junior contemporary theatre scene study
Beacon Charter High School for the Arts
Fall, 2016
Course Syllabus
Junior Theatre: Contemporary Theatre Scene Study
Instructor: Jason Robert LeClair
Jason Robert LeClair has his Masters in Art Education from the University of Florida and is an Honors graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Media and Performing Arts. He has been teaching the art of theatre in all aspects since 1999. Working in professional theatres as technical director, community theatres as artistic director and consultant, as well as high schools across the state, he has earned a solid local reputation for excellence. President of the Rhode Island Theatre Education Association from 2010 – 2014 and Director of International Thespians Troupe 7444, Mr. LeClair continues to work in the realm of arts education encouraging the collaborative nature of the theatrical arts.
Contact Info: jleclair@beaconart.org
Office Hours: By appointment
“An actor is totally vulnerable. His total personality is exposed to critical judgment - his intellect, his bearing, his diction, his whole appearance. In short, his ego.” - Sir Alec Guinness
Course Description: This course is designed for the advanced theatre students that serves as a bridge from the classroom to the stage through an exploration of the sculpting and performing of characters from contemporary dramatic literature while deepening their understanding of their own method and approach to the art of acting. It introduces the acting student artist to the concept of development of character on a deeper level.
Course Goal: Students will study dramatic literature written during the late 20th and 21st Centuries with an emphasis on script analysis and how to sculpt a character both from textual clues and the acting techniques needed for the honest and skillful playing of a character.
Essential Skills:
1.) Student artists will develop skills in effective script analysis.
2.) Student artists will learn how to fine-tune the vocal skills needed to perform sculpted, honest characters within contemporary dramatic literature.
3.) Student artists will learn how to fine-tune the physical skills needed to perform sculpted and honest characters within contemporary dramatic literature.
4.) Student artists will develop a deeper understanding of their own method and approach to the art of acting by studying master techniques.
5.) Student artists will research and explore the role of Theatre within today’s society.
National Standards Covered:
TH:Cr2.1.HSI
a. Explore the function of history and culture in the development of a dramatic concept through a critical analysis of original ideas in a drama/theatre work.
b. Investigate the collaborative nature of the actor, director, playwright, and designers and explore their interdependent roles in a drama/theatre work.
TH:Pr5.1.HSI
a. Practice various acting techniques to expand skills in a rehearsal or drama/theatre performance.
TH:Pr6.1.HSI
a. Perform a scripted drama/theatre work for a specific audience.
TH:Re8.1.HSI
a. Analyze and compare artistic choices developed from personal experiences in multiple drama/theatre works.
b. Identify and compare cultural perspectives and contexts that may influence the evaluation of a drama/theatre work.
TH:Re9.1.HSI
a. Examine a drama/ theatre work using supporting evidence and criteria, while considering art forms, history, culture, and other disciplines.
TH:Cn11.1.HSI
a. Explore how cultural, global, and historic belief systems affect creative choices in a drama/theatre work.
Grading System:
Per Beacon Charter High School for the Arts Faculty Agreement, all courses utilize the following formula to calculate the final course grade:
45% Major Assignments (projects, papers, performances, power-points)
35% In Class Work (quizzes, journals, discussions, participation in rehearsals)
20% Homework
Needed by Student: binder with loose leaf paper or notebook, pen, AGENDA (electronic or otherwise), professional attitude and willingness to work hard, respect for self, fellow actors, instructor and theatre space.
UNITS COVERED:
Dramatic Structure and analysis
Character analysis from textual clues
Creating a Character
Understanding Production of contemporary works
ASSESSMENTS: Students will be required to:
1.) Character relations
a.) written response to a dialog work
b.) Introduction to various acting techniques
c.) written character analysis of one of the characters
d.) performance of character based on analysis
2.) Performance of a modern/contemporary monologue
a. Choice of source material
b. Memorization and performance (in context) of a monologue
3.) Actor’s Journal
a.) one entry weekly (observational unless otherwise instructed).
b.) checked by instructor every Thursday – entered on Google classroom
4.) Midterm - MLA paper: Review of a Beacon Performance (guidelines enclosed).
5.) Play: TBD
a.) written script analysis
b.) written character analysis
c.) performance of one scene
6.) Final MLA paper: Character analysis and personal performance critique
Fill out this Google Form by the first day of class.
Fall, 2016
Course Syllabus
Junior Theatre: Contemporary Theatre Scene Study
Instructor: Jason Robert LeClair
Jason Robert LeClair has his Masters in Art Education from the University of Florida and is an Honors graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Media and Performing Arts. He has been teaching the art of theatre in all aspects since 1999. Working in professional theatres as technical director, community theatres as artistic director and consultant, as well as high schools across the state, he has earned a solid local reputation for excellence. President of the Rhode Island Theatre Education Association from 2010 – 2014 and Director of International Thespians Troupe 7444, Mr. LeClair continues to work in the realm of arts education encouraging the collaborative nature of the theatrical arts.
Contact Info: jleclair@beaconart.org
Office Hours: By appointment
“An actor is totally vulnerable. His total personality is exposed to critical judgment - his intellect, his bearing, his diction, his whole appearance. In short, his ego.” - Sir Alec Guinness
Course Description: This course is designed for the advanced theatre students that serves as a bridge from the classroom to the stage through an exploration of the sculpting and performing of characters from contemporary dramatic literature while deepening their understanding of their own method and approach to the art of acting. It introduces the acting student artist to the concept of development of character on a deeper level.
Course Goal: Students will study dramatic literature written during the late 20th and 21st Centuries with an emphasis on script analysis and how to sculpt a character both from textual clues and the acting techniques needed for the honest and skillful playing of a character.
Essential Skills:
1.) Student artists will develop skills in effective script analysis.
2.) Student artists will learn how to fine-tune the vocal skills needed to perform sculpted, honest characters within contemporary dramatic literature.
3.) Student artists will learn how to fine-tune the physical skills needed to perform sculpted and honest characters within contemporary dramatic literature.
4.) Student artists will develop a deeper understanding of their own method and approach to the art of acting by studying master techniques.
5.) Student artists will research and explore the role of Theatre within today’s society.
National Standards Covered:
TH:Cr2.1.HSI
a. Explore the function of history and culture in the development of a dramatic concept through a critical analysis of original ideas in a drama/theatre work.
b. Investigate the collaborative nature of the actor, director, playwright, and designers and explore their interdependent roles in a drama/theatre work.
TH:Pr5.1.HSI
a. Practice various acting techniques to expand skills in a rehearsal or drama/theatre performance.
TH:Pr6.1.HSI
a. Perform a scripted drama/theatre work for a specific audience.
TH:Re8.1.HSI
a. Analyze and compare artistic choices developed from personal experiences in multiple drama/theatre works.
b. Identify and compare cultural perspectives and contexts that may influence the evaluation of a drama/theatre work.
TH:Re9.1.HSI
a. Examine a drama/ theatre work using supporting evidence and criteria, while considering art forms, history, culture, and other disciplines.
TH:Cn11.1.HSI
a. Explore how cultural, global, and historic belief systems affect creative choices in a drama/theatre work.
Grading System:
Per Beacon Charter High School for the Arts Faculty Agreement, all courses utilize the following formula to calculate the final course grade:
45% Major Assignments (projects, papers, performances, power-points)
35% In Class Work (quizzes, journals, discussions, participation in rehearsals)
20% Homework
Needed by Student: binder with loose leaf paper or notebook, pen, AGENDA (electronic or otherwise), professional attitude and willingness to work hard, respect for self, fellow actors, instructor and theatre space.
UNITS COVERED:
Dramatic Structure and analysis
Character analysis from textual clues
Creating a Character
Understanding Production of contemporary works
ASSESSMENTS: Students will be required to:
1.) Character relations
a.) written response to a dialog work
b.) Introduction to various acting techniques
c.) written character analysis of one of the characters
d.) performance of character based on analysis
2.) Performance of a modern/contemporary monologue
a. Choice of source material
b. Memorization and performance (in context) of a monologue
3.) Actor’s Journal
a.) one entry weekly (observational unless otherwise instructed).
b.) checked by instructor every Thursday – entered on Google classroom
4.) Midterm - MLA paper: Review of a Beacon Performance (guidelines enclosed).
5.) Play: TBD
a.) written script analysis
b.) written character analysis
c.) performance of one scene
6.) Final MLA paper: Character analysis and personal performance critique
Fill out this Google Form by the first day of class.
| juniortheatrefall2016-contemporarytheatrescenestudy.pdf |