Beginning Theatre

Course Description

The purpose of Beginning Theatre is to increase students' understanding, appreciation, and critical perceptions of the theatrical event.  This course will cover the fundamentals and provide an overview of theatre. Curriculum will include an introduction to acting, body movement, pantomime, voice, history of theatre, Greek and Roman theatre, script analysis, and dramatic and comedic duo scenes.
COURSE FORMAT
This course is a performance based course; attendance at one night time show is mandatory and dress rehearsal is mandatory in order to perform. However, your grade does not depend purely on your performance ability. In-class reports, course assignments, attendance, attitude, and effort play an integral part of one’s grade. ​
CLASS OBJECTIVES
This course is designed to provide the student with the fundamentals for a study of the craft of acting. The students will be introduced to acceptable and unacceptable acting techniques.  Students will broaden their abilities and understanding including, but not limited to the following areas:
Vocal/body health and techniques
Proper breathing/movement
Dramatic literature
Auditioning skills/process
Characterization/Character analysis
Scene Work/Monologues
Improvisation
Appropriate audience behavior/ theatre etiquette
Theatre terminology
Leadership/Teamwork
Responsibility/Accountability

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will have the fundamentals in the dramatic performing arts and an introduction to the basic skills needed in acting; which include, but are not limited to: physical movement, gestures, body awareness, vocal projection, diction, enunciation, stage presence, sensory development, script analysis, and the development of the dramatic imagination.
  1. At the end of the semester, the student will have the ability to create and display smooth and convincing characters on stage in a given set of circumstances.
  2. The student will demonstrate enthusiasm and a positive attitude by continually working and expressing a willingness to try new material and activities in class.
  3. Develop ease in objectivity as a participant in theatre production.  To provide each other with constructive and respectful feedback and maintain an environment of teamwork, cooperation, and mutual respect. Direct scenes of different styles from different historical periods.
  4. Recognize and use movement as an integral element of theatre production. Produce theatre with attention to sensory and emotional detail in content and form. Use language to reveal and communicate text and subtext (as both author and performer.
  5. To engage in theatre projects which provide the audience with a dynamic experience that is both entertaining and enlightening. Perform in a variety of modes, styles, and settings before a variety of audiences. Explore theatre production as creative problem solving.

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Course readings will be provided. Students will be required to maintain a notebook throughout the course of this semester. The purpose of this notebook is to build a repertoire of the student’s academic knowledge, performance experience, and help build an acting portfolio in the spring.  Actors are responsible for providing their own costumes and make-up for performances.