THEATRE FUNDAMENTALS
Office Hours: 10:30pm - 2:00pm
Email: adam.sechelski@cobbk12.org
Monday 3/16/20
Constantin Stanislavski is considered by many to to be the grandfather of modern acting technique. Watch these clips on Constantin Stanislovski and his system of acting techniques.
Clip 1
Clip 2
Write a list of what you consider the BIG ideas behind Stanslavski's teachings. Submit your list here.
Tuesday 3/17/20
Here is a copy of your open monologue. Everyone has the same words but each person will come up with their own storyline.
Monologue
Click HERE for today's assignment
Click on the button below to submit today's assignment
Wednesday 3/18/20 & Thursday 3/19/20
This is the character analysis for your version of the monologue. It is authored by a famous acting teacher named Uta Hagen. On a separate sheet (word or google doc, or paper and scan it) finish each question with as much detail as possible. Take the next two days to finish this assignment.
Character Analysis
Click on the button below to submit today's assignment by Thursday by 11:59pm
Friday 3/20/20
I know that the Character Analysis is due today. You all have been working hard on these assignments and I'm very excited to see them realized. For today, take a step back from it and let's do a digital performance Friday! Record yourself doing some kind of performance and upload it here.Please make sure it's a performance you would be ok with your parents watching.
I will put them all into a private youtube playlist and share it with you.
Make sure to have it done by 1:00pm.
I will check off the Analysis by Monday.
Monday 3/23/20
The next step in preparing to perform your monologue is script analysis. I have created a video to help explain how to break down your script using Stanislavski's methodology.
You will also need this list of Action verbs which will serve as your "Tactics."
List of Action Verbs
Once you are done breaking down the script into beats and assigning each beat with an action verb, upload your document or if you done it on an actual print out, scan it (I use the camscanner app on my phone) into a document and submit it here.
Tuesday 3/24/20 & Wednesday 3/25/20
Now that you have all the tools (character analysis and script analysis), the next step is rehearse in preparation for your performance. Use the information and character choices you have created to bring your character to life. Spend the next two days rehearsing and folding in all of your verbs to motivate each beat. Spend the time memorizing (getting off book) and work on an honest and organic delivery of your lines.
Spend at least a half hour each day. Perform for as many people as will watch you. Can they hear and understand you? Does your story come through in your choices? Don't be afraid to show emotions in your performance. Make me believe you.
Thursday 3/26/20
The time has come to show off you hard work. After making storyline and motivation choices, character analysis, script analysis, memorizing, blocking and rehearsing all of your choices into a finished product, the time has come to record your monologue. I have provided a flipgrid code that is 1 1/2 minutes, which is plenty of time to do this monologue.
A few of tips:
1. find a point of focus so that it looks like you are speaking to the other person in the scene. (you can actually have someone off camera if that helps)
2. Make sure you are actually memorized. It's fairly obvious when you are staring at a script off camera. Stand away from the camera so it is a whole body shot and make me believe you are talking to someone else.
3. Motivate each beat. Activate each moment with whatever verb you've chosen and be careful of your emotions being the same the whole way through. If you've made strong verb choices there should variation throughout.
Here is your flipgrid link.
Or if you already have flipgrid, you can use the code, 53284b86
Friday 3/20/20
I know that there are quite a few of you that still need to record your monologues. Please finish that ASAP. For today I wanted to give Performance Friday another try. We had a rather low number last week. Let's see if we can get some more interesting, creative and courageous performances. Remember a performance isn't only singing. It could be recreating your favorite movie scene, playing an instrument, showing off some skill, reading some self written poetry, doing some magic tricks, etc. Record yourself doing some kind of performance and upload it here.Please make sure it's a performance you would be ok with your parents watching.
I will put them all into a private youtube playlist and share it with you.
Make sure to have it done by 4:00pm.
I will have another assignment ready to go for Monday!
Monday 3/30/20 - Thursday 4/2/20
Welcome to week 3! This week we're going to be learning about theatre criticism. To do this, first, I have to re-introduce the Greeks and talk about the philosopher, Aristotle. He wrote a book called "Poetics" and in that book he outlined how to think critically about theatre that can still be used thousands of years later.
Here's video of my explanation of Aristotle's Six Elements of Drama
Assignment: Choose one of the following:
-Shrek the Broadway Musical on Netflix
-Get a free trial on www.Broadwayhd.com for 30 days and watch any of the plays or musicals
-Watch one of the plays or musicals from the program "Great Performances" on www.pbs.org
Once you have watched your performance, write a paper where you give me AT LEAST one paragraph speaking critically about each of the 6 Elements. Turn it in here.
Monday 4/13/20 - Tuesday 4/14/20
Wednesday 4/15/2020 - Thursday 4/16/20
Monday 4/20/20 - Thursday 4/24/20
For this weeks base assignment, join us for some incredible zooms with professional theatre artists from around the country! The zoom code and password will be sent via remind each day. We usually meet at 2:00pm and here is this week's line up.
Monday, April 20 @ 2pm
Dan Butler
— Professional Actor —
"Rosanne", "Fraiser", "The Mist, "Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie"
Richard Waterhouse
Actor Professor @ Brown University
Tuesday, April 21 @ 2pm
Robin Bloodworth
Professional Actor
Wednesday, April 22 @ 2pm
Meredyth Pederson Cooper
Director of Education at Raleigh Little Theatre, Raleigh NC
Thursday, April 23 @ 3pm
Amber Dickerson
Professional Actress
Friday, April 24 @ 2pm
Suzanne Cooper Morris
Propmaster at The Alliance Theatre, Atlanta GA
For each day, except Friday of course, use this link to write a review of each discussion
For those of you working on scenes send me your G.O.T.E. analysis when you are finished via email or a link on remind. Text me to set up a time for a rehearsal either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Monday 4/27/20 - Thursday 4/30/20
For this weeks base assignment, join us for some incredible zooms with professional theatre artists from around the country! The zoom code and password will be sent via remind each day. We usually meet at 2:00pm and here is this week's line up.
Monday, April 27 @ 2pm
Lindsey Ewing
— Wig & Make-Up Artist —
www.lehairandmakeupartistry.com
Tuesday, April 28 @ 2pm
Adam Rowe
— Art Director & Production Designer —
"The Good Place", "Rent: Live", "Dexter", "Parks & Recreation"
Wednesday, April 29 @ 2pm
Freddie Ashley
— Artistic Director @ Actor's Express —
Thursday, April 30 @ 2pm
Joel Zimmer
— Television Producer —
Friday, May 1 @ 2pm
Eric Teague
— Costume Designer —
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Opergeist
For each day, except Friday of course, use this link to write a review of each discussion
For those of you wanting to do MORE...acting in scenes is available on an individual basis. Send me message on Remind and I'll get you set up.
Monday 5/4/20 - Thursday 5/7/20
For this weeks base assignment, join us for some incredible zooms with professional theatre artists from around the country! The zoom code and password will be sent via remind each day. We usually meet at 2:00pm and here is this week's line up.
Monday, May 4 @ 2pm
Bob The Drag Queen
— Winner Season 8 of Rupaul's Drag Race —
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_the_Drag_Queen
Wednesday, May 6 @ 2pm
Denise Wallace-Spriggs
— Professional Milliner —
https://denisewallacespriggs.com
Thursday, May 7 @ 2pm
Kelsey Bailey
— Props & Scenic Artist, Properties Supervisor,
& Stage Technician —
Justin Michel
— Lighting Supervisor, Electrician —
Friday, May 8 @ 2pm
Courtney Patterson
— Professional Actress —
For each day, except Friday of course, use this link to write a review of each discussion
For those of you wanting to do MORE...acting in scenes is available on an individual basis. Send me message on Remind and I'll get you set up.
Monday 5/11/20 - Thursday 5/14/20
For this weeks base assignment, join us for some incredible zooms with professional theatre artists from around the country! The zoom code and password will be sent via remind each day. We usually meet at 2:00pm and here is this week's line up.
Monday, May 11 @ 2:30pm
JW Morrissette
— Associate Head of the Department of Theatre
at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign —
Tuesday, May 12 @ 2pm
Brittany Merenda
— Professional Projection Designer —
Wednesday , May 13 @ 2pm
J. Scott Browning
— Professional Actor —
— IMDB Page —
Thursday , May 14 @ 2pm
Brandon O'Dell
— Professional Actor —
Friday, May 15 @ 2:30pm
Brooke Haney
— NYC Actor & Intimacy Choreographer —
POSTPONED
For each day, except Friday of course, use this link to write a review of each discussion
For those of you wanting to do MORE...acting in scenes is available on an individual basis. Send me message on Remind and I'll get you set up.
