Acting 101 introduces the foundational practices used in preparing and performing a monologue with basic scene study and character development. Great for beginner actors or for individuals interested in developing greater confidence, spontaneity and imagination. Students will train in professional voice and body exercises including Linklater voice work, Grotowski physical theatre, View Points ensemble practices, and The Expressive Actor techniques. These actor methods along with improvisation exercises are used to explore how dramatic text is expressed through action. Basic stage and theatre vocabulary will be studied to enhance an understanding of the industry vernacular and create strong communication skills. A final showing of the students work will take place on the last class.
Week 1: Intro to warm ups, improv, expressive exercises; Local resources & class handouts; How to find a monologue?
Week 2: Warm ups; Character objectives & goals; Writers intentions.
Week 3: Warm ups; Character development and building with physical theatre; Intro to industry/theatre vocab: How to slate – What to wear – What to know for auditions.
Week 4: Warm ups; Character development with physical theatre cont.; Character scene development: focus, objects, spaces;
Week 5: Warm ups; Personal direction/feedback; Final showing for invited audience.
Performance Training Articles:
“The Actor’s Approach” by Robert Cohen,
“Spontaneity” by Keith Johnstone,
“Intro to Expressive Action” by Michael Lugering
Actor Resource lists:
* Actor & Performance Training Bibliography
* Local Las Vegas resources, coaches, theatre companies, casting agents, national school courses
* Theatre, stage and film vocabulary sheets
Shelley Lynn is an adjunct theatre instructor at UNLV and the College of Southern Nevada teaching beginner acting, physical and devised theatre. Shelley spent sixteen years between the UK, Boston and Colorado making original theatre and directing while earning her BA in Performing Arts from DeMontfort University, Leicester, and a Masters in Performance Studies at Queen Mary University of London. In this time she worked with numerous professionals as a dramaturg, coach and director including Obie award winning Robbie McCauley, writer, director Tim Etchells of Forced Entertainment, and Paula Murray Cole and Richard Schechner in their development of physical theatre practice, rasaboxes. In 1998 she co-founded Performance Works theatre dance company based in Colorado, with choreographer Katherine Hooper – and launched the East Coast version, BoSoma, with Hooper in 2004. She is a certified Expressive Actor teacher in the Lugering method and a Yoga Alliance 200 hour Ashtanga yoga instructor. Today, along side running The Vision Space, Shelley directs emerging artists from the local community as well as seasoned performers from Cirque and other national touring companies.
