Course Syllabus

The Art of Theatre is a semester course focusing on a variety of elements of stage and screen acting. As part of the course of the course, students will study several scenes from plays and films from multiple eras and genres, classical and modern, and try out multiple techniques and games from the field of  Theatre Improv. + other theatrical schools .We may also get to explore basic screenwriting, set building, and directing, as time permits. Though practicing scene/ character analysis in written form will be part of the course, the majority of assignments will be project based, culminating in a final class performance, live or prerecorded. Therefore, there will only be one category of grading :

Projects/ Presentations/Analysis:

All assignments will be worth 50, 100, 200, 300, or 400 points based on their complexity and the amount of time it takes to complete them. The final project will not be an "exam" , but it will be a cumulative work, worth at least 400 points.

What you will learn:

As part of this class, students will develop their:

*Analytical skills

*Communication skills

*Confidence in performing

*Knowledge of the core of theatrical principles for stage and film

Class expectations:

Each student will participate fully to best of their abilities each class, both in terms of trying various scenes and exercises and in terms of  being an engaged audience member. Purposefully mocking each other or not giving those performing your full attention will not be accepted and will negatively influence your grade.

LATE POLICY:

Students are allowed one free late assignment for any reason to be turned in without any penalty. After that, an assignment may be turned in one class late for -5 points off for one full week ( three classes) before it becomes a permanent ZERO.

How you are graded/ what grades mean:  The first presentation of the year will be graded very generously. After that, the expectation is as follows:

Not Passing: You didn't do anything, or what you did was not related to the assignment and the learning goals/ directions OR you made fun of/ tore down another classmate during the assignment.

70's :( You did something and showed some knowledge) A few parts of the activity or the analysis questions were completed in a brief, cursory way,missing, or were slightly inaccurate, .

80's: ( You did all you were asked and followed all of the directions)All parts of the assignment were completed as asked+ questions were completed in full sentences. You showed you understood the concept we were practicing.

A: ( You did all you were asked AND went the extra mile ) All parts the assignments were completed with maximum effort and creativity -- more work was done on the assignment than was asked ,and you  demonstrated knowledge of past assignments in this class that we covered AND THEN connected those skills to the current assignment. You showed growth , risking taking and/or  mastery. Written work was developed thoroughly and included many examples/ deep analysis where appropriate and  it had been proofread.