Actors Instrument
Course Description
Summary
An actor honors and bears witness to humanity by embodying and giving voice to the human element in the landscape of theatrical collaboration. Investigating the impulses and intuitions that make us unique as individuals can also identify what constitutes our shared humanity. Through exploration of the fundamentals of performance, students address the actor’s body, voice, and imagination as instruments for creating drama, conflict, action, and story. Coursework includes relaxation techniques, improvisation, basic sensory and imagination exercises, character analysis, and beginning text work. We will read and discuss several plays throughout the term, as well as theory. All casting and play selection decisions will be discussed with each student in an effort to allow them to bring themselves fully to the work. Every effort will be made to provide an accurate and adequate ethnocultural context for the plays chosen.
Learning Outcomes
- The primary expectation in this class is active engagement and investment into whatever exercise or activity is being attempted. That means bringing just as much attention and curiosity to the work of others as to your own. The work basically includes:
1) Warming up – we do this almost every class.
2) Sense Memory – three or four different exercises.
3) Objective/Obstacle – prepared improvisation.
4) Open scenes – fun with choosing & playing actions.
5) Character Interviews – this will involve research.
6) Scene Work – requires 2-6 hours outside class rehearsal per week.
7) Discussion & written reactions to plays and the material provided.
8) Various improvisations and games throughout.
Corequisites
Drama or Dance Lab Assignment.