ADV. ACTING (tasks 1-4 home page)

ADVANCED ACTING CLASS

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE:

The purpose of Advanced Acting is to learn about the process and product of theatre through the hands-on activity of producing a show for the greater Oxford community. All shows for Advanced Acting are produced in the OHS Black Box Theatre.

THE SHOW:

The shows produced in Advanced Acting change each year. Some former Advanced Acting shows include 1984 (2014), The Crucible (2015), Our Town (2016), Animal Farm (2017), Fools (2018), Lost in Yonkers (2019), and The Uninvited (2020). (Click titles for photos of each.)

UNITS:

The students in Advanced Acting all serve their semester's show by learning about, and participating in, acting, directing & design tasks that help to "put the show on its feet". To learn more about each of these design elements, click on the gallery boxes at the bottom of the page.

SYLLABUS

TASK 1:

ACTING

(note: actors also serve on a design team)

Actors will learn the PROCESS of rehearsing/performing a show by...

arriving to rehearsal/class on time and helping to set up the space each day
knowing which scenes are being rehearsed, and preparing (in advance) for the scheduled scene(s)
memorizing lines and blocking by pre-established deadlines
maintaining an accurate & well-marked rehearsal script
being prepared for each rehearsal with required rehearsal props (and costume pieces) that will be handled in the scheduled scene(s)
working well with the director and design teams
demonstrating actor growth throughout the process
attending technical rehearsals & run-throughs (typically after school the week before the show)
arriving at pre-estabilshed calltimes during performance nights
performing with commitment to self, character, and cast.

SUMMATIVE: Criterion B

(Developing Skills)

TASK 2:

RESEARCH

(note: all students participate in research)

Students will learn about the RESEARCH required for any production by...

spending time researching the show's characters and context (time period, style, genre, historical or cultural significance, etc.)
Actors: dissecting the script and creating a thorough "Character Clues" spreadsheet (from lines provided in the script)
Designers: dissecting the script and creating a "Needs of the Script" spreadsheet (from information provided in the script)
Actors: demonstrating strong character choices in rehearsal (and/or fully participating in director-led activities that are designed to help you make stronger character choices)
Designers: participating fully in design meetings (by design team) to discuss research findings and establish an overall "feel" for your designs

SUMMATIVE: Criterion A

(Knowing & Understanding)

TASK 3:

DESIGN

(note: all students participate in design)

Students will learn about the DESIGN PROCESS for a production by...

participating fully in rehearsals and design meetings (by design team)
discussing script and research findings in order to establish an overall "feel" for your characters/designs
effectively managing "Needs of the Script" spreadsheets in order to include all needed character/design elements in the show
working independently and efficiently during (and outside of) rehearsals in order to develop creative, imaginative, and effective designs that support the theme, style, time period, and director's concept of the show
Designers: interpreting the script and creating a "Design Board" for your designs
Actors: interpreting the script and creating a "Character Collage" image board for your character
learning the process and product of design from experts in the field (click the boxes below for specific learning/tasks by role)
designing then collaborating and effectively creating your final design element(s) to be used in the show

SUMMATIVE: Criterion C

(Thinking Creatively)

TASK 4:

PERFORMANCE

(note: all students participate in design)

Students will learn about stage PERFORMANCE by

participating fully in all run-throughs and technical rehearsals (typically runs are after school the week before/of the show)
having all designs elements completed by pre-established deadlines in order to have efficient run-throughs and performances
arriving to the theatre on time, signing in to rehearsal, following actor/designer pre-performance check lists, and being prepared prior to each run-through/performance
contributing to a positive show culture by remaining dependable, supportive, and humble while in service to the show and others
performing your task and role to the best of your ability
demonstrating individual growth in your final performance