Shenandoah UniversityActing for Shakespeare TH 302-101, 3 credits, Spring 2016Instructor: Dr. Carolyn Coulson email: ccoulson2@su.edu Office: RUE 127-G   Office Phone: 540-665-4917Class Meets: MW 9 – 10:40 and W 3-3:50 Office hours: Mon 11:00-2:00, Tues/Thur 11:00-12:00 & by appointment

Course Description:In this class the student will develop textual, vocal and physical skills for performing the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Particular attention will be paid to scansion, textual analysis, historical context, movement, and vocal technique.

Objectives of the Course:Upon completion of the course, students will:1. Know and use multiple techniques of analysis to explore and gain control of

Shakespeare’s language2. Apply voice and body work to the rigors of Shakespeare’s text and characters3. Overcome fear of Shakespeare and discover types of characters which suit

students’ individual strengths4. Apply skills of textual analysis and character research to at least two different

characters5. Prepare a 45 minute-cut of a Shakespeare play for performance.

Teaching Methods: Readings/Discussion Scansion/context lectures Character analysis (L.O. 1, 4) Soliloquy/Set speech study (L.O. 1, 2) 2 Scenes (L.O. 2, 3, 4) Performance of 45 minute cut of play (L.O. 5)

Materials: Required:

Playing Shakespeare: An Actor’s Guide, by John Barton, Methuen Any edition of the following texts/plays:

Shakespeare’s Sonnets Midsummer Night’s Dream Much Ado About Nothing Pericles

Required technology:

Blackboard: written analyses and other assignments

Recommended for further study and voice work: Speaking Shakespeare, by Patsy Rodenburg, Palgrave MacMillan Freeing Shakespeare's Voice: The Actor's Guide to Talking the Text, Kristin

Linklater, Theatre Communications Group Your body and your mind, in an alert, fed condition!

Appropriate clothing. Always be prepared to move. We will not always approach Shakespeare from a period setting, but we will sometimes. You need appropriate rehearsal garb. This includes shoes, skirts, jackets, vests or ties, and hair.

Your full-size notebook and writing implement

Other Policies: All work is due in class on the assigned date. Some written assignments

will be submitted digitally through Blackboard and will be graded on content, style and mechanics.

In-class work cannot be made up. You will lose points for each absence, as you will miss work. Exceeding 3 absences will result in failure of the course. Tardiness or leaving early counts as ½ an absence.

A committed, open attitude and a willingness to work are required, as is a respect for the work and for your fellow student actors and instructor. Students are expected to respect the studio space and properly strike all set pieces and props. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner contributing to a healthy and creative working environment. Conduct that is disruptive or detrimental to the healthy environment may be cause for a student’s dismissal from class.

On Wednesdays at 3-3:50, all acting classes will meet in Glaize for Acting Forum. Please check the schedule posted on the Bulletin Board.

Grading:

Attendance, attitude, & participation in discussion of reading 20%Soliloquy work and analysis 20%First scene work and analysis 25%Second scene 25%Performance 10%

Acting and Musical Theatre majors must receive a C or better in this class to continue in the acting course sequence.

Grading:93-100 A90-92 A-88-89 B+83-87 B80-82 B-

78-79 C+73-77 C70-72 C-60-69 DBelow 60 F

Health Statement: Students are expected to maintain a state of health that permits them to function in the instruction offered. Proper nutrition and adequate rest form the basis for this condition.

University PoliciesStudents with Disabilities: ; The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Under ADA, a disability is defined

as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. If you need accommodations because of a disability, please register with the Office of Learning Resources and Services (located in the Academic Enrichment Center in Howe Hall, room 204) at the beginning of each semester, or as soon as possible, so that arrangements can be made. Accommodations are granted on a case-by-case basis with the support of proper documentation. Please call the office of Learning Resources and Services at 540-665-4928 or email dss@su.edu for information and/or to make an appointment to discuss your needs. You will find more information at: http://www.student-life.su.edu/disability-services/

Honor Code: The SU Honor Code prohibits lying, stealing, and cheating. As a faculty member of SU, I am dedicated to upholding the standards of academic integrity prescribed by the Honor Code, and I do not tolerate academic dishonesty for any reason. If I suspect a violation has occurred, I will take action. If you have questions about the Honor Code, please come talk to me or refer to Honor Code on the SU website. Logging in to a SU system with a SU issued login signifies that you are agreeing to abide by the SU Honor Code.

Inclement Weather: Notice of class cancellations and campus closings will occur through the Emergency Alert System and will be placed on area radio and television stations, the SU Web site and the University phone system.

Cell Phone Policy: turn your cell phone off and stow it, unless you are using it as a script!

Student Complaint Policy: Shenandoah University affirms the right of students to bring forth complaints and is committed to resolving these matters in a fair, equitable and timely manner, so as to protect the rights of both the individual and the community. Refer to the student catalog for specific procedures.

Student Privacy: Annually, Shenandoah University provides information to students concerning their rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (FERPA). This act was designed to protect the privacy of education records and afford students certain rights with respect to their education records. Refer to the student catalog for specific procedures.

Student Support Services:

The Library online materials are available 24/7:http://www.su.edu/university-libraries/

The IC Help Desk are available 24/7:https://workorder.su.edu/helpdesk/

The Counseling resources are available at:http://www.student-life.su.edu/counseling-center-home/

Schedule

Weekly reading assignments will sometimes be discussed in class before floor work begins, especially at the beginning of the semester. Although we may discuss them

less as the semester continues, you must realize how useful they are and continue to read! After the first couple of weeks, I do not want to spend lots of time on warm ups during class. Come early and warm up.

BIG PICTURE:

Weeks 1-2 Verse and characterWeeks 3-5 Set speeches and soliloquies (‘monologues’)Weeks 6-9 First scenes Weeks 10-15 Performance selections (scenes)

IN MORE DETAIL (subject to change):

1. Week of 1/18: No class on Monday (MLK Day) Wednesday: Read Chapter One in Barton: The Two Traditions.

In-class lecture/work on basic scansion

2. Week of 1/25:– For Monday: Read Barton Chapter 2: Using the Verse. Wednesday: Continue work on verse & scansion. Prologue to Henry VAssign character study

3. Week of 2/1: For Monday: Read Barton Chapter 3: Language and CharacterIn-class work on character study assignments – choose monologue by Wednesday

4. Week of 2/8: For Monday: Read Barton Chapter 10: Exploring a Character (yes, we are out of order).In-class work on character study assignments / monologues

5. Week of 2/15: Read Barton Chapter 5: Set Speeches and Soliloquies/The Audience Soliloquy work Friday: Written analysis of character language due on Bbd

6. Week of 2/22: Monday Final showings of soliloquies on MondayWednesday: Read Barton Chapter 4: Using the Prose Assign first scenes – read throughs

(City of Angels)

7. Week of 2/29: Monday - Read Barton Chapter 9: Rehearsing the text Scene workScene work on your own on Wednesday

SPRING BREAK (read Pericles over break)

8. Week of 3/14 Read Barton Chapter 7: Irony and Ambiguity Scene work

9. Week of 3/21 Final showing of scenes on Monday Assign play/second scenes for Performance

10. Week of 3/28: Scene work

(Savage in Limbo)

11. Week of 4/4: Monday - Read Barton chapter 8: Passion and CoolnessScene work

12. Week of 4/11: Monday - Read Barton chapter 9: Rehearsing the Text Scene work

4/-4/1 Illyria

13. Week of 4/18: Monday - Read Barton chapter 12: Poetry & Hidden Poetry Scene work

14. Week of 4/25: WEDNESDAY: Forum Performance

15. Week of 5/2 Last week of class: Discuss final scenes - Review monologues

Final exam: Monday 5/9 8-10:30 EXAM will consist of a mock audition for a specific Shakespeare Festival season. More info TBA