Students will be able to create a solid three-dimensional historical character using movement, expression, voice, and more by interacting with other characters in a 30-minute improved performance at the end of the unit.
Learning Level:
Intermediate
Student Prior Experience:
Students should know and be familiar with vocal work in creating a character voice, movement work such as pantomime and some basics in characterization work. Students should be familiar with ways to be able to research.
National Theatre Standards:
-TH:Cr1.1.8. c. Develop a scripted or improvised character by articulating the character’s inner thoughts, objectives, and motivations in a drama/theatre work.
-TH:Re8.1.8. b. Analyze how cultural perspectives influence the evaluation of a drama/theatre work.
Enduring Understandings:
Character is a way to stand in another person’s shoes and view the world from their perspective.
Characterization helps us to understand how to analyze others and feel compassion for them and their story
Essential Questions:
How do historical figures of the world connect to characterization in that they have a specific voice, physicality, thought process, background, etc.?
How does character give us a new perspective on those we interact with every day?
Performance Tasks:
Perform a 30-minute improvisation as a character interacting with other historical characters
Perform a character “interview” for a few groups in the class to deepen your character’s story
Perform a contentless scene focusing on vocal work for historical characters.
Objective: Students will demonstrate their understanding of what is important to identify Historical characters by participating in instructor led activities and discussions that lead them towards these discoveries.
Objective: Students will demonstrate their understanding of character movement by applying class activities in order to create a walk for their historical characters.
Objective: Students will demonstrate their understanding of viewpoints and other movement techniques by applying a specific movement to their characters.
Objective: Students will demonstrate their understanding of how their characters might act and think by filling out a character worksheet on their character’s opinions about the world.
Objective: Students will understand the fundamentals to creating a character voice by performing a contentless scene using the voice of their historical character.
Objective: Students will be able to create a solid three-dimensional historical character using movement, expression, voice, and more by interacting with other characters in a 30 minute improved performance.
