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ACTING'I'/'FALL'2015'Course'#:'MUST1011'/'Section'001'/'Call'#:'509275'/'Credits:'3'

MWF'12:20pm'–'2:20pm'/'CCB3650''

Vince'DeGeorge'/'vince.degeorge@uc.edu'RM:'CCB4760'/'513B556B4030'

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What%if%your%greatest%gift%is%your%capacity%to%receive?%%

What%is%Acting?%'Course'Overview''

This'acting'course'will'focus'on'developing'the'artist’s'physical,'sensory,'and'emotional'awareness.''The'course'utilizes'written'text'and'improvisational'explorations'to'reacquaint'the'artist'with'the'infinite'intelligence'and'creative'capacity'of'their'own'holistic'human'body'experience.''Together'during'this'course'we'will'explore'many'questions'including:'What'is'Acting?'We'will'work'with'some'of'the'most'elemental'tools'that'every'actor'employs'during'her/his'work'such'as'text'analysis,'personalization,'the'experiential'loop'(receptivity'and'response),'moments'of'change'and'courageous'choice'making.''All'of'our'work'will'be'done'as'an'ensemble.'

'Course'Objectives''

1. To'provide'practical'experience'in'the'art'and'craft'of'acting.'2. To'introduce'and'explore'The'Theatrical'Awareness'Practice'(TTAP)'as'a'way'for'the'artist'

to'live'and'create'more'fully'in'their'experiential'mind/body;'and'enable'the'artist'to'be'a'more'active,'collaborative'participant'in'all'their'performance'opportunities.'

3. To'cultivate'in'you'qualities'of'courage,'patience,'discipline,'drive,'acceptance,'and'above'all'willingness.'

4. To'cultivate'in'you'an'artistic'practice'grounded'in'research,'exploration,'critical'thinking,'trial'and'error,'failure'and'success,'acceptance'and'implementation'of'feedback.'

5. To'foster'healthy,'open'dialogue'among'your'fellow'artists.''An'Overview'of'my'Acting/Performance'Philosophy''

1. I'believe'in'a'holistic'approach'to'acting/performance.'2. I'believe'that'an'artist’s'ability'to'consciously'receive'is'a'key'aspect'in'her/his'creative'

development.''To'this'end'my'research,'development'and'teaching'is'focuses'on'awareness'practices'for'the'artist'(The'Theatrical'Awareness'Practice).'

3. I'believe'that'every'artist'has'the'capacity'to'be'an'active,'collaborative'participant'in'all'their'creative'endeavors.'

4. I'believe'in'the'practice'of'Creative'Research'and'Experimentation.'5. In'this'class,'Acting'is'the'primary'form'in'which'our'Creative'Research'and'

Experimentation'will'manifest.'6. I'believe'that'everything'is'a'work'in'progress.'

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Experiential'Study''

This'is'an'experiential'class'in'which'your'success'depends'greatly'your'attendance'and'active'class'participation.''Wholly'engaging'in'the'class'assignments;'readings;'discussions;'and'activities,'will'make'for'an'exciting'and'productive'semester'for'everyone.''

Materials'&'Attire''

• Comfortable+clothes'–'Most'days,'this'class'will'be'very'physical.'(Expect'to'roll'around'on'the'floor).''You'are'required'to'wear'comfortable'clothing'for'ease'of'movement.''Sweat'pants'and'a'tee'shirt/'sweatshirt'are'ideal.''Dance'clothes'are'not'necessary'or'recommended.''No'skirts,'jeans,'button'up'shirts,'flipBflops,'dress'shoes,'etc.''Most'days'we'will'be'working'without'shoes'or'socks.'

• Some+sort+of+note+taking+device+–+You'are'encouraged/required'to'take'notes'every'class.''Your'ability'to'meaningfully'reflect'on'your'experience'in'this'class'is'key'to'your'integration'of'the'work'we'do'here'and'your'growth'as'an'artist.''Please'bring'this'journal'to'every'class.''Use'this'to'record'your'thoughts,'emotions,'challenges'and'discoveries'in'the'class,'after'class,'and'in'your'rehearsals.''

• A+three9ring+binder'–'You'will'be'given'numerous'handouts'in'this'class.''You'are'required'to'organize'these'handouts'in'a'binder'and'bring'this'binder'to'every'class.'

'Required'Reading''

1. True+Perception:+The+Path+of+Dharma+Art'by'Chogyam Trungpa / edited by Judith L. Lief'2. A+Practical+Handbook+for+the+Actor'by'Melissa Bruder, Lee Michael Cohn…'3. Spoon+River+Anthology+by'Edger'Lee'Masters'4. Three+Sisters+by'Anton'Chekhov'/'translation'by'Paul'Schmidt'5. The+Other+Wes+Moore+by'Wes'Moore'6. August+Snow+(play)+/+by+Reynolds'Price'7. All'handouts'

'Projects'and'Assignments''

1. Monologues'from'Spoon+River+Anthology'2. Monologue'from'a'contemporary'realistic'play'of'your'choosing'3. Open'Scene'4. Scene'from'Three+Sisters'5. Assigned'scene'from'August'Snow'by'Reynolds'Price'6. Scene'from'a'contemporary'realistic'play'of'your'choosing'7. The'Theatrical'Awareness'Practice'

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'Attendance''

+• Be'in'the'classroom'and'ready'to'work'at'the'starting'time'of'the'class.'• There'will'be'no'unexcused'absences'permitted'for'our'class.''For'each'unexcused'absence'

your'final'grade'will'be'lowered'half'a'letter'grade.'• You'may'request'an'absence'from'class'for'an'engagement'or'audition,'but'such'requests'

must'be'preBauthorized'via'The'Musical'Theatre'Department'and'the'instructor.''• Two'late'arrivals'='One'absence''

This'is'a'firm'policy,'not'open'for'discussion,'either'now'or'at'the'end'of'the'semester.''For'further'information'on'the'absence'policy'please'see'The'Musical'Theatre'Student'Handbook.''Full'commitment'from'everyone'will'make'for'an'exciting'and'productive'semester.'

'Evaluation'&'Grading'

+Grading'in'this'class'is'subjective.'''You'will'be'given'a'midterm'grade'and'a'final'grade.'''You'will'be'graded'on'the'following:''Class+Participation+You'will'receive'a'participation'grade'every'class'meeting.'This'grade'will'reflect'your:'

• Active'class'participation'• Visible'commitment'to'the'taskBatBhand'• Working'with'fellow'actors'• Contribution'to'discussions'• Note'taking'• Willingness'to'recognize'and'move'through'your'resistances'in'positive,'constructive'

ways'• Support'of'your'fellow'actors'

Performance+• How'well'have'you'implemented'our'work'together'into'your'performance?'• How'well'have'you'taken'feedback'from'your'fellow'actors'and'me?'• How'well'are'you'able'to'implement'the'feedback'given'in'order'to'make'impactful'

changes'in'your'work?'Attendance+

• Don’t'miss'class''

Reminder'• Everyone'starts'with'a'“C”'• To'get'a'“B”'or'an'“A”'you'must'earn'it'• As'per'The'Musical'Theatre'Student'Handbook:'“In'all'Musical'Theatre'Classes,'a'C'

should'be'considered'an'average'grade.''Achieving'higher'grades'demands'of'the'student'intense'preparation,'discipline,'professionalism'and'commitment.”'

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'Additional'Notes''

Rehearsing+outside+of+class:+• Rehearsing'outside'of'class'is'required.''It'is'your'responsibility'to'schedule'rehearsals'with'

your'scene'partner.'''• All'scheduling'conflicts'during'scene'work'must'be'negotiated'with'your'scene'partner.'

'Physical+Contact+• This'is'a'physically'based,'experiential'acting'class.''I'must'inform'you'that'there'may'be'

times'when'I'will'have'to'touch'you'to'make'corrections.''I'will'endeavor'to'ask'your'permission'before'I'touch'you.''You'may'also'request'not'to'be'touched.''If'you'have'a'problem'with'the'way'that'I'have'touched'you'during'a'specific'class,'you'must'see'me'immediately'following'class.'

'Cellphones+• No'cellphones'in'the'classroom.''Cellphones'and'other'electronic'devices'need'to'be'turned'

off'at'the'beginning'of'class'and'not'accessed'until'the'end'of'class'or'a'called'break.''