Acting is learned by doing, by exploring. Through a series of exercises, improvisations and scene study, the Acting I student will work on both the intuitive side of acting - freeing her/his own natural impulses - as well as learning the basic technique of acting - circumstances, objectives and action.

1) Attendance is mandatory. No more than two absences are allowed. Each absence after two will automatically lower the final letter grade one third of a letter. Chronic absentees will be dropped from the class.

2) In addition to exercises and assignments, each student will present one scene with a student assigned from class. The rehearsal and memorization of each scene is to be done outside of class. Students who fail to meet with their partners at a scheduled rehearsal time will be penalized.

3) Prepared scenes (memorized and blocked) will be presented twice. After the first presentation, scenes will be discussed, worked on in and out of class, and presented a final time as part of the Final Exam.

4) Students are expected to read along in the assigned texts and be prepared for round table discussions of each, expressing their likes, dislikes, etc. All students will be graded based on their participation in the discussions. Failure to speak up will result in zero points. It helps to mark and highlight sections beforehand that you wish to speak about.

5) Students are expected to complete one written paper, detailing their scene character_s objectives and actions throughout the course of the scene. The paper is to be 3-4 pages, typed, and double spaced. Late papers will be accepted, but will lose two points for each day late.

6) There will be a written exam on the reading material

Points Breakdown

Hagen exercises (5 x 3)	15
Objectives/action paper	13
Discussions (4 x 3)	12
Written exam	15
Attitude, improvement, desire	10
Final Scene presentation	35
Total Points	100

Grading Scale

A	91%
A-	88%
B+	85%
B	81%
B-	78%
C+	75%
C	72%
C-	69%
D+	66%
D	62%
F	61%

 

wk 1

1-22 Review the syllabus, goals & objectives, beginning exercises
1-24 Discuss The Big Three - Circumstances, Objectives, Actions //// Impulse exercises

wk 2

1-29 Uta Hagen Discussion Part I - Impulse exercises
1-31 Impulse exercises

wk 3

2-5 Uta Hagen Discussion Part III
2-7 Objective exercises

wk 4

2-12 Boleslavsky Discussion (Lessons #1-#3)
2-14 Objective exercises

wk 5

2-19 Boleslavsky Discussion (Lessons #4-#6)
2-21 4th wall exercise

wk 6

2-26 Impulse exercises
2-28 3 Entrances exercise

wk 7

3-5 Written Exam - Hagen, Boleslavsky, The Big Three, Improvisation
3-7 Improvisation

wk 8

3-12 Scene Assignments - Conferences
3-14 Uta Hagen Discussion Part III - Take 2

Spring Break March 16-24

wk 9

3-26 No Class - Guthrie Workshops
3-28 Personalization exercises

wk 10

4-2 Hot Seat
4-4 Hot Seat

wk 11

4-9 Building History Improvisations
4-11 Building History Improvisations

wk 12

4-16 Scene exercises Objective/Action Papers Due
4-18 Scene exercises

wk 13

4-23 Scene Presentations Part 1
4-25 Scene Presentations Part 2

wk 14

4-30 Scene work
5-2 Scene work

wk 15

5-7 Scene work
5-9 Final Presentations - Part 1

Final Presentations - Part 2 Thursday May 16 12:00 - 1:55 p.m.