Students will demonstrate their ability to create a character by exploring character development activities and exercises.
**This unit was created together by a class of pre-service theatre education students – it can be used in conjunction with any performance unit (scenes, monologues, ensemble scenes, auditions, etc.) or lessons could be stand-alone lessons to further develop characterization.
It does not lead up to a final performance, but rather a performance piece can be woven throughout the lessons in rehearsal time leading to a final performance (no rubric provided).**
CLASS LENGTH:
Created for 80-minute class periods
LEARNING LEVEL:
Beginning theatre students
NATIONAL ARTS CORE THEATRE STANDARDS:
TH:Cr3.1.HSI
Explore physical, vocal and physiological choices to develop a performance that is believable, authentic, and relevant to a drama/theatre work.
TH:Pr4.1.HSI
Examine how character relationships assist in telling the story of a drama/theatre work.
b. Shape character choices using given circumstances in a drama/theatre work.
TH:Re7.1.HSI
Respond to what is seen, felt, and heard in a drama/theatre work to develop criteria for artistic choices.
TH:Cn10.1.HSI
Investigate how cultural perspectives, community ideas and personal beliefs impact a drama/theatre work.
BIG IDEAS:
Characters should be real, relatable people grounded in experience and background.
We can portray a personality and attitude with body and voice.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
How can I use “myself” as I create a character?
What part does relationship and honesty play in portraying a character?
How can I find clues in the text and given circumstances to create a character?
Students will demonstrate an understanding of utilizing context to create a character by performing a personalized version of a content-less scene as their character.
Educational Objective: Students will demonstrate their understanding of character motivations by analyzing a segment of a monologue in a group then sharing and performing it with the class.
Educational Objective: Students will demonstrate their understanding of character relationships by writing a journal entry in their stereotype (from previous lessons) about another student’s stereotype.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE: Students will demonstrate their understanding of honest acting by honestly portraying their own emotions through an activity done in class.
