Theater Tech/Intro to Drama-2017

Period 5

Doug Nunn

         Theater Tech/Intro to Drama is a class emphasizing acting and an appreciation of theatre, TV and film performance. We will start the year with a basic introduction to improvisation and stage skills, read plays and work on scene study, develop an appreciation for story structure, and then integrate video production. Students will be exposed to a variety of great acting and performing styles through video and film. The ultimate goal will be to foster an appreciation for acting on stage and in film, culminating in an original student video production.

            Over the course of the year students will study--

Ø  Basic theatre skills like stagecraft, playing real emotions, and becoming good ensemble players. Students will read plays and screenplays, learn to work with a playwright’s or screenwriter’s lines to play the “reality” of the scene, and develop deeper meaning in their characters.

Ø  Improvisational skills like working without a script, creating characters from scratch, and supporting fellow performers to build better scenes and stories.

Ø  Basic video acting techniques like performing in front of a video camera, as well as the importance of light and sound in theatre and film. Students will also be exposed to the power of editing choices in both skit writing and TV direction.

Ø  Comedy revues and other television and film formats, including skit shows, soap operas, and dramas.

Ø  The history of the performing arts in theatre, films, and television. We will watch classic comedy and dramatic performances, as well as contemporary programs to find compelling artistic gems.

This class is open to both beginners and more experienced students. Our goal will be to build a team or ensemble from a group of student performers. Grades will be based on pro-active class participation in all aspects of our class from Reader’s Theater & scene study, to improvising scenes, to participating in our video production. A positive and good-natured attitude is important in this class and will help us create and produce our student productions. Please show up ON TIME, put away your cell phones, and be ready to participate. Positive participation means a better grade, willful non-participation means a lower grade.