Theatre Arts Beginning Notes

What is Theatre? Theatre is an art form SO…. What is ART? Art is anything which is a product of expression and in which it can be interpreted –Personal expression: playwright, director, actors, and audience –Visual expression: technical (lights, set, sound, costume, make-up, props, etc)

3 Parts to Theatre The play or script The performers (actors, musicians, technicians) who show the expression The audience who interpret the expression

What is the script? The what (or focus) is shown (or physicalized) about people (or characters) that have problems (or conflicts) for some reason (or motivation) in some particular place (or setting).

An actor’s job …. is to make the audience Understand the script Believe they are the character(s) they are cast as Respond to the other actors on the stage

An audience’s job…. is to Be Attentive to the performers Understand the story,script,and performers Respond or critique the performance (usually by applause)

Theatre and games/sports are the same!  Why do we play games?  To have fun  To win  To get better/improve our skills In THEATRE we Have FUN (are involved) WIN (communicate clearly) Improve our talents (thinking, speaking, movement, stage skills)

In what other ways are theatre and sports similar?  Both establish rules  Both require all members to work together  Both must work towards a goal  Both help develop a skill

The vocab is different but the meaning is the same  Coach  Players  Spectators  Team  Field/Pool/Court  Uniforms  Equipment  Practice  Match  Director  Actor/Technician  Audience  Cast  Stage  Costumes  Props  Rehearsal  Performance

The GOAL OF ACTING is… To solve a problem in a manner or way the audience can understand, accept, and become emotionally involved. The RULES OF ACTING ARE … 1.Be Aware (focus/concentrate) 2.Think (be mentally involved) 3.Do (be physically involved) 4.Have ensembleness (team work)

What is ensembleness? Working together as a team to solve a problem. If you are not working together then you are working against one another. Ensemble work requires each performer to: 1.Listen 2.Give and take 3.Relinquish “power” 4.Trust that partners will make workable choices

Ensemble Notes (cont.) Ensemble should foster self-confidence and allow you to feel free on stage. Ensemble should result in a safe, creative working environment. There is nothing quite so frightening as being onstage with performers you don’t trust.

Ensemble Notes (cont) Skills strengthened through good ensembleness: Better Eye Contact Better Awareness of Self on Stage (open positions, not upstaging) Better Give and Take (not pulling focus while on stage, yet knowing when to take focus in a scene Avoid pulling focus by –Moving only on your own lines –Staying, listening, reacting, and responding in character

Class Vocabulary “Warning” – means to get ready for a performance –Backstage– the stage manager will tell actors and technicians “---- minutes” until they get to “2 minutes, places”. This tells all the performers to go where they need to be at the beginning of the show. –In the theater – the lights dimmer or flicker or a bell is chimed so the audience knows the performance is about to begin and they need to get to their seats. –In class – the teacher or cadet will tell you “--- minute warning”. This is how many minutes you have left to work on the performance/assignment before your time is up.

Class Vocabulary “Curtain” – the beginning and end of action –In the theater – a physical curtain opens or rises and falls or closes and the beginning and end of acts. –In class – a performer will say “curtain” at the beginning and ends of performances to let the audience know a performance has begun or is over.

Class Vocabulary “Curtain Call” – to acknowledge or recognize a performance –In a theater – actor’s take a bow and acknowledge the talents of the cast/crew/orchestra or anyone else who worked on the production while the audience applauds. –In class – we applaud and then volunteer to verbally critique the performance.

Oral Critique Guidelines Give Positive Feedback – remember everyone needs positive reinforcement. Praise 1-2 things that the performers did well. Be Selective in your Critique – avoid overwhelming the performers by identifying everything you felt they did wrong. Pick 1-2 things that you fell they need to be aware of. Listen to others who are critiquing as well – there is no need to repeat what has already been said. Suggest Improvements – mention what the performer could do to improve their next performance. Be Specific – give details about the performance. “I thought it was good” is not helpful to a performer.