Stage Movement: How to Use Performance Based Assessment in your Classroom Professional Development Workshop for Inspiring Theatre Educators and Directors

The Sage on the Stage! De Andre M Jackson After School Drama Instructor with Drama Kids International Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts, Theatre Teaching, and Professional Education – Austin Peay State University (2012) Associate of Arts in Speech and Theatre - Southwest Tennessee Community College (2010)

Table of Contents TN State Standards: Theatre 9-12 Types and Parts of the Stage Body Positions in Relation to the Audience Using Levels to Create Meaning Stage Picture Assessment Activities Volunteers will be needed throughout the workshop.

TN State Standards Theatre 9-12 Content Standard 4.0 Directing 4.4 Understand the principles of stage movement as an integral element of theatre production.

Types and Parts of the Stage Proscenium, Thrust, and Arena

Proscenium Stage This type of stage is typically used for: Seminars Concerts Plays Musical Plays (Broadway) Dance Concerts Music Recitals Award Ceremonies PROS: All audience members can view the action on the stage CONS: Not intimate with the audience

Thrust Stage This type of stage is used typically for: Fashion Shows Churches Intimate Concerts PROS: The audience is intimate with actors on the stage. CONS: Some audience members will only see one side of the action taking place on the stage.

Arena Stage This type of stage is typically used for: Basketball Games Football Games Baseball Games Circuses PROS: The audience is very intimate with actors on the stage. CONS: The audience will only see either the front, back, or side of the actors on the stage.

The 9 Parts of the Proscenium Stage Volunteers Needed! Briefly point and list the areas of the stage. Explain that downstage center areas and center stage are used for main characters and non-main characters are usually upstaged. Get three volunteers. Have one to individually stand: a.) Down Stage Center b.) Left Stage and c.) Up Stage Right. Direct them face forward and look at the audience. Ask the audience who is the star of this play? Next, direct the person standing left stage to turn his head to the right. Ask the audience who is the same person them mention first still the star. Why or Why not? Then have the people standing downstage center and stage left to turn their heads an face the person standing upstage right. Ask the audience know who is the star of the play and why?

Body Positions in Relation to the Audience Full Front, ¼ Right, Profile Right, ¾ Right, Full Back, ¾ Left, Profile Left, ¼ Left

Body Positions Chart Volunteers Needed! Model the picture of above and verbally name the position while turning. Explain that theses steps are how you cheat to the audience. Continue by explaining full front, ¼ right, ad ¼ left are typically most used so the audience may see the characters. Get two volunteers: one male and one female. Relationship: Have female student and male student stand full front. Explained that this is shared space because the audience can see both characters. Then have both characters stand profile left center and profile right center explain once again that this is shared space. Non-Relationship: Have the female student stand full front and have the male student stand ¼ left center. Explain that is give an take. The giver is the male student because his body is position away from the audience. The taker is the female student because her body is towards the audience. Finally, have the male student stand ¼ right center and the female student ¾ left center. Ask the audience who is the giver and taker in this scene.

Using Levels to Create Meaning Laying, Kneeling, Sitting on Something, Standing, Standing on Something

Volunteers Needed! LEVEL 1: Laying or Sitting on the stage - this character is usually died, sleeping, possibly in deep thought, or etc.. LEVEL 2: Kneeling on the stage -this character is usually praying, proposing, or helping the character at level 1. LEVEL 3: Sitting on the stage - this character is usually sitting on a piece of furniture in deep thought or passive while having conversation with character at level 4. LEVEL 4: Standing on the stage – this character is usually somewhat dominate while having a conversation with character at level 3 or in possibly in deep thought. LEVEL 5: Standing on Something on the stage – this character is usually in a dominate position or has higher power over all characters at level’s 1-4. Read each level and have a volunteer perform the level. After all levels have been presented as the class what is going on in this scene. Tell them that this is a stage picture.

Stage Picture Assessment Activity 2 Groups with four to five members

Directions You will be divided into 2 groups of four to five members. Each group will be given a scenario which they will have to create a stage picture using what they learned in the workshop involving: 9 parts of the stage, body positions, and levels of meaning. Each group has 3 minutes to create their stage picture. After the allotted time is up both groups (one at a time) will present their stage picture to the other group members. The group that is sitting will assess and discuss the presenting group’s stage picture. Read the direction hand classmates the scenarios, break off into groups and then come back and present a stage picture using all that ghey have learned.

Stage Picture Example