Fundamentals of Directing Siobhan Bremer
Th 2101 – Fall 2002 Office: HFA 105D
TTh 10:00 – 11:40 Phone: 6245; bremers
HFA 110 Office Hours: M,T,W 3pm
or by appointment
This course introduces the student to the study, art and craft of directing for the stage. We will probe the practical components of the director as artist, teacher, and collaborator. The goal is to provide the communicative, analytical and performative skills necessary to explore the role of the director. Our focus is on the craft of directing modern realistic dramatic literature through text analysis, communication of concepts and stylistic techniques.
Note: This course requires significant rehearsal time outside of class.
Text: Creative Play Direction, Cohen & Harrop, 2nd ed.
Requirements:
1. Class attendance, discussion, participation and acting.
2. Production Pitch.
3. Directing Projects.
4. Quizzes.
5. Production attendance and critical style comparison.
6. Readings in the text and handouts.
Grading:
1. Class attendance/participation/acting 40 pts.
2. Production Pitch 20 pts.
3. Directing Projects: Monologue 25 pts.
2-3 person scene 30 pts.
4-5 person scene 35 pts.
One-Act 40 pts.
4. Quizzes (2 @ 20) 40 pts.
5. Production attendance and critical comparison 20 pts.
Grading Scale:
250-225 pts. = A
224-199 pts. = B
198-173 pts. = C
172-147 pts. = D
146- 0 pts. = F
Students taking the course S/N must receive a C in order to pass.
Class Attendance/Participation/Acting: Attendance in class is mandatory. Directors are group leaders who must mirror good attitude, active participation and appropriate communicative examples for their casts; they must be responsible and accountable. Participation and discussion are integral to this course. You will also perform as an actor in TWO of the four directing projects (monologue and ONE scene). You are required to be prepared for and be an active participant in class. WRITTEN Chancellor excuses will be accepted but the student remains responsible for the work missed, including rescheduling of projects, make-up assignments, etc. See Carrie Grussing in Behmler 309 for activity participation excuses and Melody Veenendaal in Behmler 309 for family emergency excuses. Health excuses will not be accepted. You are allowed two absence before your grade is lowered. After two absence your grade will drop 10 pts for every day you are absent. You will be marked absent for each 3 days you are late. More than four missed days will result in a failing class grade.
Production Pitch: You will be required to search and select a one-act play for your final scene. You will develop a presentation, explaining the merits of the play, your creative vision/concept. The more detailed you get, the better. As theatre artists, we are often required to "sell" ourselves and our ideas; think of this assignment as you would a job interview. Additional information will be provided.
Directing Projects: You will be required to mount four performances for class. All texts must be published, reflect the modern realistic style and be approved by me before rehearsals begin. Unless noted, you must obtain actors yourself, either through auditions or recruitment. All performances must be memorized and polished. Production values (costumes, props, set lights) are NOT a part of this assignment. Paperwork for each performance is due prior to the scheduled performance time. Additional information will be provided for each assignment.
1. Monologue: You will select and direct a fellow classmate in a 1-2 minute monologue. Paperwork will include a promptbook and performance evaluation.
2. A 2-3 Person Scene: You will select and direct a 3-4 minute scene. Paperwork will include a promptbook and performance evaluation.
3. A 4 Person Scene: I will select a scene with four people for you to direct a 5-6 minute scene. Paperwork will include a promptbook and performance evaluation.
4. A One-Act Play: You will select and direct a 10-15 minute complete play. There should be no more than 8 actors in the play. Paperwork will include a promptbook and performance evaluation. The final performance will be open to the public.
Quizzes: The quizzes will are on the daily schedule. If you are absent of the day of a quiz, you will receive a '0' for that test. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP quizzes GIVEN without proper Chancellor's excuse.
Production Attendance and Critical Style Comparison: You are required to attend the University Theatre Productions of Dancing at Lughnasa. Performance dates for Dancing at Lughnasa are Thursday – Saturday, October 31-Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets are usually available the week of the Production. You can attend the production for free by volunteering your services as an usher. You will write a 2-3 page paper discussing the directorial choices of the show.
Assigned/Written Work: ALL ASSIGNED WORK MUST BE HANDED IN ON TIME OR IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. All written work MUST BE TYPED (with 12 point font, 1 inch margins and the header for personal info. Including name and title) or IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. All papers should be free of spelling, grammatical and typographical errors. The grade of the paper will suffer if it is not properly proofread. For your own protection, be sure to make copies of everything you turn in.
Academic Honesty: Any student found guilty of cheating on a quiz will forfeit the grade for that quiz. Any student found guilty of plagiarism, passing off someone else's ideas, work, or words as your own, will receive an F in this course. All incidents of academic dishonesty will be reported and acted upon.
Extra Credit: No extra credit will be given to any students.
Incompletes: There will be no incompletes given for this course.
Policy: No smoking, eating or gum chewing is allowed in class. Beverages, such as water, are encouraged.
Aug. 27 T Intro to course
29 Th Directorial Function, Chpt 1
Sept. 3 T Assign Monologue
5 Th Interpreting the Script, Chpt 2
10 T Rehearse monologue
12 Th Rehearsal monologue / Exercise with memorized monologues
17 T *Perform monologues, assign scene 1
19 Th Discuss performance , plan schedule, rehearse scene
24 T Putting it Together, Chpt 10
26 Th Rehearse scene, each person gets 1/2 the period, plan schedule accordingly
Oct. 1 T Design Composition, Chpt 3, The Grand Plan, Chpt 4, last 30 min. rehearse
3 Th Exercise to rehearse scene with memorized scenes / *Scene paper due
8 T *Perform scene, scene paper due
10 Th Discuss performance / Assign scene 2, quiz set up
15 T NO CLASS-fall break
17 Th Blocking, Chpt 5 / *Quiz 1
22 T Working with Actors, Chpt 8, last 30 min. to rehearse
24 Th Rehearse scene 2
29 T *Perform scene 2 / *scene 2 paper due
31 Th One Acts due Dancing at Lughnasa opens
Nov. 5 T One Acts due/Assign Production Pitch
7 Th Notes on chpt 6 & 7 sound & lighting
12 T *One Acts Production Pitch due
14 Th notes on chpt 9 style/rehearsal time 40 min. plan Rehearse for One Acts
19 T Rehearse One Act/, Exercise with memorized One Acts
21 Th Quiz 2/ rehearse for One Acts, exercise with memorized One Acts
26 T rough run of One Acts, If you are not ready your grade will be effected
28 Th NO CLASS-Thanksgiving
Dec. 3 T Final run of One Acts
5 Th Perform One Acts
10 T Public Performance of One Acts
12 Th Watch and Discuss One Acts
19 Thursday 4:00-6:00pm final time
There will be no final exam given in this course. If we fall behind we will use the final time slot to finish our class activities.