THEA 201: Stage Acting I - Beginning

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2025
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 80
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 26
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Total Student Learning Hours: 188
Strongly Recommended: ENGL C1000.
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

A beginning level performance class with an introduction to the Stanislavski Method of Acting. Provides a beginning in memorization, stage movement, vocal production and interpretation of text. 54 lecture hours, 26 lab hours arranged.

Course Objectives

  • demonstrate a basic understanding of the varied and diverse acting methods through evaluation and criticism of other student's work as well as an analysis of student's own work
  • identify the geography of the stage, utilize appropriate theatrical terminology and jargon and understand the principles of stage movement and blocking.
  • perform a short scene and monologue using various proper technique as introduced by a standardized acting method
  • demonstrate growth in performance skills using the concepts and ideas introduced in class
  • utilize improvisational skills to help create clear character choices.

Major Course Content

  1. The Actor
    1. Why Act?
    2. Is there an ideal actor?
    3. What should the actor know? 
  2. The contribution of Stanislavski
    1.    Implementation of styles such as “The Method”.
      1. Action and Objective
      2. Psychological motivation 
    2.  Script Analysis 
  3. Stage Techniques
    1. Geography of the Stage
    2. The actor’s relationship to the audience 
  4. Voice and Movement
    1.  Movement for the actor
    2. Voice for the actor
    3. Tension and relaxation exercises 
  5. Short Scene and Monologue performances
    1. Critique/analysis while observing student performances
    2. Critique/analysis of individual’s own performance

Hours Arranged Content

  1. Maintaining a semester long written journal.
  2. Observing live and diverse performances
  3. Short Scene and monologue rehearsals and performances
  4. Various acting exercises that explore the physical and emotional expansiveness of the human condition

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

one - two-page play critique and one character analysis written worksheet is required. Also required is a semester-long written acting journal.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Rehearsing scenes and monologues Observing live performances Reading plays

Instruction Type(s)

Lab, Lecture, Online Education Lab, Online Education Lecture