Introduction to Acting Syllabus THTR 105
Introduction to Acting Syllabus – THTR 105
Assistant Professor Susan Pfeffer
Fall Semester 2013 – Building CFA, Rm 19Office: CFA #144
Monday/Wednesday: 1:00 – 2:15 pmPhone: 775-684-6917
Office Hours: Email:
Tuesday 1:00-3:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00-12:00 pm & 4:00-5:00 pm
Acting is the ability to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances.
-Sanford Meisner
Course Objectives
How do actors develop charismatic three-dimensional presence? We will illuminate the basics of performance in body, voice and action and explore what techniques work for your personal acting process. We will use tools for becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable onstage and for communicating clearly and expressively in solos (monologues), duets (scenes) and group (ensemble) activities. Through training in Alexander Technique, various vocal/physical techniques, long-standing Stanislavski approaches and introductory Viewpoints, we will examine the use of ourselves and connect and communicate wholeheartedly with collaborators, audiences, objects and space in our environment. Through the elements of theatre (props, set, lights, etc.), we will discover the life of the character and how to maintain focus under multiple watchful eyes.
Required Texts
Fire Island (online) by Charles Mee at
Extreme Exposure: An Anthology of Solo Performance Texts from the Twentieth Century, edited by Jo Bonney
365 Days/365 Plays by Suzan-Lori Parks
Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegria Hudes
33 Variations by Moises Kaufman
The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow by Rolin Jones
Performance (rehearsal required outside of class)
Dance theatre piece from Fire Island: 1-3 minutes
Scene #1 from Fire Island: 3 minutes
Monologue #1 from Extreme Exposure: 1 minute
Scene #2 from 365 Days/365 Plays: 3 minutes
Final exam: Monologue #2 from class material: 1 minute
Nevada Repertory Theatre Attendance
A Day in the Life of the City Friday, September 13 at 4:00 pm
Directed/devised bySaturday, September 14 at 3:00 pm
The Living Theatre Sunday, September 15 at 3:00 pm
Thursday, September 19 at 5:00 pm
Friday, September 20 at 4:00 pm
Comedy of ErrorsFriday, October 25 at 7:30 pm
Written by William ShakespeareSaturday, October 26 at 7:30 pm
Directed by Rob GanderSunday, October 27 at 1:30 pm
Wednesday, October 30 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, October 31 at 7:30 pm
Friday, November 1 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 2 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 3 at 1:30 pm
Writing Assignments (no late papers will be accepted)
On Acting Experience: Due: Wednesday, August 28, 5 pm
Email () a 1-2 page double-spaced paper describing your acting experience.
On Performance:
A Day in the Life of the City – Acting CritiqueDue Monday, September 23
Comedy of Errors – Acting CritiqueDue Monday, November 4
Please submit a 2-3 page double-spaced paper (hard copy, stapled) that discusses the actor’s choices and techniques, as well, as what you saw, felt, heard during the performance. You may include an examination of the plot, theme, set, lights, props and costume in your analysis.
On Plays:
Fire IslandDue Monday, September 9
Extreme ExposureDue Monday, October 14
33 Variations Due Wednesday, October 30
365 Days/365 PlaysDue Monday, November 4
Water by the Spoonful Due Wednesday, November 6
The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow Due Wednesday, November 13
Please submit a one page play analysis that responds to the theatrical events, themes, plots, and styles of the playwright.
Grading
Dance theatre piece from Fire Island10%
Scene #1 from Fire Island 10%
Monologue #1 from Extreme Exposure10%
Scene #2 from 365 Days/365 Plays20%
Monologue #2 from class material 20%
A Day in the Life of the City – Acting Critique5%
Comedy of Errors – Acting Critique5%
One page critiques 10%
Attendance/Participation10%
Grading Scale
95-100A
90-94A-
86-89B+
83-85B
80-82B-
76-79C+
73-75C
70-72C-
66-69D+
63-65D
60-62D-
59-0F
Attendance Policy
The decision to take this class includes the decision to be present every time it meets. You are granted two absences for the semester. Each additional absence drops your grade two points. Failure to attend on a performance day will result in a failing grade assignment.
Clothing
Wear warm, comfortable clothing, such as, yoga wear, t-shirts and sweat pants that you can move in. Do not wear skirts, jeans, jewelry or perfume/cologne. Tie your hair back away from your face. Unless it is particularly cold, we will be working in bare (clean!) feet.
Beginning of Class
Remove your shoes before you enter the room. Leave gum and other drinks outside. You may bring water. Approach the learning space with a focused outlook. Enter class quietly and ready yourself for working with a positive attitude. Place your bags and shoes in the designated area and wait in the center of the room. Feel free to move in gentle ways that your body needs as you are waiting. Each class will begin with five minutes of meditation.
End of Class:
Please return furniture, props and chairs to their storage positions and double check that our room is clean of belongings and trash. We are all responsible for taking care of the space.
Academic Dishonesty:
Cheating, plagiarism or otherwise obtaining grades under false pretenses constitute academic dishonesty according to university code. Academic dishonesty is not tolerated and penalties can include canceling a student’s enrollment without a grade and giving an F for the course or for the assignment.
Disability Statement:
If you have a disability, please notify me or the Disability Resource Center (Thompson Building, Suite 101) as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations.
Cell Phone
Please turn off your cell phone before entering the room. Secretive videotaping or audio recording is prohibited by law and Board of Regents policy. You may video or audio tape a class with the permission of myself and the entire class. In order to accommodate students with disabilities, some students have been given permission to record class lectures and discussions. Under these circumstances, students should understand that their comments during class may be recorded.
Teacher Evaluations
Please complete teacher evaluations on webcampus, as your helpful response informs course growth and progress. The deadline for teacher evaluations is December 11, 2013 at 11:59 pm.
Schedule
Monday, August 26Introduction/Syllabus/Presence
Wednesday, August 28Focus/Attention/Memorization
Email Acting Experience paper by 5 pm
Monday, September 2Labor Day (No class)
Wednesday, September 4Warm-Up, Body/Voice
Partnering/Tableau
Monday, September 9Fire Island play analysis/assign scene partner for Fire Island/examine dance-theatre/Body-Voice cont.
Wednesday, September 11Use of the Self, Stance, Skeleton, Walking
Monday, September 16Dance-theatre pieces from Fire Island
Wednesday, September 18Awareness, Inhibition, Direction
Monday, September 23A Day in the Life of the City – Acting Critique/discussion
Primary Control, Feelings, Endgaining, Non-doing
Wednesday, September 25Given Circumstances-Images
Work on Fire Island Scenes
Monday, September 30 Character-Status/Feedback on Fire Island scenes
Wednesday, October 2Action/Objective/Obstacle
Monday, October 7 Scene #1-Fire Island
Wednesday, October 9 Endowment, Subtext, Tactics
Monday, October 14 Extreme Exposure play analysis and chosen monologue
Wednesday, October 16Tableau in Red Square
Monday, October 21Review of Stanislavski/Alexander Technique
Feedback on monologues
Wednesday, October 23Time/Space/Feedback on monologues
Monday, October 28Perform monologue #1 from
Extreme Exposure
Wednesday, October 3033 Variations play analysis & discussion/Emotion
Monday, November 4Comedy of Errors – Acting Critique
365 Days/365 Plays play analysis & discussion/Story
Wednesday, November 6Water By the Spoonful play analysis-choose scene partner and scene - Movement/Gesture
Monday, November 11Veteran’s Day (No class)
Wednesday, November 13 The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow play analysis & discussion/Rehearse scenes from 365
Monday, November 18Props, Set, Light /Rehearse scenes from 365
Wednesday, November 20Practice Activities
Monday, November 25Scene #2 from 365 Days/365 Plays/
Wednesday, November 27Rehearse Monologues
Monday, December 2Rehearse Monologues
Wednesday, December 4Rehearse Monologues
Monday, December 9Rehearse Monologues
Wednesday, December 11No Class-Prep Day
Monday, December 16Final Exam-Monologue #2 from class material
10:00 am-12:15 pm