One Act Proposal

Beacon Charter High School for the Arts Theatre Department

Summer assignment for rising Seniors 2016.
Assigned June 7, 2016
Due September 6, 2016

Enduring Understanding/Goal:    

Directing is a process that involves a balance of vision, collaboration, organization, and management. In order to grasp this balance, there is nothing better than the experience of directing a show. Each of you has an opportunity to do this in the 2016/2017 school year. We are putting together a night of one-acts and YOU are the directors! Each person MUST create a proposal for this but only three (3) to four (4) will be chosen for that night.
In order to do this you must read plays, choose one that you are passionate about, and have a plan. How do you plan? See below for step by step instructions….

Essential Questions:

What, in your opinion, is it to have a directorial vision? How are some ways you could develop that vision? What do you think personally are the biggest strengths you may have as a director? How could you develop these strengths?

Activities:

  1. Research
    1. Read at least three (3) short one-act plays over the summer. These plays should be ten (10) to twenty (20) minutes each and be published by a theatrical publishing house (Samuel French, Dramatics, etc.).
Do not choose a self-published work.
      1. Question : How do I tell how long the play is?
      2. Answer: each page generally equals about a minute of showtime.

  1. Conceptualize
    1. Read your chosen show again (at least twice) making notes and/or sketches which can include:
      1. Blocking
      2. Character notes
      3. Props/Costume/Lights/Sets/Sound
      4. Things that you can relate to the show like songs, artwork, etc.
  2. Organize
    1. Put together your thoughts in a document. Try and explain as simply as possible your concept. In other words, follow this graphic organizer:
      1. Write in one (1) paragraph why you chose this play and what attracted you to want to direct this piece. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
      2. Write in one (1) paragraph what your central concept is. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
      3. Write in your final two (2) paragraphs some of your plans for how you will realize this concept. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    2. Lay out a schedule for your production starting with Auditions on September 29 and 30, 2016; show dates on March 9 and 10, 2017(subject to change). Include the following (all of which will also be subject to change):
      1. Rehearsal times, dates, locations
        1. Cast expectations such as date for off book, what scenes are being blocked, when will you run the show, dress rehearsals, etc.
      2. Tech expectations including design due dates, cue to cue rehearsal dates, techweek expectations, build out dates (if needed), costume fittings, etc.
  3. Wrap it up
    1. What is your goal? Pick one or more of the essential questions and answer it (them) in a professional, thorough manner that explains to the selection committee why your production should move forward

All work must be submitted to Mr. LeClair via Google Classroom (Senior Class code tj5mob)