THEATRE 1: Introduction to the Stage

ROBBINSVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE 1: Introduction to the Stage Board of Education Mr. Matthew T. O Grady, President Mr. Thomas Halm, Jr., Vice President Mrs. Shaina Ciaccio Ms. Leslie Dee Mrs. Sharon DeVito Mr. Craig Heilman Mr. Keith Kochberg Mrs. Faith Silvestrov Mr. Richard Young Dr. Kathie Foster, Acting Superintendent Ms. Kimberly Tew, Acting Assistant Superintendent 1

Curriculum Writing Committee Alison Sussman Supervisors Nicole Rossi BOARD OF EDUCATION INITIAL ADOPTION DATE: Course Philosophy Every individual develops intellectually as she gains skills and knowledge in the area of theater; however, theatre is much more than a class about how to develop basic acting skills or read a script. Theatre is a world that allows adolescents the opportunity to find themselves, to rediscover the joys of creativity, and to communicate with peers and build relationships in a supportive environment. Students will develop social skills and self-discipline, advance their abilities in creative problem solving, learn how to understand and communicate their emotions, empathize with others, and gain self-esteem. The theatre program will allow students from all backgrounds with a variety of goals to take advantage of the benefits that theatre has to offer. Course Description Theatre 1: Introduction to the Stage; is a half-year course offered to all students. Throughout this course, students will get a general overview of theatre; those who only take this introductory course will better understand and appreciate theatre, and those who choose to take more advanced courses can make an informed decision about the areas in which they d like to focus. The course will allow students an opportunity to explore the following facets of theatre at an introductory level: participating as an audience member, acting (including stage movement, voice, improvisation, and basic script analysis), occupations within the theatre (onstage and off), playwriting, and basic theater history. 2

Scope, Sequence and, Course Name Unit Title Unit Understandings and Goals Recommended Duration Diagnostic (before) s Formative (during) Summative (after) Unit #1: What is Theatre? Because it is an ensemble art form which brings together many disciplines, multiple people with a vast array of skills are needed to make one successful production. Although the job titles may sometimes overlap, theatre as an art form is different from film and television. 2 Weeks Responses Group Improvisational Performances Student Written Research Essay Student Written Theatre Review Students work individually and in groups to focus ideas and create and perform works. Unit #2: Stage Movement The actor s body is his instument. The actor s movement is a powerful tool for storytelling. 2 Weeks Responses Group Improvisational Performances Partner Prepared Performances Unit #3: Voice The actor s voice is a powerful tool for storytelling. 1 Week Responses Exercises Group Improvisational Performances 3

Unit #4: Ancient Greek Theare Ancient Greek Theatre is the foundation of Western Theatre. As consumers, critics and creators, students evaluate and understand dramatic and theatrical works and other texts produced in the media forms of the day. 2 Weeks Responses and Written Response to Medea Group Choral Ode Performance Unit #5: Improvisation Reacting is the most important aspect of acting. Choosing and justifying given circumstances makes scenes more specific and successful. 3 Weeks Responses Improvisational Scenes Art cannot be created without taking risks. Theatre artists rely on intuition, curiosity, and critical inquiry. Unit #6: Commedia Dell arte Commedia Dell arte is a product of the Italian Renaissance and greatly impacted the theatre that followed. Improvisational sketch comedy was a major component of Commedia Dell arte performances. 2 Weeks Responses Improvised Exercises and Scenes Lazzi Performance Unit #7: Script Analysis for the Actor Stanislavsky s concepts of objective, obstactle, tactics, stakes, and given circumstances are the basis for script analysis in Western Method theatre. 2 Weeks Response Conflicting Objectives Improv Scenes Monologue Performance Analyzing the script thoroughly leads to a more specific and successful performance. Monologue Written Preparation Work 4

Unit #8: Playwriting Writing dialogue differs from narrative prose as characters must show the entire story through their actions and interactions. 2 Weeks Short and Long Form Bios Transcribed Conversation Write an Original Scene Scripts must be formatted properly so that actors and directors can understand the playwright s intent. Draft Short Scenes Unit #9: Design Concept Through visual and auditory arts, designers bring the world of the play to life on stage. With a clear, unified design concept all aspects of a show come together to create one successful work of art. 1 Week Drawings in Response to Music Response Written Analysis Design Proposal Unit #10: Marketing and Front of House Without strong marketing and front of house, there is no audience to appreciate the show. 1 Week Response Final poster Final Press Release Final Marketing Plan Proposal Unit #11: Final Project Producing a successful show requires a script, a design concept, script analysis, rehearsals, and a marketing plan. Students combine and apply artistic and reasoning skills to imagine, create, realize and refine dramatic and theatrical works in conventional and innovative ways and to understand the works produced and performed by others. 2 Weeks Rough Draft for Final Project Rehearsals For Final Project Final script, design concept, performance, and proposed marketing campaign Final theatre review of live play 5

Unit #1: What is theatre? Enduring Understandings : Theatre is an ensemble art form which brings together many disciplines, with that said, multiple people with a vast array of skills are needed to make one successful production. Although the job titles may sometimes overlap, theatre as an art form is different from film and television. Why are there so many different focuses for theatre majors? How does a person become qualified for a job in theatre? How does theatre differ from film and television? Guiding / Topical Questions with TH:Cr2.1. HSI.b TH:Cr2.1. HSI.b What are the different jobs available in theatre? How does a person get those jobs? Identifying theatre departments and the various positions available within them. Understanding what a person with each title actually does and how he contributes to the production. Analyzing what training is necessary in order to do the various jobs in the theatre and how a person gets that training. Teaching Mind Mapping KWL charts Lecture Internet Research Playbills Large paper and markers s Internet Posters Improvised Scenes Research Paper TH:Re9.1.HSI How must a theatre audience behave versus a movie audience? Identifying appropriate and inappropriate audience behaviors. Improvisational Performance and/or Performance TH:Re7.1. HSI How does a reviewer critique theatre? Identifying the components of a professionally written theatre review. Analyzing a theatre performance through a personal versus a crtical lens. Modelling Video of Live Theatre Performance Sample Theatre Reviews Write a Theatre Review 6

Unit #2: Stage Movement? Enduring Understandings : The actor s body is his instument. The actor s movement is a powerful tool for storytelling. Students work individually and in groups to focus ideas and create and perform works. How does immersing yourself in an activity on stage help stage fright? What are stage directions? How do actors avoid upstaging themselves and others? How do we use our body to tell a story? TH:Pr5.1. HSI Why should actors focus on an activity on stage? Use movement to eliminate stage fright. Teaching Creative Dramatics Games that focus on stage activity s Partcipation in Games Responses TH:Cr3.1.HSI.b What are the important tools or qualities of an actor? Why? Contributing positively and responsibly to the ensemble through collaboration, sustained focus, and concentration. Use movement to tell a story. Pantomime exercises (developing a place and object use) s Exercises Responses TH:Pr5.1. HSI What is the value in stage directions? Use theatre vocabulary of stage directions to communicate clearly among an ensemble. Notes Improv Exercises 7

TH:Cr3.1.HSI.b How does the actor s movement depend on audience? Use areas of the stage to create a journey and convey a story. Theatre Improv Exercise TH:Cr3.1.HSI.b What is a gesture, and how does the actor use gesture? Use movement to develop characters. Use movement to change the way you feel. Observation and Exercises Final Pantomime Scene Games and Exercises Write, Rehearse, Perform a Pantomime Scene 8

Unit #3: Voice Enduring Understandings: The actor s voice is a powerful tool for storytelling. How can an actor use his voice to tell a story rather than simply relying on the words? TH:Pr5.1. HSI TH:Pr5.1. HSI What is projection? How do we safely and effectively project our voices. What are our articulators? How do we use them to enunciate clearly? Identifying the way in which we produce vocal sound (diaphragm and proper breathing, resonators) Understanding how to use our breathing and resonators to project our voices. Identifying the articulators. Understanding how to use our articulators to speak clearly. Teaching Lecture Breathing Exercises Vocalization Exercises Lecture Speech Exercises Tongue Twisters s Participation Participation TH:Cr3.1. HSI.b How can an actor use his voice to tell a story rather than simply relying on the words? Understanding how we cab use our vocal range to color our words. Vocal Exercises Improvisational Performance and/or Exercises 9

Unit #4: Ancient Greek Theatre Enduring Understandings: Ancient Greek Theatre is the foundation of Western Theatre. What is the function of the chorus and the choral ode in Ancient Greek Theatre? What aspects of Ancient Greek Theatre are still evident in modern theatre? In what ways does modern theatre different from Ancient Greek and why? TH:Re8.1.HSI.a What is the function of the chorus and the choral ode in Ancient Greek Theatre? Observing and analyzing choral odes within a production. Performing a choral ode using voice and movement to convey meaning. Teaching Notes and Lecture Watching and Discussing a Play Stage a Choral Ode Notes on Greek Theatre Excerpt from Ancient Greek Play Video: National Theatre Live Medea Responses Choral Ode Performance TH:Re8.1.HSI.b What aspects of Ancient Greek Theatre are still evident in modern theatre? Analyzing how the social structure and people of a period influence its art. Notes and Lecture s Responce TH:Re9.1.HSI In what ways does modern theatre different from Ancient Greek and why? Comparing and contrasting the past to the present through a theatre history era. Notes and Lecture Responce Robbinsville Public Schools Unit #5: Improvisation 10

Enduring Understandings: Reacting is the most important aspect of acting. Choosing and justifying given circumstances makes scenes more specific and successful. Art cannot be created without taking risks. How does improvisational work foster ensemble? How can students take risks and creatively express themselves through the use of improvisation? How can improvisation develop and enhance acting skills? Theatre artists rely on intuition, curiosity, and critical inquiry. TH:Pr5.1. HSI.b How does improvisational work foster ensemble? Content, Themes, Concepts, and Skills Understanding and employing the first guideline of improvisation: acceptance (or yes and ). Teaching s Responses TH:Pr5.1. HSI.b TH:Pr4.1. HSI.a TH:Cr3.1. HSI.b How can students take risks and creatively express themselves through the use of improvisation? How can improvisation develop and enhance acting skills? How can students take risks and creatively express themselves through the use of improvisation? Understanding and employing the second guideline of improvisation: endowment. Understanding and employing the third guideline of improvisation: make your partner look good. Understanding and employing the fourth guideline of improvisation: make the active choice. Understanding and employing the fifth guideline of improvisation: have fun! Watch and Discuss Professional Improvisation ( Whose Line Is It Anyway? ) Improv Scenes Early Episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Responses Responses and Games Performance in Improv Scenes Responses 11

Unit #6: Commedia Del arte Enduring Understandings: Commedia Dell arte is a product of the Italian Renaissance and greatly impacted the theatre that followed. Improvisational sketch comedy was a major component of Commedia Dell arte performances. What aspects of the Italian Renaissance led the the creation of Commedia Dell arte? What aspects of Commedia Dell arte are still evident in modern theatre, television, and film? In what ways do Lazzi drive a scene? TH:Cn11. 1.HSI What aspects of the Italian Renaissance led the the creation of Commedia Dell arte? Understanding the influence of status on the arts. Creating characters based on status with other characters (leading vs led). Teaching Lecture and Notes Notes Feast of Fools from Hunchback of Notre Dame s Responses Improvised Status Swapping Scenes TH:Cr2.1. HSI.a TH:Cn10. 1.HSI What aspects of Commedia Dell arte are still evident in modern theatre, television, and film? In what ways do Lazzi drive a scene? Analyzing the use of stock characters both in Renaissance Italy and contemporary entertainment. Creating stock characters with physical mannerisms that reflect their personality traits. Understanding the role of Lazzi as the inciting incident for a comic scene. Creating Commedia style work by performing scenes with clear physical choices that reflect stock characters, clear status divisions among the characters, and clear Lazzi that drive the action of the scene. Lecture and Notes Character Development Exercises and Games Improvisational Lazzi Exercises Lazzi Performances Notes s Responses Improvised Commedia Characters Responses Lazzi Performances 12

Unit #7: Script Analysis for the Actor Enduring Understandings: Stanislavsky s concepts of objective, obstactle, tactics, stakes, and given circumstances are the basis for script analysis in Western Method theatre. Analyzing the script thoroughly leads to a more specific and successful performance. Why is Stanislavsky significant? How do we find information about a character in the script? How can we use Stanislavsky s basic concepts to analyze a script? How can we internalize our textual analysis for performance? TH:Cn11. 1.HSI TH:Pr4.1. HSI.a TH:Pr4.1. HSI.b TH:Pr6.1. HSI Why is Stanislavsky significant? How do we find information about a character in the script? How can we use Stanislavsky s basic concepts to analyze a script? How can we internalize our textual analysis for performance? Understanding how Stanislavsky came to be the creator of modern Western theatre. Analyzing a character in a script by considering what he says, what he does, what others say about him, what the playwright says (in stage directions), and how the character treats others. Analyze a monologue by interpreting the objectives, obstacles, tactics, stakes, and given circumstances. Internalizing a character by using verbs to become that character in performance. Notes Lecture Notes Teaching Close Reading of a Scene Notes Modelling Close Reading of a Monologue Students Close Reading of Monologue Improv Scenes Writing from Character s Perspective Beat Breakdown Performance s Copies of Scenes Copies of Various Monologues Monologue from Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw Chapter on Objectives from William Ball s Sense of Direction Response Written Character Analysis Conflicting Objective Improv Scenes Monologue Written Prep Work Monologue Objective Breakdown Monologue Performance 13

Unit #8: Playwriting Enduring Understandings: Writing dialogue differs from narrative prose as characters must show the entire story through their actions and interactions. Planning the structural elements before writing causes the playwright to make purposeful choices. Scripts must be formatted properly so that actors and directors can understand the playwright s intent. How do people speak to each other? How is our speech different from our written communication? How do the structural elements of the play drive the development of the script? How should a theatre script be formatted? TH:Cr1.1. HSI.c TH:Cr3.1. HSI.a How do people speak to each other? How is our speech different from our written communication? How do the structural elements of the play drive the development of the script? Developing characters based upon the way in which they speak and interact with others leads to characters with specific, clear voices. Creating scripts based upon pre-determined, specific characters, objectives, obstacles, tactics, and resolution leads to thoughtful and purposeful writing. Teaching Listening to and Transcribing Actual Conversations Writing Short and Long Form Character Biographies Scenes Developed from Character, Setting, and Dramatic Premise Cards Recording Devices Short and Long Form Bios Draft Short Scenes TH:Cr3.1. HSI.a How should a theatre script be formatted? Creating a script using universal formatting for clarity/ Lecture and Notes Transcribing Conversation Revising and Editing a Scene Script Format Handout ChromeBook Transcribed Conversation Write an Original Scene 14

Unit #9: Design Project Enduring Understandings: Through visual and auditory arts, designers bring the world of the play to life on stage. With a clear, unified design concept all aspects of a show come together to create one successful work of art. How can music be used to create tone, mood, and environment? How do color, line, shape, and composition communicate story and emotion? How can props be used as an effective tool for storytellying? How do varying styles of design impact storytelling? What are the types of stages, and how do they impact the both storytelling and the audience s experience? TH:Re7.1. HSI How can music be used to create tone, mood, and environment? Interpreting one art form with another leads to a deeper understanding and clearer communication among an ensemble of theatre artists. Teaching Drawing in Response to Music s Paper and oil pastels Music Drawings TH:Re9.1. HSI.b How do color, line, shape, and composition communicate story and emotion? Analyzing how choices about color, line, shape, and composition evoke emotion and story. Drawing in Response to Music Analysis of Design in Film Clips Completed drawings Film clips responses TH:Cr3.1.HSI.c How can props be used as an effective tool for storytellying? Understanding how choices regarding scenic props, hand props, and set dressing create style. Analysis of Theatre Clips Prop plot Clips from differing styles of plays responses 15

TH:Cr1.1. HSI.a TH:Re7.1.HSI How do varying styles of design impact storytelling? What are the types of stages, and how do they impact the both storytelling and the audience s experience? Comparing and contrastic realistic versus conceptual design and its impact upon audience. Interpreting how changing audience configuration changes audience experience. (thrust vs proscenium vs arena) Written response to various designs Written design proposal Lecture and notes Improv scenes performed multiple times for different audience configurations Images of a wide variety of set and costume designs s Scripts s Written response to designs Design proposal (including writing and images) response 16

Unit #10: Marketing and Front of House Enduring Understandings: Without strong marketing and front of house, there is no audience to appreciate the show. What makes an effective show poster? What makes an effective press release? How can theatre be marketed to a contemporary audience? TH:Re8.1.HSI.a TH:Re8.1.HSI.a TH:Pr5.1. HSI.b What makes an effective show poster? What makes an effective press release? How can theatre be marketed to a contemporary audience? Identifying the elements of a show poster. Creating a poster that effectively engages audience. Identifying the elements of a press release. Creating a press release that effectively engages audience. Creating a multi media campaign that effectively engages audience. Teaching Analysis of sample posters Design of original poster Analysis of sample press releases Writing original press release Brainstorming Written proposals s Posters Computers and/or paper and drawing supplies Press releases Sample marketing campaigns response Final poster response Final press release response Final marketing plan 17

Unit #11: Final Project Enduring Understandings: Producing a successful show requires a script, a design concept, script analysis, rehearsals, and a marketing plan. How can an ensemble of artists working through a variety of mediums create one unified and successful piece of art? TH:Pr6.1. HSI How can an ensemble of artists working through a variety of mediums create one unified and successful piece of art? Composing a short play with clear characters and script elements. Analyzing the script to conceptualize design and acting choices. Preparing for performance through effective rehearsals. Engaging audience through effective marketing. Teaching Study guide with script writing, analysis, performance, and marketing review Creation of rubric as a class Rehearsal timeline s Chromebooks Paper and drawing supplies Final script, design concept, performance, and proposed marketing campaign Written review of peers Final theatre review of live play 18