ACTING 2 SYLLABUS
HUNE – 2017-2018
GREY DAYS 8:50-11:50am - BLACK BOX
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The second year acting curriculum builds upon the skills learned in Acting 1 and focuses on helping actors build solid technique. Course work emphasizes contemporary scene study as well as an introduction to classical texts and heightened language. Michael Shurtleff’s “12 Guideposts” will be introduced and applied to monologues and scenes. Movement and Voice will be explored in collaboration with Acting. Students will explore and expand their range of movement through yoga and impulse/expression based techniques. Vocally, attention will be focused on freeing the natural voice toward greater psychological / physical connection, improved self-awareness, imagination, expressiveness, and embodiment. By the end of the course, students will be given the tools to deepen imaginative impulses and understand what preparation really looks like in practice while expanding their knowledge of dramatic literature.
To successfully complete this course, you must:
- REALLY DO the work, and the work will eventually start to work.
- Read and research plays. Especially the play you are using for scene/monologue work. Read it multiple times, then fully commit to the important process of dramaturgy, table work, script analysis / scoring, and rehearsal that every scene/monologue/play demands. This art form is hard work and cannot be achieved without really doing the work.
- Approach all work with a love and respect for the craft. Keep an open mind and heart. Take risks. Accept that those risks might fail horribly, but that’s ok. Understand that there is incredible value to failure.
- Welcome constructive criticism intended to help you grow.
- Respect and support your peers in a collaborative, working environment.
- Meet all deadlines.
- Pay attention to work done by others and ALWAYS take good notes.
- Honor the workspace by being prepared, focused, and ready to work as soon as you enter the space.
- Come prepared with all costumes, set pieces, and props on the day your scene is due.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices that positively support the actor’s physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual instrument
GRADING
40% - Daily Activities and Acting Logs/Notes
30% - Final-Up Scene Work, Major Grades
20% - First-Up Scene Work, Minor Projects, Rehearsal Logs
10% - Participation, Participation, and Preparation
Late penalties are 10% off the grade until the penalty reaches 50%. Thereafter assignments will only receive 50% of the final grade for the assignment. Due to the nature of many assignments the teacher reserves the right to not accept material after 7 days. A student has 24 hours to request a redo of an assignment or exam. At that point in time, the student and teacher will talk and agree on a plan of action and due date for the redo. **RE-DO’s are rarely allowed, unless illness, extreme personal circumstances or lack of success from the majority is evident.
SCENE WORK
As we have much ground to cover this year, your scene is due on the day you are scheduled to perform. Please note, you will be held firmly to the performance schedule and late performances will not be accepted,except in the event of a true emergency or illness. In case of an emergency, please follow the departmental policy and communicate it to the theatre office and via email to Mr. Hune and your stage manager ASAP. You are expected to be well prepared and rehearsed for any scene work you present in class. Being well-prepared means reading the entire play, making specific choices about the piece in advance, knowing who you are talking to and what you want in the scene, scoring your script, having a copy of your rubric, and making a photo-copy of the scene or monologue so that it may be referenced by the instructor.
DRESS CODE: Students are required to wear MOVEMENT clothes in which they can freely and comfortably move. Closed toed shoes are also required. There will be times when shoes and socks will not be worn. Long hair must be pulled back and out of the face. Wear clothes that you would wear in a yoga class or at the gym. The following clothes are NOT acceptable in acting class:
- Jeans
- Skirts
- High Heels
- Bulky Boots
***EXCEPTION*** On days when you are presenting a rehearsed scene, you are required to wear rehearsal clothing. Rehearsal clothes are not necessarily a costume, but do represent your character to some degree. You will be required to provide any and all rehearsal clothes for in-class rehearsals and performances.The Costume Shop is not a source for scene-work rehearsal clothes.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
- Sketchbook (bound)
- 1” binder with the following dividers/tabs: Scripts, Handouts
- Pen, Pencil, & Highlighter
- TEXT – AUDITION
by Michael Shurtleff
ISBN: 0-553-27295-0
SPEAKING SHAKESPEARE
By Patsy Rodenburg
ISBN: I-4039-6540-4
***NOTE – COMPUTERS AND CELL PHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CLASSROOM
CONTACT INFORMATION
Office: 713-942-1966
Email:
Conference Time: 9:30 AM
COURSE CALENDAR
UNIT / CONCEPTCYCLE 1
WEEK1 / Ensemble Building, Artistry/Professionalism, Handbook
WEEK 2 / Contemp. Scene & Partner Assignments / Guideposts 1, 2, 3
WEEK 3 / Viewpoints / Guideposts 4, 5, 6
WEEK 4 / Intro to Movement to Music / Guideposts 7, 8, 9 / Scene Selection Due
WEEK 5 / Guideposts 10, 11, 12
WEEK 6 / Contemporary Scene Rehearsal
CYCLE 2
WEEK 7 / Contemp. Scene – 1st Ups
WEEK 8 / Contemp. Scene – 1st Ups
WEEK 9 / Contemp. Scene – 1st Ups
WEEK 10 / Contemp. Scene – Final Ups / Classical Scene & Partner Assignments
WEEK 11 / Contemp. Scene – Final Ups
CYCLE 3
WEEK 12 / Classical Scene Rehearsal
WEEK 13 / Classical Scene 1st Ups
WEEK 14 / Classical Scene 1st Ups
WEEK 15 / Classical Scene 1st Ups
WEEK 16 / Classical Scene – Final Ups
WEEK 17 / Classical Scene – Final Ups
HOLIDAY
CYCLE 4
WEEK 18 / Extracting Monologue from Scene & Monologue Crafting
WEEK 19 / Classical/Contemporary Monologue Approval & Rehearsal
WEEK 20 / Monologues 1st Ups
WEEK 21 / Monologues 1st Ups
WEEK 22 / Monologues Final Ups
WEEK 23 / Monologues Final Ups
CYCLE 5
WEEK 24 / Showcase Audition – Classes Suspended