Unit
Abstract Scene Performance
Created by Annie Dragoo
In this unit, students will create and perform an abstract theatre scene. Abstract is a genre that does not rely on realism and deliberately breaks the rules of a given form. In the case of theatre, this refers to the commonly presented rules of performance, acting, and the relationship with the audience. Movement is often stylized and symbolic. Ideas and themes are expressed visually and aurally with little dialogue using music, lights, costumes, and props.
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The overview lays out the objective, pacing, lesson structure, and assessment strategy for the unit.
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1Lesson 1What is Abstract Theatre?In this unit, students will create and perform an abstract theatre scene. Abstract is a genre that does not rely on realism and deliberately breaks the rules of a given form. In the case of theatre, this refers to the commonly presented rules of performance, acting, and the relationship with the audience. Movement is often stylized and symbolic. Ideas and themes are expressed visually and aurally with little dialogue using music, lights, costumes, and props.
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2Lesson 2Using Movement to Convey an IdeaIn this lesson, students will participate in several activities that will help them devise, create, and rehearse movement that can be used in abstract scenes. They will practice and demonstrate their understanding of blocking and physicality by being able to add and execute movement in their abstract scene.
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3Lesson 3Rehearsal and Movement PracticeIn this lesson, students will spend time rehearsing their abstract scenes. They will also practice and demonstrate movement skills such as facial expression, posture, gesture control, and balance.
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4Lesson 4Peer Review RehearsalIn this lesson, students will spend time rehearsing their abstract scenes. They will have an opportunity to both perform for their peers and to evaluate another group’s abstract scene using the performance rubric.
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5Lesson 5Abstract Scene PerformancesStudents will perform their abstract scenes for classes who have been invited to observe.
Standards Addressed
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 6
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 6
Perceive and analyze artistic work - Grade 6
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 7
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 7
Perceive and analyze artistic work - Grade 7
Perceive and analyze artistic work - Grade HS Proficient
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade 6
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 6
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding - Grade 6
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade 7
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work - Grade 8
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 6
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 7
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 7
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 8
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Advanced
6.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
6.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
6.TH:Re7 Perceive and analyze artistic work.
7.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
7.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
7.TH:Re7 Perceive and analyze artistic work.
Prof.TH:Re7 Perceive and analyze artistic work.
6.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
6.TH:Pr5 Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
6.TH:Cn11.1 Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.
7.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
8.TH:Re8 Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
6.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
7.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
7.TH:Pr6 Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
8.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
8.TH:Pr6 Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
Prof.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
Sixth Grade
- DT.6.1.1.a Students Can: Identify possible solutions to staging challenges in a drama/theatre work.
- DT.6.1.2.b Students Can: Contribute ideas and accept and incorporate the ideas of others in preparing or devising a drama/theatre work.
- DT.6.1.4.a Students Can: Examine and articulate choices to refine a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
- DT.6.2.1.b Students Can: Experiment with various physical and vocal choices to communicate character in a drama/theatre work.
- DT.6.2.2.a Students Can: Participate in a variety of acting exercises and techniques that can be applied in a rehearsal or drama/theatre performance.
- DT.6.3.1.a Students Can: Describe and record personal reactions to artistic choices in a drama/theatre work.
Seventh Grade
- DT.7.1.1.a Students Can: Integrate multiple perspectives and solutions to staging challenges in a drama/theater work.
- DT.7.1.2.b Students Can: Demonstrate mutual respect for self and others and their roles in preparing or devising drama/theatre work.
- DT.7.1.4.a Students Can: Demonstrate focus and concentration in the rehearsal process to analyze and refine choices in a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
- DT.7.1.4.b Students Can: Develop effective physical and vocal traits of characters in an improvised or scripted drama/theatre work.
- DT.7.2.1.a Students Can: Experiment various staging choices to enhance the story in a drama/theatre work.
- DT.7.2.4.a Students Can: Participate in rehearsals for a drama/theatre work that will be shared with an audience.
- DT.7.3.1.a Students Can: Compare recorded personal and peer reactions to artistic choices in a drama/ theatre work.
Eighth Grade
- DT.8.2.3.a Students Can: Identify universal themes or common social issues and express them through a drama/theatre work.
- DT.8.2.4.a Students Can: Perform/present a rehearsed/designed drama/theatre work for an audience.
- DT.8.3.2.a Students Can: Summarize and share artistic choices when participating in or observing a drama/theatre work.
High School - Fundamental Pathway
High School - Professional Pathway
- DT.H3.1.4.a Students Can: Refine, transform, and re-imagine a devised or scripted drama/theatre work using the rehearsal process to invent or re-imagine style, genre, form, and conventions.
- DT.H3.3.1.a Students Can: Respond to what is seen, felt, and heard in a drama/theatre work to analyze artistic choices and justify meaningful feedback based on historical, cultural, and personal context.
Language
Critical Thinking & Reflection
- TH.68.C.1.2 Develop a character analysis to support artistic portrayal.
- TH.68.C.1.4 Create and present a design, production concept, or performance and defend artistic choices.
- TH.68.C.2.1 Use group-generated criteria to critique others and help strengthen each other's performance.
- TH.68.C.2.3 Ask questions to understand a peer's artistic choices for a performance or design.
- TH.912.C.1.3 Justify a response to a theatrical experience through oral or written analysis, using correct theatre terminology.
- TH.912.C.1.5 Make and defend conscious choices in the creation of a character that will fulfill anticipated audience response.
- TH.912.C.2.2 Construct imaginative, complex scripts and revise them in collaboration with actors to convey story and meaning to an audience.
- TH.912.C.2.6 Assess a peer's artistic choices in a production as a foundation for one's own artistic growth.
- TH.912.C.2.7 Accept feedback from others, analyze it for validity, and apply suggestions appropriately to future performances or designs.
Historical & Global Connections
Organizational Structure
- TH.68.O.1.1 Compare different processes an actor uses to prepare for a performance.
- TH.68.O.2.4 Perform a scene or pantomime to demonstrate understanding of blocking and stage movement.
- TH.68.O.3.3 Discuss the collaborative nature of theatre and work together to create a scene or play, respecting group members' ideas and differences.
- TH.912.O.1.4 Write an original script or a dramatic adaptation of a literary work to demonstrate knowledge of theatrical conventions.
Skills, Techniques & Processes
- TH.68.S.2.1 Discuss the value of collaboration in theatre and work together to create a theatrical production.
- TH.68.S.2.4 Memorize and present a character's lines from a monologue or scene.
- TH.68.S.3.2 Use the elements of dramatic form to stage a play.
- TH.68.S.3.3 Lead rehearsals of improvised and scripted scenes, communicating with cast and crew to create appropriate characterization and dramatic environments.
- TH.912.S.1.3 Develop criteria that may be applied to the selection and performance of theatrical work.
- TH.912.S.1.6 Respond appropriately to directorial choices for improvised and scripted scenes.
- TH.912.S.1.7 Interpret dramatic texts, organize and conduct rehearsals, and justify directorial choices for formal and informal productions.
- TH.912.S.2.8 Strengthen acting skills by engaging in theatre games and improvisations.
- TH.912.S.3.2 Exercise artistic discipline and collaboration to achieve ensemble in rehearsal and performance.
- TH.912.S.3.3 Develop acting skills and techniques in the rehearsal process.
Grade 6 - Creating
- TA6.CR.1 Organize, design, and refine theatrical work.<br/>a. Identify artistic choices, utilize theatre vocabulary, and demonstrate non-verbal communication skills in the rehearsal process.<br/>b. Interpret a character’s motivation by understanding the relationship between their background and their behavior.<br/>c. Identify the variety of relationships between characters.<br/>d. Identify, define, and classify character traits.<br/>e. Recognize and demonstrate the roles, responsibilities, and skills associated with collaborative performance.<br/>f. Use resources to identify and create technical elements of theatre.
- TA6.CR.2 Develop scripts through theatrical techniques.<br/>a. Identify the elements of a story.<br/>b. Identify the theme and structure of a play.<br/>c. Articulate creative ideas in oral and written forms.<br/>d. Use the dramatic writing process to generate a script.<br/>e. Demonstrate the conventions of dialogue and stage directions.
Grade 7 - Creating
- TA7.CR.1 Organize, design, and refine theatrical work.<br/>a. Identify and rehearse effective communication skills.<br/>b. Compare and contrast character types and relationships by analyzing character motivations, objectives, and goals.<br/>c. Compare the physical, emotional, vocal, and social dimensions of a character.<br/>d. Investigate the role and responsibility of the cast and crew.<br/>e. Identify and model ensemble skills in the rehearsal process.<br/>f. Utilize staging and blocking choices to enhance the performance.<br/>g. Compare, contrast, and design elements of technical theatre.<br/>h. Utilize theatre vocabulary throughout the rehearsal process.
- TA7.CR.2 Develop scripts through theatrical techniques.<br/>a. Create ideas for stories.<br/>b. Analyze the theme and structure of a play.<br/>c. Use the dramatic writing process to generate a script.<br/>d. Utilize dramatic conventions in the scriptwriting process (e.g. stage directions, dialogue, scenes).
Grade 7 - Performing
- TA7.PR.1 Act by communicating and sustaining roles in formal and informal environments.<br/>a. Execute effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills in performance (e.g. rate, pitch, volume, inflection, posture, facial expression, physical movement).<br/>b. Participate in a variety of acting exercises and techniques that can be applied in a rehearsal or theatre performance.<br/>c. Engage in various performance styles.
- TA7.PR.2 Execute artistic and technical elements of theatre.<br/>a. Select a variety of technical elements that can be applied to a theatrical work.<br/>b. Incorporate artistic and technical elements into a theatre performance.
Grades 9-12 - ACTING LEVELS I-IV - Responding
Grades 9-12 - ADVANCED DRAMA LEVELS I-IV -Creating
Grades 9-12 - ADVANCED DRAMA LEVELS I-IV -Responding
Grades 9-12 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Creating
- TAHSFT.CR.1 Organize, design, and refine theatrical work.<br/>a. Recognize and/or employ realistic and conventional speech patterns within dialogue or dramatic verse.<br/>b. Incorporate dramatic elements through improvisation.<br/>c. Recognize and interpret artistic choices in performance.
- TAHSFT.CR.2 Develop scripts through theatrical techniques.<br/>a. Differentiate between dramatic and traditional literary writing and utilize common steps of the playwriting process.<br/>b. Assess the need for script analysis, concept development, and directorial and technical concerns of a theatrical script.<br/>c. Construct and critique elements of dramatic structure, character, and dialogue.<br/>d. Create and perform scenes for audiences.
Grades 9-12 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Responding
Grades 9-12 - MUSICAL THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Responding
Sixth Grade Present
Seventh Grade Present
- 7.PR.1.1 Refine choices in devised or scripted performances based on objective feedback and criteria.
- 7.PR.1.2 Communicate character and story using physical and vocal control, observation, and concentration during theatrical performances.
- 7.PR.2.4 Compare the theatrical modifications needed by performers in different venues.
Beginning High School Create
Beginning High School Present
Beginning High School Respond
Intermediate High School Present
Intermediate High School Respond
Accomplished High School Create
Advanced High School Create
Advanced High School Present
Beginning High School Standards - Communication
Beginning High School Standards - Analysis
Intermediate High School Standards - Communication
Proficient High School Standards - Communication
Advanced High School Standards - Culture
MS 117.211 LI - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
MS 117.211 LI - Creative Expression: performance
MS 117.211 LI - Creative Expression: production
MS 117.211 LI - Critical evaluation and response
MS 117.212 LII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
MS 117.212 LII - Creative Expression: performance
MS 117.213 LIII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
MS 117.213 LIII - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.315 LI - Creative Expression: performance
- C.2.A demonstrate safe use of the voice and body.
- C.2.E employ physical techniques consistently to express thoughts, feelings, and actions non-verbally.
- C.2.F create, write, and refine original monologues, improvisations, scenes, or vignettes that reflect dramatic structure to convey meaning to the audience through live performance or media forms.
HS 117.315 LI - Critical evaluation and response
HS 117.316 LII - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.317 LIII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
HS 117.317 LIII - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.317 LIII - Critical evaluation and response
Acting Drama 20
Movement Drama 10
Playwriting - Drama 20
Improvisation/Acting Level III - Advanced
Junior Goal II Objectives
Junior Orientation
- communicate through use of voice and body
- demonstrate a willingness to take calculated and reasonable risks
- focus concentration on one task at a time
- generate imaginative and creative solutions to problems
- listen effectively
- move in a variety of ways
- offer and accept constructive criticism, given specific guidelines, with a desire to improve
- respond to directions without breaking concentration-side coaching
- 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
Movement Level II - Intermediate
Movement Level III - Advanced
Junior Goal I Objectives
- develop a positive self-image
- develop a sense of responsibility and commitment
- develop self-confidence
- develop self-discipline
- develop the ability to initiate, organize and present a project within a given set of guidelines
- develop the ability to interact effectively and constructively in a group process
- develop the ability to offer and accept constructive criticism
- 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 explore meaning through abstract concepts
- extend the ability to explore, control and express emotions
- extend the ability to think imaginatively and creatively
- extend the ability to understand, accept and respect others- their rights, ideas, abilities and differences
- strengthen powers of concentration
Senior Goal I Objectives
- demonstrate a sense of inquiry and commitment, individually and to the group
- demonstrate a sense of responsibility and commitment, individually and to the group
- demonstrate respect for others-their rights, ideas, abilities and differences
- demonstrate the ability to considered decisions, act upon them and accept the results
- 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
- demonstrate the ability to offer, accept, and reflect upon, constructive criticism
- extend physical and vocal capabilities
- increase self-confidence
- increase self-discipline
Orientation Drama 10
- concentrate on the task at hand
- cope with success and failure in positive ways
- demonstrate effective use and management of time
- listen to self and others
- make effective decisions or choices
- offer and accept constructive criticism with a desire to progress
- positively support the work of others
- share ideas confidently
- work cooperatively and productively
- work with abstract concepts
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Communicating and documenting
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Exploring and creating
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Reasoning and reflecting
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Connecting and expanding
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Communicate and document
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
- Create, rehearse, and refine dramatic works through collaborative and individual presentation or performance
- Develop dramatic works for an intended audience
- Experiment with a range of props, processes, and technologies to create and refine innovative dramatic works
- Explore and create dramatic works to express ideas, meaning, and emotions
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Reason and reflect
GRADE 12 - DRAMA - Connect and expand
Grade 6 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
- B2.1 express personal responses and preferences and make connections to themes and issues presented in their own and others’ drama works
- B2.2 identify a favourite scene and give reasons for their preference, using correct drama terminology to describe how the elements of drama contribute to its effectiveness
Grade 7 - Creating and Presenting
Grade 8 - Creating and Presenting
Grades 9 & 10 - Foundations - Responsible Practices
Grades 9 & 10 - Foundations - Concepts and Terminology
Grades 9 & 10 - Creating and Presenting - Presentation Techniques & Technologies
Grade 11 - Foundations - Responsible Practices
Grade 11 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - Connections Beyond the Classroom
Grade 12 - Foundations - Responsible Practices
Grade 12 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing - The Critical Analysis Process
Grade 12 - Creating and Presenting - Presentation Techniques & Technologies
Grade 12 - Creating and Presenting - Elements and Conventions
Grade 12 - Creating and Presenting - The Creative Process
Grade Six
Grade Seven
Grade Seven
- 7.12 The student will develop physical and vocal technique for theatre performance.
- 7.14 The student will research, analyze, rehearse, and present a scripted character in a memorized scene and/or monologue.
- 7.15 The student will identify functions, skills, and responsibilities of the creative team and production staff.
Theatre Arts I: Introduction to Theatre
Theatre Arts III: Intermediate Acting & Playwriting
Theatre Arts III: Intermediate Acting & Playwriting
Theatre Arts III: Intermediate Acting & Playwriting
Theatre Arts IV: Advanced Acting And Directing
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