• Commitment, participation, attitude 30%
• Progress and development 20%
• Assignments and showings 50%

NOTES:

Grading

Commitment, Participation, Attitude (30%)
Attendance, curiosity, active engaged participation, willingness to explore, depth of investigation, following creative impulses, respect for peers, cooperation, leadership, willingness to take risks.

Progress & Development (20%)
Individual demonstration of understanding and progress, skill development and application.

Assignments (50%)

Reflection Papers (5% of final grade) Due Dates: Wed Oct 16 & Wed Nov 27
An opportunity for you to reflect on your work of the term and articulate your personal discoveries, questions, observations, patterns, frustrations and joys. They may include feelings, sensations, emotions, thoughts, questions, images, and drawings. Emphasis on curiosity and detail. They may include descriptions of particular assignments or explorations and your response. You may also include relevant experiences from outside of class, or applying the work in presentations, rehearsals, etc. Please identify what you have discovered through our work together, and what is your next step, question or curiosity. It is suggested that you keep a work journal for yourself throughout the term documenting these themes that you can draw from in writing your reflection papers. The instructor respects your confidentiality. Papers will be graded on depth and detail of exploration and articulation. 2 – 3 typed double-spaced pages. Legible hand-written responses will also be accepted, and should reflect a similar word count.

Voice Body Paper (5% of final grade) Due Date: TBD
Full details to be provided in class. As with reflection paper, the instructor respects your confidentiality. Hand-written or typed. Minimum writing time is one hour, and maximum four hours.

Audition Group Presentation (10% of final grade) Due Date: TBD
Sections of Audition by Michael Shurtleff will be assigned to read each week. Students will be placed in small groups and one group will lead an exploration of the concepts from the assigned readings each week. Students will be graded on preparation, creativity, engagement, content, and organization. Aim for a lively, interactive exploration of the key points, or most important information from your chapter. You are welcome to use handouts, props, A/V, active explorations, theatre games etc. Remember, the goal is to inspire your peers to share/apply information and entice them to engage with it, not simply to repeat what you’ve read. Your presentation should be 60 – 90 min in length.

Audition Take Home Test (10% of final grade) Due Date: Tues Feb 12
Students are required to read the text Audition by Michael Shurtleff. Students will be expected to complete weekly readings and to participate in class discussions on the assigned material. Guidelines and format for the take home test will be provided by the instructor.

Monologue Text Assignment (10% of final grade) Due Date: TBD
Students will be required to complete a written text assignment in relationship to their individual, personalized understanding of the given circumstances of their monologue and character. The format and guidelines for the written assignment will be provided in class by the instructor.

Monologue Showings (10% of final grade) Due Date: Selections: TBD Showings: TBD
Students must choose a two-minute, age-appropriate, monologue from a modern, published play. A list of possible choices will be provided; other submissions will be considered. Students must submit their top two choices by the due date, marked first and second choice. Please hand in a copy of the monologue (not just the name of it) that includes the play’s title and playwright’s name. Choices will be finalized by the instructor in consultation with students. Each student is expected to read the entire play their selection comes from to inform their understanding of character and context. Students must bring a hard copy of their monologue to every class. Working off of cell phones will not be permitted. Students will show their monologue twice throughout the term, and will receive individual coaching on their monologue in class. All students are also expected to practice and develop their monologues for homework. Students will be graded on preparation, depth of investigation, discovery, risk, creative impulse, clarity, and application of studio work to their performance.

NOTES

Attendance

Attendance at all sessions is mandatory and lateness is unacceptable. Any absence or lates will affect your final grade. Five absences may result in course failure. If you are more than fifteen minutes late for class you will be marked absent. Three lates will be counted as an absence. Exceptions to these penalties for valid reasons such as illness, etc., will be considered with supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s note). If you are going to be late or absent you must notify the instructor at the number above. Keep it simple: arrive early.

Dress

Please wear comfortable clothing you can easily move in: tights, sweats, yoga pants. No jeans or skirts, dangly jewelry, or heavy scents. Please tie hair back away from the face. No shoes – we will work in bare feet or socks (unless orthopedics are required, in which case, please speak to the instructor). Dressing in layers is recommended. Bring a bottle of water.

Assignments

All assignments must be handed in at the start of class on the due date. Handing assignments in late will result in a penalty of -10%. Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., will be considered by the instructor with supporting documentation (e.g., a doctor’s letter). Students absent from a class that involves showing work may not be given the opportunity for a make-up.

Space

Studios are work spaces, to be distinguished from social spaces. Please enter the space respectfully, ready to work, and refrain from cell phone use, and eating/drinking in the studio. No outside food or drink. Water and clear tea are permitted. Please keep your studio space clean and free from garbage and unnecessary clutter.