HomeMy WebLinkAboutTHR-210Bergen Community College
Division of Humanities
Department of Visual & Performing Arts
Course Syllabus
Scene Study
THR 210
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Course Description
Scene Study is a performance workshop designed to explore the various acting techniques used
in the staging and development of scenes and monologues. It emphasizes a practical, step-by-
step approach to acting by exploring the rehearsal process, the development of character,
creation of organic blocking, script analysis, improvisational and traditional methods, and
physical and vocal technique.
Two scenes are selected by students who pair up to work on them, rehearsing in and outside of
class for approximately six weeks for each and culminating in a performance of each with a
suggestion of set pieces, props, and costumes. Selection and preparation of a monologue to be
used for auditions is also an important component of the class. The scenes and monologues must
be memorized when they are finally performed. The course is completed with a public
performance of the strongest work from the semester presented to other students, family,
friends, etc.
Student Learning Outcome: Means of Assessment:
1. begin to develop an individual process to
approach the creation of a role, using
various methods of acting and the
fundamentals of directing.
warm-ups, improvisation, group projects,
vocal exercises
2. Elearn to analyze and break down a script
beat-by-beat, creating a believable
character, playing objectives truthfully, and
staging their scenes with organic blocking.
Written Assignments, Class Discussion
3. rehearse and perform two fully staged
scenes during the semester.
Written Assignment, Class Discussion
4. use improvisation and other techniques to
develop character and to extend emotional
range.
In-Class Analysis, Scene Preparation Worksheet
5. Develop vocal and physical technique for
acting in live theatre.
warm-ups, improvisation, group projects,
vocal exercises
6. learn the discipline and professional
decorum required in the theatre and
develop a way of working that can sustain
them in future theatrical endeavors and/or
careers.
staging, memorization, and performance of a
scene
7. prepare a monologue, which may be used
as an audition piece.
Final presentation
In support of the goals mentioned above, the course will explore the many different methods of
approaching a scene and audition pieces, which the student actors can utilize in their future
theatrical endeavors and possible careers in the field.
Objectives will be assessed as follows:
1. Using methods, such as those taught by Constantin Stanislavsky, Sanford Meisner, Stella
Adler, etc., the students will experiment with various techniques to approach their work as
actors. They will stage two scenes and work on them through a rehearsal process both in and
outside of class to performance. The areas of the stage, including a discussion of the types of
theatrical spaces (proscenium, ¾ staging, arena/in-the-round, etc.) will be explained in terms of
the demands of each in terms of blocking. The class, however, will mainly deal with the rules
pertaining to proscenium staging, with an understanding of basic directing elements, such as
blocking, focus, pace, “picturization,” and the overall arc of the scene.
2. The students will learn script analysis by breaking down on paper at least two pages of
dialogue into beats accompanied by objectives. Beat-by-beat work will also be done by the
actors “on their feet” throughout the rehearsal process on the scenes and monologues. Students
are encouraged to take notes in order to give supportive feedback to those who are performing.
Through improvisation, a music project, and within rehearsal, they will understand how to “tell
the story” of their scenes and monologues with organic, motivated blocking.
3. The first scene will be performed as the midterm presentation and the second one will be
performed near the end of the semester. The monologue is presented after about three in-class
rehearsals also later on in the course. The instructor will fill out a scene/monologue evaluation
form for all of the presentations, except for the final one, which is open to the public. The
strongest work of the semester will be selected for the final presentation and is open to other
students, faculty, friends, and family. All of the scenes should have suggestions of the set,
props, and costumes, and be off book for their graded, final performances.
4. As noted above, improvisation will be utilized to free the students, explore their characters,
create organic blocking, expand emotional range, and discover ways to make exciting choices
in their work. Each student is expected to read the play from which the scene is taken, write a
biography (back story) about the character in the first person, minimally two pages, and list the
objectives written in active terms. The biography and objective list will only be required for
one scene.
5. There will be a vocal workshop, which examines how the voice works physically, the
elements of speech (projection, articulation, resonance, etc.), vocal warm-up exercises,
intensive solo work on short, vocally challenging pieces, and an assignment involving a
monologue with vocal variation. In terms of physical technique, there will be a discussion of
the rules of stage movement for the various spaces, especially proscenium staging, and some
basic directorial concepts for developing visually powerful scenes. The music project explores
the power of nonverbal communication, the use of music to tell a story, and the similarities
between blocking and choreography.
6. Students are encouraged to select a period (stylized) piece as their second scene from a play
before 1920, such as plays by Henrik Ibsen, Anton Chekhov, Oscar Wilde, Moliere, William
Shakespeare, and also from the Greek or Roman periods. The different genres of plays and their
styles will be discussed, including the importance of the historical context of the plays, the
conventions of the times, clothing, and social classes, and the use of verse and when it is used
instead of prose. If students select a classical piece, they will be asked to work in a suggestion
of costume, including footwear. They may find these on their own or contact Marie Natali, the
Theatre Department costume designer and coordinator, about the costumes. It will be her
decision to meet with students by appointment in the BCC costume shop and lend costumes to
them. The costumes must be returned in good condition and in a timely manner. Finally, there
will be a Shakespeare workshop which covers a discussion of his life, times, and his plays, a
warm-up using lines from his works and readings of scenes from his plays, with one of them
being partly blocked.
7. Professional behavior is emphasized in this course with students learning the importance of
punctuality, preparation for rehearsal, the ability to take direction, consistency in performance,
and working well with others in an ensemble. Scene work follows an abbreviated version of a
standard rehearsal schedule for a one-act or a full length play. Writing down the blocking and
directorial notes is expected, as well as memorizing the lines with the blocking. The overall
goal is for the students to become disciplined, creative artists, who will be recognized as
reliable, hardworking actors.
8. After the midterm presentation of the first scene, students begin to work on a monologue cut
from a play, in addition to their second scenes. This is a monologue specifically for auditions,
frequently for colleges and the professional theatre. Students will learn everything from
“slating” themselves (who they are and the play from which the piece they are performing is
taken) to shaping the monologue so that it plays almost like a one-act. The monologues are
timed so that they stay within a workable length for different types of auditions.
Technological Literacy
Technological literacy and/or information literacy is one expectation of this course. Students
will be encouraged to research for their various projects online.
Course Texts and/or Other Study Materials
● Notebook - bring to class every day
● Required: A collection of scenes from plays, not from films. Scenes and monologues
may be found online, but students are encouraged to select scenes from published plays.
The monologue must be from a published play.
● Recommended:
The following are suggested scene collections:
○ Play The Scene: The Ultimate Collection of Contemporary and Classic Scenes
and Monologues, by Michael Schulman and Eva Mekler, St. Martin’s, Griffin,
New York, N.Y. 2004.
○ The Actor’s Scenebook: Scenes and Monologues from Contemporary Plays,
edited by Michael Schulman and Eva Mekler, Bantam Books, 1984.
○ Duo! The Best Scenes for Two for the 21st Century, edited by Joyce E. Henry,
Rebecca Dunn Jaroff, and Bob Shuman, Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, An
Imprint of Hal Leonard Corporation, 2009.
Grading Policy
The final grade in this course will be determined by a student’s overall mastery of the subject
matter as evidenced by in-class scene rehearsals and the presentation of two scenes and a
monologue, participation in improvisations, warm-ups, workshops, a music project, two
written assignments, the final presentation, and evaluation of each other’s work.
Class rehearsals for the scenes 20%
A character biography and a list of objectives for the first scene 10%
Midterm presentation of the first scene 15%
A memorized monologue 10%
Second Scene Presentation 15%
Scene & Monologue Presentation 20%
Class participation* 10%
100%
Criteria for Evaluation: Attendance and participation
a. Consistent attendance
b. Rehearsal and performance of two scenes and a monologue
c. Participation in class exercises, improvisations, and projects
d. Two written assignments
e. Evaluation of each other’s work
f. Participation in workshops and the music project
g. The final public presentation
h. 0verall demonstration of comprehension of the course material
Grading Scale:
90-100 = A
86-89 = B+
80-85 = B
76-79 = C+
70 - 75 = C
65-6 = D
0–64 = F
Unofficial Withdrawal = E
Official Withdrawal = W
Incomplete = INC
BCC Attendance Policy:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which
they are registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the
instructor for each section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual
course outline. Attendance will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling
purposes.
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.
SUPPORT SERVICES
Students are encouraged to use the student support services of the college.
Some of these are listed below.
Center for Student Success
(Academic Counseling,
Academic Advising, Transfer
Services, Career Counseling)
A-118 https://bergen.edu/center-for-student-success
Portal Help
(for Moodle, BCC email,
registration)
Portal is
located at
my.bergen.edu
https://bergen.edu/portalhelp
Tutoring Center L-125
https://bergen.edu/tutoring
English Language Resource
Center (for students whose first
language is not English)
Room C-212
201-879-5292
https://bergen.edu/tutoring/english-
language-resource-center
Writing Center (for all students) Room L-125
201-447-7489
https://bergen.edu/tutoring/writing-center/
Office of Specialized Services
(Disability Services) Room L-116
201-612-5270
www.bergen.edu/oss
Sidney Silverman Library Room L-226
201-447-7970
www.bergen.edu/library
Library Resources
All students are encouraged to visit and use the BCC Library. There are particularly excellent
resources available to students studying the performing arts.
Databases
● Digital Theatre+
Theatre, opera, music, and dance from internationally renowned productions.
● Films on Demand - Music and Dance
With equal emphasis on recordings of live performances and documentaries, this
collection spans both time and space to cover a wide variety of music and dance from
around the world and throughout history. Opera, jazz, and classical. Ballet, modern, and
step dancing.
LibGuides
● Theatre and Dance LibGuide (BCC Library)
● Performing Arts LibGuide (BCC Library)
Student and Faculty Support Services: [optional but recommended]
Accessibility Statement
Bergen Community College is committed to ensuring the full participation of all students in its programs.
If you have a documented disability (or think you may have a disability) and, as a result, need a reasonable
accommodation to participate in this class, complete course requirements, or benefit from the College’s
programs or services, contact the Office of Special Services (OSS) as soon as possible at 201-612-5270 or
www.bergen.edu/oss. To receive any academic accommodation, you must be appropriately registered with
OSS. The OSS works with students confidentially and does not disclose any disability-related information
without their permission. The OSS serves as a clearinghouse on disability issues and works in partnership
with faculty and all other student service offices.
Student Support Services
Bergen Community College provides exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of
opportunities and services. A comprehensive array of student support services including advising,
tutoring, academic coaching, and more are available online at https://bergen.edu/currentstudents/.
Sidney Silverman Library Online Resources:
Guides B Subject - https://bergen.libguides.com/index.php
General Search and Databases: https://bergen.edu/library/
Course Outline
This Course Outline is tentative and subject to change, depending upon the progress of the
class.
Week Topic/Activity Assignments/Events
1 Course Introduction: Explanation of the
syllabus; warm-up; explore various methods
of approaching a scene; choose scene
partners. Script analysis work and basic
directing concepts are discussed;
improvisation to create organic blocking
through conflict, the set pieces, and props, and
block open-ended scenes
Bring in scene collections or
samples of possible scenes
2 Select the scenes; begin first read throughs of
them and work on floor plans and prop lists.
Improvisational techniques are utilized to free
the scene. Explain the different types of
acting spaces, physical technique, and
blocking, especially for the
proscenium stage. Begin blocking.
Bring in scenes for
rehearsal with hand props
3 Complete blocking of each scene; floor plans
and prop lists are handed in; script analysis
workshop
Character biography and list of
objectives due
4 Character biography and list of objectives for
first scene due; vocal workshop; continue
rehearsing, writing down the blocking in
pencil
Learn the lines and
blocking for the scene; vocal
assignment due
5 NO CLASS: Meet independently with your
scene partner
Vocal assignment presented; scenes off-book
are worked in a beat by beat rehearsal
Bring in costumes for the dress
rehearsal; rehearse outside of
class
6 Dress rehearsal for the mid-term presentation Bring in materials for the next
class
7 Midterm presentation of first scenes with
costumes and props; discuss monologues and
how to identify good ones
Bring in one or more
monologues to be read in class;
bring scene collections again
8 Read and time monologues; select the second
scene, possibly a classical one, with a new
partner
Bring new scenes with hand
props, and bring monologues
9 Shakespeare Workshop, discussing “style” in
terms of period pieces; monologue
improvisation; work on monologues for
auditions; start blocking second scenes
Monologues off book; bring
scenes again
10 Work on monologues off book; continue
working beat by beat on scenes
Prepare monologues for
presentation; scenes off book;
bring random
props and costume pieces for
improvisation;
rehearse outside of class on
scenes
11 Advanced improvisational exercises using
props and costumes and to explore
substitution; present
monologues off book; continue working on
scenes
Prepare for the dress
rehearsal next week,
bringing all costumes and
rehearsing outside of class
12 “Dress rehearsal” of second scene with
costumes and props
Prepare for the
presentation of the
second scene, bring all
props and costumes, and
rehearse outside of class
13 Presentation of the second scene Select scenes and
monologues for the final, public
presentation and bring props and
costumes
14 Select format for the final
presentation; dress rehearsal
Review and rehearse outside of
class what will be performed in
the final presentation
15 Final scene performance, which is open to the
public
16 Last Day of Class
Student Self-Evaluation Assignment due