DRMA 251 – Acting: Contemporary Scene Study
Winter Quarter 2012

Office Hours: Daily 2:30-3:30 and as scheduled

Instructor:  Tammi (Tammis) Doyle
e-mail: tammi.doyle@bellevuecollege.edu
Phone: 425-564-2319
Office location: E100 a

Course Information

Course Outcomes

 

  • Understand how to analyze a contemporary script for beats and objectives.
  • Have the tools to analyze and research a play and role.
  • Tell the story using your body, voice, eyes …
  • Begin to find your personal power as a performer.
  • Simply tell the truth on stage.
  • Relate to your scene partner spontaneously and honestly.
  • Develop good rehearsal and performance skills.

How Outcomes will be met

-This is a scene study class for the more advanced student actor

-3-4 plays will be read

-An acting text is used

-Warm up and focus exercises are used almost every class

-Research tools are investigated to help understand the culture of the play, playwright and characters

            AIR:  A cycle of Analysis, Imagination and Research (in any and every order) that must     be visited and revisited as you prepare a role.

 

            SCHEEP: The tools needed to research a role: the time and place dictates the: Society,   Culture, History, Education, Economics, and Politics.  The little Scheep are all kept in the    corral by the fence of Time and Place.

 

-Background paperwork and character autobiographies are written and handed in

-Scenes are assigned, lines are memorized, worked on in class and presented with props and rehearsal clothing.

In this class and on stage we will work primarily on: Playing your objective: what do you want from your scene partner?  In order to perform the scene you will use a variety of tactics to achieve your objective and identify obstacles to achieving your objective.

 

There is a textbook and two-three scripts that will be used this quarter.  They shall be read, studied and at times memorized.  There will be papers and quizzes on the material.

 

We will investigate the art and craft of acting through exercises, scene analysis, scene preparation, reading, discussion, and your outside work on text, observation and study.

 

Grading

 

Coming to class is crucial.  This class is built upon your willingness to stretch yourself, to challenge yourself and to accept others in the class without judgment.  Your absence will often curtail not only your learning but that of your scene partner.  If you miss more than 5 classes your grade will be automatically dropped.  Constant tardiness will cause your grade to drop, as will any more than two absences. Absences can be explained, they are very rarely excused.

 

20%     Attendance and Behavior as outlined in this syllabus

5%       See The Foreigner and write a one page response paper on the acting

10%     Test on Text

50%     For each scene: The scenes are weighed more heavily as they progress:

            5%       Research on character including SCHEEP and other assigned work

            5%       Memorization: on time and how well

            10%     Work on scenes: taking direction from instructor and input from partner

            10%     Preliminary showing

            20%     Final presentation

15%     Final Presentation of all scenes

______________________________

100% Total

 

Books and Materials Required

 

ACTIONS:ACTORS' THESAURUS
CALDARONE

 

PRACTICAL HANDBOOK FOR THE ACTOR
BRUDER

 

Trust by Dietz

 

2  Plays that you will be required to buy.

Classroom Learning Atmosphere

Instructor’s Expectation

 

Preparation:

Bring the script or text on which we are working to class.  You must come to class prepared, in clothes in which you can move and are comfortable.  Be sure to eat and drink before class.  Cell phones must be turned OFF before class.  No gum or food in class (water only.) 

 

Assignments:

You must have your scenes memorized on time and you must make time to rehearse with your scene partner outside of class at least 2 hours a week.

- You will keep a 251 Binder with all written material punched and with labeled tabs.

-For each show we will read a little in class, you must read a lot at home and you will memorize a monologue or scene.

-You will present that scene in front of the class for feedback.  You will give a final presentation with all rehearsal props and costumes. 

-At the final performance of each scene you will hand your scored script, your character autobiography, your SCHEEP research, your written analysis of the play and your character (one page) and your rehearsal notes in your 251 Binder.

                                                          

Cell phones are to be turned off and put in your bag (never carried on your person) during class.

 

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 that you will find at the university and semi-professional and professional level.  This material may challenge your politics, culture, beliefs and personal comfort.  Let it.  At any time that you are uncomfortable in the class or with the material, please see me immediately in class or in my office.

 

Affirmation of Inclusion

 

Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination.

We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect. http://bellevuecollege.edu/about/goals/inclusion.asp

 

Division Statements

 

At Bellevue College Drama Classes are housed in the Theatre Arts Department within the Arts and Humanities Division.

 

Please look at the following pages.  You will find good information about ways to succeed as a student in Arts and Humanities classes at Bellevue College. 

 

http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/AHGdlns-StdntGrwth.htm

http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/policy.html

 

Information about Bellevue Colleges copyright guidelines can be found at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/lmc/links/copyright.html

 

A good  resource for Plagiarism is the Writing Lab:  http://bellevuecollege.edu/writinglab/Plagiarism.html

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 Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as possible.

 

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 and other helpful links 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.

Course Calendar    PH= Practical Handbook for the Actor             

Monday and Wednesday we are in Stop Gap

Tuesday and Thursday we are in E224 (or N208)

 

 

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri………………

1

JAN  2

NO SCHOOL

 

3

Welcome

PH- Job of the Actor

 

4

Basic Acting

Research

SCHEEP

AIR

 

5

Exercises

Discuss Auditions Objective Ex

6

12:30

Stage Fright

1:00

KCACTF

Short Mtg.

2

9

Listening

 

10

PH Ch 1

Actions/Thesaurus

11

WorkSCHEEP

Analyze short scenes

12

Work short scenes

Get First Scenes

 

13

12:30-2:30

KCACTF

IR/MT Perf. I

Tech Olym Mtg

3

16

NO CLASS

MLK Day

 

17

PH Ch 2

Read  First Scene Play at home

 

18

Work Scenes

 

19

Paperwork done in class.  SCHEEP due

 

 

20

12:30

Stage Fright

 

2:00 WWU Perf.

 

 4

23

Scene 1 First

Presentation OFF BOOK

24

PH Ch 3-4

Exercises

25

Work Scene

26

Work Scene

27

12:30- 2:30

KCACTF

IR etc

 

 

5

30

Scene 1 Final Presentation

 

31

NO CLASS

Faculty Professional Development Day

FEB 1

Read Trust at home

Read scenes in class

Get Trust Scenes

2

Work Scenes

3

12:30

No Stage Fright

6

5

Trust papers due

SCHEEP/Ltr/ 3 Stps

Work Scenes

6

PH Ch 5-7

 

7

Trust first presentations OFF BOOK

 

8

Work scene

Individual mid-quarter conferences and 251 Binder check in

10

12:30-3:30

KCACTF

IR/MT Perf. II

Devising

Stone Tablet

7

13

KCACTF

ALL WEEK

14

Assignments and classwork TBD

15

TBD

16

TBD

 

17

No Stage Fright

8

20

NO CLASS

PRES. DAY

21

Trust scenes worked

22

Work Scene

23

PH Ch 5-7

Discuss MT auditions

(Spring Awakening Auditions)

24

12:30

Stage Fright

1:30  Spring Awakening

Callbacks

9

27

Trust Final presentation

28

PH Ch 8-10

29

Get Scene 3

 

March 1

 NO CLASS

College Issues Day

2

12:30- Stage Fright Meeting

2:00  Foreigner Dry Tech

10

5

Read Scene 3 play at Home

Work scene in class

6

Work Scene

 

 

 

7

Focus ex

PH Ch 11

 

7:30 The Foreigner

8

Work Scene

 

 

 

7:30 The Foreigner

9/10

 

12:30

Stage Fright Meeting

 

7:30 The Foreigner

11

12

First Presentation Scene 3 OFF BOOK

13

Discuss PH and acting

14

Work scene

15

Practical Hand book and Analysis Final

16

12:30

Stage Fright Meeting

 

21

In class rehearsal for the Final

22

1:30-3:20       FINAL

All paperwork due for all three scenes and response paper to the ACTING in The Foreigner (typed)

23

 

Happy Spring Break!

 

 

The schedule is subject to change due to missed rehearsals, illness, or pace of work.

 

Monday and Wednesday we are in Stop Gap

Tuesday and Thursday we are in E224 (or N208)

 

Every scene will be used to work on the following:

            Voice              Body               Ability to Concentrate          Ability to analyze a script

 

Objectives, obstacles, tactics, focus, concentration, connection, endowment, simplicity,  physicality, intimacy, and vocal and physical storytelling. 

 

You will constantly be made aware of your need for technique: a voice that can be heard and understood and a body that relates that which you wish it to relate for your character in the scene.