SRJC Course Outlines

3/28/2024 2:54:45 PMTHAR 10A Course Outline as of Summer 2021

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  THAR 10ATitle:  INTRODUCTION TO ACTING  
Full Title:  Introduction to Acting
Last Reviewed:5/14/2018

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled2.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled35.00
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled3.006 min.Lab Scheduled52.50
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total5.00 Contact Total87.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:
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An introduction to fundamental acting techniques and concepts through exercises, theatre games, and improvisation, as well as lecture/demonstration.  Designed for both majors and non-majors, this course includes individual and partnered performance assignments.  Attendance at one or more SRJC Theatre Arts Department productions is required.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
An introduction to fundamental acting techniques and concepts through exercises, theatre games, and improvisation, as well as lecture/demonstration.  Designed for both majors and non-majors, this course includes individual and partnered performance assignments.  Attendance at one or more SRJC Theatre Arts Department productions is required.
(Grade Only)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Spring 1988Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Spring 1988Inactive:
 
C-ID:
 CID Descriptor: THTR 151 Acting I SRJC Equivalent Course(s): THAR10A

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to analyze, rehearse,
memorize, and perform characters from modern realistic plays in a variety of performance
situations at a beginning acting level.

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1.    Apply and demonstrate control of basic vocal acting techniques, including projection,
       articulation, and breath support.
2.    Apply and demonstrate control of basic physical acting techniques, including relaxation,
       "alert restfulness," and motivated action.
3.    Develop and demonstrate ability to concentrate and maintain focus, awareness, and
       spontaneity while acting.
4.    Demonstrate basic techniques of physical and vocal characterization.
5.    Use direct observation and basic research techniques in creating a character.
6.    Analyze a script and document that analysis, applying basic principles and techniques of
       Stanislavski-based pyschological realism to develop a character.
7.    Work collaboratively within partnered and/or ensemble acting situations in the development
       of characters, whether scripted or improvised.
8.    Apply basic improvisational acting techniques, including listening, responding, being in the
       moment, focusing, "saying yes," and respecting one another.
9.    Memorize, retain, and accurately perform scripted text.
10.  Assess and critique a performance from an observer's point of view, applying constructive
       evaluation techniques in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the acting
       within that performance.
11.  Correctly use acting terminology and basic staging concepts during the rehearsal
        and performance process.
12.  Rehearse, prepare, memorize, and perform a role in a partnered scene from a modern
       realistic play.
13.  Rehearse, prepare, memorize, and perform a realistic monologue from a modern play,
       following basic audition protocol and procedures.

Topics and Scope
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[Note:  While all content listed below is introduced during this course, some subtopics
may only be touched on briefly, whereas others will be covered in more depth.  Instructors
may change the chronological order of topics and subtopics, as well as determine degree
of subtopic emphasis to suit student needs and his/her individual teaching style.]
 
I.    Introduction:  What is Acting?
II.   Ensemble Development
    A. Trust and support
    B. Give and take
    C. Taking risks
    D. Personal obstacles (e.g. inner critic)
III.  Improvisation as an Acting Tool
    A. Saying "yes"
    B. Being in the moment
    C. Impulses and stimuli
    D. Listening and responding
    E. Giving and receiving
    F. Raising the stakes
    G. Making your partner look good
    H. Endowing objects and people
    I.  Avoiding indicating and anticipating
IV.  The Actor's Instrument:  Inner Resources
    A. Concentration and focus
    B. Sensory awareness, recall and imagery
    C. Memory and emotional recall
    D. Personalizing and substitution
    E. Activating the imagination
    F. Public solitude
V.   The Actor's Instrument: The Body
    A. Physical warmups
    B. Breathing
    C. Physical awareness
         1. Tension and center
         2. Spinal alignment and balance
    D. Physical performance energy and "alert restfulness"
    E. Introduction to physical characterization
VI.  The Actor's Instrument:  The Voice
    A. Vocal warmups
    B. Diaphragmatic breathing
    C. Supporting and rooting the sound
    D. Vocal terminology and techniques
         1. Articulation
         2. Projection
         3. Other vocal techniques (e.g. variation, tone, etc.)
    E. Vocal performance energy
    F.  Introduction to vocal characterization
    G. Working with written dialogue
VII.  Stage Movement and Business
    A. The areas of the stage
    B. Stage positions
    C. Basic blocking techniques and concepts
    D. Motivating action
    E. Creating and motivating business
    F. Notating blocking in a script
VIII.    Stanislavski's Theoretical Approach to Acting
    A. A brief history
    B. An introduction to Stanislavski's system
         1. Truth, belief, and the "Magic If"
         2.  Character, relationship and status
         3. Objective, obstacles, and motivation
         4. Text, subtext, and interior monologue
         5. Strategy, tactics, evaluation, and beats (units)
         6. Importance of action over emotion
         7. Throughline and superobjective
IX.   Acting With a Script
    A. Given circumstances
    B. Analyzing a script for character clues and dramatic function
    C. Defining the action
    D. Playing the action
    E. Scoring a script - basic techniques
    F. Techniques for memorization
X.    Developing a Character
    A. Character analysis - history, personality, behavior
    B. Physical and vocal characterization
     C. Direct observation:  Observing others for character inspiration
    D. Basic character research
    E. Abstraction (e.g. animal imagery, inanimate objects, etc.)
XI.   Scene Work:  The Rehearsal Process
    A. Working with other actors
    B. Relationship between actors as characters
    C. The environment (floorplan and off-stage life)
    D. Rehearsal tools (e.g. rehearsal clothes, props, etc.)
    E. Preparing and maintaining your script
    F. Recording notes and thoughts
    G. Staging and rehearsing a scene
XII.   The Performance
    A. Working with props and costumes
    B. Handling nerves
    C. Dealing with audience responses (e.g. laughter)
    D. Pacing and performance energy
    E. Leaving a performance behind
    F. Evaluating a performance
         1. Constructive evaluatuation techniques
         2. Receiving criticism
         3. Self-evaluation
XIII.  Introduction to the Audition Process (brief)
    A. Monologues
         1. What makes a good audition monologue?
         2. Preparing an audition monologue
         3. Presenting an audition monologue
              a. Audition attire
              b. Introducing and ending a monologue
    B. Other aspects of auditions
         1. What you might be asked to bring (resume, headshot, etc.)
         2. What you might be asked to fill out at an audition
         3. Basic audition protocol
         4. What are callbacks and cold readings?
XIV.   Being in a Production*
    A. Working with a director
    B. The role of a stage manager
    C. Rehearsal processes (e.g. calltime, callboard, etc.)
    D. Stages of a production process
    E. Performing as members of an ensemble
    F. Responsibilities of an actor in a production
 
All topics are covered in both lecture and lab portions of the course, except those sections
marked by asterisks.  Those marked topics are only covered in lecture.

Assignments:
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[All assignments below apply to both Lecture and Lab portions of the course.]
 
Class Attendance and Participation - The student is expected to:
    1. Arrive promptly and prepared for all class meetings.
    2. Participate actively in a variety of acting exercises, theatre games, and improv
         pieces, as well as class discussions.
 
 
Homework and Assignments
This class requires approximately four hours per week of homework and out-of class
rehearsal for performance assignments.
 
     Reading Homework
      The student will read approx. 5-20 pages per week.
      A.  Textbook, course reader, and/or other instructor prepared materials.
      B.  Two scripts - one for monologue assignment and one for scene
          assignment.
 
    Performance Assignments
      
       A.  Prepare and perform 3-6 graded acting exercises, demonstrating various
           performance skills.  Exercises range from 30 sec.-5 minutes in length.
            Examples:
            1.  Tongue twister exercise (to access application of articulation skills)
            2.  Observation exercise (observing and performing someone else)
            3.  Public solitude exercise (concentration and focus on stage)
            4.  Given Circumstances exercise (applying given circumstances in
                    order to motivate action)
            5.  Open scene exercise (working with transitive, active verbs)
 
      B.  Monologue:  Prepare, memorize, rehearse, and perform a monologue
           from a stage play, presenting it in an audition format.
            1.  Recommmended criteria for monologue selection:
                 a.  From a published play that the student can find and read
                 b.  Acting style of scene - realism
                 c.  From a modern/contemporary play, preferably written after 1940
                 d.  Length:  1- 1 1/2 minute  
            2.  Monologue selection:
                 May be assigned by instructor, selected by student from a pre-approved
                  collection or list, and/or selected by student from library and department
                  collections with instructor assistance.  (Students with prior performance
                  experience may be allowed to find monologues independently with
                  instructor approval.)
            3.  Rehearsal process and evaluation:
                 Each student will receive instructor coaching and observe the coaching
                 sessions for other students.  During the development process, the student's  
                  progress will be evaluated by the instructor a minimum of three times:          
                  a.  On-book rehearsal
                 b.  Off-book rehearsal
                 c.  Final performance
 
      C.  Scene:  Prepare, memorize, rehearse, and perform a partnered scene
             from a stage play.
           1.  Recommmended criteria for scene selection:
                a.  From a published stage play, which each actor must find and read.
                b.  Acting style of scene - realism
                c.  From a modern/contemporary play, preferably written after 1940
                d.  Scene length determined by instructor, based on class enrollment
                     Recommended length:  2-person scene:  3-5 minutes
                                                           3-person scene:  5-7 minutes
           2.   Scene selection:
                 May be assigned by instructor, selected by students from a pre-approved
                  collection or list, and/or selected by students from library and department
                 collections with instructor assistance.  (Students with prior performance
                  experience may be allowed to find scenes independently with instructor
                 approval.)                 
           
            3.  Rehearsal process and evaluation:
                 Scene partners will receive instructor coaching during in-class group
                 coaching sessions, as well as observe the coaching sessions for
                 other scenes.  During the scene development process, the student's
                  progress will be evaluated by the instructor a minimum of four times:                  
                  a.  On-book rehearsal
                 b.  Off-book rehearsal
                 c.  Dress rehearsal or preview
                 d.  Final performance
 
    Play Attendance as Homework:
       Attend 1-3 Theatre Arts Department productions during the semester**.  Participate
       in class discussion regarding the acting demands within each production and their
       relationship to course content. (**In special cases, may be substituted for another
        pre-approved production by the instructor.)  Students will:
                 a.  Have multiple performance dates from which to choose.
                 b   Provide their own transportation.
                 c.  Receive one free ticket to each SRJC production during the
                      semester they are enrolled in one or more Theatre Arts classes.
 
    Written Assignments:
      A.  250-500 words brief written exercises, usually part of preparation for performance
            exercises.  Length: 1 paragraph-2 pgs.  May be instructor-prepared forms.
      B.  1 Production Critique, focusing on the acting in a SRJC production and using
             appropriate terminology.  (1-2 pgs.)
      C.  1-2 written Character Analysis assignments (for monologue and/or scene).
                 (1-2 pgs. or instructor-prepared form)
      D.  1-2 script scoring assignments (for monologue and/or scene).
 
    Quizzes and Exam:
      A.  Approx. 4-8 quizzes on assigned reading to assess comprehension and
           application; may be in-class or take-home quizzes, or may take the form
           of a take-home reading assessment exercise.
      B.  In-class exam on acting terminology and concepts; exam may or may not
            be given as a final.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
10 - 20%
Character analysis; scoring; play critique; written exercises
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
55 - 70%
Acting exercises; Monologue preparation and performance; Scene preparation and performance.
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
10 - 20%
Terms and concepts exam; quizzes or reading assessment exercises
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
10 - 15%
Attendance and participation


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Acting: Onstage and Off. 7th ed. Barton, Robert. Cengage. 2016
 
The Actor in You: Twelve Simple Steps to Understanding the Art of Acting. 6th ed.
    Benedetti, Robert. Pearson. 2014 (classic)
 
Scripts for selected monologue and scene
 
Instructor prepared material

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