ENSEMBLE ACTING: Blocking and Character Development
STEP 1: SCRIPT SELECTION 1. Select scripts that portray three-dimensional characters - “Scenes written to be scenes” often have characters that can feel like cardboard - Try editing a scene from a full-length play for well-rounded characterizations - Most importantly, the characters must change and grow throughout the scene 2. Select scenes that have emotional range - Too much tragedy for 15 minutes can feel tedious – give the audience a break - The most successful scenes will infuse a combination of comedy and drama - If you can make the audience laugh and cry in the same scene, you are golden - Every good scene is like a roller coaster – keep the audience on the roller coaster for 15 minutes 3. Find scenes that match the skill set of your potential actors - Get to know your potential speech team members and find their strengths - It is important to give actors opportunities to show range, but you also want to set them up to be successful - 90% of directing is casting SCRIPT RESOURCES Samuel French www.samuelfrench.com BEST Dramatists Play Service www.dramatists.com Playscripts, Inc. www.playscripts.com Dramatic Publishing www.dramaticpublishing.com Brooklyn Publishers www.brookpub.com Pioneer Drama www.pioneerdrama.com
DUBUQUE SENIOR ENSEMBLE ACTING SELECTIONS (2004-Present) ‘Night Mother* Marsha Norman Full Length Play Dramatists A Midsummer Night’s Dream* William Shakespeare Full Length Play Public Domain Battle of Bull Run Always Makes Me Cry* Carole Real Scene David Friedlander Catholic School Girls* Casey Kurtii Full Length Play Samuel French Doubt, A Parable*+ John Patrick Shanley Full Length Play Dramatists Good Business Sense Emmett Loverde Scene Playscripts Greater Tuna Williams/Sears/Howard Full Length Play Samuel French Hollywood Arms*+ Burnett and Hamilton Full Length Play Dramatists Independence* Lee Blessing Full Length Play Dramatists It’s Not You Craig Pospisil Scene Playscripts No Shoulder Nina Shengold Scene Playscripts Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson Rich Orloff Scene Playscripts Present Tense* John McNamara One Act Play Dramatists Proof David Auburn Full Length Play Dramatists Role of Della John Wooten Scene Playscripts Roll Over, Beethoven*+ David Ives Scene Playscripts Bride and Gloom* Rich Orloff Scene Playscripts Shakers* Godber and Thornton Full Length Play Dramatists Sure Thing David Ives Scene Dramatists Taming of the Shrew*+ William Shakespeare Full Length Play Public Domain The Guys Anne Nelson One Act Play Dramatists The Unknown Part of the Ocean* Sheri Wilner Scene Playscripts Waving Goodbye* Jamie Pachino Full Length Play Playscripts * All-State Nomination + Critic’s Choice Award
STEP 2: WORKING WITH THE ACTORS
1. Creating characterizations - Actors are observers: the best way to create a 3-dimensional character is through observation - Work with actors to establish a clear vocal, physical, and emotional life for the character o Acting Exercise: Freeze Tag - Using tactics (physically, not just vocally) o Acting Exercise: One/Two Scene 2. Creating Blocking - Set the scene to allow a variety of acting areas and stage pictures - Utilize all areas of the acting space - Motivate all movements with intentions o Acting Exercise: Tableaus 3. Putting it Together - Acting Exercise: Open Scene
Open Scene Dialogue One: Oh.
Two: Yes.
One: Why are you doing this?
Two: It’s the best thing.
One: You can’t mean it.
Two: No. I’m serious.
One: Please…
Two: What?
One: What does this mean?
Two: Nothing.
One: Listen…
Two: No.
One: So different.
Two: Not really.
One: Oh.
Two: You’re good.
One: Forget it.
Two: What?
One: Go on.
Two: I will.