DRAMA 151: Basic Acting Fundamentals
Syllabus
Spring 2013
Instructor:
Karen Jo Fairbrook
E-mail: kfairbro@bellevuecollege.edu
Phone: 425- 564-2719
Office
location: E-121 (
Office
Hours: Mondays @ 11:30 – 12:30pm and
as Arranged
WE WILL USE 3 DIFFERENT ROOMS: STOP GAP Theater, E224
& N208
~ on Monday &
Wednesday we will be in Stop Gap
Theater ~
~ on Tuesday we
will be in E224 ~
~ on Thursday we
will be in N208 ~
Course
Information
Course Outcomes
1)
Know a variety of
warm ups for rehearsal, performance, presentation or interview.
2)
Maintain
concentration onstage.
3)
Identify a
character's objective, actions and obstacle.
4)
Apply knowledge
of acting technique to a monologue.
5)
Connect with a
scene partner onstage.
6)
Analyze the job
of the actor.
7)
Comprehend the
emotional, physical and vocal tools available for further study.
How Outcomes will be met
--ASSIGNMENTS: Please note: All assignments need to be done on time or your grade will
lower.
There will be in-class exercises, and some script
homework assigned in preparation for Monologue & Scene presentations. Lines
need to be memorized when due and you will rehearse with your scene partner
for several hours outside of class. Everyone
will lead Warm-Ups once during the quarter. Be prepared for a couple of Quizzes
based on handouts & lectures. Midterm
& Final will include written & performance activities. You will write a Review Paper on the
acting you observe in the BC play you see this term. You will each do one
Monologue and one two-person scene this quarter. We will read and use material
from the textbook
“ACTIONS: The Actor’s Thesaurus”
--JOURNAL: You will keep a class journal of what we
do in class chronicling your reactions to the exercises, observations and
things you learn by watching others, and a chronology of what you find helpful.
This will be your own acting text detailing processes that work for you – and
things you don’t understand or need to work on. It will be handed in to me at
the end of the quarter. Only I will read it.
--PRODUCTIONS: You must see “Translations” being done here @ BC in Stop Gap Theater:
Buy your tickets in advance @ www.brownpapertickets.com *You will write a 2 page acting Critique*
Play dates: May 16, 17, 18,
23, 24, 25 @ 7:30pm * Tickets: $10 students / $12 general
For Extra Credit I strongly urge you to attend our
Student Directed STAGEFRIGHT production:
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot playing Apr. 11, 12, 13 @ 7:30pm * Tickets: $5 all in Stop Gap Theater.
Grading
Grading Breakdown:
Participation.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
Preparation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
Quiz #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10 %
Quiz #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10%
Midterm: Monologue Presentation. .10%
Monologue Paperwork . . . ..5%
Final: Scene Presentation . . . . . . . .10%
Scene Paperwork . . . . . . . . .
10%
Journal
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
BC play Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5%
BC play Review . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 5%
Special Acting Project . . . . . . . . . . . ..5%
EXTRA CREDIT MAY BE AWARDED FOR ATTENDING & CRITIQUING APPROVED LIVE
PLAYS
Books and Materials Required
Required: ACTIONS: The
Actor’s Thesaurus – Marina Caldarone & Maggie Lloyd-Williams
Final Exam Schedule
Our FINAL
EXAM SCENE presentation takes place: WEDNESDAY June 12th @ 9:30 – 11:30 am
Classroom Learning
Atmosphere
Instructor’s Expectation
In order to understand and experience the answer to
“What is Acting?”, you will
participate in exercises; learn craft techniques; hone your imagination and
sensory skills; use objectives, actions and obstacles; play games and
improvise; work alone on a Monologue and with a scene partner(s) on a short
scene as you explore Connection, Talking & Listening, and Inner Monologue.
All of this requires a willingness to take some risks, use your common sense,
find your sense of bravery ~ and PLAY! Having an open attitude and willingness
to “jump in” are key to succeeding and having a great deal of FUN !
--ATTENDANCE / PARTICIPATION / PREPARATION: is crucial & attendance will be taken every day
-this is a participatory class.
Absences curtail your learning and affect
your scene partners adversely. If you are late
you will be marked “tardy” – habitual tardiness is a class
disruption. Three “tardies” equal one “absent”. Five
“absences” will cause your final grade to automatically be lowered one whole
grade. Eight “absences” causes failing
the class. Let me know ahead
of time (email or leave a voice message) if you know you will be missing a
particular class for an excusable reason (illness, emergency, or school-related
conflict)! Absences will be judged
harshly when working in scene partnerships.
The
most important things you will be graded on will always be effort and
willingness ~ not “talent”.
Be
prepared and ready to participate each day in comfortable clothes & shoes you can easily move in. Read assigned
material by the due dates and turn in assignments on time or you will not get
full credit. Have props & items ready when needed for class. Particularly
important is being a good “partner” when working with a fellow actor. If you do
not attend or are not prepared for class activities – you leave your partner
incapacitated and unable to fully participate which is extremely rude and
unfair!
Be sure
to have all CELL PHONES turned OFF before class! I will take
phones away and return them after class if they ring or you are caught texting
during class. This includes using
laptops during class unless approved for a specific project or reason.
Unfortunately, a few sneaky “during class computer game-players” have made this
mandatory. I’ve been known to answer phones when going off in class J
You are
welcome to bring drinks, but please refrain from eating during class – and
particularly no gum chewing as these
get in the way of our exercises. We can take a short break for you to snack.
Mutual
respect and understanding that we all have different views and tastes is
paramount in our class. Diversity and a variety of points-of-view are the norm
. . . there is very little “right or wrong” in our discussions. We can learn a
great deal from each other and when applicable: agree to disagree! Every single student MUST feel safe and
welcome to express themselves in this class. I will be a stickler and very proactive about this! Those of us who
participate in theatre are accustomed to “taking risks” – this is a safe place
to do so! Absolutely no name-calling, slurs or prejudicial talk will be
tolerated.
BE SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER!!!!
In this course, college students are expected to
read, explore, practice, and perform adult material. This is the kind of
material being performed at the college, semi-professional, and professional
levels. Though it may challenge your politics, values, religious beliefs and/or
personal comfort level, I encourage you to welcome and explore those
challenges. If, at any time, you are uncomfortable with the class or the
material, please don’t hesitate to come and talk to me.
Student Code
“Cheating, stealing
and plagiarizing (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without
crediting
the source) and
inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code
of
Conduct at Bellevue
College. Examples of unacceptable
behavior include, but are not limited to: talking
out of turn, arriving
late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to
ring, and
inappropriate
behavior toward the instructor or classmates.
The instructor can refer any violation of the
Student Code of
Conduct to the Vice President of Student Services for possible probation or
suspension
from
Student Code of
Conduct, available in the office of the Vice President of Student Services.” The Student
Code, Policy 2050, in its entirety is located at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/policies/2/2050_Student_Code.asp
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Bellevue
College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the
campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free
from harassment and discrimination.
We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect. http://bellevuecollege.edu/about/goals/inclusion.asp
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Links
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Please look at the following pages.
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