Drama 130 Winter 2017 Page 1

Drama 130 – Intermediate Acting

Winter 2017 - Course Number 03332 – Nixon Theatre
Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:00 noon to 1:50 pm

Don Hill, Instructor

(949) 824-3882
E-mail: donhill@uci.edu
Office Hours: Wednesday 10:30 am to 12:00 pm (or by appointment)
Office Location: Drama Office Building, Room 247 (upstairs)

This is an upper division undergraduate acting class in Modern American Realism, featuring
scene work from great American plays.

Requirements for the course: Drama 30 A, B, C with an average grade of “B” or better.

Objectives of the class:

• Diligent and detailed research of the play and the role.

• Immersion of self into role.
• Moment-to-moment specificity.
• Active choices and motivational clarity.
• Ability to listen and respond to scene partner.
• Ability and willingness to take direction.
• Challenging and expanding your work as an actor.
• Exploring and researching plays and roles that you want to work on.
• To demand the best of yourself.

Student’s Responsibility:

1. In this class you are responsible for presenting a total of three different scenes in
class. (Instructor will assign scene partners in class for each scene.) The instructor
will give you your first scene assignment and you are responsible for finding the other
two scenes from the list of plays you have been given.

2. You must limit scenes to no more than 14 lines for each character (making a total of
28 lines in the scene). The focus of the work is on moment-to-moment specificity,
clarity and analysis.

3. You must always read the entire play. Collect all information about your character
from the entire text. What do other characters say about your character? Do not fake
knowledge.

4. Memorize the playwright’s words exactly. Do not paraphrase or improvise the

written text. Remember the playwright selected and arranged those words on the
page for a very specific reason.
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5. Rehearse with your scene partner a minimum of three hours before bringing your
scene into class for the first time. Remember that there is no substitute for
preparation. Either you are ready to work or you aren’t. The myth of talent will not
prevail – you can’t fake readiness. Rehearse with your scene partner a minimum of
one hour thereafter for each time you bring the same scene back into class.

6. When your first bring your scene into class, each student must provide the instructor
the following:

A. A clean copy of the script, neatly typed (double spaced) listing the play, the
playwright, both actors’ names and roles at the top of the paper indicating who
is playing which role.

B. A rehearsal log form indicating the time, date and location of your rehearsals
for the scene being presented. The rehearsal log can also reflect individual
research by a student. The instructor will provide the rehearsal log form.

C. For each scene presented, each student is individually responsible for

providing a scene breakdown based on the following:

1. Complete answers to all questions asked by the “Scene Work

Preparation Guideline” (see page 4).

2. Complete answers to all questions asked by the “Playing the Scene

Guidelines. Essential to indicate on the script you turn in are the beat
Changes in your scene (see page 5).

Note: The scene breakdown must be typed and attached to the script.
The scene breakdown must list the students name, the play, and the playwright
and the role being played.

Please note: Failure to turn in the appropriate paper work on the day
your scene is presented will result in a grade mark down.

7. You may select any one of the following playwrights for scene work material for
your class presentations:

Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, August Wilson, Lillian Hellman, Clifford

Odets, Eugene O’Neill, William Inge, Edward Albee, Thorton Wilder, A. R.
Gurney, William Saroyan, Neil Simon, Lanford Wilson, Terrence McNally,
Wendy Wasserstein and John Patrick Shanley.

Any other playwright must be cleared with the instructor prior to rehearsing a new scene.

8. You are required to attend two of the following productions at UCI and write a
one page paper on of the following two shows:
Coriolanus (plays week 4 and 5)
The Man Who Killed The Cure ( plays weeks 8 and 9)
Clown Aliens (plays weeks 9 and 10)
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Each student is required to write one two-page show report discussing who you’re your
favorite actor(s). Write about why you chose this actor(s) details, favorite moments,
discoveries, actions, etc. This show report must be typed, double-spaced and the ticket
stub for the show must be attached to the paper. If you are unable to attend either of
these shows, you may substitute a drama classroom production. For a drama classroom
production, attach a copy of the show program. Make sure your name is typed on your
show report paper. If you choose to usher for a performance, you must indicate which
performance date and show time you attended, and have the house manager sign a
statement form (provided by instructor) confirming that you ushered for that
performance. If you need an usher form, please ask the instructor. For the show that
you attend, but do not write a report you must turn a show program and ticket stub
attached. All show reports and proof of attendance for two Drama shows are due no
later than 5:00 pm on Monday, March 20, 2017.

9. Students are expected to wear appropriate rehearsal clothing for scene presentations in
class as it relates to the character the student is portraying. Especially important is
correct footwear, which could include high heels for ladies and dress shoes for men. In
addition, dresses, hats, coats and ties, etc, may help you discover how your character
functions and moves. DO NOT WEAR blue jeans and flip flops to class for scene work
if your character would not wear them. This will have an adverse effect on your grade
and you will not be allowed to perform your scene in class if you do not wear
appropriate rehearsal clothing.

If you have questions or problems, call or email me right away. I will get back to
you within 24 hours.

Grading: Formal assessment for this class will occur on a 100 point system

Preparation for 1st scene 10 points

1st Scene presentation 5 points
1st Scene re-worked presentation 10 points

Preparation for 2nd Scene 10 points

2nd Scene presentation 5 points
2nd Scene re-worked presentation 10 points

Preparation for 3rd Scene 10 points

3rd Scene presentation 5 points
3rd Scene re-worked presentation 10 points

1 Show reports (5 points each) 5 points

Professional Attitude:
Based on your willingness to learn, engage, take
risks, move out of your comfort zone, class
participation and respect for your fellow students 20 points

Total 100 points

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Important note: Attendance and being on time to class is extremely important. An

unexcused absence from class lowers your grade by one level, for example a “B”
becomes a “B-“.
Being late more than two times (more than 10 minutes each time) will have the same
effect of lowering your grade.

Out of 100%
Scale:
A+ ≥ 98.5 > A ≥ 93.5 > A- ≥ 90
B+ ≥ 86.5 > B ≥ 83.5 > B- ≥ 80
C+ ≥ 76.5 > C ≥ 73.5 > C- ≥ 70
D+ ≥ 66.5 > D ≥ 63.5 > D- ≥ 60 > F

Please note there will be no final exam for this class during finals week.

Suggested reading for Drama 130:

Respect for Acting – by Uta Hagen

An Actor Prepares – by Constantin Stanislavski
My Life in Art – by Constantin Stanislavski
Acting Power – by Robert Cohen
The Actor’s Wheel of Connection – by Richard Brestoff
The Actor’s Art – Edited by Bryer and Davison

Scene Work Preparation Guidelines

Character: Who am I?

Time: Century, year, season, day, minute.

Place: Country, city, neighborhood, house, room, area of room or specific location
outside.

Surroundings: Animate and inanimate objects

What are the given circumstances? Past, present, future and the current events.

What is my relationship? Relation to total events, other characters and to things.

Main Objective: What does my character want for the entire play?

Immediate Objective: What is it your character wants in this moment?

Obstacles: What gets in your way?

Action: What does your character do to get what your character wants?
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Playing the Scene Guidelines

Entrance: Where is your character coming from?

Beats: What is happening in this moment of the scene?

Does the beat change in the scene? If so, when and where and how?

Your Characters Physical Action: What is character physically doing?

What gets in the way as your character does what he/she does?

Your Characters reaction: How does your character react to what is going on?
What adjustments does your character make?

Personal Keys: Personal diary of thoughts, memories and triggers

Class Schedule for Drama 130

Week One
Tuesday, January 10 Enrollment. Review of course objectives and
expectations. Review of course outline, schedule and
grading procedures. Introductions.

Thursday, January 12 Review: “Scene Work Preparation Guidelines” and

Playing the Scene Guidelines”
Class Exercises.
Week Two
Tuesday, January 17 Researching the role and the playwright.
(1st scene partner selection for first scene announced
with instructor providing scene selection).
Class exercises - The object exercise.

Thursday, January 19 Preparing for your 1st scene.

Class exercises

Week Three
Tuesday, January 24 1st scene due – Group A
(2nd scene partner selection announced).

Thursday, January 26 1st scene due – Group B

Week Four
Tuesday, January 31 1st scene re-worked – Group A

Thursday, February 2 1st scene re-worked – Group B

Turn in copy of text for your 2nd scene.

Week Five
Tuesday, February 7 2nd scene due – Group A
(Final scene partner selection announced)
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Thursday, February 9 2nd scene due – Group B

Week Six
Tuesday, February 14 2nd scene re-worked – Group A

Thursday, February 16 2nd scene re-worked – Group B

Week Seven
Tuesday, February 21 Group A & B final 2nd scenes completed.

Thursday, February 23 Preparing for 3rd scene, class exercises.

Turn in copy of your text for your third scene.

Week Eight
Tuesday, February 28 3rd scene due – Group A.

Thursday, March 2 3rd scene due – Group B

Week Nine
Tuesday, March 7 3rd scene re-worked – Group A

Thursday, March 9 3rd scene re-worked – Group B

Week Ten
Tuesday, March 14 Building the actor’s tool kit

Thursday, March 16 Review of course achievements

Class evaluation

The last day to turn in show reports and proof of attendance is Monday March 20 by 5:00
pm.

I have read and understood both the grading guidelines and course outline schedule for this
Drama 130 intermediate acting class. The instructor has also reviewed in class the Drama
studio and production decorum polices for the department.

I understand that if I am unclear about any assignment, it is my responsibility to seek clarity

from the instructor. I also understand, that it order to get the most out of this class, is my
responsibility to attend class on time with a strong desire to explore, engage and to step out
of my own comfort zone.

Student’s Name ______________________________ Date _______________

(please print)

Student’s Signature ______________________________