FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING

Theatre #97-205

Course Syllabus Fall 2012

Theatre Department

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

Professor: Jane Purse-Wiedenhoeft, MFA Credits: 3

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

(Email is the official communication tool at UW Oshkosh.)

Office Location: ACW 119

Office Hours: 1:00-1:50, Monday & Wednesday 11:15-12:30, Tuesday & Thursday or by appointment.

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

Location: ACW 18 and Experimental Theatre space

REQUIRED READING

-The syllabus for the class.

-The plays from which monologues and scenes are selected.

-Additional reading assignments distributed in class and/or posted on D2L.

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.

Liberal Education is an approach to learning that empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change. It provides students with broad knowledge of the wider world (e.g. science, culture, and society) as well as in-depth study in a specific area of interest.

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.

-Explore the creative aspects of both play analysis and character development.

-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 and apply their understanding of the acting process through the experiential performance of scenes and monologues.

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THIS COURSE

Knowledge:

To gain an overview and understanding of the acting process and its effect on performance results:

You will learn how to use acting as a problem solving tool that can be applied to other disciplines and as a lifelong learning tool.  Continuing to make theatre a viable and sustainable craft is currently being discussed and addressed by many theatre practitioners and this will be part of our semester long discussion.  Specific assignments include analyzing a play text, writing about what you observe in performance situations and participating in discussions about the reading assignments.

Application:

To gain an understanding and experiential appreciation of acting skills by applying the principles and techniques that are specific to live theatrical performances:

Beginning principles covered will be developing trust in other ensemble members during performance activities, receiving and applying feedback and taking risks in acting activities through use of specific choices based in analysis.  You will learn to work together as an ensemble of actors and create fundamental psychological and physical actions in a truthful manner through improvised situations and with the use of scripted texts for performance.

Skills (both analytical and experiential):

To learn, develop and explore physical and vocal skills that are tools of the actor:

You will be introduced to vocal/movement warm-ups and approaches and be expected to apply them in the acting work.

To analyze and understand the texts of plays and make appropriate choices which highlight the completed analysis:

You will become familiar with the tools that are required of an actor and apply them to the interpretation of a character. This will be done through the analysis of the structure of the text and the given circumstances of the play.  You will develop critical thinking skills through critical analysis of acting, both written and verbal, while exploring the creative aspects of character development.

Engagement through Creativity:

To experiment with and enhance creative skills and artistry in building a character and developing an experiential appreciation for acting technique:

Problem solving will be explored in an improvisational setting that promotes creative outcomes and unique possibilities in the creation of a character in scene work, in audition preparations and in communicating.  You will demonstrate an understanding of the problem solving and critical thinking that is incorporated in the acting process through research, rehearsal and performance.

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: More Fun Than Bowling, September 26^th – 30^th and The Christmas Schooner, November 14^th – 18^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 Christmas Schooner will have auditions on September 17^th and 18^th.

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.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

You 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.  The two absences are to be used for sickness or emergency.  If sick, email me or call my office phone and leave a message so class work that might be affected by your 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:  If your end of semester grade is an A-  and you have missed three classes - one more than allowed – then the final semester grade will be a B+.

If you arrive after class has begun, it is your responsibility to check with me immediately following the class to get the attendance credit. If you are late to class on a regular basis, points will be subtracted from the total semester points at the end of the semester at my discretion.   Arriving a ½ hour late or leaving class early are considered absences unless preapproved by me.  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 required criteria, grammar usage, spelling and other general 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 22^nd (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.  You 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 the feedback you received from me, working supportively with your scene partner/s and making specific choices with a 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 Performance Analysis Paper                                              =   50 pts.

1 Character/script Analysis Paper                                          = 100 pts.

1 Voice and Movement assignment                                       = 100 pts.

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

1 Miscellaneous Assignment                                                  =   50 pts.

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

Total Points possible                                                                        = 650 pts.

Grading Scale:

An assignment schedule will be distributed to students during the first week of classes.

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.