THEA 117G: Acting Workshop
Course Information/Syllabus
Fall, 2008
Course Description: Staff-supervised participation in acting. May be repeated for credit. One semester hour.
Instructors: Prof. Janeve West, Dr. Bill Wallace
Course Requirements:
1. Each student will be cast in one full length production.
2. Each student will participate as called (needed) in rehearsals and will be available for all
technical week rehearsals and performances.
3. Each student will put in a minimum of 30 hours to receive credit for the course.
4. There are no exams, or other requirements beyond the participation in the show.
Grading Policies:
A grade of “A” is earned by:
1. Attendance at all called rehearsals and performances
a. Student is ready to work at the called time
b. Student has all appropriate materials memorized
2. Student has done everything in her/his control to create an effective stage character
a. Student hands in any required character study materials
b. Student is working in a supportive and collaborative way
3. Student assists in activities (as necessary) beyond rehearsal
a. Student will participate in costume fittings as called
b. Student will provide publicity materials as requested
A grade of “B” is earned by:
Generally adhering to the statements above, though with minor lapses (late for a few rehearsals,
not learning lines on time, not participating in character development, etc.)
A grade of “C” is earned by:
Doing the minimum required for the show and/or causing problems for the show
(usually not ready to work at call time, giving
uncalled for advice to others, goofing off at rehearsals, etc.)
A grade of “D” is earned by:
Serious problems/infractions (Missing rehearsals without an excuse, not knowing lines until
tech week, being a disruptive force in the cast, etc.)
A grade of “F” is earned by:
Missing a tech rehearsal or performance
Other Information:
1. General Casting Policies.
a. Casting for all Monmouth College plays is done through open auditions.
b. It is the policy of the college theatre to engage in “color blind and non-traditional” casting where possible in order to maximize the opportunities available for minorities and women.
c. No roles are cast prior to auditions except for an occasional guest actor or actress. In such circumstances the guest actor is always announced in advance of auditions.
d. Auditions are open to all students regardless of academic major or class status. Nor casting preferences are assigned to the people who major in Communications and Theatre Arts or who are active in Crimson Masque.
e. In line with formal college policy, students on academic or disciplinary probation may be denied the opportunity to participate in theatre activity.
f. Unless previous announcements have been made, Monmouth College students will have
first priority in casting in Monmouth College Crimson Masque productions
2 .You are expected to fulfill your theatre responsibilities and should expect no “special treatment” from faculty members either outside or inside the Communications and Theater Arts Department because you are working on or in a play.
3. General Rehearsals or Technical Sessions
(1) Rehearsals and crew meetings are organized into a series of calls and usually announce the time, the place (if other than the theatre), the task, the scene or scenes to be worked on, and the personnel required.
(2) Schedules are usually issued weekly and they are prepared on the basis of the conflict sheets filled out by the participants. Any changes in your schedules should be reported to the director or technical director immediately.
(3) A call is a request to be in place and ready to work by an appointed time. You should not be walking in the door at 7:00 for a 7:00 call. A good rule of thumb is to schedule yourself to arrive at the theatre five to ten minutes before your call. This gives you time to get your coat off, look over your lines or the scenes scheduled, and do some personal warm-ups.
(4) Because a schedule is difficult to draw up and has been drawn up with your stated conflicts in mind, you are expected to adhere to it. If you have a problem and must be late or miss a call, you absolutely must phone the theatre or the director with the news. When you are late or miss a call you inconvenience everyone and may throw off an entire night’s carefully planned rehearsal. Missing a call is bad; missing without notifying the director is just this side of a mortal sin. You can find yourself unpopular with the director and the rest of the cast rapidly in you become known as a rehearsal miser or late arriver. This is also a quick way to insure that you will not be cast ever again.
(5) Be prepared for rehearsal. On of the reasons for a published schedule is so you can review the scene or the lines or the blocking ahead of time.
4. STRIKE! At the end of a run in our theater it is common practice to “strike” the set.
(1) All actors and technicians are required to attend this event. At the completion of the final performance, you should go quickly to the dressing room and get out of your makeup and costume. Then don old clothes and report to the stage. The theatre’s Designer and Technical Director runs strike. Often a sheet of strike assignments is posted on the Call Board.
(2) We feel strongly enough about this obligation that we will subtract 10 hours from your hour total for any theatre workshop or course requirement if you do not submit a valid excuse before hand on why you cannot attend strike.