ACTING STUDIO I - Theatre #97-308
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Theatre Department
Course Syllabus Fall 2009

Professors: Merlaine Angwall and Jane Purse-Wiedenhoeft
Office Phones: Purse-Wiedenhoeft: 424-4425 Angwall: 424-7050,
Emails: pursewij@uwosh.edu angwall@uwosh.edu
Office Locations: Purse-Wiedenhoeft = ACW 119 and Angwall = ACW 120

Jane’s Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday @ 11:15a.m.-12:45p.m.,

Merlaine’s Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday @ 11:20-12:30, Tuesday@ 12:30-1:50

Class Meets: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday @1:50p.m.
Credits: 4

Text
Reading assignments will be distributed from a variety of texts. Students will need to read the plays from which their scenes and monologues are selected.

Course Objectives

1. Establish an effective working ensemble which will serve as a stimulating and creative environment for the four semester acting sequence.
2. Perform simple actions in a truthful and convincing manner in improvised and scripted scenes.
3. Demonstrate and gain expertise in the ability to use images to stimulate responses in the self through a performed monologue.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic objectives used in the acting process in improvised and scripted work.
5. Develop basic skills in voice and movement for the actor.

Course Requirements
-Script Analysis is a prerequisite for all the Acting Studio Courses. If the student has been allowed to take Script Analysis in the same semester as Acting Studio I that student must successfully complete and pass Script Analysis before being allowed into Acting Studio II in the spring. If a student drops Script Analysis during the semester that they are taking Acting Studio I, they will be required to drop Acting Studio I as well.
-The students will be required to attend the following University of Wisconsin Oshkosh productions: Picasso at the Lapin Agile and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As a class, we will discuss each of the performances.
-Students are required to participate in departmental auditions to gain practical experience in the auditioning process. Theatre majors are expected to be available to participate in productions as cast. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will have auditions on September 14^th and 15^th. Second semester productions of Collected Stories and Cabaret will have auditions on December 7^th and 8^th.
-Students need to fulfill the assignments and policies as listed in the remainder of the syllabus.

Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to attend class and to be on time. Participation is an integral part of the work being done in this class. Everyone is allowed one absence for an emergency. If you are sick, call Jane or Merlaine’s office phone, the theatre department office @ (920) 424-7042 or email Jane. This must occur the day of the absence. If a student arrives after attendance has been taken, it is up to the student to inform the professor immediately following the class. For every three late arrivals to class a student’s total semester points will be deducted 25 points. Unexcused absences will result in a 25 point deduction from the total semester points. If there are questionable weather conditions, the professors will follow the recommendations as recorded on the UW Oshkosh weather line which is (920) 424-0000 and/or as announced on local television and radio stations. There are no “make-ups” of performances.

Expectations
-Attend class and be punctual!
-Commitment: Listen, focus on the work at hand, be a supportive member of the class and disciplined in your work ethic.
-Students are expected to rehearse outside of class time although there will be lab time available for scene partners to rehearse in class.
-Specific assignment criteria and due dates will be distributed in class.
-Be dressed appropriately and ready to work at the beginning of class. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. No high heels unless the character you are portraying in a scene requires that choice.
-Complete assignments on time.
-Participate in discussions.
-All electronic devices must be turned off. Cell phones, laptops, iPods, etc. If you need to be contacted in case of an emergency, then give the phone numbers of the theatre office and campus security and they can find you if it is indeed an emergency.
-No eating or gum chewing in class. They interfere with the actor’s instrument.
-If there are concerns about any aspect of the class, please make an appointment to meet with us so they can be addressed.
-Treat other students, the professor and yourself with respect. Harassment of any form won’t be tolerated! Use good judgment and appropriate behavior in class.
-Academic honesty and integrity is expected at all times. Plagiarism or other cheating will result in a zero on the assignment and appropriate official steps will be taken.

Continuation in Acting Studio Program
Registration in any of the Studio Acting Courses requires the permission of the instructors. (This requirement is waived for the first class in the sequence.) Continuation in the program into the second studio course will require permission of the instructor. The decision will be made toward the end of the first semester and will be based on a number of factors, the most important being attendance, discipline, quality of class participation, and professional attitude.

Assignments and Grading
Participation =100
(Participation in and commitment to daily exercises, improvisational explorations, discussions, using a disciplined work ethic and being a supportive member of the class are the items that are covered under this category.)
Movement Study = 100
Voice Study = 100
2 Open Scenes @ 50 points each = 100
Contemporary Monologue = 100
1 Character analysis = 50
Contemporary Scene-Final = 100

Grading Scale:

General Information:
-Papers will be graded for content as well as general writing skills.
-All papers must be typed using black ink and contain consistent spacing, fonts and margins. Two sided pages are acceptable as long as they are neat and easy to follow.
-Papers need to be turned in on time which is at the beginning of class on the due date. Late papers will have 25 points deducted from them per day.
-No class: Wednesday and Thursday November 25^th and 26^th (Thanksgiving)

Liberal Arts Statement
Theatre is a collaborative creative process requiring a broad knowledge of the human condition to be successful. The importance of theatre in society is well documented and understanding the role it plays in society contributes to the development of well-rounded citizens. Theatre holds a mirror to society and teaches us what it means to be human. Theatre, as with all areas of the Liberal Arts, is most effectively employed when it is built on a broad base of knowledge.

The professors reserve the right to modify the syllabus to accommodate the needs of the class. If any such modifications are needed, they will be announced in class.

(This syllabus was jointly developed by Merlaine Angwall and Jane Purse-Wiedenhoeft.)