Unit
Agatha Rex and Ancient Greek Theatre
Created by Angel Borths
Help… It’s all Greek to me! Join Angel Borths in this unit that uses a modern adaptation of the Ancient Greek play Antigone to introduce Middle School students to Ancient Greek Theatre.
Have your students read Percy Jackson and want to find out more about Ancient Greece? Then, this unit is for you. This unit is designed for middle and high school students and will take you through the basics of classical Greek theatre and pairs it with a modern adaptation of the story of Antigone called Agatha Rex by Lindsay Price. Students will learn vocabulary, design, and basic theory surrounding classical Greek theatre. Students will also enjoy the mask-building component of this unit, as they learn to disappear into the character of a mask, like the first actors did on a Greek stage thousands of years ago.
The unit culminates in a scene performance with masks.
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The overview provides the objectives for the unit and outline for the lesson materials.
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1Lesson 1Introduction to Antigone and Agatha RexStudents will be able to summarize the plot of a story from Ancient Greek Theatre using a description of a classical Greek tragedy.
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2Lesson 2Vocabulary TermsStudents will be able to identify elements of Ancient Greek Theatre through a group research activity.
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3Lesson 3Parts of the Ancient Greek StageStudents will be able to identify the parts of an Ancient Greek Stage and explain the function of each element.
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4Lesson 4Aristotle's 6 Elements of DramaStudents will be able to identify Aristotle’s 6 Elements of Drama and analyze their application to modern theatre and media.
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5Lesson 5Vocabulary Terms, Part 2Students will be able to use their knowledge of Greek theatre to predict matching definitions and terms.
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6Lesson 6Vocabulary QuizStudents will be able to complete a formal assessment of their knowledge of Ancient Greek Theatre.
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7Lesson 7Ancient Greek Theatre MasksStudents will be able to design and build a Greek Theatre mask in the traditional style for a character in Agatha Rex.
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8Lesson 8Ancient Greek Theatre Masks, Part 2Students will be able to design and build a Greek Theatre mask in the traditional style for a character in Agatha Rex. Students will be able to design and build a skene backdrop.
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9Lesson 9Scene RehearsalStudents will be able to stage and rehearse an adaptation of a classical greek play, using theatrical masks as a group.
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10Lesson 10Performance & ReflectionStudents will be able to perform an adaptation of a classical greek play, using theatrical masks as a group.
Standards Addressed
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 6 - Performing
- TA6.PR.1 Act by communicating and sustaining roles in formal and informal environments.<br/>a. Demonstrate effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills (e.g. rate, pitch, volume, inflection, posture, facial expression, physical movement).<br/>b. Execute character creation in a performance.<br/>c. Demonstrate a variety of types of theatre performances.
- TA6.PR.2 Execute artistic and technical elements of theatre.<br/>a. Incorporate technical elements in performance.
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.
Grade 7 - Responding
- TA7.RE.1 Engage actively and appropriately as an audience member.<br/>a. Assess the role and responsibility of the audience as an integral part of theatre performances.<br/>b. Summarize the relationship between the audience and performers.<br/>c. Predict how audience relationships will differ with venue and performance type.<br/>d. Demonstrate appropriate audience behaviors.
- TA7.RE.2 Critique various aspects of theatre and other media.<br/>a. Identify the benefits of constructive dramatic criticism.<br/>b. Apply performance rubrics to evaluate theatre and other media productions.
Grade 8 - Creating
- TA8.CR.1 Organize, design, and refine theatrical work.<br/>a. Differentiate the physical, emotional, vocal, and social dimensions of a variety of characters.<br/>b. Compare the relationships and interactions between characters by analyzing character motivation (objectives, obstacles, strategy, action, stakes, outcome).<br/>c. Incorporate dramatic elements through improvisation.<br/>d. Connect theatre vocabulary to the application of theatre performance.<br/>e. Identify and demonstrate both ensemble and leadership skills in the rehearsal process.<br/>f. Evaluate the effectiveness of artistic and technical elements used in a theatre production.<br/>g. Design and create scenery, props, costumes, lighting, and sound.<br/>h. Assume different roles and responsibilities in the rehearsal process.
- TA8.CR.2 Develop scripts through theatrical techniques.<br/>a. Classify different points of view in a story.<br/>b. Identify, analyze, and articulate the structure of a script.<br/>c. Utilize improvisation techniques to generate script ideas.<br/>d. Use the dramatic writing process to generate a script.
Grade 8 - Performing
- TA8.PR.1 Act by communicating and sustaining roles in formal and informal environments.<br/>a. Demonstrate the physical, emotional, vocal, and social dimensions of a character in different types of theatre performances (e.g. rate, pitch, volume, inflection, posture, facial expression, motivation, physical movement).<br/>b. Demonstrate appropriate ensemble skills throughout a performance.<br/>c. Use appropriate listening and response skills during performances.
- TA8.PR.2 Execute artistic and technical elements of theatre.<br/>a. Incorporate artistic and technical elements into a theatre production.<br/>b. Resolve conflicts in technical applications.
Grade 8 - Connecting
- TA8.CN.1 Explore how theatre connects to life experience, careers, and other content.<br/>a. Investigate and prove common themes and structure among theatre and other disciplines.<br/>b. Defend how theatre reflects life.<br/>c. Incorporate multi-disciplinary aspects into theatre performance.<br/>d. Identify and analyze professions associated with different forms of production (e.g. director, stage manager, designer, technician, playwright, actor).
- TA8.CN.2 Examine the role of theatre in a societal, cultural, and historical context.<br/>a. Compare and contrast how theatre evolves through time.<br/>b. Examine how culture is defined through theatre and other media.<br/>c. Apply advanced research skills to obtain appropriate cultural and historical information to rationalize artistic choices (e.g. costuming, make-up, setting of a time period in relation to the play).<br/>d. Discuss theatre’s role in reflecting the culture of a society.
Grades 9-12 - ACTING LEVELS I-IV - Creating
- TAHSA.CR.1 Organize, design, and refine theatrical work.<br/>a. Use script analysis in the development and presentation of formal and informal theatre performances.<br/>b. Examine various theories of dramatic structure.<br/>c. Engage in and apply meaningful cultural, literary, and historical research to create acting choices or directorial concepts.
- TAHSA.CR.2 Develop scripts through theatrical techniques.<br/>a. Examine theatre practices regarding the development, structure, layout, and format of scripts.<br/>b. Use improvisation, personal experiences, heritage, imagination, literature, and history to develop scripts.<br/>c. Perform formal and informal monologues and scenes based on published and original scripts.
Grades 9-12 - ACTING LEVELS I-IV - Responding
- TAHSA.RE.1 Engage actively and appropriately as an audience member.<br/>a. Examine and reflect on the relationship between actor and live audience in historical and contemporary performances.
- TAHSA.RE.2 Critique various aspects of theatre and other media using appropriate supporting evidence.<br/>a. Develop and utilize meaningful, structured criteria for assessing the work of an actor.
Grades 9-12 - ACTING LEVELS I-IV - Connecting
- TAHSA.CN.1 Explore how theatre connects to life experience, careers, and other content.<br/>a. Examine multiple facets of the business of theatre.<br/>b. Examine the methods of pursuing various acting careers, including demonstrating audition etiquette and techniques.
- TAHSA.CN.2 Examine the role of theatre in a societal, cultural, and historical context.<br/>a. Examine and apply theatrical theories, performances, and conventions from a variety of theatrical literature, historical periods, and cultures.
Grades 9-12 - ADVANCED DRAMA LEVELS I-IV -Creating
- TAHSAD.CR.1 Organize, design, and refine theatrical work.<br/>a. Examine various theories of dramatic structure.<br/>b. Engage in and apply meaningful cultural, literary, and historical research to create acting choices or directorial concepts.
- TAHSAD.CR.2 Develop scripts through theatrical techniques.<br/>a. Utilize theatrical conventions to produce scripts based on personal experiences, imagination, literature, and history.
Grades 9-12 - ADVANCED DRAMA LEVELS I-IV -Connecting
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 - Performing
- TAHSFT.PR.1 Act by communicating and sustaining roles in formal and informal environments.<br/>a. Observe and demonstrate aspects of verbal and non-verbal techniques in common human activity for performance (e.g. voice, breathing, posture, facial expression, physical movement).<br/>b. Construct and interpret artistic choices in performance including the objectives, decisions, and actions of characters.<br/>c. Explore various acting methods and techniques (e.g. Stanislavski, Uta Hagen, sense memory, emotional recall) for the purpose of character development.<br/>d. Perform acting choices for an audience based on critiques.
- TAHSFT.PR.2 Execute artistic and technical elements of theatre.<br/>a. Identify and define the various collaborative roles and relationships of technical production personnel (e.g. sound, lighting, set, scenic, costume, dramaturge, makeup, marketing, business aspects) in relation to the directors and performers.<br/>b. Identify and apply the various aspects of directing, staging, performance spaces, and rehearsal management.<br/>c. Recognize and apply the basic elements and procedures involved in the construction of props, scenery, and platforms.<br/>d. Formulate effective theatrical designs in order to support the text and directorial concept.
Grades 9-12 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Responding
- TAHSFT.RE.1 Engage actively and appropriately as an audience member.<br/>a. Articulate why the relationship between the audience and performers is critical to the success of the production and demonstrate appropriate audience behavior.<br/>b. State and support aesthetic judgments through experience in diverse styles and genres of theatre.
- TAHSFT.RE.2 Critique various aspects of theatre and other media using appropriate supporting evidence.<br/>a. Generate and use terminology for critiquing theatre presentations.<br/>b. Analyze performance and utilize various effective forms of criticism to respond to and/or improve performance.
Grades 9-12 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Connecting
- TAHSFT.CN.1 Explore how theatre connects to life experiences, careers, and other content.<br/>a. Examine how theatre reflects real life.<br/>b. Analyze how theatre employs aspects of other art forms and disciplines to effectively communicate with a live audience.<br/>c. Demonstrate awareness of the discipline, knowledge, skills, and education required for careers in theatre.<br/>d. Explore various careers in the theatre arts (e.g. performance, design, production, administrative, education, promotion).
- TAHSFT.CN.2 Examine the role of theatre in a societal, cultural, and historical context.<br/>a. Identify and analyze plays and dramas from a variety of historical periods and cultures.<br/>b. Explore the works of milestone playwrights and plays, and the relevance of historical theatre.<br/>c. Recognize historical events that have influenced the role of theatre and how theatrical events have impacted cultural development.<br/>d. Interpret cultural and historical research for use in a production.
Grades 9-12 - MUSICAL THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Creating
Grades 9-12 - MUSICAL THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Responding
Grades 9-12 - MUSICAL THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Connecting
Grades 9-12 - THEATRE HISTORY AND LITERATURE I AND II - Creating
Grades 9-12 - THEATRE HISTORY AND LITERATURE I AND II - Performing
Grades 9-12 - THEATRE HISTORY AND LITERATURE I AND II - Responding
Grades 9-12 - THEATRE HISTORY AND LITERATURE I AND II - Connecting
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