Syllabus Acting I, THR101 Course Description This course is designed for beginning acting students to learn the fundamentals of the art and craft of acting. Students will focus on physical and vocal awareness, the basics of character creation through script analysis, exercises, improvisations, as well as monologue and scene study. Course goals This course aims to achieve the following: · To introduce students to the concept of acting as a process and a craft. · To make students critically aware of standards and what makes a good actor. · To develop a basic understanding of acting history, script and character analysis, and terminology. · To heighten the powers of observation, concentration, invention, and imagination. · To explore and develop the actor’s holistic instrument. · To gain and maintain confidence while performing in front of others through an awareness of the self and the physical space onstage. · To acclimate freshman students to college life and to the BFA Actor Training Program at Michigan State University. · To foster life-long strategies for well-being as artists. Requirement of Students · Attendance, focus, listening, and active participation in each class. · Applied understanding of terms/theory covered in readings, class discussions, writings, and exams. · Submit assignments on time. Meet memorization deadlines. Present performance projects on time. · Demonstrate professionalism inside and outside of the classroom. Adhere to rules set forth in the department’s handbook. · Rehearsals outside of class will be required. Being disrespectful of your partner’s time may result in penalties. · Respect, support, and encouragement of classmates. · Devices must be silenced. Using a device which distracts you or your classmates is not permitted. · Clean studio policy: Studio must be kept clean and restored following each class. Students may not depart until the studio has been restored. No food or beverage is permitted besides water. Assignments General Policies:  All assignments are subject to change. Written assignments must be uploaded to D2L (with the exception of certain in-class assignments). MS-Word Documents are the only acceptable format. No PDFs or other formats, please. Any assignment submitted past the due date in D2L may either be rejected or graded with a penalty, at the discretion of the instructor. This is a studio class with daily active participation. Your attendance, support and enthusiasm along with a concentrated daily effort significantly affect your final grade. Some scenes and other class content may include mature or controversial content. Please feel free to speak with your instructor about any concerns. There are five performance projects (10 points each). They are: · Moment of Reality (Object Exercise):You will create a 2-minute scene of genuine human behavior and be graded on the reality and honesty of this work. · Open Scene (A/B):Your partner and scene maybe assigned to you. You will be developing this .

1. Syllabus
Acting I, THR101
Course Description
This course is designed for beginning acting students to learn
the fundamentals of the art and craft of acting. Students will
focus on physical and vocal awareness, the basics of character
creation through script analysis, exercises, improvisations, as
well as monologue and scene study.
Course goals
This course aims to achieve the following:
· To introduce students to the concept of acting as a process and
a craft.
· To make students critically aware of standards and what makes
a good actor.
· To develop a basic understanding of acting history, script and
character analysis, and terminology.
· To heighten the powers of observation, concentration,
invention, and imagination.
· To explore and develop the actor’s holistic instrument.
· To gain and maintain confidence while performing in front of
others through an awareness of the self and the physical space
onstage.
· To acclimate freshman students to college life and to the BFA
Actor Training Program at Michigan State University.
· To foster life-long strategies for well-being as artists.
Requirement of Students
· Attendance, focus, listening, and active participation in each
class.
· Applied understanding of terms/theory covered in readings,
class discussions, writings, and exams.
· Submit assignments on time. Meet memorization deadlines.
Present performance projects on time.
· Demonstrate professionalism inside and outside of the
classroom. Adhere to rules set forth in the department’s

2. handbook.
· Rehearsals outside of class will be required. Being
disrespectful of your partner’s time may result in penalties.
· Respect, support, and encouragement of classmates.
· Devices must be silenced. Using a device which distracts you
or your classmates is not permitted.
· Clean studio policy: Studio must be kept clean and restored
following each class. Students may not depart until the studio
has been restored. No food or beverage is permitted besides
water.
Assignments
General Policies: All assignments are subject to change.
Written assignments must be uploaded to D2L (with the
exception of certain in-class assignments). MS-Word
Documents are the only acceptable format. No PDFs or other
formats, please. Any assignment submitted past the due date in
D2L may either be rejected or graded with a penalty, at the
discretion of the instructor. This is a studio class with daily
active participation. Your attendance, support and enthusiasm
along with a concentrated daily effort significantly affect your
final grade. Some scenes and other class content may include
mature or controversial content. Please feel free to speak with
your instructor about any concerns.
There are five performance projects (10 points each). They are:
· Moment of Reality (Object Exercise):You will create a 2-
minute scene of genuine human behavior and be graded on the
reality and honesty of this work.
· Open Scene (A/B):Your partner and scene maybe assigned to
you. You will be developing this scene through script analysis,
rehearsal, and presentation in class on the assigned date.
· Observation and Embodiment Performance:You will take on
the physical characteristics of another by studying a subject of
your choosing outside of class. You will present your character
research for the class on the assigned date.
· Scene:Your partner and scene will be assigned to you. You

3. will study, rehearse and perform.
· Monologue – Live Audition:You will select, study, and
rehearse a monologue on an assigned date in class. Look for a
60-90 second, contemporary (1970s-present) piece. You will
perform this monologue in a mock audition in the classroom.
Your performances will be assessed according to your own
ability to comprehend and execute the work. You will be
evaluated with consideration of your individual progression and
not in comparison to your classmates’ level of previous
knowledge, experience, or progression.
· Exams:There will be an exam during the semester covering
readings and class vocabulary that accounts for 10 points.
· Character Analysis (2): You will focus on one character in
your assigned scene and monolgue and complete an analysis
style TBD by instructor, totaling 5 points.
· Written Responses:There are a total of 10 brief written
responses. Specific prompts are found in the Dropbox on D2L. 9
responses should be minimum 250 words. The final response is
4 pagesand worth 7 points.
· Critiques:2 completed critiques will be 5 points each. All
critiques should be at least 500 words and be submitted to D2L
in MS Word format. The critiques will be for an assigned
department production:
· The Miller Plays.The Pasant Theatre at the Wharton Center.
Student tickets are $12 or sign up to usher. October 12-21. Sold
out shows are not an excuse for not doing the assignment.
· Men on BoatsStudio Theatre, Auditorium Bldg. Student tickets
are $12 or sign up to usher. Nov. 9-18. Sold out shows are not
an excuse for not doing the assignment.
Course Calendar*
Class 1, Aug 30
Introduction. Syllabus. What is acting? Style. Coursepacks.
Department communications. Ensemble building.
Class 2, Sept 4

4. Discuss reading 1.01, 1.02 & 1.03. History of acting. Ensemble
building.
Due: Response 1 on D2L (2:59PM). Experience/goals for class.
Due: Reading 1.01, 1.02, 1.03
Class 3, Sept 6
Ensemble building/Improv. Acting emotion vs acting objective.
Physical & vocal warmups.
Discuss reading 2.01, 2.02, 2.03 &2.04
Due: Reading 2.01, 2.02,
Class 4, Sept 11
Introduce Moment of Reality (Object Exercise) and review
reading 3.01 in class. Introduce “the six steps”.
The actor’s warmup. Improvisation. Review 3.02 in class.
Select 5 people for feedback for 24th
Due: Reading 3.01, 3.02 & 3.03
Class 5, Sept 13
First look at objective, tactic, obstacle..
5 Students- Moment of Reality for feedback.
Due: Reading 3.04 & 4.04
Class 6, Sept 18
Moment of Reality for feedback. Review 3.04 in class: how to
give feedback.
Due: Response 2 on D2L (2:59PM). “The Six Steps” for your
Moment of Reality & Moment of Reality for Feedback
Class 7, Sept 20
Moment of Reality for feedback. Review: Stanislavski terms.
Review subtext, inner monologue, Discuss readings 4.04 &
4.06. Discuss reading 4.01.Theatre terminology. Review reading
8.04 in class.
Due: Readings 4.01, 4.02,4.03 & 5.04
Class 8, Sept 25
Moment of Reality for final grade.
Due: Moment of Reality performance
Class 9, Sept 27

5. Finish Moment of Reality final grades.
Discuss transference and sense memory, finish theatre
terminology. Introduce open scenes. Review readings.
Due: Moment of Reality
Due: Response 3 on D2L (2:59PM) only for those who went
9/25
Due: Reading 4.07 & 4.08
Class 10, Oct 2
Vocabulary Exam
Review reading 4.06. Open Scene Rehearsal.
Due: Response 3 on D2L (2:59PM) for those that went 9/27
Due: In-class exam on vocabulary/readings (reading
8.04).
Due: Reading 4.06
Due: Extra credit writing
Class 11, Oct 4
Open scenes rehearsal.
Due: Response 4 on D2L (2:59PM). Open scene subtext & inner
monologue
Class 12, Oct 9
Open scenes rehearsal.
Class 13, Oct 11
Open scene presentations.
Dramatic Structure. Assign Scenes & Partners
Due: Open Scene presentations
Due: Reading 5.01, 5.02 & 5.03
Class 14, Oct 16
How to write a critique Review 8.02 in class.
Character Analysis, Scoring, Scene analysis.
Due: Read This is Our Youth
Due: Reading 5.05, 8.01 & 8.02
Class 15, Oct 18
Introduce Observation and Embodiment Performance Project.
Due: Read reasons to be pretty
Class 16, Oct 23
Observation and Embodiment in class Exercise

6. Due: Response 6 D2L (Part 1): Observation and Embodiment
Project
Due: Print out copy of your scene
Class 17, Oct 25
Scene Rehearsals
Due: Critique #1
Class 18, Oct 30
Scene rehearsals
Due: Response 5 on D2L (2:59PM). Dramatic Structure
Worksheet
Class 19, Nov 1
Scene rehearsals
Class 20, Nov 6
Scene Rehearsals
Class 21, Nov 8
Improv class day with Kevin
Class 22, Nov 13
Final Scene Presentations
Due: Final Scene Presentations
Class 23, Nov 15
Voice and Movement
Due: Reading 6.01 & 6.02
Class 24, Nov 20
Observation and Embodiment Performances. Picking a
Monologue
Due: Character Analysis Poem
Due: Observation and Embodiment performances.
Due: Reading 7.02 & 7.03
Due 11/25 at 11:59: Response #7
Nov 22 – NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING
Class 25, Nov 27
Monologue rehearsals.
Due:Reading 7.01 (auditioning), Critique #2
Class 26, Nov 29
Monologue Rehearsal
Due: Reading 7.05 (Types) & 7.07(Screen Acting)

7. Due: Response 8 on D2L (2:59PM). Monologue Analysis.
Class 27, Dec 4
Monologue Rehearsals
Due:Reading 7.04 (Industry) & 7.06 (resumes)
FINAL Class 28, Dec 6
Due: Mock Auditions- Monologue Final
Due: Response 9 on D2L (2:59PM). Coaching response.
FINAL ASSIGNMENT (due on D2L at December 12th at 2:45
PM)
v. Due: Response 10 on D2L (2:45AM). An extended analysis of
your work in this class, your progress, strengths, challenges,
things to keep practicing, etc.
vi. Submit SIRS course evaluation
online: https://sirsonline.msu.edu