The Art of Acting: Integrity, Eloquence, Empathy

Studying acting helps you learn who you are and teaches you to “lead from the middle” in collaborative groups. It also helps you develop eloquence, integrity, empathy, imagination, flexibility, discipline, logic, skills in research and critical analysis, and a well-trained voice and body.  This course will include intense training in voice, body, and emotional technique.  We will study the history and theory of acting styles and apply our learning to preparing short performance pieces. Our methods will include self-reflection, analysis of dramatic structure and of individual characters, rigorous vocal exercises, and scene work from great dramatic literature. Texts will include A Practical Handbook for the Actor by Bruder, Cohn, et al.; Linklater’s Freeing the Natural Voice ; and Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.  

Students enrolled for 8 credits will also pursue, outside of class time, a disciplined physical practice of their choice, such as yoga, Tai Chi Chuan, Aikido, or another martial art.  They will document their practice and reflect on its connection to our other learning weekly writing assignments. In addition, eight-credit students will also read Benedetti's Stanislavski: an Introduction and conduct research on the historical, cultural, and literary context of Uncle Vanya.

Credit will be awarded in Acting and Voice.