FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING

Theatre #97-205

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

Theatre Department

Course Syllabus Fall 2011

Professor: Jane Purse-Wiedenhoeft Credits: 3

Email: pursewij@uwosh.edu Office phone: (920) 424-4425

Office Location: ACW 119

Office Hours: By appointment and due to scheduling conflicts other times will be announced in class.

Class Meets: Tues &Thurs 9:40a.m. - 11:10a.m.

Location: ACW 18

Required Text

-The syllabus for the class.

-Students are required to read the plays from which monologues and scenes are selected.

-Additional reading assignments will be distributed/assigned in class.

Course Objectives

-To gain an understanding of basic acting principles and techniques.  Beginning principles emphasized will be developing trust in other ensemble members during activities, receiving and accepting feedback and taking risks in improvisational work.

-Learn how to use critical analysis of acting, both written and verbal.

-Learn basic voice and movement skills and to explore the creative aspects of both play analysis and character development.

-Students will learn to work in an ensemble environment and create fundamental actions in a truthful and convincing manner through improvised or scripted scenes and in monologues.

-Students will demonstrate an understanding of the acting process in the performance of these scenes and monologues.

Course Goals

The goals supported by this course include:

Knowledge:

To gain a broad understanding of the acting process and its effect on performance results.  Students will learn how to use theatre as a problem solving tool that can be used in other disciplines and as a lifelong learning tool.

Skills:

To develop physical/vocal skills.  The student will learn vocal/movement warm-ups and approaches.  To analyze and understand a text for performance. The student will experience the acting process and learn how to interpret a character through analysis of the structure of the text and the given circumstances of the play.

Creativity:

To enhance creative skills and artistry in building a character and developing acting technique.  Problem solving can be explored in an improvisational setting that promotes creative outcomes and unique possibilities in the creation of a character in scene work and in audition preparations.

Course Requirements and Recommendations

An open/non-scripted scene, a monologue, a character analysis, a performance analysis, two scripted scenes, voice and movement assignments, a miscellaneous assignment and attendance at productions as required.

-Attendance at a performance of each of the following productions is required:

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Theatre Department productions: The Thousand Pound Marriage, September 28^th - October ^2nd and The Children’s Hour, November 9^th - 13^th.  As a class, we will discuss each of these performances.  Students will have 25 points deducted from their semester point total if a performance is missed.  Brief quizzes will be given in class to determine students’ attendance at the Theatre Department productions.

-Students are strongly encouraged to participate in departmental auditions to gain practical experience in the auditioning process and to be considered for casting in the shows. The Children’s Hour will have auditions on September 12^th and 13^th.  Auditions for the February production of Almost, Maine will have auditions on November 14^th and 15^th.  Students will have 25 points deducted from their semester point total if this requirement isn’t met.

-Students are strongly urged to take script analysis as preparation for this course but it is no longer required as a prerequisite.

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.

-Complete assignments on time.

-Participate in discussions.

-All electronic devices must be turned off.  Cell phones, laptops, iPods, etc.  In case of an emergency, distribute the phone numbers of the Theatre Department office and campus security.

-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 the professor so they can be addressed.

-Treat other students, the professor and yourself with respect.  Harassment of any type 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.

Class Attire:

Please wear clothes in which you can exercise such as work-out clothes that aren’t excessively revealing.  You will be spending time on the floor, doing warm-ups and improvisational acting that requires ease of movement.  No dresses, no tight fitting clothes such as jeans, no flip flops, high heels, baseball caps, hats, sunglasses etc.  If your hair blocks your face or line of vision, please bring something with which to secure it out of the way.

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend class and to be on time.  Participation is an integral part of the work being done in this class.  Two absences are allowed.  Those absences are to be used for sickness or emergency.  If sick, email Jane or call her office phone and leave a message so class work that might be affected by the absence can be considered.  This should occur prior to class time. For each absence beyond the two allowed absences, the end of semester grade will be lowered one grade level for example: A student with a B+ for the semester who has had three absences will receive a final grade of B.

If a student arrives after attendance has been taken, it is up to the student to inform the professor at the end of class or immediately following the class to get credit for attending. If a student is late to class on a regular basis, points will be subtracted from the total semester points at the end of the semester at the discretion of the professor.   Arriving a ½ hour late or more to class is considered an absence.  If the weather conditions are questionable, the professor 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. 

General Information:

-Papers will be graded on successful completion of criteria, grammar usage, spelling and general paper writing skills.  All papers must be word processed using black ink, contain consistent spacing-double spaced is preferred and a 10-12 point font.  Back to back pages are acceptable in order to save paper. Papers need to be turned in on time which is at the beginning of class on the due date. Late papers will have 15 points deducted from them per day. (After class = a day)

-Performance assignments must be performed on the due date – no make-ups allowed.

-No class:  Thursday November 24^th (Thanksgiving).

Grading Criteria

Participation in and commitment to daily exercises, improvisational explorations, discussions, using a disciplined work ethic and being a supportive member of the class will inform grades received.  Students are graded on an individual basis, not against one another.  Attitude, effort, class attendance, and completion of work – in and out of class - are the key components of the class.  In scene and/or monologue work; growth in the application of feedback received from the professor, working supportively with a scene partner and commitment to applying new skills are of most importance.

Assignments and point values

(Participation in and commitment to daily exercises, improvisational explorations, discussions, using a disciplined work ethic, being on time to class, completing and being prepared for assignments and to being a supportive member of the class are items included in these categories.)

1 Open Scene                                                                            =   50 pts.

1 Miscellaneous Assignment                                                  =   50 pts.

1 Performance Analysis Paper                                                =   50 pts.

1 Character/script Analysis Paper                                           = 100 pts.

2 Voice and Movement assignments @ 50 pts each.          = 100 pts.

1 Monologue-50pts process/50 pts performance                 = 100 pts.

2 Scenes-50pts process/50 pts performance for each          = 200 pts.

Total Points possible                                                                        = 650 pts.

Grading Scale:

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 professor reserves 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.