St Brendan’s Sixth Form College – Pre-enrolment TaskIn order to give you a brief introduction to Performing Arts and an indication of what it will be like to study this course for the next two years we would like you to complete a pre-enrolment task. The details are as shown below:

Subject: BTEC Level 3 Performing Arts

Task Details:

Research the Musical “Fame”. You will research the performance values of FAME The Musical in order to understand the requirements for you as an actor performing in this musical.

See attached sheet

When should the task be submitted? During your first lesson in this subject (week commencing 4th September)

In what format should the task be submitted?

The research must be submitted as a word – processed document

You must correctly reference your work (see attached guidance)

Your work should be checked for spelling/grammatical errors and must include your name

What if I need further help? Please do not be concerned if you are unable to answer all questions or have queries you would like answered. If you would like further assistance during the summer period please email info@stbrn.ac.uk stating clearly the subject and your query. You are also welcome to ask subject teachers for help during the enrolment process

BTEC PERFORMING ARTS – RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

Research the musical: FAME The Musical Research Assignment: You will research the performance values of FAME The Musical in order to understand the requirements for you as an actor performing in this musical.

The Musical: Give an outline in your own words, of the plot of the stage musical.

What are the main differences between the stage musical and the film?

The Context: When is Fame set?

What was going on politically and socially at the time in America? Give details

How is this evident in the stage musical?

How would you need to take this into account in your performance?

The Performance Demands: What is the performance style of the musical? Can you give some examples?

What are the demands on you as a performer for all of the main roles in the musical? Look at accents, attitude, movement, physicality for:

Schlomo Metzenbaum Carmen Diaz Tyrone Jackson Nick Piazza Serena Katz Mabel Washington Iris Kelly Grace 'Lambchops' Lamb José 'Joe' Vegas Goodman 'Goody' King Miss Esther Sherman Ms. Greta Bell Mr. Myers Mr. Sheinkopf

The Style:

Select 5 annotated pictures from different performances (commenting on use of space, costume, set, acting)

The songs from the musical: Here, you need to research the details for each song in Fame The Musical in preparation for performance as a singer

Listen to each song (the full soundtrack is available on YouTube) and research the following points:

Tempo (e.g. is it upbeat or a ballad)

Song style e.g. Jazz, rock, pop etc.

Instrumentation e.g. drums, guitars, saxophone, keyboards

Lyrical content – What are they singing about?

Is it a solo, duet, group song?

When does the song take place in the show – any notes about the plot or character.

When you have done this then look at the following songs which you will be working on as a group in preparation for your performance

‘I pray I make PA/Hard Work’ and ‘There she goes/Fame’:

On YouTube, watch 3 different versions of each of these two songs ‘I pray I make PA/Hard Work’ and ‘There she goes/Fame’, you need to be able to discuss a range of different recordings/performances. After watching them, for each YouTube clip write about:

The performance style

The singing style

Choreography

How it is staged/set

Use of facial expression

How the performance links to the context of the musical

Please reference all of your work correctly. See Attached sheet.

THIS IS ALL DUE IN ON YOUR FIRST MUSICAL THEATRE LESSON IN SEPTEMBER 2017

Referencing Your Research

Throughout your course you will be using lots of research to help you with your work.

It is really important that you learn to properly reference the research you do so that you are not plagiarising (this means passing someone else’s work off as your own).

Plagiarism is taken very seriously.

If you are found to have plagiarised you will be disciplined and can result in you not being allowed to complete your BTEC or any other courses in college. This might result in you not getting your qualifications.

You must not copy the work of anyone else.

How to use your research properly:If you want to use a direct quote, you must use quotation marks around the quote (“) and then reference it correctly.

If you want to discuss more than a few lines you must put the research into your own words (do not copy it word for word off the website/out of the book). Even if you do this, you will still need to reference the book or website.You must list all of the sources you use in a ‘reference list’ which must be handed in with your research at the end of the document.

For photographs, music, choreography, any still or moving image, if taken from a website, use the same as above.

Otherwise, use the same as the book reference.For live performance you must give the date, venue and company

(add programme details or attach a copy of the programme).

For Books make sure you record: • The author’s name

• The year the book was published• The title of the book • The city the book was published in• The name of the publisher

How to write the reference: Author surname, author initial. (Year published) Title in Italics, City the book was published in: Publisher

Example: Adair, J. (1988) Effective time management, London: Pan Books.

For Websites make sure you record:• The information as for books above

(if possible) • The date you accessed the website• The electronic address (URL)• The type of electronic resource

(email, discussion forum, www page) How to write the reference Type of resource – URL address Date Example: Web page - http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/discover-more 17/06/16