ORIENTATION TO THEATRE

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What is theatre? What does it mean to be part of an ensemble? In what ways does etiquette apply for an actor or audience member?

What is THEATRE?   Theatre is _ because it is a product of __ _ , in which it can be ____ __ by others. Theatre is both a… ___________expression (actors, audience, playwright) and a _________expression (technicians / artists) “Theatre becomes art when ________________________________” ART OUR EXPRESSION INTERPRETED PERSONAL VISUAL IT IS ACTED OUT FOR AN AUDIENCE

Theatre has many similarities to playing sports or games. Audience is to ____________ Stage is to ____________ Costumes is to ____________ ____________ is to Coach ____________ is to Players ____________ is to Equipment ____________ is to Playbook SPECTATORS FIELD UNIFORMS DIRECTOR ACTORS PROPS SCRIPT

ACTING   The GOAL of acting is to ___________________ in a manner or way in which the audience can understand, accept and become emotionally involved. “TO ACT MEANS TO ____” “SHOW, DON’T _______” ABOVE ALL, remember that… ________________________________________________ SOLVE A PROBLEM DO TELL THEATRE IS A REFLECTION OF REAL LIFE!

RULES of acting: _____________ ___________________ _____________ ___________________ 3. _____________ ___________________ 4. ________________________ _________________   The ACTOR’S JOB is to get the audience to _______________, ____________ , & to ______________ The AUDIENCE’S JOB is to be ____________, to ________________ , & to ____________ . TO DO (TO BE PHYSICALLY INVOLVED) TO THINK (TO BE MENTALLY INVOLVED) TO BE AWARE (TO BE FOCUSED-STAY IN CHARACTER) TO HAVE ENSEMBLENESS (TO HAVE TEAMWORK) UNDERSTAND BELIEVE RESPOND ATTENTIVE UNDERSTAND RESPOND

What is ENSEMBLENESS? Ensembleness is _____________ . Actors____________________ to solve the problem of the scene.   Ensembleness requires each actor to rely on _______ , __________ , and _________________ from each other. TRUSTING _________ will foster self-confidence and allow you to improvise freely. TRUSTING _________ will result in a creative, safe working environment. There is nothing quite so frightening as being onstage with an actor who has broken your trust. TEAMWORK WORK TOGETHER TRUST SUPPORT COOPERATION YOURSELF OTHERS

Good ENSEMBLENESS will allow actors to _______ and _______ on stage together.   In order to GIVE and TAKE on stage actors should: 1. _________________ 2. _________________ 3. _________________ If you are not working together, then you are working against one another” GIVE TAKE USE EYE CONTACT LISTEN TO OTHERS SHARE THE STAGE

Improvisation is ______________________________. What is IMPROVISATION?   Improvisation is ______________________________. PURPOSE of Improvisation: 1. ________________ 2. __________________________   STRUCTURE of Improvisation: 1.________ 2. ________ 3. _________ 4. ________ 5. ________ 6. ________ 7. ________  ________  _______ ACTING ON THE SPUR-OF-THE MOMENT TO ENTERTAIN TO STRENGTHEN ACTOR SKILLS BEGINNING MIDDLE END WHO WHAT WHERE Develop the conflict Resolve the conflict CONFLICT

REQUIREMENTS / GUIDELINES of Improvisation: 1. _______________________________ 2. _______________________________ 3. _______________________________ 4. _______________________________   CONDUCT / BEHAVIOR of Improvisation: ___________________________________ 2. ___________________________________ NO SCRIPT 2+ CHARACTERS COMPLETE STRUCTURE LIMITED PREPLANNING ALWAYS GIVE AND TAKE - RESPECT ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN BAGGING

WARNING CURTAIN FREEZE PERFORMANCE PROCEDURE   “­­­­­­­­_______________” - moment before starting This is the cue for the actors and audience to get focused. Audience: face forward, feet off chairs, sit up straight & quiet Actors: Stage is set, actors set on/off stage, & quiet “­­­­­­­­_______________” - the beginning of the action ONE actor from the group will call “curtain” which signals the scene is beginning.  3. “­­­­­­­­________________” - the end of the action ONE actor from the group will call “freeze” which signals the scene is over. WARNING CURTAIN FREEZE

Oral critiques 1. GIVE POSITIVE FEEDBACK Remember that everyone needs positive reinforcement. Praise one or two things that the speaker or performer did well.... BE HONEST.   Be specific! Talk directly to the actor! “I liked the voice you chose for your character. It really sounded like an cranky old man. Good job!” “I really believed you were a little toddler! Your actions, voice and movement looked like a little child!”

Oral critiques 2. GIVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM Try to avoid overwhelming the speaker or performer by identifying everything that you think he/she did wrong. Give only one or two criticisms.   Suggest Improvements! Be Specific! Talk directly to the actor! “When you had the split scene, it was very difficult to hear what was going on. Maybe have one group freeze while the other performs so we can hear them, then return to the other action.”