Instructor: Pamela Arkin
Office Telephone: 395-2615
E-mail: arkinp@longwood.edu
THEA 113/ACTING I
Fall 2011
Office: CCST #319
Office Hours:
MW 2-5 or by appt.
Course Catalog Description : An introduction to the art of performance in the theatre.
I have never really believed that acting can be taught. Yet, when I remember what a clumsy beginner I was myself and how greatly I have been influenced, all through my long stage career, by the fine directors and players with whom I have been fortunate to be associated, I cannot deny the advantage of teaching, provided it can be followed up by hard experience.
Text: There is no textbook for this course.
-- Sir John Gielgud
Course Objectives : Upon completion of the course students will be able to:
1. Recognize the physical, vocal, and mental skills required for successful acting.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of theatrical terminology applicable to acting through written assignments and classroom discussion.
3. Systematically analyze a character and a simple dramatic scene.
4. Prepare and work independently on a scene using accepted rehearsal procedures and techniques.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of acting.
6. Work effectively as a member of an ensemble.
Acting classes are laboratories. Places to fail, experiment, take risks, and grow. The emphasis is always on process. Some exercises will lead to amazing discoveries. Some will leave you frustrated and angry. Whatever the outcome, it is fleeting, ephemeral ... like theatre itself. The most important thing to remember is that there is no “right” way.
There is only your way. And that is what we are here to discover.
The process is the reality.
-- Samuel Johnson
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*Tentative Class Schedule:
Week 1
Aug. 23
Aug. 25
Week 2
Getting to Know You
What Do Actors Do?
Terminology Pre-test
The Actor’s Tools/Preparing Yourself to Act
Aug. 30
Sept. 1
Week 3
Sept. 6
Sept. 8
Inside Out / Outside In
Internal/External Action - Circus Project Assignments
Week 4
Sept. 13
Sept. 15
Emotion & The Character
The “Magic If”
Week 5
Sept. 20
Sept. 22
Given Circumstances
Given Circumstances
Week 6
Sept. 27 Defining Useful Objectives
Sept. 29
Week 7
Direct & Indirect Action: Subtext
Oct. 4
Oct. 6
Obstacles/Tactics/Stakes
(Cont.)
Week 8
Oct. 11
Oct. 13
FALL BREAK!
Presentation of Circus Projects
Week 9
Oct. 18
Oct. 20
View & Critique Circus Projects
Play & Scene Structure Self-evaluation Paper Due
Week 10
Oct. 25
Oct. 27
Breaking Down the Script/Beat by Beat
The Actor’s Score
Week 11
Nov. 1 Throughlines/Superobjectives
Nov. 3 Rehearsal Process/Basic Blocking
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Week 12
Nov. 8 1 st Showing of Scenes (Group A)
Nov. 10 1 st Showing of Scenes (Group B)
Week 13
Nov. 1 5 1 st Showing of Scenes (Group C)
Nov. 17 1 st Showing of Scenes (Group D)
Week 14
Nov. 22
Nov. 24
1 st Showing of Scenes (Group E)
Thanksgiving!
Week 15
Nov. 29
Dec. 1
Terminology Test
Tech Rehearsal for Final Scenes
* This class is designed to help you become more familiar with the craft of acting.
Due to the size of this class, the schedule may change at any time in order to better accommodate your needs.
General Notes:
Acting is a discipline that requires hard work, memorization, and attention to detail.
Be prepared for class both mentally and physically.
Out of respect for yourself and the craft, NEVER miss a rehearsal with your partner(s) or class on an assigned performance date!
Wear clothing that is suitable for movement. NO short skirts, tight pants, dangling earrings, chains, dog collars, etc. Body piercings, particularly nipple rings, navel rings, eyebrow rings and tongue studs, may be interesting fashion statements but could prove very dangerous in acting class. We will also be working barefoot most of the time. It is permissible to wear socks.
Unless otherwise specified, all performances must be memorized.
It is important to note that plays written for the theatre sometimes contain strong language that might be considered offensive to some: sexual terms, violence, profanities, or references to religious deities. If this is a problem for you, please see me privately.
The nature of this work requires that physical contact occur from time to time between fellow students. On occasion, I may have to adjust parts of your body for proper alignment and to release tension. If this is a problem for you, please see me privately to address your concerns.
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Final Exam Scene/Written Character Analysis : Your final exam will be the performance of a scene from a contemporary American play. A written character analysis (Actor’s Score) will be turned in at the time of your exam. NO exceptions! The instructor will assign your scene and your partner(s). You are welcome to invite guests.
EXAM DATE: Check Schedule
IMPORTANT: You are responsible for returning any props, costumes, or furniture used in your scene. All borrowed materials must be returned on the day of the exam or your grade will reflect this transgression. Five (5) points will be deducted from the grade of each participant in the scene for each offense. In other words, if you leave a skirt and a bottle in the performance space, you and your partner will have 10 points deducted.
Course Requirements:
Participation in all class activities and projects
Performance in the Circus Project
Journal of Circus Project rehearsals
Written Self-Evaluation of Circus Project
Attending ALL Mainstage Productions
Performance in a Final Scene/Written Acting Score
One Written Test
Grading:
Neither innate talent, nor prior experience, will be factored into the equation. What you did in high school or community theatre is of no consequence to this class. Technicians or non-majors will be treated the same as aspiring Broadway stars. We are all starting at point A.
Class Participation
Performance in the Circus Project
Circus Project Journal
Circus Project Self-Evaluation
Final Scene
Acting Score
Terminology Test (1)
30%
20%
5%
5%
20%
10%
10%
Total 100%
Class Participation: You will receive a letter grade based on the following criteria:
Enthusiasm and courage exhibited in classroom activities
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Proficiency in meeting deadlines/Turning in all assignments
Commitment to class exercises
Oral participation
Ability to work with others
Punctuality and Class attendance
Class Participation grades will be determined as follows:
A = Student has read the assignments and asks questions, and expresses judgments/opinions. Student is able to give a clear summary of all assigned material.
Meets all deadlines. Is enthusiastic and energetic in leading class activities. Comes to class regularly.
B = Student participates 80 % of the time. Meets most deadlines. Has read all assigned material. Has fewer than three unexcused absences.
C= Student only enters the conversation when asked; student’s response shows only vague familiarity with assigned reading. Has missed some deadlines. Has more than three unexcused absences.
D = Student is unable to summarize reading or cannot respond to questions asked; keeps silent during most class discussions. Has little enthusiasm for class activities.
Repeated absences.
F = Student is present but totally non-participatory. Has missed more than 25% of scheduled classes.
Attendance Policy : Students are expected to attend all class sessions.
It is your choice, however, whether or not you attend class or decide to be late. But if you choose to be late or absent, there are consequences —consequences that will affect your grade.
Excused absences are ONLY those which are approved by your theatre instructor. In cases of real and *severe illness, occurrences of death in the immediate family, or other cases of extenuating circumstances may be considered excused —but only by your instructor. (E-mails sent on the day of class never constitute excused absences.) If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from being on time, you need to negotiate that dilemma with the theatre instructor on the first day of class. Otherwise, you are considered late if you appear more than one minute late after class begins. If you are more than five minutes late, you are considered absent and should not even attempt to enter the classroom.
-Three unexcused absences will result in the dropping of one letter grade
-Six unexcused absences will result in the dropping of two letter grades
-Seven absences will result in your being failed in the course.
-Being late three times (i.e., more than one minute but less than five minutes) constitutes one absence.

If you are diagnosed with Flu, DO NOT COME TO CLASS!
You must provide proof of this diagnosis.
Writing Assignments will be graded according to the standards set by Longwood
University, the Department of Communication Studies & Theatre, and criteria outlined by
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the instructor. Unless otherwise specified, all work should be done on a computer and backed up by whatever means you use. Written work, submitted as e-mail attachments, will not be accepted. You are expected to turn in all written work on the assigned date.
Late work will receive onehalf credit. “My printer was out of ink,” or “Something is wrong with my computer,” only indicate that you waited until the last minute to complete an assignment. Your Actor’s Score is due at the time of the exam . NO EXCEPTIONS!
Examples of exceptional work are on file in my office. You are welcome to peruse them.
Honor Code : Any material used in class must be noted as to source and author. Any written work must be pledged. Any violations will result in Honor Board hearings.
Disability Statement : It is the responsibility of any student with a physical or learning disability to contact the instructor at the first class session to discuss means of meeting said disability. Disability caused by abuse of drugs or alcohol will not be tolerated!
Circus Project: The criteria for your circus project are outlined in a handout. You will be given this handout the day your partners are selected.
WARNING : The abuse of illegal drugs or alcohol is strictly forbidden! Anyone coming to class exhibiting evidence of substance abuse will be denied participation in classroom activities. This will count as an unexcused absence.
Bibliography:
The following books are available in the Longwood Library or are part of my private collection. You ar e encouraged to browse to your heart’s content.
Adler, Stella. The Technique of Acting. New York: Bantam Books, 1988.
Berry, Cicely. Voice and the Actor. New York: Macmillan, 1974.
Bruder, Melissa. A Practical Handbook for the Actor. New York: Random House, 1986.
Callow, Simon. Being an Actor. London: Penguin Books, 1987.
Chekhov, Michael. To the Actor: On the Technique of Acting. New York: Harper & Row,
1985.
Hagen, Uta. Respect for Acting. New York: Macmillan, 1973.
Johnstone, Keith. Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre. London: Methuen, 1987.
McGraw, Charles and R. Craig Wolf. Acting is Believing. 2nd ed. New York: Holt,
Reinhart and Winston, 1966.
Moore, Sonia. The Stanislavski System. New York: Penguin Books, 1984.
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Moston, Doug. Coming to Terms with Acting: An Instructive Glossary. New York: Drama
Book Publishers, 1993.
Schlusberg, Julian S. Lessons for the Stage: An Approach to Acting. Hamden, CT:
Archon Books, 1994.
Spolin, Viola. Improvisation for the Theatre. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press,
1963.
And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
--T.S. Eliot
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