Course Descriptions

This is a workshop course in the art of the actor, focusing on text analysis, physical action and developing the students' awareness of the actors' resources. In addition to readings and a written analysis, the student will rehearse and perform two scenes and a monologue, applying approaches and techniques taught in class.

This is a workshop course for intermediate students. It focuses on the theory and practice of improvisational acting. After an introduction to the fundamental principles of narrative structure and spontaneity, the student explores performance theatre-games, masks and improvisation as a tool to develop scripted theatre.

An intermediate scene study course focusing on text analysis and the performance of scenes and very short one-act plays.

A scene study course which explores style in classical and contemporary plays. Scene study will emphasize acting styles in groups of representative plays. Topics, set by the department, will vary each term.

This course will broaden the areas of expertise for Theatre department students in performance skills specialties and may be selected from the following topics: Stage Combat, Acting is a Business, Professionalism and Self-promotion, Period Dance, Monologues, Accents and Dialects, Mime and Clowning, Voice-over and Animation, Advanced scene work, Period Text, Audition Skills, Advanced Lifts and Partnering, Specialized Dance skills, Text and Music in Auditioning, Mastery work for Actors, Rhythm and Dance and Self-created work.

This course further develops the areas of expertise for Theatre department students in additional performance skills specialties and may be selected from the following topics: Stage Combat, Acting is a Business, Professionalism and Self-promotion, Period Dance, Monologues, Accents and Dialects, Mime and Clowning, Voice-over and Animation, Advanced scene work, Period Text, Audition Skills, Advanced Lifts and Partnering, Specialized Dance skills, Text and Music in Auditioning, Mastery work for Actors, Rhythm and Dance and Self-created work.