Theatre Syllabus/Course Overview
Teacher: Ms. Kendris Myers
Email: Kendris_myers@iss.k12.nc.us
Course description:
Overview
This course emphasizes individual work as well as the importance of working in
groups to become a member of an ensemble. Students will learn performance skills
, but they will also have a working knowledge of the technical aspects of theatrical
production. It is important as other theatrical cultures are explored for the students
to be able to synthesize all of this knowledge and understand how each culture has
definitive impact on theatre today, and that cultural experience can therefore, effect
theatre of tomorrow.
My goal as a teacher of this class is to introduce you to the fundamentals of Theatre and
promote an understanding of the relevance of Theatre Arts in our world. With your
cooperation, we will develop critical thinking skills and an understanding of the basic
principles and processes that govern the art of Theatre. It is important to note that Theatre
involves much more than simply “acting” or being on stage. Throughout the semester we
will study various aspects of Theatre by concentrating on the following themes:
1.]Study and Reading of play scripts
2.Improvisation/Pantomime
3. Monologues
4.Scene work
5. Theatre History
6. Technical Theatre
7.Theatre Vocabulary (and related vocabulary building)
Class Materials:
You will need daily a pencil/pen and a notebook. It is very important for you to
consider this not just a notebook but more of a personal journal. You are
encouraged to write in it every day, use it for class notes, jot down random
thoughts, draw and/or color, and scribble creative ideas.
Classroom Expectations
Once the bell rings, I expect you to be in your seat with your materials, prepared to work
and do your best on assignments. I expect you to have a good attitude towards me, other
students, and to yourself. Theatre is meant to be fun and creative; however when
something important is being taught or discussed your attention must be given. You will
not be graded on artistic ability but mainly on effort. If you are trying your best, being
responsible and working hard you will earn a good grade.
Evaluation/Grading:
Class participation is critical to your grade. Participation means simply to be engaged in
the classroom lesson and to give your best effort. Participation also means you will
follow the rules of the class to the best of your ability and not be disruptive. Theatre is a
collaborative art form and we have to be able to work as a team in order to ensure success
in our endeavors. The rough schedule and grading breakdown are below:
Performances = 40%
Tests = 40 %
Participation = 20%
Theatre: Sequencing Guide
Timeline
Unit
Concepts
Weeks 1-2 Improvisation Observation
Concentration
Characterization
Essenti
al
Standa
rds
Clarifying
Objectives
B.C.2
Use
perform
ance to
commun
icate
ideas
and
feelings.
B.C.2.1- Use
improvisation
and acting
skills, such as
observation,
concentration
, and
characterizati
on in a variety
of theatre
exercises.
Terminology
Characterization
Improvisation
Objective/Motivation
Situation
Spontaneity
Creative Drama
Scene
Stealing/Upstaging
Week 3
Characterizati Nonverbal
on
communication
Vocal elements
Pantomime
Characterization
Character
Analysis
Week 4-5
Tech Theatre
Designer Roles
Theatre
Hierarchy
Backstage Safety
B.C.1
Use
moveme
nt,
voice,
and
writing
to
commun
icate
ideas
and
feelings.
B.C.1.1
Use nonverbal
expression to
illustrate how
human
emotion
affects the
body and is
conveyed
through the
body.
Pantomime
Leading center
Gesture
Relaxation
Posture
Kinesthesis
Body language
Mime
Movement
Cross
Blocking
Diction
Inflection
B.C.1.2
Monotone
Apply vocal
Pitch
elements of
Projection
volume, pitch, Pronunciation
rate, tone,
Rate
articulation,
Volume
and vocal
Script
expression.
B.AE.1
B.AE.1.1
Designer
Underst Understand
Setting
and how the major
Scenery
to
technical
Stage Manager
design
elements,
Producer
such as
Technical Director
technica sound, lights, Properties Master
l theatre set, and
Director
compon costumes,
Stage Hands
ents,
and their
such as
interrelations
costume hips.
s, sets,
props,
B.AE.1.2
makeup, Explain how
lighting, the major
and
technical
sound.
elements,
such as
sound, lights,
set, and
costumes, are
used to
Weeks 6
Play Analysis
Varieties of
Theatre
Dramaturgy
Dramatic
Structure
B.CU.1
Analyze
theatre
in terms
of the
social,
historica
l, and
cultural
contexts
in which
it was
created.
B.C.1
Use
moveme
nt,
voice,
and
writing
to
commun
icate
ideas
and
feelings.
B.A.1
Analyze
literary
texts
and
perform
ances.
enhance
formal or
informal
productions.
B.CU.1.1
Use theatre
arts to
explore
concepts in
world history
and relate
them to
significant
events, ideas,
and
movements
from a global
context.
B.CU.1.2
Exemplify
history,
culture,
geography,
economics,
civics, and
government
from a global
perspective
through the
creation of
theatrical
works.
B.C.1.3
Understand
how to read
and write
scripts that
communicate
conflict, plot,
and character.
B.A.1.1
Genre
Conflict
Plot
Character
Farce
Aside
Dialogue
Soliloquy
Atmosphere
Comedy
Tragedy
Drama
Theme
Exposition
Mood
Rising Action
Denoument
Moral
Protagonist
Antagonist
Weeks 710
Theatre
History
Weeks 11- Acting
17
Origins of
Theatre
Greek Theatre
Roman Theatre
Theatre
Etiquette
Audition
Senses
Stage Presence
Characterization
Ensemble
Interpret the
plot structure
and the
thematic,
technical, and
dramaturgical
elements
within scenes
from plays.
B.CU.1
B.CU.1.1
Analyze Use theatre
theatre arts to
in terms explore
of the
concepts in
social,
world history
historica and relate
l, and
them to
cultural significant
contexts events, ideas,
in which and
it was
movements
created. from a global
context.
B.C.2
B.A.1.2
Use
Analyze
perform informal or
ance to formal
commun theatre
icate
productions in
ideas
terms of the
and
emotions or
feelings. thoughts they
evoke,
B.A.1
characters,
Analyze settings, and
literary
events.
texts
and
B.C.2.2
perform Interpret
ances.
various
selections of
B.CU.2
dramatic
Underst literature
and the through
Thespis
Thespian
Skene
Deus ex Machina
Chorus
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Euripides
Ampitheatre
Colusseum
Slate
Audition
Callback
Understudy
Stage Directions
Backstage
Cross
Cue
Enter
Exit
Hand Prop
Stage Prop
Off Book
tradition
s, roles,
and
conventi
ons of
theatre
as an art
form.
formal and
informal
presentations.
B.CU.2.1
Illustrate
appropriate
theatre
etiquette as a
member of an
audience, as a
performer,
and as a
technician
B.CU.2.2
Use acting
conventions,
such as stage
presence,
subtext, style,
and ensemble
work, to
perform
formal or
informal
works.