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Teaching Guidelines

Distance Education Guidelines
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High School Drama Courses
Recommended Unit Areas
Introduction to the Theatre
Stage Movement
Acting
Voice and Diction
Theatre History
Play Production
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Class Activities
The Sounds of Music
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Publicizing a Play
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The Project
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Old Hands at This
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Costume Renderings
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Let The Sunshine In
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Appendix: Must-Have Books
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High School Oral Comm Courses

ASCA Oral Comm Position Statement
Addendum

Arkansas Guidelines

Department of Education Curriculums
Theatre
Communication - One Semester
Communication - Full Year

Drama Units and Activities

The Project

Unit(s): Fundamentals of Production

Purpose:

To expose the student to every aspect of planning a production

Objective:

The student will select a play for analysis, plan a production, and design each element of it.

Materials:

  1. Handouts for the project include General Requirements for the Project, Part I through Part VIII, and the Project Evaluation sheet. Additional handouts can be developed depending on how lengthy the approach to the project becomes.
  2. Scripts of plays for the students to study. This makes a good partner project, so it is good to have two copies of each play selected.
  3. It is helpful if the teacher can provide samples and reference books for each part of the project.

Procedure:

  1. There are several ways to approach this project. It can be used as an ongoing project over an entire semester of the study of technical theatre. For example, at the end of a unit on costumes, the students complete the costume design section of the project. Then it is put away until the end of the next unit.
  2. Another approach would be to condense it into a couple of weeks at the end of a semester.
  3. A third approach might be to use it as an outside assignment.
  4. It is adaptable to any number of students from a solo project to a committee project.


Drama Production Project Guidelines

General Requirements of the Project

I. Notebook

  1. Each project must be in a notebook, preferably a ringed binder.
  2. All aspects of the project must be typed.
  3. Each project will require the following contents:
  1. List of duties
  2. Plot analysis
  3. Character analysis of 6 characters
  4. Costume designs for 6 characters
  5. Makeup plots for 6 characters
  6. Publicity plans
  7. Program
  8. Publicity poster
  9. Two tickets

II. Model Set

  1. A 3 dimensional miniature set focusing on one of the scenes from the play

III. Duet Scene

  1. A 3 to 4 minute memorized scene from the play

IV. Oral Presentation

  1. A presentation of all aspects of the work on the project
  2. A date will be assigned on which each group will turn in notebook and set, perform a duet scene and make an oral presentation.

V. Grades will be assigned as follows:

  1. I, II, III, IV (above) will each receive a test grade.
  2. A minimum of five quizzes on notes and discussion will receive daily grades.
  3. Several participation or work grades will be given according to how time in class in utilized. These will be daily grades.


Production Project Assignment

Part I: Analysis of the Play

A. Write synopsis of the play, act by act.

  1. A synopsis is a summary of what happens. Write a brief paragraph for each act.

B. Answer these questions in a short essay about the play's structure.

  1. Why is the play a comedy or a tragedy?
  2. What information is provided in the exposition?
  3. What event is the initial incident?
  4. What events make up the rising action?
  5. What event is the climax? Why is it a turning point?
  6. What events make up the falling action?
  7. What is the outcome for each major character?
  8. What is the theme?

Part II: Analysis of the Characters

A. Write an analysis of six characters in paragraph form, including answers to the following questions:

  1. Is this character the protagonist, the antagonist, a supporting character, or a minor character? Why?
  2. Discuss the age and physical appearance of the character.
  3. What mannerisms or master gesture could help to identify this character?
  4. What is the social/economic standing of this character? Does he have money or power?
  5. What internal quality (spiritual, mental, or emotional) sets this character apart from all other characters in the play?
  6. What is this character's motivating desire?
  7. Has this character changed in some way or learned some lesson by the end of the play?

Part III: Costume Designs

A. Prepare one costume design for each of the six characters that were analyzed in Part II.

  1. Use unlined paper.
  2. Use appropriate colors.
  3. Include every element of the costume (shoes, accessories, jewelry, etc.).
  4. Label the design with the character's name.

B. Prepare a worksheet describing each design. The figure on the worksheet may serve as a pencil sketch of the design in its planning stage, but not as the design itself.

Part IV: Makeup Design

A. Use the worksheets provided to plan makeup applications for the six characters analyzed in Part II.

  1. Provide all necessary information about products to be used in the blanks on the worksheet.
  2. Color the drawings to clearly show the desired effect.
  3. Show the hairstyle and color to be used.

Part V: Business and Publicity Management

A. Prepare a publicity poster for the production.

  1. Use a full sheet of poster board.
  2. Use a creative and informative logo.
  3. Select appropriate colors.
  4. Include all necessary information based on the worksheet.
  5. Make all lettering neat and easy to read from a distance.

B. Write a news release to submit to the media.

  1. Include all necessary information based on the worksheet.
  2. Create a clever headline/title.
  3. Use your best grammatical form.

C. Create an unconventional publicity project for the production.

  1. Write up or draw the plans for the project.
  2. Explain what the idea will cost, who it will reach, when it will be released, etc.

D. Produce two tickets for the production.

  1. Make one adult and one student ticket.
  2. Use construction paper or other heavy, unlined paper.
  3. Include all necessary information based on the worksheet.

E. Prepare a playbill for the production.

  1. Use construction paper or other heavy, unlined paper.
  2. Include all necessary information based on the worksheet.
  3. Cast the play thoughtfully.

Part VI: Designing Scenery

A. Prepare a floor plan to include in the production notebook.

  1. Use unlined paper, a ruler, and a pen or pencil.
  2. First draw the outline of the stage. Add walls, platforms, doors, and set pieces to scale.
  3. Neatly label all items.
  4. Include the name of the play and the act or scene for which the scenery is planned.

B. Prepare a model of the set.

  1. The items in the model should match the items on the floor plan.
  2. Use a variety of media and appropriate colors.
  3. All items should be handmade. Do not use doll furniture or craft items.
  4. Your name and the name of the play should be found on the back of the set.

Part VII: Performing a Scene from the Play

  1. Select a three to four minute duet scene from the play to perform in class. A combination of two or more short scenes is appropriate.
  2. Two chairs and a table will be provided. Other furniture, props, or costumes will not be allowed.
  3. The scene is to be memorized.
  4. Include a brief introduction to set the mood and bring the audience up to date on the action.

Part VIII: Presenting the Project

  1. Prepare a fifteen-minute presentation.

    a. Tell the story of the play.
    b. Discuss the characters.
    c. Present and explain costumes, makeup, and set designs.
    d. Perform your duet scene.

  2. Present your play and your work on it in an organized manner so that the class will benefit from your work.


Project Evaluation

Name:___________________________________

Play:____________________________________

Notebook

Excellent = 4      Good = 3       Fair = 2       Poor = 1

Synopsis                                            ____________________

Essay on Structure                              ____________________

Character Analysis                              ____________________

Costume Worksheets                          ____________________

Makeup Worksheets                           ____________________

Publicity Poster                                  ____________________

News Release                                     ____________________

Unconventional Project                        ____________________

Tickets                                               ____________________

Playbill                                              ____________________

Floor Plan                                          ____________________

Final Grades

          Notebook                                  ____________________

          Model Set                                 ____________________

          Duet Scene                              ____________________

          Presentation                            ____________________