Theater II & III: Journal Entries. (How it's Done!)

Grading

Each entry should span about 10 lines (200 words).  Each entry is worth 10 points as follows:

 

·         Structure (introduction that includes a restatement of the question, body paragraph that answers question & brief conclusion to “wrap up”) – 5 points

·         Clarity, Thoughtfulness, & Organization (Are your thoughts clear & understandable to the reader?  Are your thoughts organized to be understandable?) – 5 points

 

Each week you are to complete two (2) journal entries.  Journal entries fall under TWO CATEGORIES: reflection OR observation.  You should complete one of each type each week.

 

Reflection entries are a place for you to reflect on your work as an actor, director or technician.  These are a great way for you to write about what you did well during the week, what you hope to improve upon, and what questions you might have for me as your teacher about your performance.  Be sure to really think about what you’ve learned (or still want to learn) about your work as an actor, director, or technician.

 

Observation entries are a place for you to write about what you have observed during the week.  You may write about what you have seen other students work on, what you have seen theatrically OUTSIDE the classroom (plays, television, movies, etc.) or any character observations that you’ve made.  (It’s okay to write “people-watching” stuff.  This is great for acting!)

 

This should prove an easy assignment, since at any given moment you are either rehearsing or waiting for your turn to rehearse!  (Please, PLEASE, PLEASE use the time that you are waiting to rehearse to write these journal entries.  DO NOT PUT IT OFF UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.)

Total entries for February:             4 (Feb 16 – 19, Feb 22 – 26)

Total entries for March:            6 (March 1 – 5, Mar 8 – 12, Mar 22 – 26)

________________________________________________________________________________

Total points:                                    10 entries x 10 points = 100 total possible points

Theater II & III: Show Rehearsals and Preparation

Period 6: "Now Let Me Fly" Film Project

Actors designed costumes, using creativity and the resources available to them in class.  You may bring in your own costume pieces AND we can create a costume for you out of the pieces available in the department.

Directors/camera ops started storyboarding.  Storyboards should be complete by Thursday at the start of class.

Period 7: "The Tell Tale Heart" presentation

Completed our first blocking rehearsal for Scene 1.  Get blocking from your stage manager or your technicians.  Survived the "Great Bat Scare of 2010."

Theater II & III: Journal Entry - Day One (1/26)

Write down your impressions upon reading your script with your cast/group.  Make sure to include positive impressions AND negative impressions... This is supposed to be YOUR OPINION.  Please make sure that you think for yourself.

All Theater Classes: Journals

Every student in Theater I, Theater II, and Theater III should bring a journal (a folder or notebook capable of holding three-hole punched papers that has a supply of lined notebook paper in it) to class EVERY DAY.

Every student in Theater I, Theater II, and Theater III should bring a writing utensil to class as well.  This is common sense, folks.  (Theater II and III should make sure that at least one of their writing utensils is a pencil.)

Constructive Criticism/Feedback

A reminder of how to successfully critique your peers' performances and rehearsals during the course of this class:

1. AFFIRMATION

Immediately following the presentation or production, the floor is open for positive feedback only.  Phrase everything in "I" statements ("I liked," "I saw," "I thought," etc.).  

2. QUESTIONS (from performer to audience)

A time for the performer to ask specific questions about what s/he did and illicit feedback.

3. QUESTIONS (from audience to performer)

Audience members have an opportunity to ask the performer questions about their performance.  These should be NEUTRAL questions (neither positive or negative!) and be specific.  Again, these are questions that are "I" based -- you can only ask questions for YOU.  No generalizations for the group.

4. OPINION

Audience members have the opportunity to offer opinions on how to improve or change the production.  However, in order to be fair, they must make a statement that shows what their opinion is about, THEN ask if the performer is willing to hear it.

Example:

"I have an opinion about how to make the plot clearer to the audience.  Would you like to hear it?"

The performer has the opportunity to say YES (I am willing to hear your idea and will not take offense to it), NO (I don't want to hear your opinion), or MAYBE LATER (I don't want to hear it at this time).

Theater II & III: Intro to Monologues

12/3/09

Theater II & III:

Using the open monologue you've chosen (A, B, or C), answer the following questions in as much detail as possible.  Use details in the monologue and your own creativity to support your choices.

1. Character Description

Using the monologue as a reference, write a character description of the character who is speaking.  This should include any and all details of a characters internal & external traits, their family background, educational background, occupation, general temperament, likes & dislikes, and any other descriptive details that you find necessary.

2. Describe the person (or people) this character is speaking to.  What is the relationship between the character who is speaking and their listeners?

3. What is the inciting incident?  (What has happened?  What event is the speaker talking about?)

4. What experiences of your own can you call on to EMPATHIZE with the character who is speaking?

Theater III ONLY:

5. Write a short monologue that is in CONTRAST to the monologue you have chosen.  For example, if you plan to perform the open monologue as COMEDIC, a contrasting monologue would be DRAMATIC (and vice versa).  This monologue might also serve as the listener's RESPONSE to the original monologue.  (What would the person who has listened to the original monologue say in response to what they've just heard?  Make sure that it CONTRASTS the original monologue!)

Theater II & III: Journal #9 - Position

Theater III: This journal entry must be handed in at the start of class TOMORROW (Tuesday, November 3).

Having read the "evidence" (i.e. the script thus far), which character could you ETHICALLY side with?  (Margaret Narwin or Philip Malloy?) Why?

Use facts to support your position.

Theater III: Observation Paper Deadline Approaches

Theater II: Journal #8 - Character Assumptions

Choose one of the following characters and write what the audience can assume about him or her.  On what do they base their assumptions?

Margaret Narwin

Philip Malloy

Administrator/Intercom voice

Theater III: Don't forget that your OBSERVATION PAPER is due:

Friday, December 11th

45 days left!  Go see a show!  Write your observation paper!

Theater II & III: Greek Theater Notes

Theater II and III Greek Theater notes:

Greek Theater

Or “Tragedy tomorrow, Comedy tonight!”

 

Dionysus:

GREEK DRAMA BEGAN AS A FORM OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP TO THE GREEK GOD,  DIONYSUS.

Dionysus and Religious Worship:

DIONYSUS IS THE GOD OF WINE AND VEGETATION.

DIONYSUS WAS BELIEVED TO DIE EACH WINTER AND WAS REBORN IN THE SPRING.

THIS CYCLICAL REVIVAL, WITH THE SEASONAL RENEWAL OF THE FRUITS OF THE EARTH, EMBODIED THE PROMISE OF RESURRECTION. 

YEARLY RIGHTS TO DIONYSUS EVOLVED INTO THE STRUCTURED FORM OF GREEK DRAMA

Dionysian Festival:

THE GREATER DIONYSIA WAS HELD FOR FIVE DAYS DURING THE SPRING.

EACH WRITER WOULD PRESENT THREE TRAGEDIES AND A SATYR PLAY.

What word in English is “satyr” similar to?

A SATYR PLAY IS A FARCICAL, OFTEN BAWDY PARODY OF THE GODS AND THEIR MYTHS.

PEOPLE WOULD SIT THROUGH THE PLAYS IN THE THEATER AND WOULD VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE PLAYS BY CASTING BALLOTS. 

Parts of a Greek Tragedy

Your project will require you to have knowledge of the various parts of a traditional Greek tragedy.

Here are some definitions and facts to help your group out!

1. Prologue

A monologue or dialogue preceding the entry of the chorus, which presents the tragedy's topic.

Example: The “prologue” in Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet operates much like a Greek prologue.
“Two households, both alike in dignity, 
    In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, 

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, 
    Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes 
    A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life…”

2. Parados

The entering lyric of the Chorus which explains background information.

Example: In Antigone, the entrance of the Chorus tells us that the war has left Antigone’s brothers dead – and that the king has forbidden any burial for one.

3. Episodes

Parts of the play where characters perform/act out the events.

Example: Think of an episode of your favorite TV show.  Actors act out the events – but don’t comment on it.

In a Greek tragedy episode, the only character who can comment on the action is the Chorus.
Think of Bernie Mac in The Bernie Mac Show.

4. Choral Odes

The Chorus speaks about the THEME of the story by using metaphor, simile, or an anecdote.

Example: In musicals, the characters sometimes burst into song to sing about their thoughts about the action of the play.  It’s sort of like that.

5. Exodus

As the characters leave, the Chorus tells us what we should have learned from the story.

Example: The EPILOGUE of a great many Shakespeare plays or the MORAL of the story.
Think of Aesop’s Fables…

Theater I & II: Theater History Notes

·         Theatre began thousands of years ago, probably before the start of recorded history.

·         Early cultures used ritual, dance and storytelling to communicate.

·         Theatre is one of the HUMANITIES; it attempts to answer the questions: “Who am I?” “Why are we here?” and “Where are we going?”

·         A RITUAL is an action performed REPEATEDLY because of its symbolic significance and its ability to evoke the emotions of those engaged in the performance.

·         Through rituals, early humans wanted to:
- Achieve success in battle and hunting
- Ensure adequate sun and rain
- Express their duty to the community and to the gods

·         Common to all traditional cultures, the shaman is a priestly figure who communicates directly with the gods through rituals for the benefit of the community.

·         Rituals were usually performed by elders, priests or shamans.

·         Our knowledge of early theatre and rituals comes from wall painings, artifacts, and hieroglyphics.

·         Rituals often told a story based on the culture’s beliefs.  These stories were often based on MYTH.

·         Myths gained a life beyond the rituals, and began to be performed for entertainment.

·         Myth, Stories, Rituals BECAME Habit, Tradition BECAME Entertainment which BECAME Theatre!

·         The earliest example of ritual evolving into theatre comes from Ancient Egypt.

·         The world’s first report of a dramatic production is an Egyptian drama known as the Abydos Passion Play.
- The play at Abydos is the story of the god Osiris.

Myths and stories have been used to entertain and to educate human beings since
the very beginning of spoken language.

• Stories were told in order to:
- TEACH HISTORY                                                - ENTERTAIN

 - SETTLE ARGUMENTS                                    - HONOR THE GODS

 - MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD        - COMMUNICATE EXPERIENCES

 - RECORD HISTORY

·         Homer was a blind poet who may have been born on an island in the Aegean Sea (GREEK).

·        He probably composed his works between 700 and 800 B.C.

·         Homer was an ancient Greek epic poet, traditionally said to be the
author of the epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey.

·         Homer was one of the first storytellers to use repetition and dialogue in his stories.

·         Homer’s (and others!)  stories provided many of the ideas and plots for playwrights that came after him!

·         Dance is another probable origin of theatre.

·         Dance comes from:
 - animal imitation                        - pantomime
 - gymnastics                                    - rhythmic movement

Dance was often used as part of rituals. 

Theater II: Journal Entries

Journal check is today.  You should have TWO entries.

1. 9/11 Letter: Write a letter to your imaginary future grandchildren about your experience or your family's experience with the events of September 11, 2001.  Try to tell them about your feelings, questions, and the changes that may have occurred in your community/society after the events.
2. Character Analysis: Based on the monologue you've chosen, complete a character analysis based on the following questions:

1. Age?

2. Occupation or grade level?

3. External traits?

4. Internal traits?

5. How does this person move?

6. What types of people is this person friends with?

7. What is life like at home?

Theater II and III: Paint by Numbers Outline

Theater II/III assignment:

In groups today, you will start (and possibly complete!) your Paint by Numbers story outline.  

Outlines must include:

1. Setting, hero, villain, problem and solution.
2. At least FIVE (5) events.  Please include all characters involved in each event, as well as any other important details.

You do not need to include specific dialogue.

Outlines are due in class on Tuesday, September 1.