McDaniel, Matthew T.

English

University of Montana

University of MontanaScholarWorks at University of MontanaSyllabi Course SyllabiFall 9-1-2018THTR 315.01 - Physical Performance Skills IMatthew T. McDanielUniversity of Montana, MissoulaLet us know how access to this document benefits you.Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabiThis Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by the Course Syllabi at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted forinclusion in Syllabi by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contactscholarworks@mso.umt.edu.Recommended CitationMcDaniel, Matthew T., "THTR 315.01 - Physical Performance Skills I" (2018). Syllabi. 8971.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi/8971                 	                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           THTR315 Section 1 :: 3 Credits  PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE SKILLS I :: Autumn 2018  Class meeting times: Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:30PM- 1:50PMInstructor: Matthew McDaniel Email: matthew1.mcdaniel@umconnect.umt.eduOffice: Law Building CommonsPhone: 406-243-4481  Office Hours: Tuesdays, 5:30PM-6:30PM and by appointment •	 AIM: In this studio course you will be introduced to practice-based theories of physical performance. You willrealize and refine your strengths in your physical performance while learning to evaluate your own opportunitiesto improve your abilities as an actor through physical performance.OUTCOMES: At the end of the semester the actor will:•	 Display a greater awareness, connection and understanding of the actor’s body and its unique abilities in performance.•	 Establish a useful physical performance vocabulary which can be practically applied to the process of characterdevelopment.•	 Demonstrate the actor’s ability to record useful self-observations of physical behavior and generate a cataloguetheir discoveries in written reflection.•	 Display the ability to cultivate a believable character in both abstract and realistic performance by implementing abody-centric approach.UNIT CONTENT:•	 UNIT I: AWANKENING THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION•	 UNIT II: DEVELOPING A PHYSICAL VOCABULARY•	 UNIT III: EMOTIONAL AROBICS: CRAFTING CHARACTER EMOTIONS THROUGH SENSATION•	 UNIT IV: CRAFTING THE ABSTRACT & REALISTICMOODLE & SELF STUDY: The course Moodle will be used to access outside reading, research, video referencematerials and occasional concept checks.REQUIRED TEXT:	 The Acrobat of the Heart by Stephen Wangh :: Vintage; 1st EditionISBN-10: 0375706720, ISBN-13: 978-0375706721. The Expressive Actor by Michael Lugering :: Routledge; 2 EditionISBN-10: 0415669316 ISBN-13: 978-0415669313*We will study one piece of abstract theatre and one piece of contemporary realism. Thestudio ensemble will submit plays of interest to be reviewed by the instructor and thestudio will vote on the plays studied. This will require you to purchase two plays acrossthe semester.SUGGESTED TEXT: Towards A Poor Theatre by Jerzy Grotowski :: Routledge; 1 editionISBN-10: 0878301550 ISBN-13: 978-0878301553.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             COURSE COMPONENTS: ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE MATERIAL EXPLORED, IT IS ESSENTIAL ALL PARTICIPANTS ATTEND EACH WORKSHOP SESSION. Attendance is mandatory not only to ensure the entire ensemble is acquiring the materialin tandem but to maintain safety and wellbeing of the ensemble and each individual participant.You are provided two free personal/sick days during the semester without losing credit. Upon your third absence yourcumulative score will be dropped ONE letter grade upon the third absence and continue to drop for each following absence. Use them wisely and communicate your needs to the instructor. If you need to be absent for personal emergency or medical issue, please notify the instructor as soon as possible. No excused absences without a written note from yourphysician.BE ON TIME! Tardiness, however inevitable in some circumstances, should be avoided at all costs. If you have a specificcondition or obstacle making prompt attendance a concern, please communicate your issues at the beginning of thesemester or when necessity arise. After the ensemble has prepared the studio space for each workshop, the ensemble willmeet around the perimeter of the studio, promptly at 12:35PM to begin conditioning work.SAFTY PROCEDURES & CONDITIONING WORKThis course is extremely physical in nature and will require close attention to the studio rules and safety proceduresdesigned to keep each participant safe and healthy while exploring the physical skills and set outcomes. Please see theattached STUDIO RULES & SAFTY PROCEDURES for full breakdown of expectations.The exploration of physical performance is intended to build and maintain personal physical fitness and ability as a performer. Each Workshop session will contain a 15-20 minute conditioning and preparation component before exploringpractical material for that day. These conditioning exercises may be comprised of any number or combination ofrelaxation, breath/body awareness, vocal preparation, or strengthening and stretching routines. You are expected to perform at your individual body’s ability and maintain and awareness of your body’s needs at any given time duringthe semester.EXPLORATIONS & PERFORMANCESEach Unit is comprised of 7-8 Workshops consisting of assigned readings, practical explorations of the theories studied and a performance to culminate the lessons learned in each Unit. You will be required to present FOUR performancesacross the semester.If for some reason you are to miss a Performance, you will be required to make up the Performance during theinstructor’s office hours or by appointment. You must schedule this “Make-up” within 48 hours of your absence. Thismay include outside commitment from a partner, which you will be responsible for scheduling and negotiating the besttime for your partnership.FINAL MONOLOGUE & SCENE PERFORMANCESThe final for this course will consist of a Final Showcase to be presented to the Faculty & Staff of the School of Theatre &Dance and other invited guests. You will be performing ONE Scene and ONE Monologue. Both of these pieces will bedeveloped over the duration of the semester.PROCESS JOURNALS & PERFORMANCE REFLECTION RESPONCESFor the duration of the course you will be expected to maintain a Process & Reflection Journal. The intent behind thisJournal is to provide a platform for the development of “in-process” articulation while we study and explore physicalperformance theories and methodologies. In this Journal, you will be expected to maintain diligent notes of the exercises,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          explorations, discoveries and physical vocabulary cultivated in each Unit. You will be required to write a minimum of100 word response for each day. You must bring this Journal to class EVERYDAY as you will be expected to takenotation of the physical movement practiced and discoveries made in each Workshop.You will receive 10 points for a qualifying entry. At the end of each Unit, you will be required to write a minimum of200-word response detailing a reflection of your experience from introduction to performance. You will then submit thisJournal to the instructor post performance. At the end of the semester you will have a total of 33 qualifying entries to receive full credit for this component of the course.At the end of the semester you will also write and submit a minimum of 750 word reflection essay of your process for thetwo characters you present in the Final Studio Showcase, displaying your ability to articulate your process from initialexploration to performance.EVALUATION: Your semester grade will be based on the following:•	 ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION 40%•	 PROCESS REFLECTION JOURNALS 15%•	 FINAL STUDIO PERFORMANCE: MONOLOGUE 15%•	 FINAL STUDIO PERFORMANCE: SCENE 15%•	 PERFORMANCE REFLECTION RESPONSES 15%STUDIO POLICIES:ATTIRE Appropriate movement attire is a MANDITORY requirement for full participation in this course. Please wear clean, black and well-fitting tee shirts or tank tops which allow for room to move and stretch. Pants, shorts or athletic bottoms should be black and allow for movement. NO SHOES or JEWELRY will be allowed in and on the studio floor. You will beasked to participate barefoot. If you would like to cover your feet you may use rubber soled socks. Individuals wearing long hair should tie it up an keep it away from the face.The instructor will survey each participant before the work begins. If any of your attire does not meet the studio safety requirements you will be asked to remove the article before beginning work. If any element of your attire is inadequateand cannot be removed, you will be asked to sit out and participation points will be deducted.SUGGESTED MATERIALS  It is highly recommended each participant bring a personal hand or yoga towel to class each session to wipe away excess sweat. You may also bring your own personal exercise or yoga mat if you prefer not to work on thecommunal mats or floor during the conditioning portion of each Workshop. It is also suggested you purchase apair of cloth knee pads for the duration of the course.THE SPACE The ensemble will be required to prepare the studio space at the beginning of each workshop. The ensemble is provided with the first 5 minutes of class to change attire and prepare the studio space. Conditioning Exercises will begin promptly at 12:36AM. The following studio atmosphere must be obtained prior to each workshop beginning:1.	 All rehearsal furniture and properties must be cleared from the studio floor and placed in the storage space in SG123 or flush against the walls of the studio in an organized fashion. 2.	 The space MUST be swept fully and all dirt removed from the studio floor and placed in a proper trash receptacle. 3.	 All personal belongings must be kept off the main studio floor. You may keep your personal belongings in theaudience bank or in SG123 storage area. Ensure you have quick access to your water, personal towel and exercisemat.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4.	 All mats must be laid out and connected securely to the others in a large rectangle or square unless indicated by the instructor.At the end of each workshop the ensemble will be responsible for striking and organizing all mats, furniture or propertiesutilized during the workshop process each session. The ensemble will be allotted 5 minutes post workshop session tocomplete the following tasks.1.	 All furniture, properties or equipment used during the workshop session should be returned to storage in anorganized fashion.2.	 The mats should be wiped down with antiseptic wipes and returned to storage in an organized fashion.3.	 The floor must be swept and all personal belongings must be removed or stored in the locked storage room in SG123.SELF CARE The ensemble and instructor will work together to ensure you are learning the skills and techniques required by the coursecurriculum in a safe and controlled manner. If you ever feel unsafe or your physical/emotional/mental health is at stake,you may always call HOLD and notify the instructor. It will always be your right to take a break or step out of theworkshop when you see fit. Please do not feel hesitant to approach an issue, no matter how trivial you may find it, yourknowledge of yourself will be trusted and your well-being will ALWAYS be prioritized.For your own personal protection and safety, you MUST communicate ALL prior injuries, conditions and/orphysical limitations to the instructor prior to beginning work. You will NEVER be expected to perform any tasks risking the relapse, exacerbation or extension of previous injuries, conditions or personal limitations.It is highly suggested you bring a water container which can be securely sealed to prevent spills. You are allowed to bringa small snack that can be consumed on breaks, but you MUST clean up after yourself and take responsibility for all spillsor messes made in the studio. Please do not bring full meals to class and due to the nature of the course, it is not advised that you eat 30-60 minutes prior to class.UNIVERSITY and SCHOOL OF THEATRE & DANCE ACADEMIC POLICIES All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the courseinstructor and/or disciplinary sanction by the University. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code.The Code is available for review online at http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php. All Theatre & Dance students must have an in-depth knowledge of the practices and procedures outlined in the School ofTheatre & Dance Student Handbook. The Handbook is available online athttp://www.umt.edu/theatredance/about/handbook.There is inherent risk involved in many Theatre & Dance classes as they are very physical in nature. Please proceed through class, shop time, or rehearsal with caution. Always be mindful of your personal safety and the safety of others.Students participating in class/shop/rehearsal/performance do so at their own risk.Due to safety considerations, at no point during a student’s time spent in class or serving on a production (in any capacity)should non-enrolled persons be guests of that student without my consent. Presence of such unauthorized persons in aclass, shop, or any backstage/off-stage area will negatively affect a student’s grade.

THTR 315.01 - Physical Performance Skills I

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THTR 315.01 - Physical Performance Skills I

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