ARTS HIGH SCHOOL

Lynn Irby-Jackson, Principal

Mr. Ricardo Pedro, Vice-Principal

HIGH SCHOOL

PERFORMING ARTS & TELEVISION DEPARTMENT

Mr. James Manno, Vice-Principal

SUMMER PACKET

COURSE: Drama III

TEACHER: Dones

June 2014

Junior Summer Packet

Ms. Dones

Dear Juniors,

Things are getting serious for junior year. Now, we need to really hone in on acting skills and performing. No more silent movies and Disney songs. This is real drama – reading scripts, analyzing plays, performing difficult characters, and discovering where each of your talents really lie. This packet will explain your assignment for this summer, which is due to me on the first day of school. Failure to hand in your assignment that day will result in a 0 for a grade. If you have any questions, you can email me at

Looking forward to a great year!

Ms. Dones

Assignment:

1.  Read the play, “Tartuffe,” by Moliere and write a report that answers the following questions. Each answer should fill at least a page, so the entire report should be at least 4 pages:

a.  Create a chart that shows the dramatic structure of the plot of Tartuffe (see last page for example)

b.  What is your opinion of this play? Be honest – a review does not need to rave about the play. Tell me WHY you feel this way. Be specific.

c.  Choosing one character, describe their deepest desire from beginning to end of the play and how they have achieved it at the end. Think about actions and beats.

d.  Memorize a monologue for the character you chose in part C. Be ready to perform and explain what the monologue is about and how it fits with the plot.

**You can buy a copy for yourself, or find the full text online. We WILL be using this play during class so make sure you know it! The Richard Wilbur version is the best one.

What we will cover in Junior Year:

Theatre History:

Italian Renaissance, English Restoration, French and Spanish Theatre, 18th and 19th Century, Technological Innovations, Realism, Melodrama, Acting Styles

Reading Plays:

Plays from historical time periods

Scene and character analysis

Performing:

Connecting to text

Connecting to character

Different methods of approaching acting (i.e. Stanislavski System)

We will also write theatrical reviews on shows we see.

Exposition: Background information about plot and characters, often at beginning of the play, setting the scene

Rising Action: What happens as people meet and the story unfolds.

Climax: Turning point of the script, often involves conflict or confrontation – what changes the action

Falling Action: Action leading to the resolution of the conflict.

Denouement (Day-noo-mah): French for resolution or ending.

Dramatic Structure of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Dramatic Structure / Plot Points
Exposition / The Montagues and the Capulets are rival families, and there is a fight that breaks out between the 2 groups. The play takes place in Verona. Juliet is a Capulet and Romeo is a Montague. They fall in love at first sight a masquerade ball. Juliet is meant to marry Paris and Romeo is dating Rosalind. Juliet and Romeo discover they are from enemy families and are upset, but still in love.
Rising Action / Romeo meets Juliet at her balcony. They decide to enlist the help of Friar Lawrence to marry them. Romeo and Juliet elope and then Juliet’s cousin challenges him to a duel because he is still upset Romeo was at the Capulet’s masquerade party.
Climax / Romeo explains why he doesn’t want to fight, and that they will soon understand why. Tybalt and Mercutio decide to fight anyway and Tybalt kills Mercutio. In anger, Romeo kills Tybalt. He is banished from Verona. Juliet is told she must marry Paris, as her parents don’t know she has already married Romeo.
Falling Action / Friar Lawrence helps the lovers out and gives Juliet a potion that will put her to sleep, making her seem dead. Her family believes she is dead and lay her to rest. Romeo is not in attendance because he has been banished. Friar Lawrence tells him to meet Juliet---
Denouement / Romeo finds Juliet and believes she is dead, not knowing she took a potion. He takes poison and kills himself. Juliet wakes up, finds the dead Romeo, and stabs herself, and she dies.
The 2 families make up their differences and honor Romeo and Juliet.