Theatre Arts
Course Description/Class Expectations
2011-2012
Cimato
Our class is an ensemble class designed to accelerate student actors into serious scene study.
Through the exploration of several texts including 365/365 by Suzan Lori Parks and various other
plays students will develop essential script analysis skills for performance. Through games and
physical explorations, students will learn acting technique focused on bodywork and voice work.
Projects include preparing audition appropriate monologues, partner scenes and short plays.
Accomplishing these goals will require hard work and commitment.
First I ask that all students commit themselves to leaving any judgments behind.
Respect must be a given- in every class.
Second I ask that students dress appropriately for class.
Dress to move! Or be willing to get changed before we begin.
Lastly, I ask that you be on time and be prepared.. All project details will be available to you
via Beacon portal/ Cimatoville Website. If you can’t find it, just come see me. I’m a very
agreeable person.
Please consider everything in the drama studio a precious resource that cannot be easily
replaced. If you would like to maintain the privilege of working with real costumes, props and
equipment, you MUST CARE FOR THEM LIKE THEY WERE YOUR OWN. Respectful clean up and
care of supplies is considered part of your participation grade.
Grade Calculation:
Grades are calculated based on the following formulaParticipation: 25%
Note: You must be present in class to participate! And you can expect to
participate in EVERY CLASS PERIOD. Participation means engagement. It means taking risk.
Playing. Offering an opinion. Contributing to a debate. Asking questions. Helping a peer. Being
prepared, off book, and clear with your scene partners and group mates. Showing up and
breathing in the room is NOT participation. You must bring a note to excuse you from class if you
are ill or must miss class for a legitimate reason. If you cut this class, you can expect to not pass it.
Performance: 30%
There will be at lest two significant projects per quarter and there will be
mini-assessments in between during the preparation of each piece. Off book deadlines,
coachings, and the feed back you give to others are all part of your performance grade.
Homework:
25%
Some preparation is based on reading and writing necessary for effective
acting. This kind of prep will be assessed as homework because technically you should do it
outside of class – and trust me if you try to cut corners and skip some stuff we’ll see it in your
acting. This includes readings, video playback critiques and reviews of live shows we see
together.
Midterm & Final:
20%
A little bit old school quiz a little bit new school self assessment;
both are an opportunity for you to show what you know and a quirky, fun way. Have faith brave
artists! These are not “TESTS”.
EXTRA CREDIT! WANT SOME?
At any time during the course should you go see a live performance of a play – including
Beacon plays- compose a 1 page, double spaced, typed review, of your expert opinion and
turn it in! Instant Extra Credit! No review, no extra credit. I love to know what YOU think!
Beacon School –Theatre Arts Course Description/ Syllabus – 2011-2012 – J. Cimato 1
Theatre Arts 1 Course Syllabus
Unit 1
Team Building & Trust
Topics Covered:
Engagement in space, knowledge of self, peripheral vision, sharing
responsibility, physical warm up
Readings:
1. “Presence” from Letters to a Young Artist by Anna Deavere Smith. p. 11-21
2. “Exercise 8 – Peripheral Vision" – The Viewpoints Book – A Practical Guide to Viewpoints &
Composition by Anne Bogart & Tina Landau; p. 29-34
3. “Tools of the Craft" - Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder et all; p. 65-66
Performance #1:
Solo Warm Up
Unit 2
Objective + Obstacle = Conflict: Basic Story Telling
Topics Covered:
Entrance, Accepting the givens, Intention, Beginning/Middle/End, Focus
Readings:
4. “Introduction-Technique Outline" - Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder et
all; p. ix-10
5. “Exchanges” from Letters to a Young Artist by Anna Deavere Smith. p. 43-46
6. “Keeping the Theatre Clean” - Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder et all;
p. 76-83
Performance #2:
Long Form Neutral Scenes
Unit 3
Observation & Creating Character
Topics Covered:
Posture, Tempo, Voice, Vertical & Horizontal Space, Choosing a
Monologue, Memorization Tactics, Character Biography, Audition
etiquette
Readings:
7. “Physical Action" - Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder et all; p. 13-18
8. “The Emotional Trap" - Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder et all; p. 71-73
9. “Externals” - Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder et all; p. 48-54
10. “Auditioning, Selling Your Wares” & “Audition” from Letters to a Young Artist by Anna
Deavere Smith. p. 92-94
Performance #3:
One-Two Minute Monologue Audition
Mid Term
Unit 4:
Scene Study: 365/365
Topics Covered:
Sharing Stage and Responsibility, Creating Tension, Difference, and
Staging to JUSTFY the text in a full scene, Off Book Assessment, Staging,
Rehearsal Praxis
Readings:
11. “Analyzing a Scene " - Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder et all; p. 19-39
12. “Preparing for a Scene” - Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder et all; p. 5558
13. “The Myth of Character" - Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder et all; p. 7475
14. “Chains” from Letters to a Young Artist by Anna Deavere Smith. p. 155-158
Performance #4:
365/365 Scene
Beacon School –Theatre Arts Course Description/ Syllabus – 2011-2012 – J. Cimato 2
Unit 5:
Big Play Big Picture: Script Analysis of a Whole Play with a super focused scene
Topics Covered:
Broad Strokes in Creating Character, Subtext, Pacing, Journey, production
of a longer piece, Specificity, Character History, Character Journey, Off
Book Assessment, Staging, Rehearsal Praxis
Readings:
15. “Soul” from Letters to a Young Artist by Anna Deavere Smith. p. 140-141
16. “The Truth of the Moment " - Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder et all; p.
40-47
17. “Trouble Shooting” - Practical Handbook for the Actor by Melissa Bruder et all; p. 59-64
Performance #5:
Scene Performance (Play TBA)
FINAL Self Assessment TBA
Please familiarize yourself with www.cimatoville.com where you will find details regarding
attendance policy, video feed back assignments an other web-based parts of our class.
Beacon School –Theatre Arts Course Description/ Syllabus – 2011-2012 – J. Cimato 3