Acting Shakespeare

Catalog description

Acting Shakespeare is designed with the knowledge that the plays of Shakespeare were written to be spoken aloud, by actors on a stage. This course will investigate the plays of Shakespeare with that reality in mind, and introduce students to the myriad techniques Shakespeare used in his writing which assist the actor in the performance of his characters and the onstage telling of his stories. Acting and performance techniques from Shakespeare's day to the present will be explored through vocal and movement exercises. Students are required to read several Shakespearean plays and to analyze the texts with the goal of performing monologues and scenes from those plays. Plays in performance will be emphasized and students will watch filmed stage productions. Students will be required to see a live theatrical production of a Shakespearean play when possible.