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DRAMA 1 DANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL MEADOWS
2012-2013 School Year 1
Welcome to Drama Class! Course goals: 1. To introduce students to the terminology, history, elements,
and literary genre of drama and theatre.
2. To give students opportunities to participate in dramatic
games, roleplay, scenes, and to view productions
3. To introduce students to and give students experience with
technical theatre
4. To give students tools for and practice in analyzing
dramatic performances and scripts
5. To bolster students’ self-confidence and self-awareness
MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THE CLASS
Writing utensils (your choice) and paper Any script currently being used in class.
COURSE GRADE BREAKDOWN
25% 1ST
QUARTER AVERAGE
25% 2ND
QUARTER AVERAGE
25% 3RD
QUARTER AVERAGE
25% 4TH
QUARTER AVERAGE (includes final examination)
GENERAL CLASSROOM POLICIES
1. Be respectful of others. Common courtesy is expected of teacher and students at all times.
Violations of such courtesies will be handled as stated in the Student Handbook. Minor
classroom disturbances will be handled by Mr. Meadows/Mr. Hayes and parents (as needed).
2. Be honest. Any academic work you submit is expected to be your own. Any work which is
found to be dishonestly produced will be given a failing grade at all levels of development
(meaning all drafts if it is a paper, etc.). Parents will be called in for a conference at any time
academic dishonesty is discovered. Honor societies will be notified, if applicable. Additionally,
you will be denied a recommendation from me of any kind. College recommendations already
written will be retracted.
3. Be on time. Makeup work is the responsibility of the student (to obtain, complete, and turn
in). You have as many school days as you were absent to make up the work. Late written work
will be deducted by 20 % for each of the first two days after the class period and not
accepted after that. Due to the chaos it causes to speaker calendars, YOU MAY NOT GIVE
A PERFORMANCE LATE. Occasional exceptions may be made for extreme circumstances,
but this is rare. Very rare. Computer problems including “the e-mail didn’t come” and “my
printer wasn’t working” are NEVER excused. Students are also expected to be in class on time.
Tardies will be handled in the manner described in the student handbook.
DRAMA 1 DANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL MEADOWS
2012-2013 School Year 2
WEEKLY QUOTATION
Weekly, Mr. Meadows posts a quotation of some thought or humor. He depend on students to
provide me with these quotations. To turn in a quotation(s), please write down the quotation
EXACTLY along with the author/speaker (if known) and your name. Example:
“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
--Benjamin Franklin (Stella Student)
STATEMENT ON MATERIALS
During acting and reading units, students will have free selection of materials in Mr. Meadows’
room as well as materials they bring in from home or public libraries. Mr. Meadows and/or the
particular student’s parents/guardians have veto power over any selections to be performed in
class.
IN-CLASS PLAYS
A great deal of this course will be on stage and include student time to work on their own
performances and on technical theater, but students will also learn the basics of theatre history as
well as view study scripts and taped performances or movie versions of several plays, which will
likely include
Doctor Faustus (a scene) (tragedy)
Finding Neverland (drama based on the creation of a classic play)
Fires in the Mirror (drama based on interviews of real people)
Gypsy! (the “perfect” musical?)
Into the Woods (musical theatre with a literary bent)
Little Shop of Horrors (musical comedy)
Noises Off (comic farce)
Oedipus Rex (segments) (classic tragedy)
We will also view Moon Over Broadway, a documentary about the behind-the-scenes workings
of a play being rehearsed and debuting on Broadway, plus several episodes of Broadway: the
American Musical, a PBS miniseries about this unique American theatrical form. If possible, a
class trip to a live play will also be a part of the curriculum – hopefully Dracula!
Let’s have a great year!!!
STUDENT NAME
PARENT SIGNATURE
______________________________________ Date _________________
DRAMA 1 DANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL MEADOWS
2012-2013 School Year 3
YEARLY PLAN:
1st Quarter:
Name Ball Toss
Elements of Drama: Social Action, Relationships, Audience, Collaboration
Observation: Order in the Room
Vision Teasers
Pulse
Killer
Psychiatrist
Mirror
Who is the Mirror?
Movement basics: posture, warm-ups, stage positions, stage directions
Theatre History: the Greeks
View scenes from Oedipus Rex
View Little Shop of Horrors and tie in Greek characteristics / Common Ground
Personnel: roles played in theatrical productions (acting and technical)
The stage: parts of a stage and types of stages
Storytelling basics: tableaux, pantomime
Word Charades
The Where Game
The Place that Matters
Tableaux exercises
What We Say When We Speak Without Words
Theatre History: Kabuki
Voice basics: breathing, projection, vocal mask
Theatre: Art in Action chapters 1, 2, 3
Technical Theatre: basics of sound
2nd
Quarter:
Technical Theatre: Assist with Fall Play set construction
Theatre: Art in Action chapters 5 and 6
Roles of Producer, Director, all Technical Designers
Dramatic Structure/Freytag Pyramid
Study Doctor Faustus and dramatic structure
Given Circumstances, Intentions, Obstacles, Tactics
Reading/Dramatic Structure Outline of a Play on Own
Whose Line is it Anyway? as link to improv
Activities: One-Word Motives
Detailed Motives
Musical Mime
Freeze
Freeze and Justify
Story Enacting: The Wise People of Gotham &
The Old Woman and the Tramp
Theatre History: Renaissance and Neo-Classicism
DRAMA 1 DANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL MEADOWS
2012-2013 School Year 4
3rd
Quarter:
View Noises Off; discussion re: physicality and characterization, farce
Party Quirks
Theatre: Art in Action chapter 4
Monologues
Adding Characters and Shifting Motives
Party Quirks again
Duo Scenes
Theatre History: Romanticism and Realism
View Into the Woods
Into the Woods responses
Technical Theatre: basics of lighting
4th
Quarter:
Theatre History: the American musical
Theatrical reviews: how-to plus Gypsy (and write Gypsy review)
View Moon Over Broadway and Finding Neverland
Playbill writeups
Page to Stage projects
Play Analysis Recommendation Papers
View Fires in the Mirror
Original monologues based on a real person
Technical Theatre: Assist with Spring Production
Theatre: Art in Action chapter 12