Students will understand the process of creating a believable character by performing in a scene as a specific character.
Class Level:
Beginning Theatre; no prior experience necessary.
Class Length:
lessons developed for 85-minute class periods.
2014 National Core Arts Theatre Standards:
TH:Cr1.1: Envision, Conceptualize
Anchor Standard: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
TH:Cr3.1: Rehearse
Anchor Standard: Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation.
TH:Pr4.1: Select
Anchor Standard: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
TH:Pr6.1: Share, Present
Anchor Standard: Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
TH:Cn10.1: Empathize
Anchor Standard: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
1994 National Standards Covered:
CONTENT STANDARD 2: Acting by developing, communicating, and sustaining characters in improvisations and informal or formal productions
CONTENT STANDARD 3: Designing and producing by conceptualizing and realizing artistic interpretations for informal or formal productions.
CONTENT STANDARD 4: Directing by interpreting dramatic texts and organizing and conducting rehearsals for informal or formal productions.
CONTENT STANDARD 5: Researching by evaluating and synthesizing cultural and historical information to support artistic choices
Enduring Understandings
-In the process of studying and analyzing a character the student will be better able understand themselves and the world around them through introspective questions. -Students will develop acting techniques enabling them to create honest, realistic characters.
Essential Questions
What is acting? What does it mean to be honest? What is the importance of physicality in acting? What makes a good performance? What bearing can research and contextualization have on character development? How does your objective inform your choices? How do you maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment in your classroom? How can an actor apply, in real life, the empathy and knowledge gained from portraying and studying characters?
**These lessons are meant to be used to help create characters for a scene. There is no set designation in the lessons where and when to introduce or assign the scenes**
Learning Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of character research by completing a character background worksheet and drawing a character portrait.
Learning Objective: Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of their character by developing the look of their character through costumes and accessories.
Learning Objective: Students will demonstrate their knowledge of character research, characterization, physicality, and stock characters by previewing their scene in front of the class.
Learning Objective: Students will demonstrate their knowledge of the process of creating a character by performing a 2-3 minute scene with a partner for the class.
