Spring, 2004
SOMETHING THAT ENGAGES
Due: January 22, 2004
ASSIGNMENT: Perform something engaging to watch.
During the introductory session of Drama 1304, the class will be divided into small groups. Each unit represents a performance company. Each company will develop and present a 3-5 minute performance for the class to enjoy. The following are guidelines as you prepare for this assignment.
THE SCENE: PERFORM SOMETHING ENGAGING TO WATCH. The scene must be at least 3 minutes in length and not more than 5 minutes. Each scene will be timed with the result included in the evaluation of the project. Your group will determine what is engaging to watch. Then, as a group, you will write the scene, rehearse the scene, act or sing or dance or ... the scene for the class on Thursday, 1/22.
PROCEDURE:
January 15. You will have time for a brief company meeting during class. Exchange names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers as this assignment will require outside class rehearsal and preparation. You may want to brainstorm with one another to determine what others consider engaging or compelling.
Homework. Before the next class session, each student is to write a sequential script, plan or narrative outline of a 3-5 minute scene. These ideas will be used as a “concept pitch” similar to a creative team presenting an idea to movie or theatre producers. Use your imagination. These do not have to be dramatic scenes. Street Performers engage. Traffic Cops engage. The Unusual engages. What do you think would engage the class for 3-5 minutes using the members of your company in the scene?
Type your outline or concept. Prepare 6 copies. One copy represents your first entry in a JOURNAL which you will keep for this course throughout this semester. The remaining copies will be distributed to members of your company. IMPORTANT. You are to e-mail a copy of your idea to Prof. Gilliam by 9:30 am, 1/20. Late concepts will not be considered.
January 20. You will meet in your company to discuss the ideas of the group. You should decide on one concept for presentation on Jan.22. After selecting the piece, as collaborative artists, discuss ideas which may make the performance better. It is not up to the person whose idea will be performed to direct or write the scene. This is a group project and will be graded as such. How you proceed from here is up to your group. However, it is probably important for you to rehearse and “set” your performance before the next class meeting and your performance. Remember, it must be 3-5 minutes, no less, no more. Consider lighting, music, costumes, props or whatever else will assist in making your performance art piece engaging. If you wish, you may come back to the Attic Theatres to rehearse.
January 22. Performance Day. Also due, the second entry in your JOURNAL which should be your reaction to the preparation process, any observations or reflections and your specific involvement in the performance.
PASSION STATEMENT
Due: February 10, 2004
Throughout the course of the semester, students will have the opportunity to interact with several instructors and guest artists as they share their insights and love of theatre through different areas of expertise. You will discover that all these guests possess a deep and devout passion for their art form. This emotion, this spirit, this approach, this driving force allows us to go forward and achieve excellence when there may appear to be overwhelming obstacles.
Submit a TWO PAGE, type written paper that constitutes your PERSONAL PASSION STATEMENT
In your paper, you are to discuss the concept of PASSION, and develop a definition of passion as a personal response to class presentations and workshops, as well as your own life experiences.
PAPER ON EITHER BOY GETS GIRL or SHE LOVES ME
Due: Boy Gets Girl ...2/24/04 She Loves Me ... 4/27/04
You are to submit a two page theatre review for either one of the two Trinity productions for this semester. For form and style, we invite you to read reviews from any large city newspaper. The New York Times is probably best known for its theatre reviews. However, LA, Chicago, Seattle, etc., all have newspapers which cover the arts and theatre in specific. You will note by reading these articles that they are organized in similar ways. Part of your assignment is to discover the art of writing a theatre review. Out of town newspapers are available in the Library in the Periodical Section or over the internet.
You will note that a theatre review is not a summary of the story, or plot of the play. It is not a paper discussing the meaning of the play (although some of this may be useful). Rather, a review discusses the production. Your review must comment on the performances (not every cast member) as the newspaper articles demonstrate. Also, you are to comment on at least two production elements (scenery, costumes, sound, lights). You may attend dress rehearsals and the previews if you would like to have a better understanding of the show. Regardless, you are to react to one of the public performances. You should state which show you attended in the review as every performance is different.
MID SEMESTER PROJECT
Bringing Fairy Tales to Life
MIDTERM MONOLOGUE
Due: February 19 and 24
You will be assigned a specific, classic fairy tale. Your assignment is to give voice to one of the characters in the tale. You will write and perform a 90 second monologue as a character from this fairy tale for the class. This is half of the midterm project. The second half will be a collaborative scene and retelling of the fairy tale from various characters' points of view.
Developing the Monologue:
Having made your choice of character from the fairy tale to work with, a major character (e.g. Gretel in Hansel and Gretel) or a lesser one (e,g, the golden goose in Jack and the Beanstalk), the next step is to give voice to this character in a refreshing way. In giving voice to the character, you should be true to the spirit of the original character and to the basic concept of the original story in which the character lives. A refreshing perspective will introduce information about this character and his/her circumstances that is not immediately available to the reader in the original text.
Avoid a mere retelling of the original. For this assignment, you have the freedom to do some creative adaptation and to make some choices: a different setting, or different time period, perhaps; some innovative characterization in which you bring to light issues perhaps only hinted at or undeveloped in the original story, etc.
Some possible approaches to consider:
Beginning with the details of the story as you know them, each monologue can move on to another place, a surprising motivation, stifled emotions or conflicts rising to the surface, an innovative twist, lost details emerging.
In order for your monologue to be effective, you must be thoroughly familiar with the original story first. Additionally, you have this added challenge: the monologue must stand on its own as some in your audience may not be familiar with your fairy tale selection. (Remember to remain faithful to the basic premise and intentions of the original tale.)
More to consider as you develop a character:
Guidelines: With information from the literature and with the help of your own imagination, create a biographical sketch about the person speaking, who is the character you will be playing in your monologue.
In this “biography” you should answer questions like, what kind of person is speaking? How old is he/she? What kind of life does he/she have, and where does he/she live? Does he/she have family?
In relation to the actual character story you will be performing, to whom is your character speaking? What is the circumstance surrounding this speech, passage, or poem? Where are you? What emotions are you feeling as you speak? What has happened just before you begin speaking? What might happen immediately after?
The text of the original fairy tale may not give you this information, therefore, your imagination must fill in the gaps. The major point here is to create a specific character who speaks to a specific person or audience, in a specific place and time, with specific and appropriate circumstances that enrich and deepen our understanding of the character you will be performing. This is the foundation that enables an actor to build a believable character: a living, breathing soul in the virtual reality of “theatre”
CALENDAR
T 1/27 Fairy Tales Assigned
T 2/10 You are to submit via e-mail your fairy tale character selection. Clearly state the name of the character you plan to bring to life in your monologue performance. Give a one paragraph synopsis of your idea.
R 2/12 Bring to class two copies of the written script of your character monologue. This need not be a final script. You will team up with a partner. For half of the class, your partner will assist you; the other half, you will assist the partner. You can work on ideas and refine what the character should say, etc. This is time for feedback and polish. By lottery draw, half of the class will present their monologues on 2/19 with the remainder of the class performing on 2/24.
MID-TERM PERFORMANCE
Due: 3/4
Each Fairy Tale group will collaborate to bring their stories to Life for an invited audience in class. After the midterm monologues, you will work as production companies to write, rehearse and then perform a 5 minute scene based on your assigned fairy tale. In developing these scenes, you will maintain the same character you created for your monologue. Through a process of improvs, you should be able to create a story with a logical fusion of players in a world, which tells the story. In some cases, there may be more than one of the same characters. For example, maybe you are part of a game show where the contestants select a date with one of the three sleeping beauties. Your configuration of characters should make for an interesting scene.
CALENDAR
T 2/24 Meet in Fairy Tales Groups to brainstorm an approach for your group.
R 2/26 Each student needs to bring to class an idea of a script for your group. This need not be a final script. Discuss the ideas and as a group and then decide on an approach. For the remainder of the class your group should try improvs to put together your scene. Out of this work a show will come together.
T 3/2 This class is for rehearsal and refinement of your scene. This is time for feedback and polish.
R 3/4 Public Presentation of Fairy Tale Scenes. We will post a notice inviting the Trinity Community to attend our retelling of the classic fairy tales during our regular class meeting. Invite your friends. Performing for an audience completes the artistic experience.
MATCHBOX THEATRE PROJECT
Go to the Matchbox Theatre Link for details regarding this capstone assignment.
Daily Schedules Due: 3/2
Crew Preferences Due: 3/2
Introduction to Theatre JOURNAL
MID-TERM Journal Due: 3/9
MATCHBOX THEATRE Journal Due: 4/29
You will receive two specific grades for your Journal at Mid-Term and then for the Matchbox Theatre Project. In addition, your entries will assist me in measuring your Matchbox crew assignment and your overall growth in this class. For guidelines and specific questions, log onto the Matchbox Journal Link.