Acting II: Scene Study
THEA 2352-001 and LAB
MW: 11-11:50; W: 1-4:50
Instructor: Dr. Brandi Andrade
Office Hours: M,W 12-1pm Office: FA 191-A, ext. 2-0468
Course Description: This course is designed to enhance and develop students’ acting skills through scene study. Students will build on techniques of characterization, research, and role preparation based in the Stanislavsky method begun in Acting I, as well as explore new ideas and focus on the give-and-take of working with partners.
Note: This is a sophomore-level scene study class. Presentation, talent level, skills, participation, focus, and acting technique will be expected from each and every member of the class, and will be graded at that level. Nonprofessional behavior, such as habitual lateness or improper preparation for class, will not be tolerated.
Required Texts: 16 Plays: A Modern Theatre Anthology, and The Little Foxes. These plays will provide the selection for our work this semester. At the end of the semester, each student will have worked on 4 of these (including scenes from 2 of them), and heard reports on most of the others. These plays are foundational works in Modern Theatre and contribute to the student’s theatrical literacy.
Students will also incur photocopying costs, as each scene they perform must be accompanied by a scored script.
Finally, each student will need a compact notebook dedicated to work in this class. A weekly journal entry will be assigned, as well as weekly script analysis assignments. This notebook will be collected and graded throughout the semester.
Required Theatre-Going: Students will be required to attend and turn in an acting analysis on two of the four Theatre Arts productions this spring: The Trouble Begins at Eight; The Adding Machine; Doubt; and Theatrefest. The other two may be attended for extra credit.
Attendance: Two class absences and/or 1 lab absence allowed. Any additional unexcused absences will lower the student’s grade by one full letter. PLEASE BE CERTAIN YOU UNDERSTAND THIS POLICY. BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO HAVE AN ENSEMBLE, THERE WILL BE NO TOLERANCE FOR EXCESSIVE ABSENCES.
Grades:
2 play reports/scene selections: 14 points
2 theatre analyses: 10 points
2 theory reports: 16 points
2 scene performances: 30 points
Notebook: 30 points
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course the student will:
Effectively perform for the class two 2-person scenes based on character research and class discussions.
Develop a practice of acting in and analyzing plays for the stage.
Acquire a basic working knowledge of the language and principles of the Stanislavski System of acting, as well as explore other approaches.
Acquire a basic methodology for character development, research and role preparation.
Experience the concepts of working as a professional stage actor.
Things to Consider:
Discipline can be taught, but must come from inside each student. Come to class prepared to work and be focused. If you are not ready to work, you will be dismissed and will miss the assigned work of that particular class day. We will quickly get rid of those people who waste our time and get on with learning what we’ve come to learn. THIS IS THE WAY OF THE WORLD IN THEATRE. THOSE WHO DON’T WORK WILL BE QUICKLY REPLACED AND FORGOTTEN. DON’T BE ONE OF THESE PEOPLE!!
For each hour of in-class work, expect to spend AT LEAST that same amount of work outside of class. Most of what is experienced as “stage fright” is simply inadequate preparation.
Please ask questions if you don’t understand something. Let’s determine that none of us knows anything about acting or these plays. Let’s work and discover together.
This is an acting class, not a memorizing class. Get off book ASAP so that we can get to the actual work of the class!
Every scene is about the questions: who am I? What do I want? What’s in my way? And What must I do to get what I want? Tell the playwright’s story and make the scene happen as if for the first time. Work hard, but remember to find the joy in the work. What we do is fun!
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.
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 provides a variety of resources and programs designed to help students develop academic skills, deal with personal situations, and better understand concepts and information related to their courses. These resources include tutoring, major-based learning centers, developmental education, advising and mentoring, personal counseling, and federally funded programs. For individualized referrals to resources for any reason, students may contact the Maverick Resource Hotline at 817-272-6107 or visit www.uta.edu/resources for more information.
Course Schedule:
Week 1, Jan. 19: Intro, Play Assignment, reading assignment
Lab: exercises, contentless scenes
Week 2, Jan. 24: Play reports, scene/partner selections, perform contentless
scenes/review beats; scene assignments. Lab: warm ups, exercises, first read
Week 3, Jan. 31: No classes M/W. Research assignment
Lab: warm ups, rehearse with beats
Week 4, Feb. 7: Research presentations, analysis assignments, JOURNALS due
Lab: warm ups, exercises, rehearsals
Week 5, Feb. 14: Improv scenes, analysis assigments
Lab: finish improv scenes, warm ups, exercises, rehearsals
Week 6, Feb.21: Perform scenes for critique by classmates, new play/reading assignment
Lab: rehearse, incorporating ideas gained from critiques
Week 7, Feb. 28: Perform scenes for grade
Lab: Finish scenes, go over plays, choose scenes/partners, analysis assignment
Week 8, Mar. 7: discuss assignment, character exploration, new analysis assignment,
Reading assignment. LAB: new warm up, exercises, first reads
Week 9: Spring Break
Week 10, Mar. 21: relationship explorations
Lab: improv relationship moments
Week 11, Mar. 28: No classes, MW. Research assignments
Lab: warm up, exercises, rehearsals
Week 12, Ap. 4: Research presentations, analysis assignment, JOURNALS DUE
Lab: Rehearse with new ideas from presentations
Week 13, Ap. 11: Pocket Presentations, new analysis assignments
Lab: warm up, exercises, rehearse
Week 14, Ap. 18: tba, analysis assignment
Lab: warm up, exercise, rehearse
Week 15, Ap. 25: Perform scenes for critiques by classmates
Lab: finish performances, rehearse with ideas from critiques
Week 16, May 2: Rehearse, evaluations. ALL JOURNALS AND WRITTEN WORK
DUE. Lab: Performances of final scenes for grade.
A journal entry is due in each student’s notebook at the end of each work week. This entry should detail the student’s growth/break-thoughs for the week, as well as a detailed description of any assignments that the student felt were particularly helpful to his or her work. This is for your future reference, leave the Future You a clear roadmap!
Your analyses of an actor in a UTA production are both due the Wednesday after the chosen plays close.