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Theatre 0825 Section 004 David Strattan White, Instructor Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 to 2:20 Barton 300 Email: david.white0002@temple.edu Text: Let the Part Play You, Anita Jesse Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30 to 3:30, Tomlinson Atrium
COURSE OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of our work is to bring drama to life. The successful student will understand key concepts, and learn to apply those concepts. Students will gain a better understanding of what drama is, and how the actor may create it boldly, beautifully and with strength. Talent is a dangerous word, and will not be evaluated (if it even exists). Students will be evaluated on their mastery of some basic fundamental concepts. These include: Objective, Discovery, Obstacle, Honesty, Visualization and Dramatic Change. COURSE OVERVIEW: We will explore the actors craft through a combination of games and improvisations focussed on developing a playfulness in communication and perspective. Practical acting experience through monologue and scene work will give us the opportunity to apply the principles practiced in the exercises to actual text. TEMPLE UNIVERSITY POLICIES: All Temple University policies must be followed and are a binding part of this syllabus. Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has a policy on Student and Faculty and Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy #03.70.02) which can be accessed through the following link: http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no=03.70.02. DISABILITY DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at 201 204 1280 in 100 Ritter Annex to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. STUDENT ACADEMIC CODE OF ETHICS: Plagiarism and academic dishonesty are strictly not permitted. For further information regarding the Colleges Academic Code, please refer to the University Website. WITHDRAWAL POLICY: Please refer to the College calendar for deadline for withdrawal , and obtain any necessary signatures from your instructor. PLEASE NOTE: If you do not withdraw formally from the course you will receive an F for the course.

GRADING

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While you are not expected to ACHIEVE professional standards, you will be expected to PURSUE professional standards. And most importantly, to learn to PLAY within the context of the work. You are not owed an A. You must earn it. This syllabus communicates the requirements for the course. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed, and make arrangements ahead of time to WRITTEN WORK: This will not be overly formal. What is important is that you put your creative efforts into it. The more you enjoy this aspect of the work, the greater the reward. PREPARATION AND PERFORMANCE: In addition to the exercises, you'll be responsible for a monologue and a scene. They will be more difficult for some than others. Grading will reflect the effort you put into applying the techniques learned in class to the work, your level of preparation, and your contributions toward the classroom ensemble exploration. ******************************************************************************************* ************

PLAY ATTENDANCE AND RESPONSES: You are required to see one professional production of a play, and one Temple University production - and write a two to three page critique for each, focusing on the work of the actors. The papers are due at the beginning of the last day of class MAY 2 ATTENDANCE: Being there is half the battle. Classes are compressed. Missing more than two classes would severely impair your experience in class, as well as that of your classmates and your grade. One letter grade will be deducted upon your fourth absence, and a letter grade for each subsequent absence. Three "tardies" will constitute a full absence. You are responsible for all class material and assignments missed and ABSOLUTELY NO MAKE-UPS WILL BE GIVEN FOR SCHEDULED EXAMS OR PRESENTATIONS unless exceptional problems are brought to my attention BEFOREHAND. If you refuse to participate, you will be marked absent. To be present, you must be with the class. To be with the class, you must participate.

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One assignment at the end of the semester is a graded rehearsal of your scene with your scene partner. There is no makeup option for this assignment, or for the final performance. You must be there for credit. No exceptions.
******************************************************************************************* ************ PLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE IS NOT GRADING YOU ON "TALENT" I will be looking at your willingness to take risks and challenges, to engage in activities. I believe the only "talent" an artist has is his/her curiosity, his/her willingness to explore, his/her determination to continue when confused or discouraged and his/her courage in sharing his/her own truth. To this end, I demand you respect these traits in all of your classmates, and encourage and support them in their work in exercises. TO ACT IS TO DO The word drama comes from the Greek, dran, which means to do. If you walk out of this class and never return, please just remember that much. Date Homework Due Focus INTRODUCTION READ CHAPTER 1 OBJECTIVES. DISCOVERIES. ASSIGN ROCK OUT. BRING IN A SONG TO ROCK OUT TO. ASSIGN MONOLOGUES

JAN 22 JAN 24 JAN 29

JOURNAL - MY OBJECTIVE WAS REALLY...

JAN 31 FEB 5 FEB 7 FEB 12

READ CHAPTER 2 READ CHAPTER 3

SHARE MONOLOGUES OBSTACLES. PLAYING WITH MONOLOGUES. OFF BOOK FOR MONOLOGUES ASSIGN DISCOVERY EXERCISE.

READ CHAPTERS 5 AND 6

READ PART II INTRO, CHAPTER 7

DISCOVERY EXERCISE

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Date

Homework Due JOURNAL - A MOMENT OF DISCOVERY

Focus MOVEMENT - ASSIGN LABAN EXERCISE ASSIGN MONOLOGUES.

FEB 14

FEB 19 FEB 21 FEB 26 FEB 28 MAR 5 MAR 7 MAR 19 MAR 21 MAR 26 MAR 28 APR 2 APR 4 APR 9

READ CHAPTERS 8 AND 9 READ CHAPTERS 10, 11, 12 READ CHAPTERS 13, 14 MONOLOGUE ANALYSIS DUE READ CHAPTERS 16 - 20

LABAN EXERCISE MONOLOGUE REHEARSAL MONOLOGUE MIDTERM.

CHARACTER OBSERVATION ASSIGN SCENES

JOURNAL - MY CHARACTER AND ME

SHARE SCENES

IMAGINATION - CIRCUMSTANCES MEDITATION OFFENSIVE LINE EXERCISES INTERRUPTED PATHS CREATING AND USING YOUR ENVIRONMENT JOURNAL - HOW MY ENVIRONMENT AFFECTS ME HAVE COSTUMES, PROPS OFF BOOK FOR SCENES

DISCOVERY EXERCISE TBA - PINCH AND OUCH PHYSICAL OBSTACLE EXERCISE

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Date

Homework Due PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS DUE

Focus LAST CHANCE TO BEG YOUR INSTRUCTOR TO ACCEPT MAKEUP WORK THAT HE IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO ALLOW. GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C

APR 11

APR 16 APR 18 APR 23 APR 25 APR 30 MAY 2

FINAL ANALYSIS DUE PLAY RESPONSE PAPERS DUE

ALL SCENES - DRESS REHEARSAL FINAL PERFORMANCE

*****ADDITIONALLY - TWO HOURS PER WEEK REHEARSAL WITH SCENE PARTNERS - ON YOUR OWN TIME. ************** GRADING SCALE:
90-100 80-89 70-79 60-69 0-59 A B C D F

POINTS BREAKDOWN

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JOURNALS (4X5PTS) ROCK OUT MONOLOGUE OFF BOOK MONOLOGUE DISCOVERY MONOLOGUE LABAN EXERCISE MONOLOGUE ANALYSIS MONOLOGUE MIDTERM OFF BOOK FOR SCENES SCENE DISCOVERY EXERCISE PHYSICAL OBSTACLE EXERCISE PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS GRADED SCENE REHEARSAL FINAL ANALYSIS FINAL SCENE PERFORMANCE TOTAL

20 10 10 10 10 10 30 10 10 10 10 10 10 40 200