Acting Commons^™

An Ambiguous Hermeneutic: Doubleness In Ingmar Bergman’S Quest For Self, Ingy Aziz

Theses and Dissertations

One of the functions of art in all its forms is to provide the means for self-exploration and, in this way, to enable us to relate cultural representation to the question of meaning. The beauty of cinematic art is that it gives voice to our deepest and most profound concerns and enables us to bridge the gap between personal psychology and public understanding. As interpreters, we do not always unearth the answers that we seek, but we certainly gain more insight through delving into the minds of major filmmakers in the canon of modern cinema. This thesis is on the …

T. Hanks For Nostalgia: The Power Of Tom Hanks And Film Branding, Jacob Higgs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In March 2020, Tom Hanks announced he had contracted COVID-19 while shooting the Elvis Presley Biopic in Australia. On Instagram, he encouraged fans to take the disease seriously and be aware of how severe of a disease it was. Character brands and nostalgia have been found to foster trust in products and encourage relationships with those brands. Using the lens of nostalgia and uses and gratification to examine Tom Hanks as a character brand, the researcher analyzed five blockbuster films with Tom Hanks as the lead character. The study used narrative thematic analysis to observe Hanks and the depictions of …

Voices In My Head: An Improvisers Approach To Becky Mode’S Fully Committed, Drew Stroud

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis will focus on improvisational theatre and its importance in my overall process in the creation of Becky Mode’s Fully Committed. I will explain my previous knowledge and theories that I brought to the University of New Orleans and run in tandem with the techniques and discoveries I learned during the process of my Master of Fine Arts, both in the classroom and on the stage. Fully Committed was performed in the Robert E. Nims Studio Theatre September 23^rd, 24^th, 25^th, 28^th, 29^th, 30^th, and October …

New Paradigms In Band Performance: An Analysis Of Three Prototypes, Scott Walker-Parker

Student Research, Creative Activity, and Performance - School of Music

This document seeks to propose new paradigms in band performance through inter-, multi-, and transdisciplinarity. Initial inspirations were drawn from performance innovations shaped by the new music theater which became popular in the 20^th century. Key concepts which were used throughout the creative, planning, logistic, rehearsal, and performance processes are analyzed in three recitals through prototypes of new paradigms in band performance. These concepts include accessibility and community, nonverbal/multimodal performance and instruction versus time, and nonverbal/multimodal communication.

The document has been organized in a manner which highlights successes and breakdowns of each process so future refinement can be made. …

Whatever It Takes: A Literature Review Exploring The Psychological Cost Of Actor Training And How Drama Therapy Can Help, Kelsey Burke

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This review examines the literature as it relates to the psychological and emotional impact of professional training programs for student-actors. Special attention is paid to student-actors’ developmental stage, mental health and trauma history, possible exposure to sexual harassment in rehearsal or classroom settings, specific acting techniques taught, and power dynamics between student-actors and acting teachers. Also examined is data on the potential effects that the application of trauma-informed drama therapy approaches could have on this population. This is followed by a proposed outline for a supervision-style class for student-actors led by a drama therapist intended to introduce drama therapeutic principles …

A Director's Take On The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Billie Williams

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper examines what it is like to be an assistant director. The play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was adapted from a book by Mark Hadden that is structured as if the main character was the writer. The stage production reworks that concept and turns it into a “play within a play”. The story is about a boy named Christopher, his broken family and his struggle with autism. When the director, Cara Harker first approached me about being an assistant director, I struggled with anxiety and not feeling like I had a real place in …

Freaky Friday

Theatre Programs

No abstract provided.

The Yellow Boat

Theatre Programs

No abstract provided.

Much Ado About Nothing, Stacey R. Stratton, Jonathan R. Sabo, Rebekah Priebe, Tim Phipps

Theatre Productions

Using themes of suspicion and loyalty, deception and honor, jealousy and true love, William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing weaves together the humorous story of how two couples find love — whether they want it or not. Condensed and adapted for an intimate staging, this comedy promises to leave audience’s wanting more of what the Bard has to offer.

Divination, Brannon Evans

Honors Theses, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

This document details my time developing a cross-discipline devised theatre experience. The piece explores the various ways we interact with technology. The start of the process was fueled by one simple question: “What can multi faceted collaboration look like (between peers– not just across disciplines, but through an equally shared devising process)?” Through this documentation, I will be able to reflect upon and learn from my experience as a facilitator, actor, and theatre maker.

This thesis will be broken into six different parts to outline the six stages I underwent while creating the piece: developing the team, source material exploration, …

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

Theatre Programs

No abstract provided.

Pride And Prejudice Playbill, Providence College

Playbill and Promotion

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film

Angel Blackfriars Theatre

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, adapted by Janet Munsil

February 9-12, 2023

Director, Erin J. Schmidt

Scenic and Prop Design, Lindsay Fuori

Lighting Design, Michael Clark Wonson

Sound Design/Musical Direction & Choreography, Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly

Costume, Make-Up, and Wig Design, Rachel Padula-Shufelt

Vocal Coach, Megan Chang

Featuring the Music of The Atwater-Donnelly Duo

Cast: Jane Bennet - Maisie Cocker, Lizzie Bennet - Madelyn Rich, Mary Bennet - Sara D'Andrea, Kitty Bennet - Caitlyn Mitchell, Lydia Bennet - Christina Schwab, Mr. …

Pride And Prejudice Poster, Providence College

Playbill and Promotion

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film

Angel Blackfriars Theatre

Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, adapted by Janet Munsil

February 9-12, 2023

Our Town, Diane C. Merchant, Jonathan R. Sabo, Rebekah Priebe, Tim Phipps

Theatre Productions

Our Town by Thornton Wilder is considered a classic of American theatre as it portrays life in small town Grover's Corners, New Hampshire at the turn of the last century. In scenes of daily life that capture the poetic beauty of the everyday, the play celebrates family, faith, and the daily miracles that happen all around us, if we are just attuned to see them.

Creating The Role Of Richard Iii For Richard Iii, Travis Grey Robertson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This document is a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting. It is a detailed account of author Grey Robertson’s artistic process in creating the role of Richard III in Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Fall 2022 production of Richard III. This thesis follows the actor’s process through pre-production analysis, an historical and critical perspective, journals detailing the rehearsal and performance process, a post-production analysis, and process development. Appendices and works cited follow the process development.

Clowns, Fools, And Killers: An Exploration Of Horror, Comedy, And Madness Through The Roles Of Murderer 2 And Sir Richard Ratcliffe In William Shakespeare's Richard Iii, R J. Magee

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This document is a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Arts with a Concentration in Musical Theatre. It is a detailed account of author RJ Magee’s artistic and scholarly process in creating the roles of Murderer 2 and Sir Richard Ratcliffe in William Shakespeare’s Richard III. The production was performed as part of Minnesota State University, Mankato’s mainstage season in October of 2022. In five chapters, this thesis chronicles the actor’s process: a preproduction analysis, a historical and critical perspective, a rehearsal and performance journal, a post-production analysis, and a process development …

Keeping The Ball Alive: The Marriage Between Sports And Acting, Giuseppe Pipicella

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

This thesis examines the link between sports and theatre from the actor's perspective and concludes that these two practices should be used together to achieve optimal performance. Using context provided by great physical theatre practitioners such as Jacques LeCoq, Vsevolod Meyerhold, and Rudolf Von Laban, the candidate used his past experience as a gymnast and a soccer player, and the teachings of Timothy Gallwey's The Inner Game of Tennis, to craft a rehearsal and performance regimen for Theatre UCF's production of Paula Vogel's Indecent. This regimen included an experiment where he alternated days in which he swam to days in …

Flow Theory In The Actor's Process: Can The Pursuit Of Optimal Experience Alleviate Anxiety?, Kimberly (Kimber) King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

Using techniques from acting scholars and practitioners, this practice as research study seeks to lesson anxiety in actors by measuring the actor's preparation, rehearsal and performance process against each of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's conditions of flow. Csikszentmihalyi's flow theory describes flow as an "optimal experience" in which a person is so invested in their goals, there is "no threat for the self to defend against" (M. Csikszentmihalyi 76). His research identified conditions that when present, can induce a state of flow. However, actors can be plagued by negative thoughts and self-consciousness. While a certain amount of anxiety is expected and normal, …

The Process Is A Journey, Victoria Micaletti

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

Actors are tasked with the opportunity to perform roles from multiple assorted styles of theatre performance throughout their career. How can performers best create an effective acting process that allows them to develop a pathway that is unique and dynamic across all styles to best embody the characters that they are cast as? I am seeking to refine and develop an approach that will be comprised of a series of steps which include exercises from the acting techniques of Jerzy Grotowski, Michael Chekhov, and Konstantin Stanislavski to create a character that is unique and dynamic. Through the investigation of the …

Play As A Means Of Connection, Charles Street

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-

This thesis research and practical application focuses on rediscovering the playfulness of the actor's process and evaluating how that translates into an actor's performance. An actor's confidence can be found in their willingness to play with vocal placement, physical tensions, and emotional and mental patterns and depth. As an actor, my definition of play theory is the act of choosing to be spontaneous, creative, and explorative in the process of storytelling to ultimately lead to stronger choices that develop rich connections. Through the lens of play theory, I demonstrate how play affects our mind, emotions, body, and voice. This thesis …