This is the fourth of six experience-based one-credit courses where students work onstage, backstage, or in front-of-house operations for theatre productions during the semester. The course includes instructor presentation of specific elements of application though lecture, lecture/demonstration and/or laboratory experience.
The production work for Theatre Experience IV builds on the production work completed in Theatre Experience III. In this course, the student will practice and refine techniques learned in the previous Theatre Experience course in addition to learning new parts, backstage practices, etc.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
- To provide a skills-based immersion in the process of theatrical production.
- To provide students with an opportunity to focus on a particular aspect of the theatrical production process. Application of Core Course Topics and Objectives is dependent on the student’s specialization for the semester.
- Auditions
- Demonstrate audition technique appropriate for the play being produced.
- Production Meetings
- Apply cooperative behavior techniques to group meetings.
- Casting
- Employ casting policies and procedures appropriate for the play being produced.
- Schedules
- Analyze production schedules of various departments for optimum synergy.
- Director's Concept
- Interpret the director's concept for the appropriate production area.
- Character Analysis
- Apply appropriate tools to character analysis for the style at hand.
- Blocking
- Create appropriate movement patterns for the character portrayed.
- Prompt Book
- Formulate a prompt book that reflects the practical needs of the play under production.
- Make Up
- Design make up appropriate for the character portrayed.
- Scenic Concepts
- Transform scenic concepts into practical stage utilities.
- Technical Elements
- Adapt technical elements to the requirements of the production.
- Dress Rehearsals
- Execute dress rehearsals with full production elements.
- Strike
- Design an effective strike strategy for the semester's production.
- Evaluate dramatic literature for full-length play production.
- Apply research practices to auditions, casting, rehearsals, and performances appropriate for full-length play production.
- Demonstrate advanced acting techniques appropriate for full-length play production.
- Employ advanced management skills appropriate for full-length play production.
- Apply advanced technical Theatre skills appropriate for full-length play production.
- Practice advanced run crew skills appropriate for full-length play production.
Assessment and Requirements
Assessment of academic achievement may include, but not be limited to, individual projects, vocabulary, theatre participation and tests. Learning activities are assessed using a rubric focusing on:
- Meeting deadlines.
- Working well with others.
- Communicating with instructors and fellow students.
- Working independently as well as in small groups.
- Interpretation, knowledge, and demonstration of understanding of playscript in relationship to director’s and designer’s concepts.
- Interpretation, knowledge, and demonstration of understanding of playscript in relationship to rehearsal/technical rehearsal/performance process.
- Active participation in procedures and processes related to meetings, work calls, lectures, technical rehearsals, performances, and strike.
Course materials and textbooks will be communicated by class instructor and varies depending on the semester's production.