THEA 222: Theatre Practicum/Special Projects II - Storytelling

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2021
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 126
Lecture Hours : 18
Lab Hours: 108
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 36
Prerequisite: Audition.
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 101.
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

Developing the actor's free and responsive body through character study. A personal in-depth approach to creating character from the external to the internal through improvisation and physical exercises. 18 lecture hours, 108 lab hours.

Course Objectives

  • Create a physical life unique to a character's given circumstances.
  • Understand the need for physical choices and how said choices refine a character's life.
  • Understand how the external and the internal integrate when creating character.

Major Course Content

  1. The Physical Senses
    1. Seeing, Touching, Tasting, Hearing, Smelling
  2. Improvisation
    1. Beginning and developing improvisation
    2. Developing concentration and spontaneity
    3. Stimulating the imagination
    4. Dramatic shaping and communication
    5. Building characterization
    6. Seeing the play as a living whole
    7. Understanding the kind of play
    8. Meeting and knowing the characters
    9. Reality outside the text
  3. Playing out character descriptions
    1. Create movement patterns as described in the text by the playwright or by character dialogue
  4. Animal Imagery
    1. Observing animal behavior
    2. Utilizing animal behavior to animate character
    3. Translating the animal into human behavior
  5. Voice originates from the body
    1. Conscious and unconscious physical movements
    2. Physical life defines behavior
    3. The influence of the surroundings on a character's physical life

Lab Content

  1. Research a variety of material for study
  2. Explore how creating a physical life differs from character to character
  3. Apply technique to physical discovery
  4. Develop a series of physical choices to further the story for performance
  5. Create a physical reality that is believable and makes sense beyond the actual text
  6. Observe non-verbal behavior
  7. Observe animal behavior
  8. Utilizing a physical life in performance

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

written analysis of process in creating physical behavior for performance
a semester long hand-written journal outlining process

Examples of Outside Assignments

observing behavior observing animal behavior researching a variety of material creating physical behavior from text for performance

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Lab, Online Education Lecture, Online Education Lab