HomeMy WebLinkAboutTHR-214Bergen
Community
College
Division
of
Arts,
Humanities
&
Wellness
Department
of
the
Performing
Arts
Course
Syllabus
Audition
Techniques
THR-214
Instructor:
Office
Location:
Phone:
Office
Hours:
Course
Description
THR-‐214
Audition
Techniques
is
a
practical
course
which
helps
the
student
investigate,
select,
and
prepare
audition
material
appropriate
to
the
individual
and
the
audition
call.
The
course
includes
exercises
in
handling
“cold”
readings
and
in
learning
to
look
at
auditions
from
the
casting
director’s
point
of
view.
2
lectures,
2
credits
Student
Learning
Objectives:
As
a
result
of
meeting
the
requirements
of
this
course,
students
will
be
able
to
1. Audition for roles in professional, community, and educational theatre
2. Utilize acting techniques to become more adept at auditioning
3. Understand the business aspects of the theatre profession
4. Explore the technological resources available to aid with finding auditions,
promoting oneself, and acquiring an agent
5. Develop cold reading skills
6. Perform three prepared audition pieces (monologues)
7. Identify a photographer to take headshots and be able to select the type of pictures
needed for a career in the theatre and create a professional looking resume.
8. Understand the requirements of a musical theatre audition
Objectives
will
be
assessed
as
follows:
1.
By
practicing
cold
reading
of
a
wide
variety
of
scripts,
working
up
three
audition
pieces,
exploring
acting
techniques
to
aid
in
auditioning,
developing
a
resume,
acquiring
8
by
10
theatrical
photos,
and
understanding
the
business
of
the
theatre
profession,
the
students
will
be
ready
to
audition
for
the
professional
and
non-‐
union
theatre.
2.
Acting
techniques
will
be
explored
through
class
exercises,
improvisations,
cold
readings,
script
analysis,
and
performance
of
monologues.
3.
Students
will
be
able
to
map
out
their
career
by
learning
about
agents,
managers,
unions,
self-‐promotion,
pictures
and
resumes,
types
of
auditions,
and
resources
for
identifying
auditions.
4.
Students
will
demonstrate
their
understanding
of
technological
resources,
such
as
Actors
Access,
by
scheduling
possible
auditions
and/or
interviews
for
themselves
utilizing
the
Internet.
5.
Cold
reading
skills
will
be
developed
through
a
series
of
readings,
which
become
increasingly
more
challenging,
moving
from
contemporary
scripts
to
classical
material.
6.
Three
memorized
monologues
will
be
rehearsed
and
critiqued
in
class
and
then
presented
in
a
“mock”
audition
setting.
7.
Students
will
receive
guidance
in
selecting
a
photographer
to
take
their
theatre
headshots.
Purchase
of
photos
is
optional.
However,
the
composition
of
an
acting
resume
is
a
requirement
of
the
course.
8.
A
brief
dance
routine
will
be
learned
and
presented
by
the
class,
and
actors
who
are
singers
will
sing
16
measures
from
a
ballad
and/or
an
up-‐tempo
song.
They
may
choose
to
sing
an
entire
song
or
songs.
All
students
will
cold
read
material
from
various
musical
scripts.
Course
Content
Audition
Techniques
–
This
course
is
a
practical
workshop
that
should
enable
students
to
audition
successfully
in
the
professional
and
non-‐union
theatre.
Students
will
learn
about
both
the
artistic
and
business
aspects
of
auditioning.
Cold
reading
skills
will
be
developed
and
the
students
will
prepare
and
present
three
audition
pieces
(monologues).
How
to
audition
for
musical
theatre
will
explored.
Students
will
create
an
acting
resume
and
be
guided
in
selecting
a
photographer
to
take
their
headshots.
They
will
learn
about
the
business
aspects
of
theatre
and
the
many
technological
resources
available
to
them
for
promoting
their
work.
Technological
Literacy
Technological
literacy
and/or
information
literacy
is
one
expectation
of
this
course.
Students
will
be
encouraged
to
utilize
the
many
technological
resources
available
to
them,
such
as
Actors
Access,
Facebook,
YouTube,
etc.
in
promoting
themselves
and
identifying
auditions.
Course
Texts
and/or
Other
Study
Materials
Required:
“Audition”, by Michael Shurtleff, Bantam Books, 1986
Any Collection of Theatre Monologues: Theatre monologues from plays or even cut
from a novel or short story are acceptable. Solo pieces not within a play or piece of
literature are not recommended. Monologues, which are found on the Internet that are
not from a play and/or which are from a film, are also not recommended.
Suggested Monologue Collections in the BCC Bookstore:
“100 Monologues – An Audition Sourcebook from New Dramatists”, edited by Laura
Harrington, New American Library, division of Penguin Putnam, Inc. New York, N.Y.
1989 (or the latest edition)
The Actor’s Book of Contemporary Stage Monologues, edited by Nina Shengold,
Penguin Books, 1987
Soliloquy, the Shakespeare Monologues, one for men and one for women, edited by
Michael Earley and Philippa Keil, Applause Books, 1988
Grading
Policy
Attendance, preparation, and active participation 10%
Three monologues (15% each; includes rehearsals in class)* 45%
Midterm and final presentations (each worth 10%) 20%
Cold readings & class exercises 15%
A typed theatrical resume 10%
100%
*Extra Credit: A fourth monologue, fully memorized and performance ready, will merit an
extra 5% or ½ of a letter grade.
Criteria
for
Evaluation:
Attendance,
preparation
and
active
participation:
a.
Consistent
attendance
b.
Preparation
of
three
memorized
monologues
c.
Completed
assignments
d.
Overall
demonstration
of
comprehension
of
the
course
material
e.
Active
participation
in
class
exercises,
improvisations,
and
in
discussions
evaluating
the
work
presented
Three
Monologues:
The
presentation
of
three
audition
pieces
(monologues)
is
a
major
requirement
of
this
course.
Monologues are graded on a class-by-class basis. Rehearsing
them in class is part of the overall grade. Also, no monologue receives a grade in the mid-
term or final if it is not memorized. Memorizing a fourth monologue is encouraged and
strongly recommended, but not required. This will receive extra credit amounting to a half of
a letter grade, but only if the monologue is completely memorized and performance ready.
Midterm and Final Presentations: Two
memorized
and
rehearsed
monologues
are
presented
back
to
back
as
if
at
a
real
audition.
The
student
will
state
his/her
name
and
the
plays
from
which
the
monologues
have
been
cut
and
then
perform
the
pieces.
The
final
presentation
combines
the
third
monologue
with
either
the
first
or
second
piece.
If
the
student
has
learned
a
fourth
monologue,
this
may
also
be
combined
with
the
third.
Cold Readings and Class Exercises:
Three
levels
of
cold
readings
will
be
practiced
in
class:
the
first
will
consist
of
readings
from
contemporary
plays
in
which
students
will
have
an
opportunity
to
read
with
a
partner
in
advance;
the
second
level
will
consist
of
readings
from
classical
plays
without
the
benefit
of
preparing
with
a
partner;
finally,
the
third
will
consist
of
readings
from
musical
theatre
scripts,
also
without
previous
rehearsal
with
a
partner.
In
addition
to
cold
readings,
students
will
participate
in
exercises
and
improvisations
relating
to
auditioning.
A
Typed
Theatrical
Resume:
Each
student
will
submit
a
typed,
professionally
formatted
acting
resume.
If
some
of
the
students
have
very
few
or
no
credits,
they
will
create
a
resume
listing
any
theatre
related
training
or
special
skills.
90
-100
=
A
86
-
89
=
B+
80
-
85
=
B
76
-
79
=
C+
70
-
75
=
C
65
-
69
=
D
E
=
Unofficial
Withdrawal
W
=
Official
Withdrawal
INC
=
Incomplete
0
-
64
=
F
Students
will
be
permitted
to
perform
their
midterm
and
final
presentations
late,
if
they
are
either
absent
or
not
prepared
the
day
of
the
presentation.
However,
one
letter
grade
will
be
deducted
from
the
grade
of
the
presentation.
Monologues,
which
are
not
memorized,
are
not
eligible
for
a
grade.
Frequent
calling
for
lines
during
these
presentations
also
lowers
the
grade.
BCC
Attendance
Policy
All
students
are
expected
to
attend
punctually
every
scheduled
meeting
of
each
course
in
which
they
are
registered.
Because
the
course
grade
depends
heavily
upon
class
participation,
missing
more
than
2
classes
will
drop
the
grade.
3
classes
missed
equals
a
B
to
a
B
plus
depending
upon
participation,
4
classes
–
a
C
to
a
C
plus;
5
classes
–
a
D,
and
more
than
five
a
failure
in
the
course.
Students
will
be
evaluated
on
attendance
and
participation
in
class
using
the
following
criteria:
consistent
attendance;
evidence
of
studying
text
and
assignments;
completed
daily
assignments;
quality
classroom
responses.
If
a
student
is
not
prepared
with
the
assignment
for
the
day,
he/she
will
not
receive
credit
for
it
for
that
particular
class.
Course
Outline:
Note
to
Students:
This
Course
Outline
and
Calendar
is
tentative
and
subject
to
change,
depending
upon
the
progress
of
the
class.
Week Topic/Activity Learning
Objectives Assignments/Events
1
Introduction to the Course
• Discussion of the various
auditions settings and how to
approach them
• The requirements, time limits and
different types of monologues
• Students introduce themselves as
if they are at the interview which
may precede an audition
1,2
Read pgs. 1-31 and 187-
192 in text
Select a monologue to
read and time for the next
class
Week Topic/Activity Learning
Objectives Assignments/Events
2
The Elements of Scripts Analysis &
First Read-Through of Monologue # 1
• Discuss pgs. 1-31 and
187-192
• Read-through, assess,
and time the first
monologue
1,2,3
Read pgs. 143-186 and
193-194
Memorize monologue #1
3
Breaking Down a Script into Beats
and Shaping an Audition Piece
• Discuss pgs. 143-186 and 193-
194 in the text
• Work
monologue
#1
off
book.
1,2,3 Rehearse monologue for
performance
4
The Business of Show Business
• Discuss how to write a
theatrical resume
• selecting
a
good
photographer
The
different
types
of
headshots
• Audition resources: Backstage,
the Ross Report, Actors
Access, and the Internet
• The role of agents, managers,
and how to be signed by one.
Knowing how to recognize a
legitimate agency and how to
avoid being scammed
• The use Internet as a way to
promote yourself, etc.
• Begin
presentation
of
monologue
#1
1,2,3,4,6,7 Read pgs. 77-105
5
Completion of the Presentation of
Monologue #1
Cold Reading Techniques
• Complete presentation of
monologue #1
• Discuss pgs. 77-105
• Cold
Reading
Techniques:
cold
readings
of
scenes
from
contemporary
plays
with
a
brief
rehearsal
with
a
partner
prior
to
the
reading
1,2,3,5,6 Bring in monologue #2,
preferably a classical
piece
Read pgs. 105-142
Week Topic/Activity Learning
Objectives Assignments/Events
6
How to Approach a Classical Piece,
Especially Shakespeare
• Discuss how to approach a
classical piece and pgs. 105-
142
• Work monologue #2
1,2,3,6 Memorize monologue #2
Rough draft of resume is
due.
7
Present monologue #2 and hand in
rough draft of resume
1,2,3,5,6,7 Prepare for mid-term
presentation
8
MID-TERM PRESENTATION: first
two monologues back to back
1,2,3,6 Bring in monologue #3
9
Read-through and begin to work
monologue #3
Classical cold readings
• Shakespeare warm-up
exercises
• Begin classical cold readings,
this time without a prior
rehearsal with a partner
• Read-through and work
monologue #3
1,2,3,5,6 Read pgs. 195-199 and
207-213
Memorize monologue #3
10
Presentation of Monologue #3
• Discuss pgs. 195-199 and 207-
213
• Present monologue #3
• Complete
classical
cold
readings
1,2,3,5,6 Read pgs. 217-254
11
Complete presentation of monologue
#3
• Discuss pgs. 217-254
• Complete presentation of
monologue #3
1,2,3,6 Bring in optional
monologue #4 or
prepare for final
presentation
Schedule a “fictional”
week of auditions using
the Internet and
Backstage Magazine
12
Strategies for Career Success
• Discuss the audition
assignment
• Mapping out your career
1,2,3,4,6 Prepare a ballad and/or
and up-tempo song,
either a full song or 16
measures of a song (if the
Week Topic/Activity Learning
Objectives Assignments/Events
• Work optional monologue #4
or rehearse for final
presentation
student sings). Bring
recorded accompaniment,
if desired. Also, bring
jazz or ballet shoes (if the
student has them)
Final draft of resume is
due
Read pgs. 201-206
13
Musical Comedy Workshop
• Discuss what happens at a
musical comedy audition
• Learn a brief dance
combination and present it
• If singing, perform the songs,
announcing them as you would
an audition piece
• Cold readings of scene from
musical theatre
• Final draft of resumes due
1,2,3,5,7,8 Bring in photos with
resume attached
Select which monologues
will be done in the final
presentation and rehearse
them back to back
14
Rehearsal for the Final Presentation
• Include “mock” interviews as
part of the rehearsal with a
completed picture and resume
1,2,3,6,7 Prepare for the final
presentation
15
FINAL PRESENTATION:
monologue #3 with either one of the
first two monologues or with a fourth
one
1,2,3,6
Advisement for Theatre Majors or anyone interested in theatre:
If you would like for me to be your advisor, you may register for ADV-001-103 POD
Advising. This service is free.