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High Point University THE 303 Acting III Advanced Scene Study

• Course Objective The goal of this course lies within the application of technique the student has developed from: Acting I, II, Voice/Diction, and Movement. This class will focus on techniques for scene study and creating a character within the modern era of theater.

• Assignments The student will complete ten (10) scenes and two (2) must contain long passages by each character. Scenes will be assigned by the instructor and will include but are not limited to the authors listed. • Eugene O’Neill • Federico Garcia Lorca • Bertolt Brecht • • Edward Albee • • Caryl Churchill • August Wilson • Tennessee Williams • • Tom Stoppard • Paula Vogel • Lee Blessing • This list is not exhaustive and serves only as a basis from which the instructor will select material.

Text: Creating a Role; Stanislavski, Constantin: Acting is Believing; McGaw­Clark­ Stilson: Way of the Actor; Bates, Michael

Attendance Policy It is of utmost importance that you be present for every class. Due to the nature of the work it is very difficult to make up any missed class time. You are allowed two (2) missed classes. Upon the third (3) missed class you will be put on

1 attendance probation. Upon the fourth (4) absence you will be issued a final warning. Upon the fifth (5) you will be dropped from the course.

• Course Calendar (please see next page for further information) 8/24­ Introduction, assign Sc. 1 8/29­ Table work Sc. 1 8/31­ Present Sc. 1 9/5­ Assign Sc. 2 9/7­ Table work Sc. 2 9/12­ Present Sc. 2, assign Sc. 3 9/14­ Table work Sc. 3 9/19­ Work Sc. 3 on feet 9/21­ Present Sc. 3, assign Sc. 4 9/26­ Table work Sc. 4 9/28­ Work Sc. 4 on feet 10/3­ Present S. 4, assign monologue 10/5­ Work Monologue 10/10­ Present Monologue 10/12­ Assign Sc. 5 ___Fall Break___ 10/24­ Off book for Sc. 5, table work 10/26­ Work Sc. 5 10/31­ Present Sc. 5, assign Sc. 6 11/2­ Table work Sc. 6 11/7­ Work Sc. 6 on feet 11/9­ Present Sc. 6, assign Sc. 7, 11/14­ Present Sc. 7, assign monologue 11/16­ Work monologue 11/21­ Present monologue, assign final Sc. 8 ___Thanksgiving Holiday___ 11/28­ Off book for Sc. 8, table work 11/30­ Work scene 12/5­ Work scene 12/7­ Work scene ___FINAL, SC 8 Presentation for select faculty and peers, TBA___

2 • Course Calendar Specifics

Phase I­ Foundations

Scene 1—Open scene. This will center on creating a distinct character using physical expression from the expressive continuum. Scene 2—The Spoon River Scene. This will be done using the Coming Home Exercise learned from scene 1. Scene 3—Short scene using open text that is predetermined by the instructor.

Phase II­ Practice within early to mid 20th century drama

Scene 4—This will be a scene study from an early 20 th century American playwright. An example of this would be Eugene O’neill. Scene 5—Longer scene from the mid 20 th century, i.e. Clifford Odets.

Phase III­ Practice within contemporary drama

Scene 6—Contemporary Scene consisting of more modern language and action, i.e. Harold Pinter, David Mamet. Scene 7—The quick turnaround scene. This scene will be fully prepared and worked on out of class and presented at the next meeting. Scene 8, Final—This will be a Ten minute play of the instructor’s choosing. It will be from a contemporary playwright.

Monologues throughout the semester

Each student will complete two (2) monologues of their choosing. This will assist them in building a professional repertoire of work that may be presented at anytime upon request.

• Grading Scene 1­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­10 pts Scene 2­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­20 pts Scene 3­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­30pts Scene 4­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­40pts Scene 5­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­40pts Scene 6­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­50pts

3 Scene 7­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­50pts Scene 8­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­100pts Monologue 1­­­­­­­­­­30pts Monologue 2­­­­­­­­­­30pts Total­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­400pts

Reading List The following plays should be read. Treat these readings as an investigation in which each Thursday you will be given an opportunity to present your findings to the class for discussion.

I have attempted to select plays that you may not have read in a Dramatic Literature class.

The Rose Tattoo­Tennessee Williams The Homecoming The Dumbwaiter­Harold Pinter Assassins­A musical by Stephen Sondheim, John Weidman American Buffalo­David Mamet The Gingham Dog­Lanford Wilson The Piano Lesson­August Wilson Therese Raquin­Emile Zola Look Back in Anger­John Osborne The Shrike­Joseph Kramm ­Tom Stoppard Engaged­W.S. Gilbert Lobby Hero­Kenneth Lonergan True West­Sam Shepard Last of the Red Hot Lovers­

Students with diagnosed disabilities should contact Dr. Kelly Norton, Director of the Academic Services Center, 841­9037. Accommodation arrangements should be made at the beginning of the semester. Accommodations are not retroactive.

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