University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 2006 The Chorus: A Line To Cross Marco Santiago University of Central Florida Part of the Theatre and Performance Studies Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Masters Thesis (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Santiago, Marco, "The Chorus: A Line To Cross" (2006). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019. 889. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/889 THE CHORUS: A LINE TO CROSS by MARCO ANTONIO SANTIAGO B.A. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, 2006 a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in the Department of Theatre in the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Fall Term 2006 © 2006 Marco Antonio Santiago ii ABSTRACT This thesis project will provide an in depth examination into the musical theater role of Paul, the male Puerto Rican dancer in A Chorus Line, as performed by Marco Antonio Santiago. The performance will take place at Cohoes Musical Theater in Albany, New York. This examination will reveal how the application of Stanislavski’s methods on acting and his views in preparing a character can be used on musical theatre roles to achieve well rounded, fully developed and completely believable characters. The thesis will contain a structural analysis of the script, scene and role analysis, a performance journal to log the growth/challenges of each role, and other vital information charting the application of Stanislavski’s methods on acting. In addition to Stanislavski’s methods other well known acting teachers and their methods such as Richard Boleslavski and Sanford Meisner, will be viewed and applied throughout the process. Furthermore, a performance critique/analysis will be provided by Lani Harris, Tan Huaixiang, and Nicholas Wuehrmann, who serve as the acting committee members for this thesis project. The role of Paul helps propel the action of the play forward allowing the audience to truly realize the themes provided by the playwright, lyricist, and composer. This thesis project will reveal that an actor’s training can be applied in almost any venue of theatre in some form or fashion and successfully make a well-rounded character. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tan and each of my committee members for all of their persistence and enduring patience. Also, a sincere thanks to Dan and Daydrie for teaching me everything I needed to know. And a special thanks to my family and God for inspiring me to finish the race. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION............................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER TWO: RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS..................................................................... 21 Scene Analysis.........................................................................................................................................................21 Opening: “I Hope I Get It” .................................................................................................................................21 “Who Am I Anyway” ..........................................................................................................................................22 “I Can Do That”...................................................................................................................................................22 “… And…”..........................................................................................................................................................23 “At The Ballet”....................................................................................................................................................23 “Sing!”.................................................................................................................................................................24 “Montage 1: “Hello Twelve”...............................................................................................................................24 Montage 2: “Nothing” ........................................................................................................................................25 Montage 3: “Mother”..........................................................................................................................................25 Montage 4- Judy, Greg, Richie & Company ......................................................................................................26 “Dance: Ten; Looks: Three”................................................................................................................................27 “The Music And The Mirror”..............................................................................................................................27 Paul’s Scene.........................................................................................................................................................28 “One”...................................................................................................................................................................29 Tap Dance............................................................................................................................................................29 Alternatives..........................................................................................................................................................29 “What I Did For Love”........................................................................................................................................30 Bows....................................................................................................................................................................30 Script Analysis.........................................................................................................................................................30 Plot- The Beginning.............................................................................................................................................31 Plot-The Middle...................................................................................................................................................33 The End ...............................................................................................................................................................34 v Other Elements ....................................................................................................................................................35 Analysis of Role ......................................................................................................................................................37 The Magic If ........................................................................................................................................................39 Emotional Memory..............................................................................................................................................40 Application: .........................................................................................................................................................42 Observation..........................................................................................................................................................43 Application 1: ......................................................................................................................................................44 Application 2: ......................................................................................................................................................45 Emotional Preparation .........................................................................................................................................46 Concentration of Attention ..................................................................................................................................47 Application: .........................................................................................................................................................47 Tempo-Rhythm....................................................................................................................................................48 Application: .........................................................................................................................................................49 Given Circumstances...........................................................................................................................................50 Application: .........................................................................................................................................................50 Imagination..........................................................................................................................................................52 Application: