Directions powerpointBeginning Drama 3 - Stage Directions/Actor Positions
Content Objective: • Demonstrate comfortable movement when acting. Language Objective : Each Student will be able to identify the 9 areas of the stage, the abbreviations of the areas on the stage map, and how to find their way around the stage physically. Each Student will be able to identify the 8 Actor Positions, the abbreviations of the areas on the positions map, and how to position themselves physically as an actor quickly. Resources: Each student will receive a handout with the areas and positions clearly labeled. Assessment:Each student will receive a lesson on Stage positions and areas of the stage. Warmup Students will move the Desks out of the way and begin their warmup. Students will take notes during a powerpoint- Stage Movement PPT with accompanying quiz on. Each student will be asked to participate in a physical test of the knowledge. In the auditorium. Then we will go onto the stage and do drama excercises. Activities v Mirror- Explain that you will pair everyone off in a moment. the actors will stand across from each other. The point of this game is for both players to be perfectly mirroring and mirrored, not to mess the other person up. There is an A person and a B person. First the A person will be in charge of the movements while the B person follows. Then the B person is in charge. Finally both will take over. Have the group come back together and explain their experience. v Machine- You will create a machine using all of the actors in the class. Start with three people each doing a unique motion and noise while standing in place. Once someone starts they don’t stop. Add another person and another and another until everyone is part of this machine, each making a unique noise and a unique repetitive motion. At the end wind down as if someone pushed the off button. (Power point below pictures not included) Stage Movement In is down, down is front Out is up, up is back Break a leg - not literally! Stage Areas 9 basic areas Stage Areas C = Center Stage Areas D = Down/Downstage Stage Areas U = Up/Upstage Stage Areas R = Right/Stage Right Stage Areas L = Left/Stage Left Stage Areas Stage Area Hierarchy • 1st comes D or U • 2nd comes R or L • 3rd comes C • Upstage Left • Up Right Center • Down Center Body Positions Indicated by the position of the feet Denotation of Stage Movement • We use abbreviations when writing stage areas (C, DL, 1/4R, PL, etc.) • X = cross • Examples: – X C 1/4L = cross to center stage, stand in a one-quarter left position – X UL PR The Six Basic Principles of Stage Movement • Motivated • Simplified • Heightened • Reveal Character • Open To The Audience • Adjust to the Characters on the Stage Motivated • All movement must be motivated. Shuffling your feet, fidgeting, or nervously moving at random is unforgivable. An actor should never move without purpose. Motivation is justification are not one and the same thing. A movement is justified through its motivation. Control your own body functions and problems i.e., sweat, itch, cough, etc. Simplified • While action in real life is often complex and detailed, art must be more selective if it is to communicate. An actor must use only carefully chosen movement that quickly and lucidly conveys ideas. Less is more. Heightened • To compensate for the distance between actor and audience some exaggeration or heightening is necessary. This is particularly true when you must " point up" or draw special attention to an idea or object that has an important bearing on the rest of the play. For example, the hiding of a letter in Act I that must later be found in Act III needs special heightening. Allow your sense of good taste to restrain you from over exaggeration. A little bigger than life- not real life, realistic representation of life. Reveal Character • A Character's personality, attitude, health, and age are all revealed in his movement. A fat person moves differently from a thin person. An easy going individual moves differently from a nervous person. Youth's actions vary from those of older people. Always move in character if you are to give a convincing portrayal. How you move is who you are - personifies who you are. Open to the Audience • Movement must always be open to the audience without appearing obvious. In theater the audience is all important. Unless you have a legitimate reason for not doing so, always play toward the house. use a one quarter body positions, make turns towards the audience, and use your up stage foot and hand so that your body won't be covered from view. For example, when you are telephoning, hold the receiver with you upstage hand so you can "open" your face to audience. If I can't see it, I can't understand, empathize, etc. Adjust to Characters on Stage • Always keep in mind your relationship to the other characters. People who dislike each generally keep at a distance; those fond of each other will feel the need of closeness. Don't only adjust to " characters" but also to the other actors. Do not stand directly downstage of an upstage plane and you are being blocked by an actor on plane downstage of you, it is your responsibility to get open as you can see if you are blocked; the actor downstage of you may not realize it unless he is blocked to turn his back on the audience. Quiz 1-5 label the Stage Areas 6 Which is not one of the six characteristics of Acting • Motivated • Simplified • Heightened • Reveal Character • Emotional • Open To The Audience • Adjust to the Characters on the Stage Matching Types of Stages • Thrust Stage • Proscenium • Arena (in the round) Answer Key • Center or C • Down Left (DL) • Up Right (UR) • Stage Left, or Left Center (LC or L) • Down Center (DC) • E • a • C • B
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