DRAMA 256: SHAKESPEARE SCENE STUDY: Syllabus
Spring 2012
Instructor:
Karen Jo Fairbrook
E-mail:
Phone: 425- 564-2719
Office
location: E-121 (Theatre Building & next to Box Office
Windows)
Office
Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays @
3:00 – 4:00pm and as Arranged
Course
Information
Course Outcomes
1)
Know a variety of warm ups for rehearsal
and performance of a Shakespearean play.
2) Analyze the text for meaning and
character.
3) Utilize modern acting technique to create
character, pursue objective and maintain onstage
relationship.
4. Apply analysis of text to create role and maintain character.
5. Interpret language for modern audiences.
6. Demonstrate confidence with language.
How Outcomes will be met
--ASSIGNMENTS: Please note: All assignments need to be done on time or your grade will
lower.
There will be in-class exercises, and some script
homework assigned in preparation for Monologue & Scene presentations. Lines
need to be memorized when due and you will rehearse with your scene partner
for several hours outside of class. Everyone
will lead Warm-Ups once during the quarter. Be prepared for a couple of Quizzes
based on the textbook & lectures. Midterm
& Final will include written & performance activities. You will write a Review Paper on the
acting you observe in the BC play you see this term. You will perform
Monologues and two-or-three person scenes this quarter. We will read and use
material from our textbooks, “Complete
Works of Shakespeare” & “Shakespeare’s Words” & “Playing Shakespeare”.
Course Content Includes:
1. Introduction to the plays
of William Shakespeare: Comedies, Tragedies, Histories
2. Introduction to the methods of interpreting and analyzing character through
language
3. Work on poetry and prose in the script
4. Work on a specific comic monologue
5. Work on a specific tragic or dramatic monologue
6. Work on a specific comic scene
7. Work on a specific tragic or dramatic scene
--JOURNAL: You will keep a DETAILED & DAILY class journal of what we do in class
chronicling your reactions to the exercises, observations and things you learn
by watching others, and a chronology of what you find helpful. This will be
your own acting text detailing processes that work for you – and
things you don’t understand or need to work on. It
will be handed in to me at the end of the quarter. Only I will read it.
--PRODUCTIONS: You must see “SPRING AWAKENING”
being done here @ BC in Stop Gap Theatre: Buy your tickets in advance @ www.brownpapertickets.com *You will write a 2-3 page
Critique* Play
dates:
May
24, 25, 26, 30, 31, June 2 @ 7:30pm; June 1 @ 9:30pm * Ticket
Price: $10 students / $12 general
{NOTE: Auditions for Summer Quarter’s musical ONCE UPON A MATTRESS will be later this quarter.
See me if interested!
Everyone interested is encouraged to audition or participate backstage!}
Our StageFright production of The
SHADOWBOX plays: April 12, 13, 14 @ 7:30pm * All
Tickets At Door: $5
Everyone is very highly encouraged to attend and will get extra credit
for attendance/review of production
ESPRESSO ~ an evening open mic/variety
show all students can participate in plays: June 9 @ 7:30pm
Grading
Grading Breakdown:
Attendance/Participation/Prep.
. . . .10%
Sonnet Project
. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 10%
Monologue
#1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5%
Monologue #1 paperwork . . . . . . . . 5%
Scene
#1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5%
Scene
#1 paperwork . . . . . . . . . . . . 5%
Monologue #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5%
Monologue
#2 paperwork . . . . . . . . .5%
Scene
#2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5%
Scene #2 paperwork . . . . . . . . . . . . 5%
Quiz
# 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5%
Quiz # 2 . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5%
Journal
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5%
SPRING AWAKENING Review . . . . .5%
FINAL Scene Presentations . . . . . .
.20%
Books and Materials Required
The
Complete Works of Shakespeare: The Alexander Text – Collins
Shakespeare’s
Words: A Glossary & Language Companion – Crystal & Wells
Playing
Shakespeare w/CD – Peter Barton
Final Exam Schedule
Our FINAL presentations will
take place: THURSDAY June 14TH
@ 3:30 – 5:20 pm
http://bellevuecollege.edu/classes/exams
Classroom Learning
Atmosphere
Instructor’s Expectation
In order to understand and experience “Acting Shakespeare”, you will
participate in exercises; learn craft techniques; learn the critical importance
of breath; hone your imagination and sensory skills; use objectives, actions
and obstacles; work alone on Monologues and with scene partners on short scenes
as you explore Connection, Talking & Listening, Rhetoric and Scansion. All
of this requires a willingness to take some risks, use your common sense, find
your sense of bravery ~ and PLAY! Having an open attitude and willingness to
“jump in” are key to succeeding and having a great deal of FUN !
--ATTENDANCE / PARTICIPATION / PREPARATION: is crucial & attendance will be taken every day
-this is a participatory class.
Absences curtail your learning and affect
your scene partners adversely. If you are late
you will be marked “tardy” – habitual tardiness is a class
disruption. Three “tardies” equal one “absent”. Three
“absences” will cause your final grade to automatically be lowered one whole
grade. Five “absences” causes failing
the class. Let me know ahead
of time (email or leave a voice message) if you know you will be missing a
particular class for an excusable reason (illness, emergency, or school-related
conflict)! Absences will be judged
harshly when working in scene partnerships. The most important things you
will be graded on will be effort & willingness ~ not “talent”.
Be
prepared and ready to participate each day in comfortable clothes & shoes you can easily move in. Read assigned
material by the due dates and turn in assignments on time or you will not get
full credit. Have props & items ready when needed for class. Particularly
important is being a good “partner” when working with a fellow actor. If you do
not attend or are not prepared for class activities – you leave your partner incapacitated and
unable to fully participate which is extremely rude and unfair!
Be sure
to have all CELL PHONES turned OFF before class! I will take
phones away and return them after class if they ring or you are caught texting
during class. This includes using
laptops during class unless approved for a specific project or reason. Unfortunately,
a few sneaky “during class computer game-players” have made this mandatory.
I’ve been known to answer phones when going off in class J
You are
welcome to bring drinks, but please refrain from eating during class – and
particularly no gum chewing as these
get in the way of our exercises. We can take a short break for you to snack.
Mutual
respect and understanding that we all have different views and tastes is
paramount in our class. Diversity and a variety of points-of-view are the norm
. . . there is very little “right or wrong” in our discussions. We can learn a
great deal from each other and when applicable: agree to disagree! Every single student MUST feel safe and
welcome to express themselves in this class. I will be a stickler and very proactive about this! Those of us who
participate in theatre are accustomed to “taking risks” – this is a safe place
to do so! Absolutely no name-calling, slurs or prejudicial talk will be
tolerated.
BE SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER!!!!
It is the expectation of the instructor that as
college students you are prepared to investigate and perform adult material. This
is the kind of material you will find at the university, semi-professional
& professional level. It may challenge your politics, culture, beliefs and
personal comfort. Let it. At any time you are uncomfortable in the
class or with the material, please see me immediately in class or in my office.
Affirmation of Inclusion
We value our different
backgrounds at
Student Code
“Cheating, stealing
and plagiarizing (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without
crediting
the source) and
inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code
of
Conduct at Bellevue
College. Examples of unacceptable
behavior include, but are not limited to: talking
out of turn, arriving
late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to
ring, and
inappropriate
behavior toward the instructor or classmates.
The instructor can refer any violation of the
Student Code of
Conduct to the Vice President of Student Services for possible probation or
suspension
from Bellevue
College. Specific student rights,
responsibilities and appeal procedures are listed in the
Student Code of
Conduct, available in the office of the Vice President of Student
Services.” The Student
Code, Policy 2050, in
its entirety is located at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/policies/2/2050_Student_Code.asp
Important
Links
Bellevue College E-mail and access to MyBC
All students registered for classes at Bellevue College are entitled to a network and e-mail account.
You must use this email in this class.
Your
student network account can be used to access your student e-mail, log in to
computers in labs and classrooms, connect to the BC wireless network and log in
to MyBC. To create your account, go to: https://bellevuecollege.edu/sam.
BC offers a wide variety of computer and learning labs to enhance learning and student success. Find current campus locations for all student labs by visiting the Computing Services website.
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
The
If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.
The DRC office is located in B
132 or you can call our reception desk at 425.564.2498. Deaf students can reach us by video phone at
425-440-2025 or by TTY at 425-564-4110.
Please visit our website for application information into our program at
www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc
Public Safety
The Bellevue College (BC) Public Safety Department’s well trained and courteous non-commissioned staff provides personal safety, security, crime prevention, preliminary investigations, and other services to the campus community, 24 hours per day,7 days per week. Their phone number is 425.564.2400. The Public Safety website is your one-stop resource for campus emergency preparedness information, campus closure announcements and critical information in the event of an emergency. Public Safety is located in K100 and on the web at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/publicsafety/
Academic Calendar
The Bellevue College Academic Calendar is separated into two calendars. They provide information about holidays, closures and important enrollment dates such as the finals schedule.
· Enrollment Calendar - http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/calendar/deadlines/. On this calendar you will find admissions and registration dates and important dates for withdrawing and receiving tuition refunds.
· College Calendar - http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/calendar/holidays/1011.asp. This calendar gives you the year at a glance and includes college holidays, scheduled closures, quarter end and start dates, and final exam dates.
Division Statements
At
Please look at the following pages.
You will find good information about ways to succeed as a student in
Arts and Humanities classes at
http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/AHGdlns-StdntGrwth.htm
http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/policy.html
Course Calendar
(Our daily / weekly class calendar is subject to change ~ I will inform you of any revisions)
~ OUR CLASS WILL USUALLY MEET IN EITHER
STOP GAP OR CARLSON THEATER ~
Sometimes we will go to N208 to watch
videos but always meet in the E-lobby or theater first
|
|
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
|
1 |
APRIL 2 |
3 Welcome. Introductions & Names Plunging Into Shakespeare ~ overview of class & content |
4
|
5 Warm-ups Sonnet Readings (bring book) Sonnets assigned |
|
2 |
9 |
10 Work on Sonnets First Monologues & Scenes Assigned |
11 |
12 First Read of
Monologue #1 |
|
3 |
16 |
17 Monologue #1 Work |
18 |
19 First Read of Scene #1 |
|
4 |
23
|
24 Monologue #1 Work Monologue #1 MEMORIZED!!!! |
25
|
26 FIRST SHOW: MONOLOG #1 Paperwork due |
|
5 |
30 |
May 1 Scene #1 work |
2 |
3 Scene #1 work Scene #1
MEMORIZED!!!! |
|
6 |
7 |
8 Scene #1 work |
9 |
10 FIRST SHOW: SCENE #1 Paperwork due |
|
7 |
14 |
15 First Read of Monologue #2 Second Monologue & Scenes Assigned |
16 |
17 Work on Monologue #2 Work on SONNETS |
|
8 |
21 |
22 FIRST SHOW:
MONOLOG #2 Monolog #2
MEMORIZED!!! Paperwork Due |
23 |
24 First Read of Scene #2 |
|
9 |
28 NO CLASS |
29 Scene #2 work |
30 |
31 Scene #2 work Scene
#2 MEMORIZED |
|
10 |
June 4 |
5 FIRST SHOW: SCENE #2 Paperwork due |
6 |
7 Run all scenes & monologues with props & costumes = Including Sonnets |
|
11 |
11 |
12 Run ALL
Scenes/Monologues w/ props &
costumes including transitions = TIME whole
presentation |
13 |
June 14 FINAL SCENE PRESENTATION: 3:30 – 5:20 PM All Paperwork Due |
Expansion
So, this is how I know if you have read all the way to the end or not! These are the easiest points to earn because all you have to do is bring me back this piece of paper on Tuesday telling me the following information,
starting with YOUR name and
1) What is MY name, email & phone info, and office location?
2) What are the textbooks you need to have for the quarter?
3) What play will you attend at BC this quarter?
4) What should you include in your class journal? How often should you write in it? Describe what I want.
5) What can you do to be well-prepared for class? What should you NOT do in class?
6) What
happens to cell phones if they ring or you are caught
7) What will I be a stickler about?
8) Why is attendance so important when we are working on partner scenes?
9) When is our FINAL scheduled to take place?
10) When is the first STAGE FRIGHT meeting of the quarter and where is it?