BP - Basics of Performance Module Overview

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Basics of Performance

Introduction

The role of the actor is often to turn written text into action. This module will focus on helping to find active ways to introduce beats and objectives, interpreting the written text, and converting it into playable action through script analysis associated with early realism, and looking at physical and vocal tools the actor has available. You will work to communicate through physical and vocal choices employing observation, embodiment, generalization of physical and vocal observation, and exaggerated body use.

Key Terms

    1. Realism: A theatre movement beginning in the late 1800s which focused on recreating lifelike performances on stage.
    2. Stanislavski: A Russian actor/director that developed The System.
    3. The System: An acting approach that prizes the creation of inner creative mood, a conscious means to the subconscious, the observation of reality, discovery of the play's given circumstances, development of objectives and through-line, the use of the "magic if" and emotional memory, moment-to-moment acting, the illusion of the first time, and working within the ensemble.
    4. Beat: A change in thought.
    5. Super Objective: The character’s overall goal.
    6. Obstacles: The things that stand in the way of a character achieving the objective.
    7. Objective: A specific desire of a character within a scene. This desire drives the character to speak and interact with others. The character wants to (action verb).
    8. Tactic: How an objective is pursued. Characters can use multiple tactics to achieve the same objective. By__    _ing.
    9. GOTE: An acronym that reminds the actor to find the character’s: G-goal, O-Obstacle, T-Tactic, and E-Expectation of outcome after the tactic is employed.
    10. The Vocal Tract: The full path that sound is created in and must travel through.
    11. The Lungs: The more air you can gather in this organ, the longer you will be able to speak without stopping, and the more you will be able to project.
    12. The Diaphragm: This is the muscle located under your ribs that helps to push air out of your body.
    13. Projection: The movement of air using the lungs and diaphragm.
    14. Resonance: Occurs when sound is vibrating or quickly echoing in the hollow parts of your vocal tract.
    15. Articulation:  Is the use of the mouth to create sound.
    16. Pitch: How high or low your voice is. Think about a cat’s meow versus a tiger’s roar.
    17. Rate: How quickly or slowly you speak.
    18. Volume: How loud or quiet your voice is as it travels the room.
    19. Actor Neutral: A neutral body is one that is awake and alert but divorced from the physical habits or tension that the actor carries naturally.
    20. Laban: Laban movement is a method and language of describing, visualizing, interpreting, and documenting human movement.

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

  • Basics of Performance: Students will explore ways to analyze and prepare theatrical texts using beats and objectives for the purpose of converting the written word to playable action for the stage. 
  • Voice for the Actor: Students will work to communicate through vocal choices employing observation, embodiment, generalization of vocal observation, and exaggerated vocal explorations for the development of a character.
  • Movement for the Actor: Students will explore physical exercises to communicate a character physically employing observation, embodiment, generalization of physical observation, and exaggerated body use for the development of a character.

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