Welcome to Play Production, the purpose of which is to introduce you to the world of theatre, and to produce plays. I hope Play Production will be fun, educational and exciting for you. In this class you will be introduced to the art and craft of acting, where you will learn about character development, script analysis, theatrical terms and conventions. You will also learn about proper theatre protocol in terms of working with other actors and with the director, and appropriate behavior both as an actor, a theatre technician, and as an audience member.
Hollywood High School has been selected by Inner-City Shakespeare to work with professional working actors from BAFTA (the British equivalent of the American Oscars) on a production of William Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT. This will entail in-class rehearsals, after school rehearsals until 5 p.m., and some rehearsals on Saturday morning. The BAFTA actors will work with you as mentors on Wednesday after-school rehearsals and on Saturday morning rehearsals. If you are cast in the show you MUST attend these rehearsals. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the show and perhaps a much lower grade in the class. The performances will be two shows at the end of April in the auditorium and Saturday afternoon performances during the month of May.
Even if you are not cast in the show, you are expected to fully participate in the class. Your grade will depend on your participation in the warm-ups, the acting exercises and the scene work. Talking, texting, and passive-aggressive behavior, such as taking fifteen minutes to drag yourself on stage and then sitting and talking and/or grudgingly “participating” during warm-ups and/or acting exercises are extremely rude behavior which will be dealt with immediately and decisively and will warrant a parent-teacher conference and a possible fail in the class.
During the class we will work on scenes from TWELFTH NIGHT and other Shakespearean plays as well. We will work on your character’s relationships with the other characters; the character's objectives or motivations. We will use acting exercises such as the "Inciting Event", where you will create a scene which occurs before the play which sets up your character's situation. Other acting exercises will be the "Entrance Exercise" which is where you enter the room as the character, bringing in with you the character's experiences from the past day. The "Exit Exercise" is where you exit the room as the character, going into another space, going towards another objective, or destination. We will also borrow from the great acting masters, such as Sanford Meisner, Stella Adler, Uta Hagen, and of course, Constantin Stanislavski.
The class will start with some vocal, relaxation and/or acting exercises and some theatre games. Then I will work with one or two groups per class session on blocking, script analysis and character development. For each scene you do, you will create the "inciting event", the "entrance exercise" and the "exit exercise". After two or three rehearsals with me, you will then perform the scene (WHICH MUST BE MEMORIZED!) before the class, which will be taped. You will watch the tape and write a reflection on your work, following a format which will be provided for you.
During the final performance of the scene, you must have the scene memorized exactly the way it is written, you must perform the blocking and the direction as we rehearsed, and you must use props.
You are expected to keep a three-pronged light weight folder in which you are expected to keep all handouts, including this, and your scripts. You will be given a copy of your script and you are expected to BRING IT EVERY DAY! If you do not, you will receive an "F" for that day; you will be loaned a copy of your script in exchange for some collateral property (cell phone, shoe, backpack). When you return the borrowed script, your property will be returned to you. If you lose your script, then you will have to copy the script out by hand. Copies are at a premium and there is a very small quota per month to make copies.
There is NO EATING NOR DRINKING FROM CANS in class. We have had in the past a major infestation of rats and cockroaches from food left behind and sticky residue from spilled soft drinks. The custodial staff has been drastically cut and Room 503 is never swept, mopped nor cleaned, except when your teacher does it. And it's a big room.
You will be graded on your participation. You are expected to show up on time, ready to participate in all the acting and vocal exercises and theatre games at the beginning of the class, and in all of the assignments and rehearsals of the scenes. When you are not rehearsing with me, then you must be in your assigned areas rehearsing with your fellow actors. When you perform your scenes you must have your lines and blocking memorized and perform the scene to the best of your ability. Failure to do so will result in a much lower grade and perhaps failing the class.
The class will only be as good as we all make it. Please be aware that you are working with other people and that your behavior and effort will affect them, their work and their grade. Furthermore, it is imperative that we create an atmosphere of respect - respect for our fellow students, respect for the director, and respect for ourselves. Please show respect by refraining from rude comments or actions, or talking or texting during class. Please do not text during other students' scenes. Please remember that it is ILLEGAL and against district policy to record another student during school. Students can only do their best work when they feel safe and valued, so please give positive support during students' performances.
The grading scale is as follows:
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89% = B
70% - 79% = C
60% - 69% = D
Below 60% = Fail
Participation: 30%
Scene Work: 40%
Group Work: 30%
I look forward to working with you and helping you grow as a young adult, a student and as an artist.
__________________________________________________________
Student:
I have read and I understand the requirements of the class:
__________________________________________________________
Parent or Guardian:
I have read and I understand the requirements of the class:
__________________________________________________________
Dear Parent:
Please provide a number and/or an e-mail where you can be reached. Thank you!
Parents’ name: ____________________________
Phone number:____________________________
E-Mail:__________________________________
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