PD Course
Strong Ensemble = Strong Play
Created by Craig Mason
This mini-course will give you a toolkit to bring your shows to the next level by having an engaged, active, ensemble.
The ensemble is a critical part of a large cast show. But you can't leave them to fend for themselves. They need structure. They need exercises and activities.
In Strong Ensemble = Strong Play, you'll be given ensemble-building exercises. You'll also discover specific activities that will help your ensemble become three-dimensional characters who have something to do and something to play in every moment they are on stage.
We'll look at case studies that take the exercises learned in the course and apply them to specific shows.
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0Module 0Introduction8:05 FREE PREVIEWWhat is an ensemble? What are the ways a strong ensemble creates the world of the play?
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1Module 1Ensemble Building Exercises17:14 FREE PREVIEWThere is this whole series of games out there that aren’t focused on one person winning. They’re designed such that everyone who plays has to work together. In this module you’ll learn five specific games in detail: The Machine, The Manhole Cover, Spaghetti, Rock Paper Cheerleader, and Pass the Stone.
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2Module 2Character Building17:18 LockedCharacter profiles, character exercises, and rehearsal exercises. Exercises for anyone in your cast but especially your ensemble.
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3Module 3Relationships8:36 LockedWe have relationships with everyone we encounter, everything we see. Part of bringing the ensemble to life, making them three-dimensional characters, will be helped by defining those relationships.
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4Module 4Case Studies17:21 LockedTake the toolkit outlined in Modules 1, 2, and 3 (that’s ensemble building activities, character profiles, and relationships) and apply them to specific shows.
Standards Addressed
Improvisation Drama 10
Improvisation Drama 30
Acting Drama 20
- 13 create antecedent action for character
- 2 create, select and sustain physical details of the character from scripted material
- 3 demonstrate understanding of and identity motivation and objectives (overall, main and immediate).
- 4 demonstrate understanding that a character’s behaviour is motivated by past, present and anticipated future experiences
- 5 demonstrate a character’s main objective within a scene
- 6 demonstrate a character’s immediate or moment-to-moment objectives within a scene
- 7 demonstrate the ability to play a character from the character’s point of view
Acting Drama 30
- 18 use various vocal skills to enhance characterization
- 19 create a character’s life that extends beyond, but is consistent with, the script
- 20 physicalize character through selected and economical movement and gesture
- 22 display appropriate character relationships with all other characters in a scene
Movement Drama 10
- 1 display the ability to be still
- 10 demonstrate focus, concentration and energy in all movement and gesture
- 15 use basic locomotor movements (eg. walking, running, crawling) to explore space
- 16 create and repeat patterns of movement
- 21 demonstrate the ability to extend a movement
- 22 translate words, images and emotions into movement
- 23 demonstrate non-verbally the who, what, where, why and when of a story
- 24 demonstrate understanding of mood, and communicate mood
- 3 recognize the necessity for physical warmups
Improvisation/Acting Level III - Advanced
Junior Goal II Objectives
Junior Goal III Objectives
Junior Orientation
- demonstrate a willingness to take calculated and reasonable risks
- listen effectively
- offer and accept constructive criticism, given specific guidelines, with a desire to improve
- recognize that there is an historical and cultural aspect of drama/theatre
- share ideas confidently with others
- support positively the work of others
- work cooperatively and productively with all members of the class in pairs, small groups and large groups
Movement Level I - Beginning
- 12 use levels
- 13 control focus and energy in movement and gesture
- 2 demonstrate awareness of personal and shared space
- 4 recognize the need for and demonstrate warmup activities
- 7 demonstrate awareness of his or her own body and its movement potential
- 9 travel through space in a variety of ways e.g., running, creeping and jumping
Movement Level II - Intermediate
Movement Level III - Advanced
Improvisation/Acting Level I - Beginning
Improvisation/Acting Level II - Intermediate
- 15 use the body and body language to enhance characterization
- 19 discover how feelings affect a character
- 20 enter and exit in character
- 21 sustain a character throughout an exercise or scene
- 22 create business appropriate to character and situation
- 23 demonstrate understanding of character motivation
- 24 recognize that relationships exist between characters in given situations
Junior Goal I Objectives
- develop self-confidence
- develop self-discipline
- develop the ability to interact effectively and constructively in a group process
- develop the willingness to make a decision, act upon it and accept the results
- explore and develop physical and vocal capabilities
- extend the ability to think imaginatively and creatively
- strengthen powers of concentration
Theatre Studies Level II - Intermediate (Theatre History)
Senior Goal I Objectives
- demonstrate the ability to contribute effectively and constructively to the group process
- demonstrate the ability to initiate, organize and present a project within a given set of guidelines
- develop a sense of inquiry and commitment to learning
- extend physical and vocal capabilities
- extend the ability to concentrate
- extend the ability to control and express emotions
- increase self-discipline
Senior Goal II Objectives
- be capable of creating and expressing a believable character from scripted and non-scripted material
- develop techniques that enhance vocal and physical communication
- develop the ability to select appropriate physical and vocal expression for feelings, ideas and images
- develop the ability to understand and apply the specific presentation techniques demanded by various dramatic forms
- explore various approaches to analyzing a script for purposes of study and/or presentation
- extend the ability to give form and expression to feelings, ideas and images
Orientation Drama 10
- demonstrate self-discipline, self-direction and a sense of responsibility
- demonstrate willingness to challenge and extend oneself: physically, emotionally, intellectually and artistically
- display consideration and respect for self and others
- offer and accept constructive criticism with a desire to progress
- positively support the work of others
- solve problems imaginatively and creatively
- work cooperatively and productively
- work with abstract concepts
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