Course Syllabus

Foundations of Acting and Improv

Course Overview:

At its core, this course fosters ensemble building and encourages reflection on individual actor strengths while developing solo performance skills.  Building on the work from previous acting classes, participants explore various techniques, including creative movement, improvisation, voice exploration, dramatics, pantomime, and theatre activities. Students will also explore a dynamic workshop format designed to keep you active, with 75% of the time spent on your feet and 25% in your seat.

Students will engage in lessons and exercises that teach them how to act and interact in realistic modern plays relevant to our own era of life experience, using speech patterns to enhance their textual understanding.  FOAI will also introduce the student to the four core principles of acting: how to play the character's Goal, Tactics, and Expectations in association with Other characters. 

Timeline of Lessons and Assignments:

• Preparation for Acting

  • Preparing to Act
  • What Is Acting?

• The Actor's Approach

  • Goal and Obstacle
  • Acting with the "Other"
  • Beginning to Act
  • Tactics
  • Expectations
  • GOTE

• A Return to Improvisational Theater

  • Origin and Viola Spolin

• The Actor's Tasks

  • Preparing for a Role
  • Rehearsing
  • Staging the Scene
  • Choices
  • Performing
  • Evaluation and Improvement

• Scene Study

• Stage Combat (Hand-to-Hand)

• Play Analysis

Class Text

We will work from one classroom text, "The Theatre Experience" (an online resource provided). Other texts will be referenced, but I will ensure you receive handouts from these texts.

Course Objectives and Outcomes:

At the end of the semester, the student should be able to:

• Converse in the vocabulary of the discipline.
• Understand theatre history as it relates to the history and time of performance.
• Understand the principles of voice, body, ensemble, movement, and motivation.
• Make connections among disciplines of study.
• Read critically
• Recognize the differences among facts, opinions, and judgments
• Express aesthetic critique and insight
• Solicit feedback, evaluate, and revise creative products
• Create and develop a repertoire of short scenes and monologues for analysis and audition content

Course Expectations:

Weekly Assignments and Canvas: Students are required to complete weekly assignments, which are primarily posted through Canvas. The work assigned will align with the topics being covered in class.  Please note that students must carry a notebook for this class for all open-reflection and journaling activities (this will serve as low-tech functionality).

Dramatic Analysis Journal: Each student will maintain an informal collection of notes and firsthand responses to plays assigned in class.  Students will be asked to read a maximum of THREE plays, which the teacher will assign.  Reading assignments will be broken up throughout the semester.

Environment and Safety in the Classroom: To have a significant experience in this course, we must observe two safety rules: physical and emotional. Our basic physical safety rule is no unplanned bodily contact. Without this rule, someone may be physically harmed. Just as important are emotional hurts. You and your peers put yourselves on the line when you present to each other. You openly share yourself with us and then allow others to comment on your expression. To preserve the integrity of and maintain positive feelings about your work, the following rules apply to all comments about presentations:

• Respect the effort of each member of the class.
• Be prepared and prompt - the classwork only functions with your presence and materials.
• Appreciate the choices made by each person
• Be constructive in any criticism
• Include positive responses as part of any full critique
• Focus your comments on the individual presenting 

In this class, we form a community. We must care for one another and work together effectively to achieve the common goal of a meaningful classroom experience.

Class Participation and Attendance: To fully benefit from the course and your peers, you must be present and engaged in theatre class activities; therefore, your attendance is crucial. Active participation is a significant part of the course, and collaborating with peers in various settings constitutes a substantial portion of your participation grade. 

In your absence, you are responsible for obtaining and completing all information/assignments you may have missed.  As per WHS policy, students have one day to make up work for each day of absence.  If you are absent on the due date of a long-term assignment (i.e., an in-class performance), you will be expected to present with your group the day of your return.  For additional information on absence policies, please refer to the WHS handbook.

Rules and Regulations of the Little Theater and the Katherine L. Babson Auditorium: We are fortunate to have a state-of-the-art performing arts facility, and it takes cooperation from all of us to maintain it. Upon entering this theatre, you agree to abide by and enforce the following rules: 

• No food, drinks, or gum in the space at any time 
• No feet on the seats, seat arms, or backs
• Do not climb over the back of the seats 
• Persons may be backstage or onstage with permission only 
• Students may only be in the space with adult supervision 
• Cell phones are not to be used during class or breakout rehearsals

Device Use: The cell phone policy prohibits the use of cell phones and their visibility during the school day.  All phones must be placed in the holders upon arrival in class.  

Grading and Evaluation: You will be evaluated in this class through a variety of assessments aligned to the MA Performing Arts Standards:

*Engaged Learning - MIN: (40%): assesses participation and involvement in class activities, journal responses, and script reading reviews. Everyone is expected to be an active participant when appropriate and a respectful member of the audience when observing others' performances. 

*Performance—MAJ: (60%) Assess students’ creative process, performances, some weekly assignments, and reflections. All assessments are graded on rubrics.