2
Spring, 2009 Prof. Gaupp THEA 3340-001 p.
U.T.A. - THEATRE ARTS 3340-001
PERFORMANCE FUNDAMENTALS II:
MOVEMENT
Syllabus (Subject to Change)
Instructor : Andrew C. Gaupp, B.A., M.F.A., A.E.A.
Professor, Department of Theatre Arts, U.T. Arlington
Office: Fine Arts Building-North, Room 145
Office Hours: Tues. and Thurs. 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. by appointment.
Office Phone: 817.272.3141
E-mail:
Theatre Arts Main Office: Fine Arts Building-North, Room 144, Phone 817.272.2650
Mail Box: Located in the Theatre Arts Department Office, FA 144
Credit: 3 hours
Class Number: 20032
Class Meets: Tues. and Thurs. 11:00 to 12:20 a.m., Fine Arts Building, Room 137
Final Exam: Tues., May 12, 11:00 a.m. sharp!
Course Description
Catalogue description:
THEA 3340. PERFORMANCE FUNDAMENTALS II : MOVEMENT (3-0) Development of movement techniques and movement performances. Freeing the body through exercises and experiences in relaxation, physical awareness, and movement through space. Focus on body awareness and the release of habitual patterns that restrict the body. Prerequisite: permission of faculty.
Additional: Work includes the coordination of the voice and body, physical balance, the use of mimetic technique, deportment and gesture as it applies to character development and scene work.
Prerequisites
THEA 1303 ("Performance Fundamentals I: Voice and Movement") and permission of the instructor.
ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION:
1. Due to the nature of this course, it is necessary for the instructor, in the presence of other students, to
touch students on the head, neck, upper chest, shoulders, back, and stomach to point out and demonstrate postural and muscular corrections and to demonstrate the use of the Alexander Technique. Students, by enrolling in this course, give the instructor permission to make said physical contact.
2. Since movement is an integral part of this class, students should inform the instructor immediately of any
physical or medical problems which may affect the student's performance or ability to participate fully in this class.
3. Course syllabus, course requirements, assignments, projects, topics and grading criteria are subject to
change and review by the instructor depending upon the instructor's evaluation of the class' progress and comprehension of the course material.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Gray, John. The Alexander Technique. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1990. ISBN 0-312-06494-2
SUGGESTED READING (NOT REQUIRED)
Adler, Stella. The Technique of Acting. New York: Bantam Books, 1988.
Hagen, Uta. Respect for Acting. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., 1973.
Lessac, Arthur. The Use and Training of the Human Voice, Third Edition.
Mountain View: Mayfield Publishing Co., 1997. ISBN 1-55934-696-5
Linklater, Kristin. Freeing the Natural Voice. New York: Drama Book Publishers.
Stanislavski, Constantin. An Actor Prepares, Creating a Role, and Building a Character. New
York City: Theatre Arts Books, 1948, 1961.
REQUIREMENTS
• Purchase course text.
• Come to class on time and participate fully. This is a participatory class.
• Students should take lecture notes.
• ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED! SIX OR MORE ABSENCES SHALL RESULT IN
A FAILING GRADE.
• Students are required to take the final exam only during the scheduled final exam time.
• Come to class prepared to move, to lie on the floor, and to participate in all class exercises. Dress appropriately for exercises: loose shorts, loose jeans, warm-up and/ordance/exercise clothing are appropriate. Athletic/tennis shoes, character/dance shoes, and other types of flexible shoes are highly recommended. The following clothing is not recommended: dresses, dress slacks, high heels, platform shoes, open toed shoes, sandals, mules, tight or restrictive clothing, and clothing which you don't want to get dirty or may be ruined from physical exercise.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. The student will be able to demonstrate a basic working knowledge of how voice and movement work in tandem through performance.
2. The student will be able to demonstrate skills in voice and movement for the stage.
3. The student will be able to identity resources for gaining employment as an actor.
4. The student will be able to discuss and demonstrate basic concepts and techniques of acting on the stage.
5. The student will be able to demonstrate practice in acting on the stage through expressive vocalization and stage movement.
EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to be: disciplined in their work, meet all assignments on time, listen to the instructor and classmates and take notes. Practice outside of class (rehearsal is homework for this course), use class rehearsal time wisely, seek help from the instructor when needed, ask for further explanation from the instructor if something is not understood, take some chances on stage, and BE PREPARED!
GRADES / EVALUATION
Grades will represent these levels of achievement:
"A"=Excellent Work 90 to 100+ points; "B "=Good Work= 80 to 89 points;
"C"=Fair/Average Work=70 to 79 points; "D"=Passing/Below Average Work=60 to 69 points;
"F"=Failure/Way Below Average Work= 59 points or less.
Your acting assignments will be graded according to your progress in this course. The "final course grade points" will be determined according to the following:
Possible Maximum Course Points (pts.)
Participation Exercises up to 10 pts.
1st Performance up to 20 pts.
2nd Performance up to 20 pts.
3rd Performance up to 25 pts.
Text Exam up to 10 pts.
Mime Performance up to 15 pts.
TOTAL OF 100 possible points
• Extra credit assignments are NOT given in this course.
• If a student fails to perform and/or turn in any exam or assignment, they shall fail the entire course.
• Generally, incomplete grades are not given in this course.
• Students are advised to drop this course if absent on a continuing basis.
LATENESS /ABSENCES
• Students are expected to be prompt for class and prompt with assignments. Assignments turned in or performed late (after the class in which it is due), and which the instructor accepts with a valid excuse, will be reduced by one full letter grade for each 24-hour period it is late.
• It is the student's sole responsibility to make sure that the instructor has recorded the student's attendance if the student arrives after the class role is taken. The student must contact the instructor on the same class day to change the class roll. Students who are more than 10 minutes late for a class shall not be counted as being in attendance.
• Grades shall be affected for repeated lateness to class and absences since this course is graded, in part, on participation.
DEDUCTIONS: After the first three (3) absences, whether for personal or health reasons, each subsequent absence shall result in the deduction of grade points from "final course grade" points as follows:
• fourth absence deduct 5 final course grade points,
• fifth absence deduct an additional 10 final course grade points (15 cumulative points).
• six or more absences shall result in a failing grade in this course.
If a student is ill, misses class and presents a doctor's statement attesting to said illness, then the student may make up missed work. HOWEVER, it only means that the student has used up one of the ALLOWED absences. It does NOT mean that a student is allowed an "extra" excused absence besides the three (3) allowed before it begins to deduct final course grade points.
THEATRE ARTS ATTENDANCE/PRODUCTION DUTY POLICY
Students who fail to meet class attendance requirements may be removed from acting, directing, design, and/or stage management positions for the current semester’s productions at the discretion of the department chair.
ASSIGNMENTS
Students will be assigned movement work and monologues to perform in class. It is imperative that students regularly attend class to make use of in-class rehearsal time with the instructor. Students must also rehearse outside of class. It is the student’s responsibility to find appropriate scripted material for class assignments per the instructor’s directions.
GOALS
To explore the use of voice and movement on the stage and in everyday life and thereby:
explore vocal and physical expression,
become aware of personal vocal and physical mannerisms,
reach a simple and objective style of play,
strengthen concentration,
strengthen inner feelings,
diminish self-consciousness,
develop skills in acting/character development through movement,
develop powers of outward expression both vocally and physically, and
connect the body to vocal production and expression.
develop articulatory skills and become aware of personal dialectical traits.
GENERAL COURSE TOPICS
(subject to change by the instructor, depending upon class progress)
Introduction to the course;
Alignment, posture and the new body construct (Alexander Technique);
Articulation of vowels and consonants;
Fundamental properties of movement and connecting movement to voice;
Breathing;
Introduction to movement exercises for muscle lengthening, curvature, etc.;
"Scattering" and "gathering" through word and movement;
Mimetic action and technique;
"Geste" defined and examined through the artistic elements (rhythm, line, silhouette, texture,
sound/silence, movement, space/'form, color, light/shadow), as through-line of the character.
Body centers, which initiate voice and movement;
Psychophysical action;
Body strategies.
Student Evaluation of Teaching
Students shall be given an opinion form(s) to fill out at the end of the semester to provide feedback to the instructor on the course. The student is urged to provide objective, fair and thoughtful responses. These forms are anonymous and are not seen by the instructor until after grades have been turned in.
Final Review Week
A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long sessions shall be designated as Final Review Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students sufficient time to prepare for final examinations. During this week, there shall be no scheduled activities such as required field trips or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research problems or exercises of similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the class syllabi. During Final Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations constituting 10% or more of the final grade, except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the final examination during Final Review Week.
Americans With Disabilities Act
The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 93112 -- The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans With Disabilities Act - (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed 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 basis of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests with informing faculty at the beginning of the semester and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels (at UTA).
Academic Dishonesty
It is the philosophy 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, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or 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." (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22)
Student Support Services Available
The University of Texas at Arlington supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect with the University and achieve academic success. These programs include learning assistance, developmental education, advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded programs. Students requiring assistance academically, personally, or socially should contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107 for more information and appropriate referrals.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE/ASSIGNMENTS
(Subject to change by the instructor, depending upon the class’ progress)
CLASS MEETS TUESDAY AND THURSDAY (EXCEPT AS NOTED BELOW)
Week 1: Introduction;
1/20 Reading assignment: Gray, pp. 7-51
1/22: NO CLASS HELD ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 22. Your professor is representing UTA Theatre Arts at the Texas Educational Theatre Association conference and student auditions.
______
Week 2: Reading assignment: Gray pp. 52-78
1/27; 1/29 Tues.,Jan. 27-FIRST PERFORMANCE DUE – 1 minute contemporary, dramatic monologue – memorized!
Exercises
______
Week 3: Reading assignment: Gray pp. 79-102
2/3; 2/5 Work performances
Exercises Feb.4—Census Date
______
Week 4: Reading assignment: Gray pp.105-130
2/10; 2/12 See performances
Exercises
______
Week 5: Reading assignment: Gray pp. 133-176
2/17; 2/19 See Performances
______
Week 6:
2/24; 2/26 Feb. 24-SECOND PERFORMANCE DUE – 1 minute contemporary, comedy monologue
______
Week 7: ROBBER BRIDEGROOM opens 3/4-3/8
3/3 Work Performances
Exercises
3/5 NO CLASS—Rehearse on your own
______
Week 8:
3/10; 3/12 See Performances
Exercises; Test Review Mid-Semester
______
Week 9: SPRING VACATION –NO CLASSES
3/16-3/20
Week 10: See Performances
3/24; 3/26 March 24 - TEXT AND LECTURE EXAM OVER THE ALEXANDER
TECHNIQUE
______
Week 11: Technique exercises
3/31; 4/2 Mar. 31- THIRD PERFORMANCE DUE – 1 minute Shakespeare (dramatic
or comedic)-Memorized
4/3/09 Last day to drop classes
______
Week 12: Work Performances
4/7; 4/9 Technique exercises
______
Week 13: See Performances
4/14; 4/16 Technique exercises
Work with partner on Final Duet Mime Performance (beginning, middle and end to story;
5 objects each; character walk; lean on object or into the wind)
______
Week 14: Mimetic Technique THEATREFEST opens; April 22 to April 26
4/21 Technique exercises
Rehearse
4/23 NO CLASS—Rehearse with your partner
______
Week 15: Exercises
4/28; 4/30 Work Final Duet Mime
______
Week 16: Final Review Week
5/5; 5/7 Show and Work Final Duet Mime
May 8—Last day of classes for Spring semester
______
FINAL EXAM: TUESDAY, MAY 12 –11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
PERFORM FINAL MIME PERFORMANCE PIECE