THEA 232: BFA Acting 1

Fall 2014
Drew Vidal
(765)285-8751
dvidal2@bsu.edu
Office: AC 303B
Office Hours: MW 3:00-5:00, & Other Times By Appointment

Sec. 001, MWF 11:00-11:50, CA 202

Sec. 002, MWF 12:00-12:50, CA 202
Sec. 003, MWF 1:00-1:50, CA 202

Course Description
This course will examine some of the basic skills necessary for building craft in acting. Through exercises,
improvisation, performance, and play, we will work towards making specific, intelligent, and brave acting choices,
and begin to realize a personal creative process.

Course Objectives

To distinguish between playing the emotion/feeling/idea of a piece versus playing the action/objective
To further our capacity for executing and spotting creative truth
To explore how imagination and use-of-self can aid the craft of acting
To develop and practice a vocabulary for discussing the craft of acting
To continue to free up the expressive capacity of the body, voice, and imagination

Required Texts
A Practical Handbook for the Actor by Bruder, Cohn, Olnek, Pollack, Previto, and Zigler
True and False by David Mamet

Recommended Text
The Invisible Actor by Yoshi Oida

Grading
Effort/Attitude/Preparedness/Focus
Classroom Participation
Online Journals
Performance Work

25%
25%
25%
25%

Journal Component
The journaling component for the class has two parts: personal and online. Students are expected to bring their
personal journals to class every day to keep track of assignments given in class, as well as record any observations,
discoveries or questions about the in-class work. They are tools to help facilitate your growth in the class, and will
not ever be collected. The online component will consist of a weekly email broken down into two categories:
questions and observations. At the conclusion of each week of classes, students will email their entry to me by end
of day on Friday, 12:00am MIDNIGHT. Late entries will be read, but will not be accepted for credit. The
subject heading will consist of the students first and last name, followed by the week number (i.e. Hulk Hogan
Week 1).

Credit/Time Statement
This course is worth three credit hours. Each hour of credit requires fifty minutes of in-class work per week, as well as an
expected two additional hours of out-of-class work per week, including reading, rehearsal, and journaling.

Classroom Etiquette

Participation in this course is not limited to performing. Students are expected to be engaged, focused and present
when observing as well. Each day, your work in class will be scrutinized based on your preparedness, feedback,
energy, and overall classroom attitude. Very few theatre professionals can get my doing the bare minimum.

Should a student be late to class, s/he will be marked absent. If the class has already commenced with an exercise,
the late student will not be permitted to take part if this will cause a disruption in the process, but instead will be
asked to sit out of the exercise and participate through observation only.
A dress code is in place for studio classes. Any student not adhering to the dress code may not be allowed to take
part in the class, and may have his/her participation grade lowered for the day.
Cell phones are to be switched off prior to entering the class. Any cell phone ringing during an exercise or rehearsal
is disruptive, and the owner of the phone may have his/her participation grade lowered for the day.
Certain exercises require close physical proximitycommon courtesy asks that you shower and brush your teeth
prior to class.

Appearance/Attire
ALL acting classes have required attire so that students can move freely and take part in acting exercises and activities. The
attire should adhere to the following standards:

Students must wear black sweat pants or exercise pants that are worn at the waist (not hips) and extend no longer
than to the ankle. These pants should be of soft construction with no zippers, buttons, snaps, Velcro or buckles.
From the waist up students must wear a black t-shirt or tank top (no spaghetti strap shirts or leotards). T-shirts and
tank tops must be long enough so that when hands are raised above the head no skin is showing at the midriff.
Sweatshirts or long sleeved t-shirts are acceptable as long as they are black and without hoods.
As noted, all items are to be black with no printing or graphics on both pants and shirts (besides BSU Theatre
logos), and both should fit and not be too baggy.
Hair is to be kept out of the face at all times. Hairstyles should not obstruct the natural curvature of the spine when
lying down. Hairclips or ponytails may cause problems. Wear hair in a way that allows for floor work without
needing to adjust the hair. If you have shorter hair, youll need to find a way to keep stray hair tied back.
All watches, rings, bracelets, dangling earrings must be taken off.
Be prepared to be barefoot or in shoes suitable for movement. In inclement weather, outdoor shoes cannot be used
in class.

Student Responsibilities

Every day bring to class writing utensils and whatever texts/notes are required for the days assignment or work.
Students should have either a water bottle or a thermos of tea in every class. When necessary, students may have
throat lozenges.
If a student requires specific medications or food in the room during class, it is the students responsibility to let the
instructor know so accommodations can be made.

Attendance and Punctuality

Because this is a studio course, your success is directly dependent upon your presence in the classroom. If you arrive even
ONE minute after, you may be considered absent. The departments policy is that no student may miss more than one full
week (three classes). If you miss more than two classes, you will be asked to withdraw and given a failing grade. If you
must be absent or tardy, please call or email me ahead of time! This will allow me to afford you every benefit of the doubt.
When youre early, youre on time. When youre on time, youre late. When youre late, youre fired. Please take
responsibility for choices, and avoid excusesthey are useless, annoying, and dont really change anyones initial
opinion.

Work Space
In order to foster an appropriate environment for our work, I ask that we will treat our classroom as a focused, working
space. Outdoor shoes (particularly in inclement weather), as well as belongings, should be removed and stowed at the
perimeter of the room. Phones should be turned off prior to entering the classroom. The time before class should be used for
reflection, preparation, rehearsal, stretching, etc. If conversation is necessary, it should focus on our classroom work. The
respect, dedication, and focus that I ask of you DOES NOT mean seriousnessa heightened sense of play is essential
for our work as theatre artists.

Personal Comfort
Studio theatre courses often require the instructor, or student peers, to touch or be in close physical proximity to students in
order to adjust or align the body and voice. If at any time you are uncomfortable with this necessary element of the class,

please make it known, and feel free to remove yourself from an exercise. However, frequent sitting out can be a sign that you
may not be ready to advance in your training. Please consider both the reasons, and consequences, of such behavior if
applicable.

Final Grade
As stated in the catalog: The lowest acceptable grade in a course for credit toward a major or minor in Theatre or Dance is
C. Any student receiving a C- or lower must retake the course in order to receive credit towards a major or minor in the
department. If a course is repeated, the higher grade will be recorded by the university.

Special Accommodations
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or special arrangements in case the building must
be evacuated, or have emergency medical information to share with me, please make an appointment with me to discuss these
matters as soon as possible.

My office location and hours are as follows: AC 303B, MW 3:00-5:00.

Dates to Remember
Week 3
Week 10
Week 15
Week 17

M 9/1
M 10/20
W 11/26
F 11/28
M 12/8
T 12/9 F 12/12

LABOR DAY NO CLASS

FALL BREAK NO CLASS
THANKSGIVING BREAK NO CLASS
THANKSGIVING BREAK NO CLASS
FINAL DAY OF CLASS
FINALS WEEK

BFA ACTING 1, FALL 2014

Contract of Agreement

I have read this syllabus for myself in order to review what was explained in class, and fully understand
the expectations of the studio as it is detailed in this document.
I understand that it is my responsibility to refer to this document throughout the semester in order to
properly fulfill the requirements of the course.

Signature:

Print Name:

Date: