ORIENTATION TO THEATRE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What is theatre

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

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

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

RULES of acting: TO DO 1. _______ TO THINK 2. _______ (TO BE PHYSICALLY INVOLVED) __________ (TO BE MENTALLY INVOLVED) __________ TO BE AWARE (TO BE FOCUSED STAY IN CHARACTER) 3. ___________________ HAVE TEAMWORK) TO HAVE ENSEMBLENESS (TO 4. ____________ The ACTOR’S JOB is to get the audience to UNDERSTAND ________, BELIEVE , & to _______ RESPOND ______ ATTENTIVE to The AUDIENCE’S JOB is to be ______, UNDERSTAND , & to ______ RESPOND. ________

What is ENSEMBLENESS? WORK TOGETHER TEAMWORK. Actors__________ Ensembleness is _______ to solve the problem of the scene. Ensembleness requires each actor to rely on TRUST _______ , SUPPORT , and _________ COOPERATION from each other. _____ TRUSTING YOURSELF _____ will foster self confidence and allow you to improvise freely. TRUSTING OTHERS _____ 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.

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

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

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

PERFORMANCE PROCEDURE WARNING 1. “ ________” 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 CURTAIN 2. “ ________” beginning the of the action ONE actor from the group will call “curtain” which signals the scene is beginning. FREEZE 3. “ ________” end the of the action ONE actor from the group will call “freeze” which signals the scene is over.

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. � � Ø Be specific! Ø Talk directly to the actor! Ø “I liked the voice you chose for your character. It really sounded like an cranky old man. Good job!” Ø “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. � Ø Suggest Improvements! Ø Be Specific! Ø 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. ”