DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE

Fall 2019

THEA 201 ACTING 1

Meeting Times and Days: 11-12:50 p.m. T/TR Room: 302

Instructor: Wes Seals

Contact Information: sealsws@vcu.edu

Office hours: Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to create a deeper understanding of how to approach scene and monologue
work using the tools of Uta Hagen, William Ball and Stanislavski’s system of acting.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to:

 To identify and define the given circumstances within a theatrical text.

 To demonstrate a sense of ease, play and truthful behavior within a scene or monologue.
 To develop a deeper understanding of physical action, playable objectives, beats and tactics
in a theatrical text.
 To define a set of simple tools to use when working in the creative process of acting.

COURSE TEXT:

This course will pull selections from Uta Hagen’s Respect for Acting and Williams Balls’ Notes for the
Director. Students are not required to purchase either text but it is recommended.

ASSESSMENT

Scene/ Monologue Scoring (3): You will turn in two scene scores and one monlogue score based on the
criteria created by William Ball. Scene scores will be hand written in pencil and turned in when the scene is
presented for a grade. Scene scores will include a list of given circumstances that will be typed and double
spaced.

Character Biography (3): You will turn in three character biographies based on the criteria created by Uta
Hagen. The character biography must be typed and double spaced and turned in when the scene is presented
for a grade.

Scene 1: You will present a scene with a partner or partner(s) that is from a contemporary play that will be
chosen for you by the instructor. Scene scores and character Biographies are required for the work sessions
of the scenes and for the final performance of the scene. You will not be given class time to rehearse these
scenes. However, you will get one work session prior to your final performance with the instructor during class
time.

Scene 2: You will present a scene with a partner or partners. You and your partner(s) will be responsible for
choosing what scene you wish to present in class. The scene must be from a contemporary play. Scene
scores and character biographies are required for the work sessions of the scenes and for the final
performance of the scene. You will not be given class time to rehearse these scenes. However, you will get
two work sessions prior to your final performance with the instructor during class time.

Monologue: You will present a contemporary monologue of your choosing. The monologue should be no
longer than 1 minute. It must be from a contemporary play and not a from a film or television show. The
monologue will require the same elements as your scene: character bio and score sheet. The monologue will
be worked on in class but will also require you to work on your own.

Mainstage/ Outside Critiques: You will write two critiques of the VCU mainstage productions. If you are
cast in Eclipse, Midsummer Night’s Dream or Sense and Sensibility, you are allowed to write a critique of an
outside theatrical production. The production must be pre-approved by the instructor. The requirements for
the critiques will be assigned before the opening of each mainstage production. Critiques must be turned in
in hard copy. No exceptions.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Please have a notebook and something to write with. You are expected to actively take notes
when viewing scenes or monologues. This notebook should be sacred and viewed by your eyes only.
It is a place for you to store all of the tools necessary, to journal, for your personal growth and how it
relates to your craft.

2. Warm Up. During the first two weeks of class, the instructor will lead a suggested warm up
emphasizing ease, focus and physical awareness. Because of the class size, the instructor will not
lead warm ups after the first two weeks of class. You are then expected to come to class warmed up
and ready to work.

3. Attendance is mandatory. If you are going to be absent, please email the instructor prior to class.
I do not need to know why. It is a matter of lesson planning for me because of the number of students
in the class. Absences are factored into grades. Please note the following:

 Two late arrivals (more than 15 minutes) or early departures = one full absence

 Two absences = allowed for a course that meets twice per week

 Three absences result in a lowered letter grade for each additional absence

4. Dress Code

1. Students must wear sweat pants, dance pants, exercise pants or tights.

2. Pants or tights must extend to the ankle. NO SHORTS.

3. Pants or tights must be worn at the waist NOT on the HIPS.

4. Pants or tights must be form fitting and NOT Baggy.

5. Crop tops, flip flops and other pieces that risk bodily exposure are not permitted.
6. T-shirts must be long enough so that when hands are raised above the head NO SKIN is
showing at the midriff.

7. All clothing MUST be black. Pants that have stripes on the side are permited.

8. All jewelry, including BODY jewelry of any type (rings, watches, necklaces, earrings, studs,
barbells, gauges etc.- INCLUDING nose, lip or tongue jewelry) must be removed BEFORE entering
class.

9. Long hair must be tied back unless asked to wear it down.

10.. Shoes must be cross trainers, indoor soccer shoes, jazz shoes, gymnastic shoes or any shoe
that is form fitting with a sole thin enough to allow for foot flexion.

11. STUDENTS MUST BE DRESSED BEFORE CLASS BEGINS.

12. If a student does not wear appropriate clothing to class, they will be asked to go get the
proper clothing. The student will be counted LATE.

***You will be working closely with other actors so hygiene is very important. Please bathe regularly,
wear clean clothes and use deodorant. If you do not follow these requirements you may be asked to
leave class.

5. This classroom is a working environment. You are expected to come into class with the goal of
bettering your skills and supporting your collogues. Acting requires risk taking and being vulnerable
enough to try new things and surrender to a process. The work you do in the classroom is not a
reflection of your identity or life outside of the classroom.

6. Consent. A consent workshop will be held the first day of class. When it comes to physical
contact, you have the right to say no if you are put in a circumstance within a scene that is triggering.
Any intimate contact, fighting or physical touch will be handled methodically so it does endanger or
degrade the student. Again, you have the right to say no and that will be honored by your instructor
and colleagues.

SCHOOL POLICIES

Please refer http://go.vcu.edu/syllabus

GRADES

Grade Description
Exceptional achievement. Substantial effort and achievement in the areas of critical
A (4.0) thinking, technique, and presentation.

Very good work that satisfies goals of course; clear and convincing structure that is
B (3.0)
complex and unique.

C (2.0) Average. Original assignment approached but does not develop further.

Below average. Does not fully understand assignments. Very little effort, is incomplete or
D (1.0) late. Lacks of full understanding and commitment.

F (0) Failure, no credit.

Grading Breakdown

(3) SCENE SCORES 20%

(3) SCENE/MONOLGUE PRESENTATIONS 30%

PARTICIPATION 30%

(2) MAINSTAGE CRITIQUES 20%

COURSE CALENDAR

*Please note that all dates are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

Week 1

T 8/20:

Due: N/A

In Class: Syllabus and Consent Workshop along with additional activities

Assignment: Assignment 1

Th 8/22:

Due: Assignment 1

In Class: Assignment 1 with debrief and discussion of identity

Assignment: N/A

*Add/Drop final day

Week 2

T 8/27:

Due: N/A

In class: Warm Up

Working with a sense of ease and play

Assignment: N/A

*Scenes assigned for Scene Presentation 1

Th 8/28: Warm Up
Due: N/A

In class: Sense Memory and Hagen’s The Basic Object

Assignment: Two minutes from your life, finalized and ready for observation.

Week 3

T 9/3:

Due: Two-minute object exercise

In Class: Two-minute object exercise

Assignment: N/A

Th 9/5:

Due: Two Minute object exercise

In class: Two Minute Object exercise wrap up

Assignment: N/A

Week 4

T 9/10:

Due: N/A

In class: Talking and listening; Conversational reality

Assignment: The play that your scene is needs to be read. Bring in a hard copy of your scene for
class on Thursday.

Th 9/12:

Due: N/A

In class: Conversational Reality.

Assignment: N/A

Week 5

T 9/17:

Due: N/A

In class: Conversational reality and physical action.

Assignment: N/A

Th 9/19:

Due: N/A
In class: Objective

Assignment: Work on your scenes

Week 6

T 9/24:

Due: Bring your printed scenes to class

In class: Immediate objective and obstacle.

Assignment: Bring your printed scenes to class

Th 9/26:

Due: Printed scenes

In class: Scene scoring and beats. Scene rubric will be assigned for Scene 1 by instructor.

Assignment: Group 1 prepare your scenes for observation and work through on Tuesday. Group 2,
prepare your scenes for observation and work through on Thursday.

Week 7

T 10/1: Scene 1 work through: Group 1

Th 10/3: Scene 1 work through: Group 2

Week 8

T 10/8: Final Presentation of all scenes for a grade. Instructor will provide a format for personal notes
that you will take during each scene.

Th 10/10:

Due: Notes taken from each scene.

In class: Debrief of all scenes

Assignment and requirements for Scene 2 assigned by instructor

Assignment: Choose your material from Scene 2

Week 9

T 10/15:

Due: Scene 2 selection printed for instructor approval

In class: Monologues 101. Talking to yourself exercise and creating the fourth wall.

Assignment: First beat of scene 2 due in class

Th 10/17:

Due: First beat of all scenes

In class: First beat for all scenes presented in class.

Assignment: Group 1 prepare scenes for work through and critique of scene 2

Week 10

T 10/22:

Due: Scene 2

In class: Work through of Scene 2 Group 1

Th 10/24: Work through of Scene 2 Group 2

Assignment: Group 1 make adjustments for work through 2.

Week 11

T 10/29:

Due: Scene 2

In class: Second work through of scene 1

Th 10/31:

Due: Scene 2

In Class: Second work through of scene 2

Assignment: Select two contemporary monologues, 1 minute each.

*Last day to withdraw from classes

Week 12

T 11/5:

Due: Scene 2 final grade. All scoring sheets and character bios are due

Th 11/7:

Due: Debrief of scene 2 and in class critiques by students and instructor

In class: Scene 2 debrief

Assignment: Bring two contemporary monologues to class printed in hardcopy. No exceptions.

Week 13:

T 11/12:

Due: Monologues

In class: Monologue selection and scoring

Assignment: Score monologues

Th 11/14:

Due: Monologues

In class: Monologue Roulette: Work through of Monologues

Week 14:

T 11/19

Due: Monologues

In class: Work through monologues

Assignment: T.B.D.

Th: 11/21

Due: Monologues

In class: The Monologue Roulette/work through monologues

Assignment: N/A

November 25th- December 1st: Fall break and Thanksgiving. No Class!!!

Week 15

T 12/3

Due: N/A

In Class: Finals and assessment prep

Assignment: N/A

Th 12/5

Due: N/A

In Class: Finals and assessment prep/Course Wrap up