Homework and projects
for the theatre courses at Drury High School
1. For Theatre Arts class:
Each student is assigned one aspect of theatre for a visual project.
This project is to be installed in the Drama Team callboard. The project must be constructed to fit in the call board (glass case.) All projects are due by February 1. The project will not receive full credit if it is completed after the due date. The project will be graded on the bases of visual presentation, clarity of content, completeness, and accuracy. It must be interestingly presented. Include pictures, 3D objects and/or graphics. A simple written report pasted on a poster board will not receive a passing grade. An Essay is not necessary although you may include a short essay. This is a visual project that should be interesting to viewers. Cut and paste is not acceptable. The purpose of the assignment is for you to know the material. You will be expected to answer questions about your material in class and on the final exam.

A subject will be assigned to each student unless the student selects a subject before September 20. The student may elect to select another topic with permission of Dr. Radin. The student may not select a subject that they have done in the past.  Projects have to be installed at or before the due date indicated. Late projects will receive a failing grade.

2. For Honors Theatre Arts Class:
Honor students are required to type 5 to 7 pages of one theatre historical period and answer the question below:
How was theatre affected by the religious, financial and political aspects of the historical period you are assigned to and visa versa?


1642 - 1660 in England  -     
Roman theatre  -  Becky Durant                   
Traditional Italian Masks -  Emma Gregory
Commedia dell'arte - Brittany Lutz
Greek theatre.   - Luke       
Medieval theatre 
English Restoration- Brandon Digennaro                                         
Middle ages - Lindsey  
Constantin Stanislavski -  Bobby
Elizabethan - Monica Thomas
Yiddish Theatre - Carlee
Kabuki  -  Emily Eastman
American theatre in the 1800s - Cameron
Greek theatre. - Christa              
The golden days of American Musical Theatre -                    
Noh theatre - Matt Gardzina
History of costumes  - Dominique
Pre-Greek theatre - Emma Arabia
           


NOTE:
1. If you do not like the historical period or nationality I assigned to you, you may
select another theatre subject as long as you ok it with me before September 17.
Projects
The Final Exam
There will be three parts:

1. You will evaluate a monologue using the criteria we studied in class.
2. You will be asked a few questions about your tech job page and the contract. Click here for the tech page and then click on the page for your particular tech job. In other words, if your tech job was make up, study the make up page and the contract. Study the tech job you did this year.
3. You will be asked questions on the subject material of your project listed above.
1.The Thespian Stole is a blue fabric strip that seniors wear in graduation. Which student won it last year? (see the awards page)
2.What grade must a student maintain to remain in the Drama Team? (see grade policy on policy page)
3.How does one earn the Waterman Technical Theatre Award? (see policy page)
4.When is your project due and is a written report pasted to a board sufficient?(see homework page)
5.Who won the Best Thespian award last year? (see award page)
6.When was the Drama Team founded  (See the history page.)
7.What does the Drama Team do when arriving in the airport at the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska? (see all photos on troupe page.)
8.        Who won, "Best Thespian" last year?
9.        What is the subject material of your project?
10.      How does what you do on your tech job affect others on the Team?
Homework # 1 due by Friday, September 9. All homework must be sent to me via e-mail.  If it is late, you will get only half credit. This is homework for regular and honor theatre students.
Homework for all theatre students:

1. Who won the rising star award for highest theatre average in 2011? See the awards page. who won the Waterman Technical Theatre Award? Who won the scholarship?
2. What must I do to receive a passing grade on my tech job? For answer, see the green writing on your tech job page.
3. What do you think you would have to do in order for me to give you an "A" in your techjob. Think about this a lot before answering. It has to be more than what you answered in #2 above.
4. What is written in red on my tech job page?
5. What do you think is going to be the most challenging part of your tech job? How will you overcome that challenge?
6.On Monday, October 10th we will not have school but we will have rehearsal. Click on the (10AM Act l.) What type of special lunch will we enjoy on that day. Be sure to check the schedule frequently and click on the rehearsals to discover important information about that rehearsal.
7. On Monday, September 12 you will have a quiz on your tech job page. Learn all material written in black, green and red on your tech page.
Homework #2 due Friday, September 16. Send by e-mail. Homework #1 must be sent in before Homework #2 is accepted.
How to write a theatre critique - From Westmont High School Drama Department
http://www.angelfire.com/ego/westmontdrama/index.html

A critique is an evaluation of a performance of a play or musical.
The critique should contain five paragraphs.

Paragraph 1 - The Basics
Introduce the name of the play, author, place of performance, date of performance, and director. In a few sentences talk about the basic theme of the play and discuss the general plot.

Paragraphs 2 & 3 - The Acting
React to two of the performers in the play. Be sure to use their names.
Were they believable: true to the play, the production, the theatrical conditions?
The following items should be discussed in your review.
You should respond with more than “yes” or “no” answers.
VOICE: volume, tempo, vocal quality, interpretation, articulation?
BODY: Were the gestures, movement, and business suitable to the characters?
EMOTIONS: Were reactions true? Climaxes achieved in the play by characters?
RELATIONSHIPS: Was there team work? Proper relationships by characters?
PROJECTION: Project orally and visually to the audience?


Paragraph 4 - The Design
The following items should be discussed in your review.
You should respond with more than “yes” or “no” answers.
SET: Did the set establish the correct mood and background for the play?
LIGHTS: Did the lighting convey the proper mood, emphasis, and illumination?
COSTUMES & MAKE UP: Were the costumes and makeup true to the period and characters?
SOUND: How did the sound effects and music contribute to the show's mood?
 

Paragraph 5 - The Reaction
The following items should be discussed in your review.
You should respond with more than “yes” or “no” answers.
Was the audience attentive? Interested? Did the audience respond at the proper times with the proper emotions? And most importantly, what was your opinion of the play as a whole?

DO:
1. Back up all your opinions with valid reasons.
2. Be objective and fair.
3. Evaluate the entire production.
4. Be constructive. Indicate good points along with those you felt needed improvement.
5. Be sincere. Believe what you say.
6. Use MLA Format for your heading and margins.

DON'T:
1. Don't be generic.  Avoid phrases like: “two thumbs up” or “three out of five stars”
2. Don't be overly critical. Approach a performance with an attitude of enjoying it.
3. Don't be arrogant. Be humble, kind, and understanding of the difficulty of performing.


Mascot drawings ©2007 by Howard Cruse; used by permission of the artist
You may critique any live, full-length play that you see during the school year. Honors Theatre students are required to write three.
Last scene of The Diviners
Here are a few words to know:
Acting ensemble
Antagonist
Blocking
Character dimensions
Climax
Comedy
Conflict
Crisis
Denouement
Drama
Dramatic elements
Dramaturge
Farce
Fresnel
Genre
Hubris
Improvisation
Inflection
Intention
Meladrama
Playwight
Plot
Properties (Props)
Proscenium
Protagonist
Resolution
Right Stage, Left Stage
Rising action
Stage Directions
Stage Manager
Stanislavski
Technical Theatre
Tragedy
Tragic Flaw or Fatal Flaw
Upstage, Downstage