THR 250.01

DIRECTING I

Fall 2008

Kenneth Hinton: Instructor

Three Credits

   MWF 10:00am -- 10:50am

Building TOS ROOM 111

Office Phone: 546-8419

EMAIL

Office Hours:  MWF: 8-9am / 2pm-5pm

Tues 8-9:30am

E-mail: khinton@shawu.edu

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts is to prepare, nurture, and develop musicianship and dramatic proficiency on a professional level of artistic accomplishment.  To this end, the Department of Visual and Performing Arts will maintain a curriculum of study relevant to the student’s long-term and professional goals.

Program Goals

1.  Increasing student retention and graduation rates;

2.  Improving the intellectual atmosphere and academic performance of students;

3.  Enhancing the Theatre  Program to ensure consistency in quality and scope. 

  Student Learning Outcomes:

Student Learning Outcomes: 

At the completion of Introduction to theatre: THR 250, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate as a director of scenes and short plays their oral and written communication to actors, designers and stage crew.

2. Analyze play scripts and interpret character development scene and play structure to actors and crew.

3. Perform the oral critique of each other’s execution of projects by evaluating and assessing their work. 

4. They will work individually and as a part of a larger production team in a leadership capacity all of which involves problem solving.

COURSE   DESCRIPTION

Course Introduction:

The director molds a play after the vision that he/she sees in the creative imagination of the recesses of his/her mind. By using his/her creative imagination, the director creates a picture on stage of an imaginary tale or to brings back to life historical eras and stories.  The creative process is both intellectual and instinctual, relying on both intuition and scholarship.  By exploring a variety of physical and imaginative exercises, rehearsal techniques and textural approaches, the student will learn a process that will serve throughout his/her career. A study of the theories and techniques of  stage directing with an emphasis on character  interpretation, play analysis, research and coordination in developing a script for theatrical production. The director molds a play after the vision that he/she sees in the creative imagination of the recesses of his/her mind. By using his/her creative imagination, the director creates a picture on stage of an imaginary tale or to brings back to life historical eras and stories.  The creative process is both intellectual and instinctual, relying on both intuition and scholarship.  By exploring a variety of physical and imaginative exercises, rehearsal techniques and textural approaches, the student will learn a process that will serve throughout his/her career.

Course Goals:

 The course will cover the advanced skills that are basic to the art and craft of the director.  It will emphasize character interpretation, character relationships and blocking that will all contribute to the creation of a final performance. Primary emphasis will be placed on increasingly challenging scenes, which will be analyzed for dramatic structure, acting "units" and "beats", developed through rehearsal into class performances and finally fully documented through use of specific actor/director vocabulary and notation techniques.

Required Textbook:

 "The Director's Companion" Mel Shapiro

Students will be assigned  readings and be responsible for selecting their scenes from sources in local libraries as well as from instructor assigned material.

Final project for this class will be documentary of Shaw University for presentation to ORC classes.

Class Attendance

A. Shaw allows for 3 unexcused absences only. I allow for 6. However, I do not accept all "excused" absences. Excused absences MUST be from the University. Bereavement, Drs. Excuses must be taken to the University officials for an University excuse. Verbal excuses are not accepted. If you have 4 unexcused absences, your final grade will be lowered by one grade (an "A" becomes a "8"). If you have 5 unexcused absences, your final grade will be lowered by two grades (an "A" becomes a "C"). If you 7 or more unexcused absences, you will automatically fail the class.

B. If you are more than 15 minutes late to class, you will be considered "late". For every 2 " lates" accumulated, you will be assessed 1 unexcused absence; more than 20 minutes late, you are absent "unexcused".

Class Methodology:

Lectures                     Assigned readings                  Projects                       Scenes

Videos                         Guest artists                           Field trips

Course Objectives and Activities:

During implementation of the course and at the conclusion students will be able to:

1.   Discuss oral interpretation of characters in literature

2.   Direct scripted scenes

3.   Carry out a self-designed warm-up sequence

4.   Execute basic directing techniques

5.   Write a scene analysis demonstrating knowledge of dramatic structure, directing "units" and "beats"

6.   Write a scene analysis demonstrating understanding of given circumstances and character psychology

7.   Discuss stage movement in actor/director terminology

8.   Use rehearsal notation and document prepared scenes and performance projects

Student Evaluation:

Student progress in this course will be evaluated throughout the semester.  Scenes will be evaluated according to the aesthetic criteria discussed in class, the quality of written documentation (character biographies, Scene structure, blocking, etc.), ability to demonstrate comprehension of all relevant terminology, and evidence of preparation for scenes presented in class (memorization of lines, blocking and business).  Students will also be evaluated with a written midterm and a final project.

Grading:         91 - 100 = A                81 - 90   = B                71 - 80   = C

                        61 - 70   = D                     - 60   = F   

Project:  40%             Participation:  50%                Examinations:  10% 

  Course Requirements:

A.  Students are required to be on time and prepared for all classes.

B.  Students are permitted three unexcused absences during the semester

C.  All projects must be presented in a polished and professional manor

D.  Students are required to have notebook and textbook for each class meeting 

E.   Students are required to maintain current email address 

       and blackboard account for this course

F. Student Classroom Decorum Expectations

 To enhance the learning atmosphere of the classroom, students are expected to dress and behave in a fashion conducive to learning in the classroom. More specifically, students will refrain from disruptive classroom behavior (i. e., talking to classmates, disrespectful responses to teacher instructions; swearing; wearing clothes that impede academic learning such as but not limited to, wearing body-revealing clothing and excessively baggy pants; hats/caps, and/or headdress. Students will turn off telephones prior to entering the classroom. Students who exhibit the behaviors described above, or similar behaviors will be immediately dismissed from class at the third documented offense. The student will be readmitted to class only following a decision by the department chair. The student may appeal the decision of the department chair to the Dean of the College offering the course, and, subsequently, to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and then to the President of Shaw University. The decision of the President will be final. Failure to follow the procedures herein outlined will result in termination of the appeal, and revert to the decision of the department chair.

Each behavior construed by the teacher/professor as non-contributive  to learning will be recorded, properly documented, and appropriately reported to the student and to the chair of the academic department offering the course. The report will be in written form with a copy provided to both the student and the department chair. The faculty member should retain a copy for his/her own records.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Click Here: Visual & Performing Arts: Policies, Rules and Guidelines