Performance Elements Performance Elements of Drama Activitiesof Drama Activities

Arts & HumanitiesArts & Humanities(Art/Drama)(Art/Drama)

Central Hardin High SchoolCentral Hardin High SchoolK. ThompsonK. Thompson

1. Character Motivation & 1. Character Motivation & AnalysisAnalysis

An actor’s attempt to understand An actor’s attempt to understand what motivates his or her character what motivates his or her character in order to effectively interpret and in order to effectively interpret and

deliver lines. deliver lines.

Examples of Character Examples of Character Motivation & AnalysisMotivation & Analysis

Actors read through the entire script to Actors read through the entire script to determine the following:determine the following:

--each character’s --each character’s objectiveobjective (goal or desire) (goal or desire)

--his or her --his or her strategies/tacticsstrategies/tactics (what he or (what he or she uses to obtain his or her goals)she uses to obtain his or her goals)

----obstaclesobstacles (something that gets in the (something that gets in the character’s way) to achieving the goals.character’s way) to achieving the goals.

The Director may create questions for the The Director may create questions for the actor to use to analyze his or her character.actor to use to analyze his or her character.

Sample Character Analysis Sample Character Analysis QuestionsQuestions

What does your character What does your character want?want?

What is your character’s What is your character’s obstacle?obstacle?

What strategies does your What strategies does your character use to attain the character use to attain the goal?goal?

How old is your character?How old is your character? Is your character Is your character

emotionally stable?emotionally stable? Describe your character’s Describe your character’s

behavior.behavior. What kind of education What kind of education

does your character have?does your character have? How close to or distant How close to or distant

from you is the character from you is the character in mannerisms and in mannerisms and thought?thought?

Is she/he rich, poor, or in Is she/he rich, poor, or in between?between?

What part of the What part of the world/country/region is world/country/region is he/she from?he/she from?

How would your character How would your character dress?dress?

What do other characters What do other characters say about your character?say about your character?

What does the playwright What does the playwright tell you about your tell you about your character?character?

What kind of physical What kind of physical movement will you have movement will you have to employ in portraying to employ in portraying your character?your character?

What color do you think of What color do you think of when you picture your when you picture your character? Why?character? Why?

2. Empathy2. Empathy

A primary result of drama, it’s when A primary result of drama, it’s when audience members identify with and audience members identify with and share the feelings of the characters share the feelings of the characters being presented on stage. being presented on stage.

Examples of EmpathyExamples of Empathy

Can you think of a play or movie which Can you think of a play or movie which evoked empathy in you as an evoked empathy in you as an audience member?audience member?

Did you tear up or cry when you Did you tear up or cry when you watched watched Toy Story 3Toy Story 3??

Have you laughed? Sighed? Felt Have you laughed? Sighed? Felt angry? When watching a play or angry? When watching a play or movie. List some examples.movie. List some examples.

3. Breath Control & 3. Breath Control & ProjectionProjection

Relates to speaking on stage using Relates to speaking on stage using effective breath effective breath

control, volume, control, volume,

and pronunciation.and pronunciation.

Example of Breath Control Example of Breath Control (Exercise)(Exercise)

Place your hand on your stomach; breathe in Place your hand on your stomach; breathe in and out. Did you hand move up and down? and out. Did you hand move up and down? Try again; make your stomach balloon out Try again; make your stomach balloon out (like “before” in a “before & after” diet ad). (like “before” in a “before & after” diet ad). Breathe in and out, making your stomach rise Breathe in and out, making your stomach rise and fail. Count to five; see how far you can and fail. Count to five; see how far you can go. If chest or shoulders move up and down, go. If chest or shoulders move up and down, you’re breathing improperly. Singers/actors you’re breathing improperly. Singers/actors use this exercise to strengthen the diaphragm use this exercise to strengthen the diaphragm (breathing muscle at the base of the lungs).(breathing muscle at the base of the lungs).

Example of Projection Example of Projection (Exercise)(Exercise)

Count to ten and grow a little louder Count to ten and grow a little louder with each number. Try to gradually with each number. Try to gradually increase your volume. increase your volume.

Reverse from 10 – 1, growing softer Reverse from 10 – 1, growing softer with each count. with each count.

Did you find it difficult to gradually Did you find it difficult to gradually increase or decrease your volume. increase or decrease your volume. Practice this to gain more vocal control.Practice this to gain more vocal control.

4. Vocal Expression and 4. Vocal Expression and DictionDiction

One of the primary ways to convey One of the primary ways to convey meaning to the audience, it involves the meaning to the audience, it involves the following:following:--Diction: degree of clarity and --Diction: degree of clarity and distinctness in speakingdistinctness in speaking--Rate: how fast or slowly one speaks--Rate: how fast or slowly one speaks--Articulation: the act of producing a --Articulation: the act of producing a speech sound with vowels and consonantsspeech sound with vowels and consonants--Inflection: changing the pitch or tone of --Inflection: changing the pitch or tone of the voice.the voice.

Example of Expression & Diction Example of Expression & Diction (Exercise)(Exercise)

Say the following phrases, using a different Say the following phrases, using a different emotionemotion for each one. A few emotions are suggested, but for each one. A few emotions are suggested, but you may think of more:you may think of more:

Emotions:Emotions: joy, surprise, fear, hate, sadness, joy, surprise, fear, hate, sadness, suspicionsuspicion

Phrases:Phrases:

1. Oh.1. Oh.

2. What a beautiful day.2. What a beautiful day.

3. I didn’t do it.3. I didn’t do it.

4. You are supposed to be my 4. You are supposed to be my friend. friend.

5. Nonverbal Expression5. Nonverbal Expression

An actor’s use of nonverbal An actor’s use of nonverbal expressions to indicate emotion and expressions to indicate emotion and character.character.

These include facial expressions, These include facial expressions, body alignment, gestures, body alignment, gestures, and basic movement.and basic movement.

            

Examples of Nonverbal Examples of Nonverbal Expression (Exercise)Expression (Exercise)

Practice creating and holding facial Practice creating and holding facial expressions for particular emotionsexpressions for particular emotions—joy, sadness, grief, anger.—joy, sadness, grief, anger.

Observe several people in the Observe several people in the hallway throughout the day. Be hallway throughout the day. Be prepared to describe your prepared to describe your observations. You could “perform” observations. You could “perform” a character based on the person a character based on the person you observed.you observed.

Examples of Nonverbal Examples of Nonverbal Expression (Exercise)Expression (Exercise)

Take a body stance that you imagine the Take a body stance that you imagine the following “stereotypical” characters following “stereotypical” characters would take. would take. 1.1. An old man/woman.An old man/woman.2.2. The quarterback of the football The quarterback of the football team both after a winning game and team both after a winning game and after being defeated.after being defeated.3.3. A flighty, snobby girl.A flighty, snobby girl.4.4. A high-powered executive or the A high-powered executive or the CEO of a major corporation.CEO of a major corporation.

6. Character Blocking & 6. Character Blocking & MovementMovement

The precise movement used by the The precise movement used by the character in the play. It ensures that character in the play. It ensures that each character has a place at all each character has a place at all times and can be seen times and can be seen and heard by the and heard by the audience.audience.

            

Examples of Character Examples of Character Blocking & MovementBlocking & Movement

Areas on the stage:Areas on the stage:Downstage Right (DSR)Downstage Right (DSR)Downstage Center (DSC)Downstage Center (DSC)Downstage Left (DSL)Downstage Left (DSL)Center Stage Right (CSR)Center Stage Right (CSR)Center Stage (CS)Center Stage (CS)Center Stage Left (CSL)Center Stage Left (CSL)Upstage Right (USR)Upstage Right (USR)Upstage Center (USC)Upstage Center (USC)Upstage Left (USL)Upstage Left (USL)

Backstage   

Upstage Right (USR)

   

  

 Upstage Center (USC)

   

Upstage Left

(USL)

  

Center Stage Right (CSR)

  

  

Center Stage (CS)

  

Center Stage Left

(CSL)

  

Downstage Right (DSR)

   

  

Downstage Center (DSC)

  

Downstage Left

(DSL)

Audience

The Curtain Falls—The Show is Over!