Musical Theatre Course Pack
Portfolio Assignments
Throughout the semester you will be required to maintain a portfolio. This portfolio will be a written/visual representation of what you have learned and accomplished throughout musical theatre class.
In order to make your portfolio visually appealing, be sure to use colour and incorporate creative ideas into your work. You may draw pictures, use computer-generated pictures, cut out pictures from magazines, add texture, etc. Use your imagination.
Assignment Due Dates: (dates are subject to change with proper notice)
Due Date / Assign. # / AssignmentMonday Sept 12th / 1 / Autobiography
Call Backs
2 / Monologue
6(a) / Off-Stage Duty (top 3 choices)
3 / Audition Reflection
4 / Character Analysis and Play Summary
6(b & c) / Off-Stage Duty (outline of duties & timeline)
5 / Theatre Review
7 / Weekly Reflections (check #1)
8 / Rehearsal Log (check #1)
6(d, e & f) / Off-Stage Duty (log, reflection, visual representation)
7 / Weekly Reflections (check #2)
8 / Rehearsal Log (check #2)
9 / Final Reflection
10 / Self-Assessment
ASSIGNMENT #1
Autobiography
Autobiography - include picture(s)
What makes us individual is often what makes us interesting. This page of your portfolio is designed to show what makes you an individual. Write a one-page autobiography which gives the reader insight as to who you are as an individual.
You may use the following as a guideline.
Who are you? How old are you? Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
Family?
What is important to you?
What are some important events in your life?
What are some of your personal characteristics?
What are your likes/dislikes?
What are your special qualities?
What are your future plans?
Be sure to include pictures of yourself and to organize your information in an orderly manner.
Autodrama:
Write a short reflection about what you feel you got out of the autodrama exercise. Do you think it will make it easier for you to act/sing in front of the people in the class? Why/why not? How did it make you feel? (Describe/Explain in only as much detail as you feel comfortable).
AUTOBIOGRAPHY MARKING SHEET
(Communication)
/15 Introduction is included and provides background information
about the individual (name, birthday/age, family background, etc.
/50 Autobiography contains information which is insightful about
writer’s character and what makes him/her an individual.
/20 Information is organized in an orderly fashion.
/15 Pictures are included and give additional insight into the
individual.
ASSIGNMENT #2
Monologue
Definition: A piece of oral or written literature (e.g., a story, poem or part of a play) spoken by one person who exposes inner thoughts and provides insights into his or her character.
Select a character from this year’s musical production and write a monologue which is between 30 seconds and 1 minute in length. The scenario of your monologue will be decided as a class.
Keep in mind the purpose of a monologue and be sure to use the guiding questions below to help you with the planning process.
Creating a Monologue
1) Your Character’s Name: ______
2) Brief Description of character:
(Age, Gender, Hopes/Dreams, Fears; or other important features of your character)
3) Action
What is your character’s action, at the time of this monologue? (What is s/he doing?)
4) Objective
What is your character’s objective? (What does s/he want?)
5) When and Where
Where and when is this scene taking place? (What does the character see, hear, smell or feel on their skin at this moment?)
6) Special Conditions
What are any special conditions that might affect your character’s monologue? What is one thing your character cares about? What is one thing your character thinks s/he knows?
7) Audience:
Who are you talking to? (Another character? Hims/herelf? The audience? If so, does the audience represent anyone else?)
What do you want the audience (as real audience members) to understand? Feel?
Preparing for an Audition
The audition process can be a very scary moment for an actor. You want to do your best and to show your abilities in the best possible light.
The first step is to prepare properly. If you have to sing a song, pick one that you know extremely well so that, even when you are nervous, you won’t forget the words. Also, choose a song that you can sing comfortably (one that isn’t too difficult for you to sing) and that shows off your voice. If you have a good range then choose a song that has some higher and lower notes. If you have a good character voice (one that is expressive) then choose a song that shows how you can bring out the emotion or humour in it.
Choose a song that is appropriate for the style of show for which you are auditioning. If you are auditioning for a Broadway style show, then you wouldn’t sing an operatic aria at your audition! By the same token, if you were auditioning for Les Miserables, which is a very emotional play, then you wouldn’t sing something light and fluffy.
Ensure that you are practicing with some form of vocal technique (you don't have to be a trained singer, but make sure that you are not straining when singing the song...ask yourself if you could comfortably sing this song several times).
If you are cutting a longer piece in to a one-minute segment, choose the part(s) of the song that are the most interesting or climactic musically and emotionally.
Don’t embellish the printed music too much (i.e. adding riffs, trills, etc)
Remember, you must ACT a song as well as sing it…to prepare for this component, ask yourself these questions: who sings the song?
· what do you know about this character?
· where is the character in terms of location and time period?
· who is the character singing to and where is this person located?
· what is the relationship between the character and the person to whom he/she is singing?
· where in the show does this song occur?
· what has happened just before the character started singing?
· why does the character feel compelled to sing in this moment?
· what are the primary ideas/emotions the character is expressing in the song?
· how does the character change from beginning to end of the song?
· what does singing the song accomplish for the character?
Try speaking the song lyrics as if they are a monologue to make sure you understand what the character is expressing, then take what you discover from that and apply it to your singing of the text
Practise reading at home to prepare for reading from a script. Teach yourself how to emphasize certain words to make what you say more clearly understood. Try to avoid saying every line the same way. Also work on gestures that will strengthen what you are trying to say. Supposing you had a line that was accusing someone of doing something wrong, you could point directly at them when you say “It’s your fault!”
Always try to keep your face up and out so that you can be seen completely. This shows a confidence in yourself even if you don’t feel it!
Relax! Take several deep breaths before you start. This helps keep you calm and focused.
These are very basic hints that may help you audition well. Remember:
Prepare
Practise
Relax
BREAK A LEG!!!!!
MUSICAL THEATRE Audition RubricCriteria / Score
SINGING AUDITION
Musicality
4- Singer masterfully communicates the meaning of the text through physical gestures, facial expression and vocal expression
3- Singer effectively communicates the meaning of the text most of the time.
2- Singer seldom communicates the meaning of the text
1- Singer misrepresents the meaning of the text and lacks expression / /10
Notes and Pitch
4- Virtually no errors, pitch is very accurate
3- Occasional isolated error; most of the time pitch is accurate and secure
2- Few accurate or secure pitches
1- Pitch of voice has no relation to pitch of accompaniment / /10
Voice Projection/Confidence
4- Voice projection is excellent. Singer shows extreme confidence.
3- Voice projection is good. Singer shows confidence.
2- Voice projection is satisfactory. Singer shows some confidence.
1- Voice projection is poor. Singer shows little confidence. / /10
ACTING AUDITION
Concentration
(Student establishes character, maintains character, commits to character, integrates character)
4- Actor and character are completely integrated
3- Actor consistently stays in character
2- Actor establishes character but frequently breaks concentration
1- Actor is unsuccessful in establishing character. / /10
Physical Expression
(Focus; Gesture; Posture; Gait)
4- Actor completely commits to physical choices that suggest the character
3- Actor often commits to physical choices that suggest the character
2- Actor makes few choices that resemble the character
1- Actor’s physicality lacks commitment and does not resemble the character / /10
DANCING AUDITION
Recall of Short Movement Sequence
4- Accurately recreates combinations quickly and easily
3- Recreates combinations with few mistakes
2- Has difficulty recreating combinations
1- Is unable to recreate combinations / /20
Comments:
ASSIGNMENT #3
Audition Reflection
This page should be used as a reflection about the audition process. Be sure to discuss the following:
1) How did you prepare for the audition?
2) How did you feel before, during and after the singing audition? How did you feel before, during and after the acting audition? How did you feel before, during and after the dance audition?
3) What are your feelings about the outcome of your audition? Be specific about what went well and what did go well. For example, don’t just say “I didn’t do well on the singing audition”. Elaborate by saying “Most of my singing audition went well but I didn’t warm up properly and had troubles hitting the higher notes in the chorus of my song”.
4) What would you do differently next time? What would you do the same?
Audition Reflection Marking Sheet
E = Excellent G = Good S = Satisfactory P = Poor I = Incomplete
(80% – 100%) (70% – 79%) (60% – 69%) (50% – 59%) (0% - 49%)
E G S P I Detailed explanation of preparation for the audition
E G S P I Feelings about each aspect of the audition process are
Honest and detailed.
E G S P I Feelings about the outcome of the audition are honest
And detailed.
E G S P I Reflection on what would be done differently and the
same next time are thoughtful.
ASSIGNMENT #4
Character Autobiography and Play Summary
A Character Analysis involves exploring the physical, emotional, and social facets of a dramatic role through various exploratory techniques;how a character moves, thinks, and interacts with others. Why is it important? The more you know about your character, the more believable your portrayal will be.
Be sure to read the play through to find out important information and character traits revealed in the script. Once you have this information, you can work on the following assignment.
Character Biography - your character’s story.
What happened in their life prior to the start of the play? To begin a character biography, read the play and take notes regarding all given circumstances. Create stories around these circumstances.
Character Autobiography ChecklistThe autobiography of you character should be written in the first person (I, me, mine) for immediate personalization of your exploration. Third person (he/she, him/her, his/hers) creates a separation from the character. As you write, allow experiences of your own life to enter the life of the character. Be specific, detailed, imaginative, and personal. Study the play for what is given. Do research where you need to fill in important blanks. Create the rest. Let yourself go!
WHO AM I? How do I feel about who I am?
Name: what is my full name (even if it is not in the script)? What does it mean to me?
Age: What is my birthday? How do I feel about my age?
Social Status: Where do I fit into the social structure that I live in? How do I feel about it?
Education: How extensive has my education been? Elementary, high school, college, trade school, graduate school, personal study-- what are my favorite subjects, favorite projects, popularity, least favorite subjects, hang-ups?
Economic Status: How does my financial situation fit into the financial structure of the world around me?
Racial/Ethnic/Religious Grouping: Do I belong to a specific group? Any incidents involving my relationship to the culture I was born into?
Job/Career: What, if any, is my work history?
Major Failures: What have I screwed up? How has it affected my life? Stories?
Interests and Talents: What do I have a passion for? Do I get to fulfill my passions?
WHO IS MY FAMILY? How do I feel about my family?
Parents: What are their names, ages? Are they still alive? If they have passed away, how did they die? How do I feel about them? How do I feel about their relationship? How has it affected me?
Siblings: What are their names, ages? How do I feel about each of them? What is my place in the family – oldest, middle, youngest, only child?