TH 110 -- Acting I -- Syllabus

 

 

Instructor:

                David S. Hopcroft; Office Hours, room W203B: M 9:00-10:15; T 12:30-1:45; or by appointment.  E-Mail: dhopcroft@qvcc.commnet.edu

 

Course Description:

                Students will explore a variety of techniques used by actors to create characters for performance.  Course work will utilize monologues and scenes, including ensemble work and improvisation to explore character development and the use of the stage environment

 

Course Objectives:

                This class does not assume any prior experience with acting, nor does it assume that you have never tried acting.  In either case, this class will ask you to begin where you are and discover, through the exercises and activities, how to develop characters in theater, or improve your skill in character development

 

                                After successful completion of TH 110, you will:

 

                                -- understand and be able to demonstrate the use of sensory response and sense memory in the development of stage actions;

                                -- understand and be able to explain the relationship between character motivation and action;

                                -- be able to identify key ideas in short scenes for the analysis of objectives, rhythms, relationships, and themes;

                                -- be able to demonstrate in the performance of short scenes the use of techniques for focus and control;

                                -- be able to demonstrate the use of the voice as a medium for the development of character and theme in performance;

                                -- be able to demonstrate techniques for using the body as an expressive medium in drama;

                                -- be able to demonstrate the use of theatrical space in dramatic performance;

                                -- be able to overcome "stage fright" in order to perform in front of an audience.

 

Assignments and Grading:

 

-Assignments-

-- Participation -- The members of the class are expected to learn to work together, much the way an acting company works together, so attendance and active participation in all the activities of the class will be important.  Every missed class will reduce the student’s participation grade (and consequently the semester grade) by .5 points.

 

-Journals- each student needs to provide a standard pocket folder (not a 3-ring binder, they’re too bulky) for an assignments journal.  All homework assignments will be collected in the journal and checked weekly.

 

-Individual scenes- each student will need to select a short scene, able to be performed in approximately 10 minutes.  Scenes may consist of specific monologues from longer plays, one-character scenes, or edited multi-character scenes in which we see and hear only the character being played. 

 

-Ensemble scenes- students will select and cast 3 to 5-character scenes to be performed at the end of the semester.  Each scene will last approximately 20 minutes.

 

-Final Exam- Details will be provided later, but this will be an active exam involving demonstration of concepts or skills developed during the semester.

 

                -Grades-

 

                                In this course, a point system will be used for the awarding of grades.  Students will accumulate points during the semester based on completion and evaluation of the assignments as follows:

 

                                A) Reading/Participation                                    10

 

                                B) Journals                                                            20

 

 

                                C) Individual scenes                                            30

 

 

                                D) Ensemble scenes                                            30

 

                                E) Final Exam                                                         10

 

 

                                Final grades will be determined by the total number of accumulated points according to the following scale:

 

0 - 59 pts = F

 

77 - 79 pts = C+

 

 

 

60 - 63 pts = D-

 

80 - 83 pts = B- 

64 - 66 pts = D

 

84 - 86 pts = B  

67 - 69 pts = D+

 

87 - 89 pts = B+

 

 

 

70 - 73 pts = C-

 

90 - 93 pts = A- 

74 - 76 pts = C

 

94 - 100 pts = A

 

 

 

                If there is any student in this class who has special needs because of learning disabilities or other disabilities, please feel free to come to discuss this with me.