EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY FOR 11TH AND 12TH GRADE: Watch an episode of "Whose line is it anyway" at whoselineonline.org/ Type a 2 page paper explaining the format of the show, the activities you saw and what worked and why. Also, write about which activity you would like to try in class, and if you can lead it, I'll give you even more credit! You can also write a review of LoMA at insideschools.org or greatschools.org. Take a screenshot and send to ma as proof. Masters:
Majors (11th grade):We will go to NYTW (79 East 4th street) on the following Tuesday Afternoons : October 23rd December 11th January 22nd February 12th March 26th April 16th May 7th I expect great things from You. Impress me, Impress each other but most of all Impress your self Drama as a Major/ 11th grade Syllabus
Instructor: Yetta Garfield Class Location: 201/Black Box/NYTW Email: YGarfield@aol.com Phone: (917) 309-7201 (I prefer text messages)
Course Description
In accordance with the Blueprint for the Arts and the New York Common Core Standards, this course focuses on fundamental acting techniques, playwriting, play production, theater history and theater appreciation. Through warm-ups, exercises, improvisation, monologues, scene work, playwriting workshops, performances and theater field trips, students develop their ability to communicate, and appreciate the world of theater. In addition, they will develop the skills that can translate into a career in the arts or otherwise. Students will also develop the important skills of concentration, listening, teamwork and spontaneity. There will be many opportunities for performance, writing and creative play.
NYTW dates: October 20th, November 10th, December 1st, January 12th ,February 23rd, March 15th, April 19th, May 17th
In this class students:
• Engage in relaxation exercises and warm-ups • Learn body control and vocal projection techniques • Participate in improvisation exercises • Become familiar with theatre vocabulary and history • Read, write and analyze scenes, monologues, and plays • Practice line memorization • Rehearse with scene partners outside of class • Receive and give constructive criticisms • Reflect upon performances • Learn to self reflect • Explore careers in the theater • Perform for an audience • Become involved in the school community performances • Learn stage management and basic production skills • Practice line memorization • Experience Broadway and Off-Broadway productions • Prepare for auditions and college acting programs • Participate in a 10-minute playwriting competition • Experiment with styles and genre of theater
Course Requirements
Keep a journal/Folder with all writings, drafts and scripts. Complete all reading and assignments Practice with partners outside of class Come prepared with all materials everyday Class Participation: Theatre is a collaborative art form that relies heavily on the combined efforts of its Participants; therefore, full participation in the class warm-ups, improvisations, and evaluation sessions is required.
Four Acting Performances (All material must be approved by me) 1) Monologue (11/2-2 minutes in length) 2) Two-Person Scene (5 minutes in length) 3) Theater History performance 4) Leap/Majors show 5) A 10 minute original Play with multiple drafts 6) A script analysis 7) A group presentation/project based in a time period of theater history. 8) Students will also need to attend and review on performance or play on their own. Suggestions will be provided. 9) Students will be required to work backstage or perform in a school wide performance outside of class. * In certain circumstances, some of you have already completed this requirement.
Practice/Performance dates are mandatory. Students who fail to perform on their assigned dates will receive a “0”. If one partner of a group is absent on a performance day (receiving a 0), the partner who attends may have other arrangements made at my discretion.
Grading:
Percentage Breakdown Class Participation 30% Class performances 30% 10 minute play 20% Written assignments/quizzes 20% Total 100%
Class Policies
1) You must be in class and ready to work. If you are late, absent or disrespectful you will lose participation points. You will only be excused if you have a verified note. If you do have a note, you will be expected to ask for and complete makeup work. 2). You may not eat food or drink beverages other than water in this class. You will be expected to participate in all games, writing assignments and projects. You must wear clothes that you are able to move around in comfortably. 3) Your attitude makes up a huge amount of your grade, I expect you to be kind and respectful to each other as well as to teaching artists that will be working with our class. Check your outside drama at the door. 4) When I raise my arm, I want your arm to go up and your mouth to close immediately. 5) Please speak to me before or after class if you have anything physical that I should know about or if you are having trouble in the class. 6) Consider this class a job; it is your job to be here. If you cannot be in class, then leave a message on my voicemail explaining why you are not here you must also find out what work you need to make up. In cases where late work is accepted, grades will be significantly lowered. 7) When I stand in the circle, it means come to the circle immediately, not after you have put on your makeup, nibbled at a bagel and kissed all your friends. Save the social stuff till after class. 8) Do not ever leave the room without my permission. Also, you must go to the bathroom before or after class, you will not be allowed to go during class. Do not ever make arrangements with other teachers to miss class unless I have approved it. 9) Cell-phones/headphones should not be visible at any time in class. After 3 cell phone strikes (by anyone in class), the whole class will have to put phones in a basket till the end of the marking period. 10) All materials/books/equipment must be cared for and returned to their respective places. 11) Fieldtrips are mandatory and participation and enthusiasm factor heavily into your grade. 12) Students will be expected to respect and to respond to guests and teaching artists in a mature and involved manner.
Pupilpath/Website
It is your responsibility to check the website lomanyc.net for assignments and announcements. You must also check pupilpath regularly to track your progress and attendance.
Class Schedule (subject to change)
1st Marking period- The “body as a tool” will be explored with exercises; warm-ups and games intended to strengthen body language and communication skills of the actors. There will be exercises focused on creating an “ensemble” atmosphere in the classroom. Performance work will be mostly silent in order to explore effective forms of communication other than the voice. Students will learn to identify the “who, what and where” and why that is important. Students will begin once monthly fieldtrips to New York Theater Workshop every first Tuesday of the month. These workshops will explore production, marketing, casting, fundraising, literary criticism, development and management of an off Broadway theater. Visits will end in time for students to return to school for tutoring. The class will begin to focus on improvisation and characterization. Students will become familiar with the rules of improvisation and how to implement them. Required viewing: “Whose line is it anyway”. The class will also workshop and perform an open scene.
October 19th- End of marking period
Marking Period 2 Students will select and perform a monologue from a contemporary play. The plays will be analyzed and student will develop techniques in characterization. The students will also begin to workshop and draft their 10-minute originals play. Physical brainstorming and improvisation will be explored as methods of increasing complexities of characters and their stories.
November 15th -1st 6 pages of script completed and submitted
Marking Period 3 Students will select a 2-person scene from a play. The scene will be analyzed, practiced and performed. Styles of acting will be explored as well as methods of analyzing the back-story of text and characters. Students will complete a script analysis of the play they have selected. 10 minutes plays will be completed and presented for feedback and drafting.
December 19th- monologue show
December 21st - 1st drafts of play due January 16th -Final drafts of 10 minute play due
January 18th - end of marking period
2nd semester
Marking Period 1 The winner of the 10-minute play competition will be announced and the play will be cast. Students will participate in an auditioning technique workshop. Students will also perform selected scenes from the plays. Students will complete assignments exploring theater origins and history as well as world playwrights.
March 13th- 2 person scene show
March 16th- end of marking pd March 15th-end of marking period
Marking Period 2 Students will devise original work using a variety of techniques and ensemble exercises. Advance technique will be practiced in improvisation. Students will select material to be used for final class performances and Major’s show. April 11th-Theater vocabulary assessment May 3rd-- end of marking period
Marking Period 3 Students will work on productions on and behind the stage. Theater/performance production will be explored and students will participate in the Majors show and Leap performance. Summer Arts opportunities will be researched and introduced.
June 6th-10th- Rehearsals for Major Show, 3-8pm June 11th or 12th-Majors show June (TBA)- Leap on stage performance at location to be determined
Suggested Readings and Websites
Johnstone, Keith.Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre.New York: Routledge/Theatre Arts Books
Brockett, Oscar G.The Theatre: An IntroductionNew York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 4thed., 1992.
Hartnoll, Phyllis.The Concise History of Theatre.New York: Abrams, 1968.
Johnstone, KeithImprov: Improvisation and the Theatre.New York: Routledge/New Theatre Arts,1988.
Hagen, Uta, with Frankel, Haskel.Respect for Acting.New York: Wiley, 1973.
Stanislavski, Constantine.An Actor Prepares.New York: Routledge/Theatre Arts Books,reprint ed., 1989.
Cassady, Marshall.The Book of Scenes for Acting Practice.Lincolnwood, IL: National Textbook Company, 1985.Cohen, Lorraine.
Scenes for Young Actors.New York: Avon Books, 1982.Gassner, John.
Best American Plays - 6th Series (1918-1967).New York: Crown Publishers, 1987.
Holt, Robin.Scenes from Shakespeare.Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1988.
Katz, Leon.Classic Monologues.New York: Applause Books, 2002.
Lamb, Wendy, and Wendy Wasserstein.Ten Out of Ten: Ten Winning Plays.Laurel Leaf, 1992.
Watts, Irene N.Just a Minute: Ten Short Plays and Activitiesfor Your Classroom.Portsmouth, NH: Heineman, 1990. Thomson, Greg.Step by Step Theater: Creating Plays for ClassPresentation.
Belmont, CA: Fearon Teacher Aids, DavidS. Lake Publishers 1989.
Heathcote, Dorothy, and Gavin Bolton.Drama for Learning.Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1995
Carter, Paul.The Backstage Handbook: An IllustratedAlmanac of Technical Information.
Broadway Press, 3d ed., 1994.Bernardi, Phillip.Improvisation Starters: A Collection of 900Improvisation Situations for the Theater.Cincinnati, OH: Betterway Books, 1992.
http://schools.nyc.gov/offices/teachlearn/arts/Blueprints/Theaterbp2007.pdf
Drama as a Major
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