PERFORMING BASICS
UNIT 1
MOVEMENT ON STAGE
Blocking – arranging actors in a
scene so they know where they are
supposed to be on stage.
MOVEMENT ON STAGE
Cheating Out – keeping an open
position that turns you toward the
audience.
MOVEMENT ON STAGE
Upstaging – being in a position on
stage where you are in front of the
actor you are speaking to, which
causes the other actor to be out of
sight by the audience.
MOVEMENT ON STAGE
Gestures – expressive body
movements that should be definite
and clear.
Examples??
MOVEMENT ON STAGE
STAGE DIRECTIONS
C=center
SR=stage right
SL=stage left
DR=down right
DS=down stage, DC=down center
DL=down left,
SR=stage right
SL=stage left
UR=up right
US=up stage, UC=up center
UL=up left
VOICE ON STAGE
Diaphragm – thin muscle under
lungs that contracts when a breath
is taken in, used to support sound.
VOICE ON STAGE
Pitch - the degree of highness or
lowness of a tone.
VOICE ON STAGE
Volume - the strength of sound.
VOICE ON STAGE
Articulation - adjusting the
movements of speech organs
involved in pronouncing a
particular sound, in order to speak
clearly
VOICE ON STAGE
Projection - sending the voice to
fill all areas of the theatre
CHARACTER
External Traits – characteristics of
a character that have to do with
outward appearance. Examples:
posture, movement, mannerisms,
voice, clothing.
CHARACTER
Internal Traits – qualities of a
character determined by what he
or she is like inside. Examples:
mentality, spirituality, emotions.
CHARACTER
Objective – the character’s main
goal.
CHARACTER
Beat – where a character changes
the subject when saying lines, and
the sections of the beginning,
middle, and end of a monologue or
scene.
CHARACTER
Fourth Wall – the imaginary wall
created (or broken) when watching
a performance.