Acting

Have students create a situation from a picture and examine the given clues to help fill in the gaps. Next, have students examine the clues in a contentless scene, then fill in the gaps to create their own scenario to perform.

Attachments

# Acting # acting # scene work

Introduction and the Running Man

by Allison Williams

Students will be introduced to the unit through the running man exercise. This exercise demonstrates how physically committing to a specific set of actions creates a sense of emotion without the actor having to play the emotion.

Attachments

Introduction and Warm-Up Exercises

by Gai Jones

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the objective of the unit (to write an autobiographical monologue), reflect on their thoughts and fears when it comes to the writing process, and engage with exercises that introduce the concept of using personal connection and narrative to create characters.

Attachments

Introduction to Dance

by Anna Porter

Students will understand the importance of endurance, emotion, and commitment in movement when performing. They will also gain an understanding of how to pick up choreography by learning the concepts of routine and anticipation.

Attachments

Slide Deck Lesson 3

# Acting # musical theatre

Introduction to Monologue Writing

by Matthew Banaszynski

Students will start the process of writing a monologue by storytelling. They will tell a story based only on what they observe in a picture.

Attachments

# Playwriting # Acting # monologue # playwriting # acting

Introduction to Pantomime

by Anna Porter

Students will warm up using a pantomime interview and a relaxation exercise. Students will go on a pantomime hike and participate in a “pretend you are walking” game at the end of the lesson.

Attachments

# Acting # pantomime # acting

Introduction to the Audition Process

by Lindsay Price

In order to partake in the audition process, students need to identify and comprehend the necessary steps in that process. What is the auditioning process? Why is it used? Is the process fair? Why or why not? The class ends with students playing director in the “Who Would You Cast?” Exercise.

Attachments

Slide Deck Lesson 1

Ira Aldridge: Changing The Story

by Drama Teacher Academy

American actor Ira Aldridge was a pioneer and an activist. He was a celebrated 19th-century Shakespearan actor in England and Europe and one of the first black men to play the role of Othello. In this lesson, students will learn more about his story and about how he changed his story several times throughout his career. Students will reflect on the concept of changing one’s story in the face of adversity. Rubrics are provided.

# Acting # bipoc

Lazzi

by Karen Loftus

Students learn about different commedia lazzi and create their own.

Attachments

Slide Deck Lesson 4

# Acting # Commedia # commedia # acting

Lazzi

by Todd Espeland

In this lesson, students will be introduced to lazzi. Lazzi are solo comic beats to show off a character and their needs. Students will then create and perform a solo lazzi.

# Acting # commedia

Make Choices/Bring Information

by Karen Loftus

Students learn the word “endow” and apply the concept through the exercise Low Risk Endowment.

Attachments

Slide Deck Lesson 2

# Acting # improv # acting

Make Your Partner Look Good

by Karen Loftus

Students apply this guideline through the games Cars, Vans, Buses, Blocking on Purpose, Questions Only and Here Comes Charley.

Attachments

Slide Deck Lesson 4

# Acting # improv # acting

Mask and Countermask

by Allison Williams

All masks can be played in more than one way, even if there’s a dominant look. In this lesson, students will explore how two physical interpretations paired with each other and opposite to each other become the mask and the countermask—the opposite reaction. They will then apply the qualities of movement to their mask/countermask.

Attachments

Slide Deck Lesson 5

Mask Scenes

by Allison Williams

Short, simple scenes help the mask actors find character and start responding to each other in the moment as their characters. Students will explore solo, duo, and group scenes in their mask characters.

Attachments

Slide Deck Lesson 6

Memorization Techniques

by Lindsay Price

To apply memorization techniques as part of the goal of a staged scene with specific, dynamic blocking and three-dimensional characters. This lesson will focus on practicing a variety of memorization techniques.

Attachments

Slide Deck Lesson 8

Mid-Unit Assignment

by Todd Espeland

The mid-unit assignment requires students to prepare, rehearse, and memorize a scene using the tools learned in Part One of the unit.

# Acting # commedia

Monologue Prep: Audition Set-Up

by Lindsay Price

Students will continue their journey toward the Mock Audition by exploring what they can do to prepare their monologue. They will practice their monologue and talk about dealing with nerves. This is the final lesson before the Mock Audition - you will review the audition procedure with the class and students will sign up for their audition slot.

Attachments

Slide Deck Lesson 9

Monologue Prep: 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. You want to see characters brought to life both physically and vocally. In this lesson, students are given time to practice their monologue and start working on the who, what, when, where, and why.

Attachments

Slide Deck Lesson 6

Monologue Prep: Vocal Profile

by Lindsay Price

Students will continue their journey toward the Mock Audition by exploring what they can do to prepare their monologue. Once students have completed the Character Profile, have them complete the Physical Profile. This will solidify how the character stands, gestures, and moves.

Attachments

Slide Deck Lesson 7