Welcome students and parents to Longleaf School of the Arts inaugural year.

First, let me say how excited I am to take my role as Theatre Director at this amazing institution. I have spent the better part of a year thinking, dreaming and mapping out what I feel will be a fantastic Theatre Arts education.

Being a brand new school in a department with a fresh, expansive vision this first year will be a tremendous journey, and I am happy to be on it with you. With many hours of thought involved in its design, the program encompasses a plan to develop well tooled theatre makers.

We are lucky to be in a school which has drawn up a charter that includes specific attention to arts education. It is from a place of gratitude that I assume my post as a faculty on this staff.

What you will find in this packet:

➡2013/14 Studio Classes ➡Studio Guidelines➡Studio Culture ➡Studio Showings➡Materials List➡Grading Scale➡Acknowledgement Form (to be signed and returned to Mr. Baker.)

Longleaf School of the Arts

Theatre Department

2013-2014 Handbook

Theatre Studio Classes 2013/14

Theatre I

Students will explore these questions: Where do I come from? Why are my roots important? How can I stand up beside and with my peers and share who I am? What does it mean to perform? How can I be seen?

As a launching point into these questions, students will work with theatrical forms that introduce them to ways of relating physically to self, others and space. They will work with Viewpoints, Red Square Practice, and Body Mind Centering. Alongside the training element of this course, students will be introduced to and work with self-scripting--writing and performing their own text.

Theatre II

In this first year at Longleaf School, in addition to Theatre I curriculum, Theatre II students will begin to work with acting technique. In the second semester, the ensemble will be introduced to Jerzy Grotowski’s psychophysical approach to creating character. Using their work in the first semester as a physical basis, students will work on selected monologues to explore physical and emotional practices, character generation, and analysis.

Studio Guidelines

“I can take an empty space and call it a bare stage. A man walks across this empty space whilst someone else is watching him, and this is all that is needed for an act of theatre to be engaged.”

- Peter Brook

Some of the best news is the school has invested in a brand new wooden floor for the dance and theatre students. What does this mean? First of all, this puts us far ahead of many, many public high schools and allows for a deeper, physical exploration of our discipline.

Both the money and many hours of sweat equity put into creating this space means the school intends to keep the floors and walls in good and workable condition for many years to come.

There is an old adage: “with power comes great responsibility.” In our case, power is synonymous with space. For performing artists, having space is crucial and oftentimes hard to come by. When it is found, gifted, or bought, space is cherished, coveted, and, most importantly, taken care of.

By now, you may be getting the point: “Mr. Baker is serious about space.” Respecting, taking care of and being grateful for our space is essential, and your attention to it will be part of your assessment. Translation: it will be part of your grade.

We will take care of our space. This is non-negotiable. The following studio and dressing room guidelines are to be followed and will be strictly enforced. ! !! ! Studio The following are not allowed under any circumstances:

Food or Drink Chewing gum Shoes (they must be removed before entering the studio at all times) Postings of any kind the walls (unless either the Dance or Theatre

faculty have previously approved) Any item or furniture of any sort (unless otherwise permitted)

! ! Dressing Rooms

The dressing rooms are for changing and storing your studio clothes and nothing else. They are not to be used as locker rooms.

Studio Culture

The studio, just like any other classroom, is a place for educational discourse. You are expected to be on time, prepared for class and respectful of both your ensemble and the space. However, being a performing arts studio there are a few differences for our work together.

Our work together?

You will hear me say “work” quite frequently when it comes to what we are doing in the studio. In my experience, the word work in the context of the art world looks different than what it may mean in a more general vernacular. I cannot speak for all artists. I will speak to what it means for me. In many cases, we hear work and we think drudgery, toil, labor: “Making work;” “Your work today was...;” “Be prepared to work;” “Mrs. Bauguss’ work is so visceral.” In our context, work means things like great care, attention, risk or deep play. I will speak about our time in the studio as our “work together.”

Being on time

Simply put: Be on time. Being late will affect your grade. To be clear: if class is to begin at 12:50pm, I will expect you to be in the studio at 12:53pm which allows you three (3) minutes to change. In this example, anyone arriving after 12:53pm will be considered late. Some basic math here will quickly show that after time for changing at the beginning and end, on most days, we will have only 40 precious minutes of time to work.

You will be graded as to your timeliness for every class. Depending on the day, if you are late you may be asked to sit out of an exercise if I feel it is too disruptive.

You will be given three (3) minutes to change back into your street clothes after class.

Coming to school with some intentionality around how long it will take you to get into the studio and be ready for class will serve you. For example, if you know it will take 15 minutes for you to put your hair up, on days that you are in the studio arrive to school with your hair up.

Be Prepared

All students will be expected to arrive to class in uniform. Uniform includes hair, jewelry and clothing.!

 HairStudents with long hair must wear it securely back with no hair/bangs covering the eyes. JewelryAll jewelry except for stud earrings, nose rings, et cetera, must be removed prior to class.

! ClothingMale:- form-fitting plain black t-shirt or tank top (no print or big logos).- form-fitting black pants that you feel comfortable moving in (no jeans). Female:- form-fitting plain black t-shirt or tank top (no print or big logos).- form-fitting black pants that you feel comfortable moving in (no jeans).- an athletic/sports bra or leotard.

You may also find that it is easier for you to wear your studio clothes throughout the day for ease of mind.

You will be expected to be arrive to class in your uniform by Tuesday, August 20, 2013.

As mentioned above, there are to be no shoes in the studio. Unless otherwise instructed, you will be working in bare feet.

Come to class with any readings read, parts memorized, projects completed and journal entries logged.

Respect

Standing up in front of people and allowing oneself to be seen can be very scary. However, as one of my favorite mentors used to say “that is where the juice is.” Many times, all that is needed for a performer to dive into an exercise or conversation is a

feeling of safety. In order to help facilitate the creation of a “safe space,” I have created a few ground rules -- grounded in one verb -- Listen:

Listening (not speaking) while others are presenting, reading or performing is mandatory.

To allow everyone to settle in and prepare for studio practice, conversation unrelated to the studio work is off limits. If you arrive early I encourage you use those extra minutes as quiet settling time.

Absolutely no use of cellphones is permitted during class. All phones will be placed in a box at the beginning of class and can be picked up at the end of class. If a student chooses to use his or her phone in class, I will confiscate it for the entire school day.

Critique is an important skill to learn and will be encouraged in class. We critique the work, the process, the project or the performance not the person. Negative comments about another student will not be tolerated for any reason.

Failure to follow these rules will result in a conference with the teacher after the first infraction and, if a resolution cannot be found, then a referral to the Head of School will be made.

Bathroom

In general, using the restroom between classes would be ideal. I understand, however, that one cannot always plan when to use the bathroom. When you have to leave to use the bathroom simply ask me. If I find that you constantly are needing to leave to use the restroom I will set a date for you to meet with both myself and the head of school.

Studio Showings

At least once in each semester we will invite the public to see our work. This will be your opportunity to put on display your work and perform. These showings are mandatory and will be held at the school.

In the Spring, Theatre II will work in collaboration with other level II arts disciplines to create a piece. During the week before we present there may be up to five (5) after school rehearsals.

The showings for both Theatre I and Theatre II are posted below. If, for any reason, you know that you will not be able to attend either the showings or, for Theatre II, the week of after school rehearsals, you need to inform me by September 15, 2013 for the Winter and December 1, 2013 for the Spring.

Theatre I:WinterDecember 5 and 6, 2013 7:00pm - 8:30pm

SpringMay 22 and 23, 20147:00pm-8:30pm

Theatre II:WinterDecember 5 and 6, 20137:00pm - 8:30pm

SpringMay 8-10, 2014 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Materials List

3-ring binderLoose-leaf paperPencil and Pen

iPad App:-Notability

Studio Uniform:*See Studio Culture

If you cannot afford these supplies due to financial hardship, talk to me in person or email me by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 23, 2013.

Grading

Cooperation: 15%Respecting the space: 15%Willingness to take risk: 15%Being Prepared: 15%Skillful Progression: 30%Homework: 10%

Once again, Welcome.

I am thrilled to have you, and I am excited to embark on this journey with each and every one of you.

The last page in this handbook is a form for both parent and student to sign and return to me acknowledging that the document has been read.

Please email me with any questions.

Mr. Joseph BakerTheatre Directorjbaker@longleafschool.com

Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7:50 - 8:25am. Tutoring is by appointment only. A student must request a time slot by email at least 48 hours before his or her desired meeting time.

Sign and return this form and return it by August 23, 2013.

I have read and understand the 2013-14 Theatre Handbook and its guidelines.

_______________ _________________Student Name Student Signature

_______________ Parent Signature