Final Exam Theatre Arts I IV

Final Exam Theatre Arts I – IV Understanding the Stanislavski SystemFall 2014

For your final exam, you will read the play, Who Returned My Soul by Kelly Brock Galloway, select a monologue to perform and using the principles of the Stanislavski System you will develop an in depth character and script analysis. You will have an opportunity to read the scriptbefore the day of the exam to select your monologue for performancehowever; you will complete all the written work during the exam block. In addition, you will perform your memorized selection for the performance element of the exam.

Part I. The Actor. In this role you are primarily concerned with applying the principles of the Constantin Stanislavski System to your monologue. Your choices here will focus on what you do, as an actor, to bring this piece to life. You will do this by making informed decisions based on script analysis and character analysis.

A. Select a monologue from the script,Who Returned My Soul by Kelly Brock Galloway, and memorize it.

B. Script Analysis. Although your monologue is relatively short, you must understand how it fits into the scene and the entire play. You will us Stanislavski’s concept of “Units & Objectives.”

C. Character Analysis. Create a well-developed analysis of your character include his/her role in the play. In addition, complete the character analysis using Stanislavski’s “Given Circumstances,” “Imagination” to identify the subtext, and will explore the “Magic ‘If’” as you examine your character.

Part II. The Director. In this role you are primarily concerned with the total effect of the piece. What will the audience see from their perspective? You will focus on setting the stage, set design, lighting, blocking, costuming, hair and make-up.

Setting the stage-- Mise en scène-- This French term comes originally from the theatre where it refers to 'putting the scene together.' It refers to - setting and props (including architecture and interior design) - costume, hairstyles and make-up - body language and facial expressions of the characters - the use of color and design. A director often uses a “freeze frame” approach to directing, meaning that the scene is viewed as a series of “snapshots” or frames that are frozen. A director looks at every inch of the scene. Every object, piece of furniture, or lack of furniture or objects says/means something.

This French term means “what is put into the scene” or frame. It is the director’s job to decide this and what is put in or left out can make a big difference to the signals we receive and the way we decode them. For example, if a director wants to show that the story takes place in Victorian times, he or she will signal this by the use of period clothes and props. The specific inclusion of a bed and rocking horse will signify a nursery. He/She may take this one step further and include a window with a storm outside, thus creating atmosphere. He may sit a child on a low stool in the middle of the floor, her toys lined up formally against the walls, thus signaling that she is isolated and repressed by this room and the society she lives in. So the selection of specific objects and images carry broader ideas. Like the words chosen to make up a poem, each item in a frame may be carefully chosen and positioned. In another example, the director can draw our attention to an object, a gun, say, by placing it in the foreground, near the audience. We then decode that the gun will be important in this scene.

A. You must include a conceptional stage drawing or detailed written description of what the audience will see. Blocking notes would go here as well.

B. You must consider lighting and include an explanation of the use of lights and color. Remember to think about the symbolism of the colors.

C. You must include a discussion of costuming, hairstyle and make-up either in the form of a sketch or a detailed written description.

Part III. The Rehearsal. Using a Flip camera, you will film and critique your rehearsal. You will write a well developed paragraph discussing your journey through the rehearsal phase.

Part IV. The Performance. You will perform this monologue, so it must be memorized.

Part V. Production. Create a poster to advertise the play include, title, author, publisher, date, ticket pricing. Use Publisher.

Part V. The Evaluation. Your exam grade will be divided into two sections performance and written analysis. Each will be weighted at 50%. I will use the standard performance rubric to evaluate your performance. You will also complete a Self-Evaluation after your performance.

Part VI. TheEvaluation Theatre Exam January 2013

Part I. The Actor:

_____Script Analysis Questions 1 - 5(20 Points) _____

_____ Character analysis 6 - 21(20 Points) _____

Part II. The Director:

_____Mise en scène:(5 Points) _____

_____Set Design/Blocking notes(5 Points) _____

_____Lighting/Color Discussion(5 Points) _____

_____Costuming, Hairstyle, Make-up(5 Points) _____

Part III. The Performance:

_____ Memorized Monologue (40 Points) _____

Part IV. The Evaluation

_____Self-evaluation(5 Points) _____

Part V. Producing a Play

_____ Poster (10 Points) _____

Total Points ______

Performance Grade _____ (50 Points)

Written Analysis _____ (50 Points)