremely limited, vocal work extremely limited.
F 59%
or less
of total points / Inappropriate, late, assignment not done, group collaboration non-existent (when applicable) and/or limited, progress since first rehearsal is minimal or non-existent, unfocused or not understandable, character work non-existent, no use of gesture, vocal variation not included.
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CATEGORIES for EVALUATION with TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE
1. Attendance and Participation 450
2. Assignments 200
3. Final Exam Performance Project 250
4. Quizzes 100
Total for Course1,000
LINKS TO HELPFUL STUDENT INFORMATION
University Policies & Procedures can be found at this link:
UWM Resources:
The UWM Writing Center:
Libraries:
Panther Academic Support Services (tutorial assistance):
On campus computer lab information:
The UWM Virtual Bookstore:
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University Information Technology Services (Help Desk):
Sexual Assault Resources & Reporting
Title IX Resources
Help Desk Telephone: 414-229-4040 Help Desk Location: Bolton Hall 225
Desire to Learn (D2L) Help:
“Every actor needs to be a little bit Jesus and a little bit Hitler.”
--Richard Dreyfuss
101-805.F17.syllabus