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THA 31 Directing
Dr. Doug Cummins
294-2127
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Spring, 2009
M- F 11:30 - 12:45
Office Hours –10:00 11:00 daily or by appointment
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| Scope of the Course:
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This course is designed to introduce you the basic fundamentals of directing plays for the stage. We will carefully examine play structure and analysis, communication with the actors and designers, and rehearsal process and performance. |
| Assignments: |
You will direct a ten minute
play and a forty minute one act play. There will
be tests over content in the text and daily assignments. The value of
each assignment is listed below: |
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1. 3 tests over Units I, II, III 30%
2. Daily Assignments as assigned 15%
3. Cast and direct a 10 minute play 20%
- Prompt Script
Analysis
Rehearsal Schedule
Ground plan
Blocking
Rehearsal Notes/Journal
4. Cast and direct a 30-40 minute Play 35%
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Textbooks: |
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| Required: |
Play Directing: Analysis, Communication and Style. 6th edition Francis Hodge and Michael McLain. Allyn and Bacon. ISBN 0-205-41923-2
Misdirecting the Play. Terry MC Cabe. Ivan R. Dee. Publisher;
ISBN:
1- 566-63353-2
Riders to the Sea by James Millington Synge. |
| Recommended: |
Plays in One Act. edited by Daniel Halpern.
CCC, Harper-Collins, ISBN 0-88001-490-3
Take Ten: New 10 Minute Plays. Lane and Shengold.
Vintage Books; ISBN: 0-679-77282-0;
A Sense of Direction: Some Observations on the Art of Directing.
William Ball. Drama Book Publishers. ISBN 0-89676-082-0 |
| Selecting Your Play to Direct: |
You will be expected to direct two plays this
term, a ten minute play at mid-term and a one act play ( no longer than
40 minutes) for the final. Some guidelines for play selection are:
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1. The play must be published.
You may not direct an unpublished play or a play off the internet.
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2. Any of the plays from the recommended texts
is acceptable.
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| 3. You may not direct a non-royalty play. |
| 4. You may not direct a musical, although you may use music in
your play. |
| 5. Avoid plays with massive amounts of props or that rely on a specific costume or prop gimmick for the plot of the show. |
| 6. Limit your cast to no more than 5. Preferably 3. |
| 7. Avoid plays that require dialect, highly stylized staging or
stage combat. |
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Grading on Directing Assignments
You will be graded not only on the final product
but on the process whereby you produce the play. Each production must
include:
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50%
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Prompt Script
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The complete script in a
loose leaf binder either re-typed or photo copied.
It must be
turned in on the day of performance.
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Analysis -
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A complete typewritten analysis of the play as developed in Unit I of the course.
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Rehearsal Schedule-
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A complete published rehearsal schedule
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Ground plan-
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A 1/4 " scale ground plan showing all furniture, windows, doors, etc.
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Blocking-
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Complete blocking notes in the prompt script with
business and character notes.
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A day-by-day account of the rehearsals.
It should include goals for each rehearsal, report on how those
goals were/were not accomplished; comments on the work of the
actors; notes for the next rehearsal; personal reflections. A
template for journal entries is linked.
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| 50% |
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Performance
Aspects |
Elements of performance as demonstrated by the play
in performance. |
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Given circumstances
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Clearly established and adhered to |
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Effectiveness of Floorplan
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Sufficient acting areas to accomodate the action of
the play |
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Blocking
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Organic and appropriate to the action of theplay |
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Composition and Picturization
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Establishes and maintains focus and meaning |
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Pace and Tempo
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Variety of pace and constant movement to the climax |
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Characterization
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Believable action and variety between characters |
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Overall communication of idea
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| Basic Guidelines for Production
of Your Plays |
1. Select a play that is castable from among the general student body. (No more than 5 characters) You must participate in class auditions to cast your play.
2. Avoid over emphasis on technical aspects of productions, i.e. lights,
costumes, props, set, etc.
* You must use rehearsal props and furniture as provided.
* You may not borrow items from the costume stock
* You may use items from the props storage only by request
* You must return all properties, furniture etc. to storage after every rehearsal
3. Lighting will be general illumination. there will be no special lighting for any individual show.
* A Light Board Operator will run every show.
* Prepare a cue sheet for your show
*You may use sound effects and music for your production.
* You must have someone to run the sound.
* You may not run the sound yourself.
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