theatre arts MOVEMENT

TYPES OF STAGES PROSCENIUM THRUST ARENA

PROSCENIUM

Proscenium Stage PROSCENIUM ARCH AUDIENCE APRON

THRUST

THRUST STAGE

ARENA “theatre in the round” flexible seating

ARENA STAGE

STAGE DIRECTIONS proscenium & thrust stage only Strongest area

BODY POSITIONS FF-important lines ¼ - most dialogue scenes Profile: intense scenes such as quarreling, accusing, romancing, etc. used to obtain comic effects FB – used in special occasions

Identify the body positions… The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

MOVEMENT Movement must reveal character. All movement MUST be motivated or justified.   NO shuffling your feet, fidgeting, or nervously moving. An actor should never move without a purpose. All movement must be simplified.   Use carefully chosen movement that clearly conveys your ideas. Movement must reveal character. A character’s personality, attitude, health & age SHOWS movement Fat person vs. thin person; easy-going person vs. nervous person;   Youth’s actions vs. older people.   Always move in character!

BLOCKING The precise movement and positioning of an actor on a stage BLOCKING NOTATIONS EN – enter (to come in) EX – exit (to leave) X – to cross (or move from 1 stage area to another) CX – counter cross (move away) A – above (upstage of object) B – below (downstage of object) O – open up or “cheat out” (turn body, face to audience)

BLOCKING NOTATIONS 1. DR 1/4L 2. X UC-FF 3. X UR-1/4L 4. X C-PRL 5. X DL-3/4R 6. X UL-FF

FLOOR PLAN X Straight cross Curved cross shortest, most direct route Strength, decisiveness & determination Curved cross indecision, casualness, grace, or ease A bird’s eye view of the set, drawn to scale, showing placement of set pieces & furniture X Front door Bath room Desk Windows

CHARACTER MOVEMENT When an actor adds DETAILED, physical action, which furthers the character’s believability and realism Mannerisms Stage Business Gestures

CHARACTER MOVEMENT MANNERISMS STAGE BUSINNESS GUESTURES Habits of the character without a prop Ex: bouncing leg, twirling hair, cracking knuckles STAGE BUSINNESS Habits of the character with a prop Ex: smoking, tapping a pencil, popping chewing gum GUESTURES using hand, arm, body, head or face movements to express thought or emotion Ex: wave good bye or come here; frown, stick out tongue

Identify the gesture, mannerism or stage business…

CHARACTER MOVEMENT WEIGHT TIME SPACE POSTURE How light or heavy the character is on their feet; not the physical weight of the character TIME The speed in which the character moves SPACE The amount of space the character occupies or takes up POSTURE The body position of the character as they move

MOVEMENT REMINDERS (all but arena) AWAYS….. Use the upstage part of your body Stay open to audience Use motivated movement Use detailed movement to show characterization NEVER…. Break character Pace, wonder or just stand there