Basic Drama Projects
Welcome to Drama Class!
• Character
development
• Improv
• Creating props
• Planning set designs
• Writing
• Directing
People Skills
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Tap creativity
Gain self-confidence
Work collaboratively
Be part of a team!
Develop dependability
Critical listener
Critical viewer
Journal Entry
“On the stage you’re exploring the limits of
yourself. How loud and how strong and
how big and how wide is the human
entity? How much are we like giants and
kings?”
Ruby Dee, Actor
(A Raisin in the Sun)
Begin with the Basics
Chapter 1 Warm Up
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Experiential learning
Theater terminology
Warm-up
Observation
Pantomime
Improvisation
Warm-up
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Relax body and mind
Increase flexibility
Improve articulation
Develop warm up
routine
Warm-up
• Alert
• Responsive
• Redirect nervous
energy
• Prepare voice and
body
• Articulation
– clear pronunciation of words
• Intonation
– Rise and fall of sounds and
rhythm of a particular
language
• Idiolect
– Speech mannerisms
• Dialect
– Regional variations in speech
• Accent
– Coloring of a second language
by the first learning of a native
language
Twister Wizard
• Use clear articulation,
expressive intonation
and appropriate
gestures.
• “Perform” the tongue
twister
• Avoid “sing-song”
monotone.
Gestures Project:
Explain the message
• Total physical response
• Discussion: Describe a
time when someone’s
body language tipped
you off to what they
were thinking.
Professional Actors
• Effortless performance
• Inhabit characters
• Tools
– Mind
– Voice
– Emotions
Actor Preparation
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Vocalizing
Routine
Pliable
Adaptable
Disciplined
Class Participation/Writing Project
• Students will imitate the poses in the picture. One
student will act as a director.
Journal: As you pose for the picture, be aware! What to you
observe with all five of your senses? Describe the
experience of posing for the picture. What thoughts
went through your mind? Address each of the five
senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, touch.
Then, choose one of the characters in the photograph
and write a short biography of the character. Then
compare your biography to those of your classmates.
Why warm up?
• Athletes
• Musicians
• Singers
Avoid injuries.
Condition muscles.
Decrease awkwardness.
Warm-ups
• Yoga
• Martial arts
• Dance
Differentiate:
• Relaxation techniques
• Warm-up exercises
Why warm up?
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Relax
Clear mind
Use body and voice effectively
Convert nervous energy to inhabiting the
character
• Build confidence
• Expand range of communication and movement
• Gain mastery of body’s expressive ability
Warm Up Routine: Project
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Name the movements
Weave story around the movements
Move to music
Conscious breathing exercises