Introduction to Acting

Catalog description

This course introduces students to the elements and craft of acting. Students practice basic acting and essential communication skills emphasizing honesty, openness, expressiveness and clarity of message. This course explores the beginning actor’s process starting with an introduction to improvisation, centered around encouraging the discovery of expression, an openness to and acceptance of suggestions (the “yes, and” concept), positive responsiveness, and the creative spirit. The core value of acceptance lays the groundwork for scripted scene work in the class, and provides a guideline for group work in other courses and in the workplace. Alongside improvisation games are various acting exercises proven to build trust and community, explore character physicality, introduce breathing techniques, and strengthen vocal choices. Students read plays and discuss characters and their actions. Various acting methods are introduced and explored to increase students' awareness of principles and techniques of acting and communicating. These methods and terms provide a variety of ways to analyze text, and create and rehearse a role which culminates an acting scene that is honest, expressive, and fully invested.