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Displaying items 461-480 of 2439 in total

Challenging Stage Directions

by Drama Teacher Academy

Some plays have rudimentary stage directions or no stage directions at all, leaving the world of the play up to the director and designers. Some plays, however, have stage directions that to the ordinary person might seem impossible to stage. Shakespeare has “Exit, pursued by a bear.” Peter Shaffer has “They cross the Andes.” These types of challenges, however, are perfect for the classroom. Students work in groups with an impossible stage direction and come up with possible solutions. How would they stage it with a limited budget and no mechanical options? How would they stage it using the newest quality set design, lights, and sound?
# Directing
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Same Show, Different Stages

by Kerry Hishon

The objective of this lesson is to introduce, compare, and contrast different types of theatrical performance venues/stages.
# Stage Management & Technical Theatre # stage management # production
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Part of Pantomime Unit

Ground Plans & Stage Directions

by Angel Borths

To learn how ground plans and stage directions can be used for pantomime.
Attachments
# Acting # pantomime # acting
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Part of Stage Movement Unit

Stage Directions

by Karen Loftus

Students identify the stage directions and actor needs to know onstage and the necessary shorthand notation for each. They then apply their knowledge in an exercise and exit slip.
Attachments
# Acting # acting
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Improvisation: Characters

by Jennine Profeta

Characters have a lot of value in empowering your students’ improv. In this lesson, students will start to explore character in improv with the warm up game “Character Walkabout” and the improv game “Hitchhiker.”
# Improvisation # improv # character development # games
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What Do We “Do” on Stage?

by Karen Loftus

This Lesson Plan introduces one of the important tools of an actor: the body. Student actors often have difficulty getting out of their own body, especially if they suffer from any kind of stage fright. How do we move on stage? What happens when we’re afraid to move? How can we get beyond nerves to become comfortable with our bodies? What do we “do” on stage?
# Movement # Acting # acting # movement
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Part of Foundations of Acting Unit

The Scene

by Annie Dragoo

In this culminating exercise, students will prepare a scene using what they have learned throughout the unit.
Attachments
# Acting # acting
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Superhero Public/Private

by Lindsay Price

Students will create a character based on a superhero. They are to establish their walk, how they use their super power, how they talk, and know some background details. Once this “public” side is established, students will add in the “private.” What is this superhero like, at home, when they are alone and not in the public eye? There has to be something surprising and unexpected in their presentation.
# Character Development # character development
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Part of Foundations of Acting Unit

Using Emotional Recall

by Annie Dragoo

During this lesson, students will explore how the five senses can be used by actors as a technique to create a character.
# Acting # acting
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Part of Mock Audition Unit

Monologue Prep 1 - Character Profile

by Lindsay Price

After students choose their monologues, the next step is to prepare. More often than not, students think that preparing means learning the lines and throwing in a few moves. When students do this in an audition, it shows. The character is one-dimensional and the movement looks out of place. You want to see three-dimensional characters brought to life both physically and vocally. In this session, students are given time to practice their monologue and start working on the who, what, when, where, and why.
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Part of Perspective Taking Unit

Focusing on Others

by Lindsay Price

In this lesson, students will practice identifying the perspective of others. They will think about all the elements that go into someone’s perspective (e.g., background, experience, traditions, preferences, circumstances).
Attachments
# Character Development # character development
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Commedia dell'arte: High Status and Low Status

by Todd Espeland

When we think of Commedia dell’arte, we often think “mask.” But before we get to mask, it’s important to establish the foundation. Knowing the technical elements of playing comedy are essential before adding on the layers of mask, archetypal characters, and Lazzi. This lesson plan looks at one of the cornerstone tools for playing comedy: status. Status is at the heart of Commedia dell’arte. Students will explore high and low status through the game called Status Walks.
# Commedia # commedia # acting # games
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Part of Commedia dell'Arte Unit

Character Personality

by Todd Espeland

In this lesson students will start to physicalize Commedia characters by introducing the Character Zero concept, the Character Hop, and the poses of Arlecchino.
Attachments
# Acting # commedia
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Part of Unit Seven: Directed Scenes Take 2: A Variety of Scenes Unit

Final Rehearsal

by Lindsay Johnson

In this lesson, students will rehearse their scenes using a rehearsal checklist, focusing on the skills of their choice.
Attachments
# Directing # directing # middle school friendly
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Part of Perspective Taking Unit

Introduction to Perspective Taking

by Lindsay Price

The best way to introduce a concept is through activities. Students will participate in activities that ask them to make choices and observe the choices of others. They will be introduced to the definition of perspective taking and apply that definition through discussion and a theatrical moment group work activity.
Attachments
# Character Development # character development
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The Ancient Greeks

by Lindsay Price

The Ancient Greek Theatre is the birth of the modern theatre. We can look at the production of theatre in that time and see similarities to how we present theatre today. But where do we start? And how do we make theatre history more than the collection of data? It’s hard for students to conceptualize an era that happened so long ago as populated with real people. This lesson plan encourages discussion, application, and reflection on the Ancient Greeks. Be sure to check out the Ancient Greek Theatre handout as an accompaniment to this lesson. A powerpoint link is also included that is ready to use in your classroom!
# Theatre History # ancient greek theatre # theatre history
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Part of Unit Seven: Directed Scenes Take 2: A Variety of Scenes Unit

Character Physicality

by Lindsay Johnson

In this lesson, students will complete a rehearsal checklist, focusing on character physicality.
Attachments
# Directing # directing # middle school friendly
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Part of Impowerment Improv Unit

Confidence

by Jennine Profeta

This lesson allows students to practice and apply attributes of confidence.
# Improvisation # improv
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Part of Foundations of Acting Unit

The Actor's Voice

by Annie Dragoo

In this lesson, students have an opportunity to practice vocal expression by reciting nursery rhymes with three different vocal varieties. They will receive instant feedback from their peers and teacher.
# Acting # acting
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Part of Theatre Etiquette Unit

Pre-Show Performance Etiquette

by Kerry Hishon

Students receive the Pre-Show Etiquette Tips and Performance Etiquette Tips (handouts).They will brainstorm and develop a warm-up exercise designed to encourage pre-show etiquette, and design series of posters (either fully done or described with sketches) to encourage and highlight performance etiquette.
# The Basics # etiquette
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