1. ORIENTATION TO THEATRE

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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!

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Improvisation is ______________________________.
What is IMPROVISATION?
Improvisation is ______________________________.
PURPOSE of Improvisation: 1. ________________
2. __________________________  
STRUCTURE of Improvisation:
1.________ ________ _________
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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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!”

13. 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.”