Acting For Non- Majors
Thea 115

Spring 2015
Instructors: Randall Eames, Jessica Humphrey
Contacts:
Randall - r.r.eames8@gmail.com/801.725.2145
Jessica - jmhumphre@rohan.sdsu.edu
Office Hours: per request
Course Description
This course is designed to equip the student with better sensory awareness,
observation skills, concentration skills, listening and response skills and beginning
acting improvisational skill. Students will learn how to apply these skills in other fields,
allowing students to present and speak with more confidence, clearer objectives and
insight to public performance. This will empower the individual with stronger
presentation techniques for theatre performance as well as other disciplines.
Student Learning Outcomes
• Exhibit a basic understanding of theatre as a dramatic art form by dramatic
presentation and written analysis
• Perform comfortably as an ensemble as well as individually in front of an audience
• Physicalize dramatic action
• Connect voice and movement to build three-dimensional characters
• Work cooperatively within group settings
• Call upon concepts of theatre in everyday life to use in the demands of a variety of
disciplines
Class Expectations
• Participate in a POSITIVE manner in warm-ups, class discussions, and group work.
Participation includes:
• Arriving prepared and on time with all necessary materials/assignments in
hand and/or memorization prepared in advance.
• Answering questions orally and share thoughtful analysis and observation
voluntarily.
• Participating not only in performance and experimentation in class, but also
in the work as audience and spectators. Support and promote the
development of classmates.
• Acting respectfully toward classmates and instructors.
Absence/Tardy policy
• Allotted two unexcused absences with no penalty
• Excessive absence will result in additional make-up assignments
Excused
absences will only be validated by doctor’s note, documentation of curricular
•
activities, or extenuating circumstances
• Any tardy exceeding 15 minutes will be considered an absence
Everyday Class Requirements:
Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes you can move in.
Come prepared. Memorization ready and/or papers in hand at the start of class.
Production Responses (written assignments):
Alice
Due 3/17
Great American Trailer Park
Due 5/5
You are required to attend and write a 1-page college level analysis on two SDSU
productions: Alice (March 6-15), The Great American Trailer Park Musical (April 24May 3). Each paper will due on the first class after the respective shows final
performance with your ticket stub stapled to your paper.
Showtimes, tickets prices, and other details are available online at
http://theatre.sdsu.edu or via telephone at 619.594.6884
A summary is not an acceptable production response. They should address the given
circumstances, objectives, and obstacles of the play/musical. Don’t give opinions
without supporting them. To say that someone is good, bad, moving, or funny is not
constructive argument. WHAT made the actor good? WHY was his/her performance
truthful? HOW was he/she funny? How did the actors achieve a positive or negative
result?
Extra Credit and Late Work
Extra Credit may be assigned throughout the semester, it is due by the last day of class.
Each assignment is worth 15 points.
Late work may be accepted pending instructor approval. Points will be deducted from
the final grade.
Academic Dishonesty
Cases of academic dishonesty such as plagiarism will be addressed in strict
accordance with university policy. Consequences include, but are not limited to an
automatic “F” on that assignment. For more information on what constitutes plagiarism,
please visit http://infotutor.sdsu.edu/plagiarism/index.cfm
Appropriate Contact
This course will involve human contact, which may raise issues for some people. On
occasion, instructors use kinesthetic feedback as a teaching tool. Students may be
asked to make safe physical contact with each other during the semester. Feel free to
step out of any exercise that is significantly discomforting to you. If you have problems
with touch or individuals in class, please discuss the issue with course instructors
outside of class.
Important Dates:
2/3
3/6-3/15
Last day to Add/Drop
Alice
3/17
3/30-4/3
4/24-5/3
5/5
5/14
Alice production response paper due
Spring Break – no class
Great American Trailer Park Musical
Trailer Park production response paper due
Final Presentations (10:30-12:30)
Weekly Breakdown
Week 1
1/22 – Class Introduction, Name Games (two truths one lie), assign Object Game
Week 2
1/27 – Icebreakers, Object Game, Discussion
1/29 – Warm-up, Focus exercises, One Word Stories, assign Observation Activity
Week 3
2/3 – Warm up, Observation Activity due & Observation performances
2/5 – Warm-up, “The Big Hitters” and exercises
Week 4
2/10 – Warm-up, Assign A/B Scenes and rehearsal
2/12 – Warm-up, A/B scene one #1
Week 5
2/17 – Warm-up, A/B scene one #2, Rehearse A/B scene two
2/19 – Warm-up, A/B scene two #1
Week 6
2/24 –Warm-up, A/B scene two #2
2/26 – Warm-up, Viewpoints exercises and discussion
Week 7
3/3 –Warm–up, Viewpoints exercises and discussion
3/5 – Warm-up, Intro to Improv
Week 8
3/10 – Warm-up, Improv
3/12 – Warm-up, Vocal Exploration and Jam, assign monologues
Week 9
3/17 – Warm-up, Alice response paper due, monologue selection due discuss
monologue purpose and upcoming scenes
3/19 – Warm-up, work monologues memorized
Week 10
3/24 –Warm-up, work monologues memorized
3/26 – Warm-up, first presentation of monologues, Assign Scene Partners and Scenes
Week 11
3/31 — Spring Break
4/2 —Spring Break
Week 12
4/7 – Warm up, Final monologue presentation, discuss character analysis
4/9 – In class rehearsal for scenes
Week 13
4/14 – Warm-up, Memorized work scenes
4/16 – Warm-up, Memorized work scenes
Week 14
4/21 – Warm-up, Memorized work scenes
4/23 – Warm-up, Memorized work scenes
Week 15
4/28 – Warm-up, Work scenes (Buffer day)
4/30 – Musical Theatre TBA
Week 16
5/5 –Warm-up, Trailer Park discussion & papers due and ABBA
5/7- Final Dress Rehearsal (Run through of scenes)
5/14 Final Exam: Final Performance of Scenes
Students With Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your
responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of
your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note
that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be
provided until you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability
Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.