Opening Agenda
• Things you need:
– Notebook – page 110
– Monologue from last class
• Things to do:
– Opener Review Questions
– Monologue completion – This will be a zero in the
grade book if you do not perform today!
– Purposes of Theatre Notes/Examples
– Start Architecture
Opener – complete on the back of page 109
1. Which of the following is a performance element?
a. exposition b. makeup c. costumes d.
inflection
2. Which term means ‘to speak clearly’?
a. projection b. motivation c. breath control d. articulation
3. Which of the following is NOT a technical element of drama?
a. suspense b. props c. scenery d. sound
4. Which of the following is NOT a literary element of drama?
a. language b. lighting c. theme
d. suspense
5. What is a term that means “untying of the plot”?
a. blocking
b. tension c. denouement d. resolution
Purposes of Drama
•
•
•
•
Sharing the Human Experience
Passing on Tradition and Culture
Recreation
Artistic Expression
Sharing the Human
Experience
• Plays that are designed for
this purpose show social
change, communicate
universal themes, or
recreate/interpret
information.
• Ex. A Raisin in the Sun Trailer
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hip
2vqM7Wdg&ob=av3e
A Raisin in the Sun -Synopsis
• A Raisin in the Sun portrays a few weeks in the life of the Youngers, an
African-American family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s.
When the play opens, the Youngers are about to receive an insurance check
for $10,000. Each of the adult members of the family has an idea as to what
he or she would like to do with this money. The matriarch of the family,
Mama, wants to buy a house to fulfill a dream she shared with her husband.
Mama’s son, Walter Lee, would rather use the money to invest in a liquor
store with his friends. As the play progresses, the Youngers clash over their
competing dreams.
• The play concludes when the Youngers eventually move out of the
apartment, fulfilling the family’s long-held dream. Their future seems
uncertain and slightly dangerous, but they are optimistic and determined to
live a better life. They believe that they can succeed if they stick together as
a family and resolve to defer their dreams no longer.
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/raisin/summary.html
Passing on Tradition
and Culture
• Plays that are designed for
this purpose are used to
express or communicate
feelings, ideas or
information.
• Ex. The Lion King – Circle of Life
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
HwSKkKrUzUk
Recreation
• Plays that are designed
for this purpose focus on
providing entertainment
for the audience.
• Ex. In Living Color
– Substitute Teacher
http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=2g1e8dZM3MY
Artistic
Expression
• Plays designed for this
purpose are created to
show storyline or topic of
interest to the playwright.
• Ex. Seven Year Itch
Trailer
• http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=fJgC549mpRk
“The Seven
Year Itch”
• The phrase “seven
year itch” has been
used by
psychologists to
describe the
declining interest in a
monogamous
relationship after
seven years.
What elements of drama do
actors use to convey their
emotions or the theme of the
play to the audience?
The Performance Elements
• Breath Control: when an actor controls his or
her breathing to adequately deliver his or her
lines
• Articulation: the clear and precise
pronunciation of words
• Inflection: variety in speech reflecting
changing thoughts and emotions
• Projection: when an actor raises his or her
voice to emphasize a statement or to be heard
on a stage
• Rate: the speed that someone talks
• Body Alignment: the posture of an actor
onstage
• Gesture: an expressive movement of the body
or limbs
The Performance
Elements
“How does an actor use
performance elements to
convey a message to the
audience?”
How do people convey their
emotion without words?
• Clip Shown: Lenny Fights Curly – Of Mice
and Men
• You are going to watch a short clip from
the movie, Of Mice and Men, to observe
how people communicate without words.
• On your theater viewing guide, complete the
bottom portion.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njDrdhTfmZE
Performance Assessment
Activity Explanation
• Day Three – Performing
Elements – 30 minutes
• Using the modified script from
last class add the final step of
performing elements.
• You must chose two per
category on the right.
Emotional
• Character Motivation/Analysis
• Objective
• Obstacle
• Empathy
Verbal
• Vocal Expression
• Breath Control
• Articulation
• Inflection
• Projection
• Diction
• Rate
Physical
• Non-verbal
• Facial Expression
• Body Alignment
• Gesture
• Tactics
Stage Directions
• Downstage
• Upstage
• Character Blocking
Performance Time!
• 15 minutes until first performance
• Memorize your lines!
• Literary, Technical, and
Performance Elements of Drama
must be present
– Literary: Monologue, Dialogue, Theme,
Language and Style
– Technical: lighting, costumes, props
– Performance: 3 of the 7 elements from
lecture must be used
Requirements
• Be quiet and respectful when others
perform
• Perform when called on or loose points
• Announce your song and what performing
elements you will be using.