Acting Commons^™

The Actor And The Iceberg, Christopher Creane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Actors have ingrained vocal, physical, and mental habits they unknowingly use on stage in the form of physical movements, vocalization, and character choices which can inadvertently communicate information to the audience. Rarely, however, are actors asked to play themselves and if their own habits are unconsciously being merged with their intentional character choices, then the audience's perception of the actor's portrayal may be shaped by unintentional behavior. "The Actor and the Iceberg" will be a synthesis of awareness building and control techniques for the mind and body, specifically: meditation, mindfulness, the Feldenkrais Method, and the Alexander Technique. The goal of …

Braving The Discomfort: An Examination Of Hate Speech And Racially-Motivated Violence Onstage, And How We Should Approach It, Sarah Hubert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This thesis is an exploration of best practices in regards to creating a safe space within the theatre for artists to feel comfortable creating without risk to their emotional or physical safety. These safe spaces are particularly needed around shows which call for onstage racial violence or racist language. Methodology for these best practices includes theatrical intimacy, safe space creation as utilized by various advocacy groups, Theatre of the Oppressed, and drama therapy. In addition to these best practices that apply to the entire production, ideas for individual practice are explored. As a case study, Theatre UCF's production of Sweat …

Sympathy For The Devil: A Compassionate Approach To Morally Reprehensible Characters In Drama, Amy Livingston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Empathy is often heralded as a vital part of the theatrical experience. Generally understood as the experience of feeling what another person is feeling, it is believed to help actors create more honest performances and to help audiences better understand viewpoints different from their own. These empathic experiences are complicated, however, when applied to stories about characters who commit unforgivably evil acts and may lead people to feel manipulated into justifying or sharing the immoral beliefs of these characters. This thesis argues that for theatre practitioners telling stories about morally reprehensible characters, compassion, involving feelings of care and concern for …

The Death Of Beowulf: Exploring The Conception, Process, And Lessons Of An Original Solo Performance Based On A Classic, Jeffrey Sneed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The Death of Beowulf: Exploring the Conception, Process, and Lessons of an Original Solo Performance Based on a Classic is the exploration of a performer's journey understanding how their own identity and aesthetic has been defined by other works of art and how it affects their creative expression. The author examines the nature of classics as culturally and personally formative texts, and how the artist's experiences and interpretation can potentially deliver fresh understandings of a familiar text. Then, by applying this to his own process of devising a script based on the epic poem Beowulf, he grapples with the challenges …

Emotional Availability: A Practice-As-Research Exploration On Acting In Film And Theatre, Janice Munk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Actors are frequently required to be emotionally available on the spot, in situations ranging from an early morning acting class, to filming a scene well past midnight after a full day on set. In theatre, there is the expectation to deliver the right emotion every performance, and in film, when the camera and crew are ready, the actor is expected to produce the emotion at that moment. This demand to give emotionally compelling performances can cause an actor to stress under the pressure to deliver. Acting for stage and film have similarities and differences, and an actor needs to learn …

Past, Present, And How To Proceed: Creating My Actor Tool Kit, Joshua Kimball

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

As theatre graduates walk across the stage and receive their diplomas, the message they hold close to their hearts is "Go forth and act." The next day, week, or month the question becomes very clear, "HOW?" This thesis focuses on a practical problem facing theatre graduates whose goals are pursuing the field of acting professionally. Theatre students are given the basic tools for honing their skills but are unequipped to create a viable, sustainable career in the field. The objectives in this paper are to outline problems actors encounter when attempting to build a career and offer practical advice for …

The Creation Of The Role Of Edward Ferrars In Sense And Sensibility, Ty Hudson

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 Ty Hudson’s artistic process in creating the role of Edward Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility as a part of Minnesota State University, Mankato’s mainstage theatre season in the winter of 2021. The thesis chronicles the actor’s artistic process from pre-production through performance in five chapters: a preproduction analysis, an historical and critical perspective, a rehearsal and performance journal, a post-production analysis and a process development analysis. Appendices and works cited are included.

Creating The Role Of Lady Macduff In Macbeth, Ashley D'Lyn Gunn

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. It is a detailed account of author Ashley Gunn’s artistic process in creating the role of Lady Macduff in Minnesota State, Mankato’s production of Macbeth in the spring of 2019. The thesis chronicles the actor’s artistic process from pre-production through performance in five chapters; an early production analysis, a historical and critical perspective, a rehearsal and performance journal, a post-production analysis and a process development analysis. Appendices and works cited are included.

Lived Experience: The Training Of Therapists, Actors & Human Beings, Richard Williams

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

There is much in common between theater and therapy. Both happen live. Both are explorations of human experience. Both require participants to be emotionally and mentally present. Both are hard to do well (and easy to do poorly). Training to be a clinical psychologist requires hours of coursework, administrative work, supervision, and on the job clinical experience. Training to be a professional theater maker or actor requires hours of rehearsal. The elements of acting are deconstructed during training so that rehearsal consists of voice-work, physical theater, scene study, etcetera. Training to be an actor entails much more practice of the …

“Send Me No Husband” How Succession Anxiety In Elizabethan England Influenced The Marital Politics In Shakespeare's Comedies, Olivia Silva

Scripps Senior Theses

While revered and idolized, Queen Elizabeth I’s unmarried status throughout her reign increased anxieties surrounding succession amongst the 16th century British public. Amidst a continental debate surrounding the Querelle des Femmes, or “the woman question", that attempted to label female roles within societal and political spheres, Elizabeth was infamously defined by her unconventionality as both a monarch and a woman. These succession and patriarchal anxieties not only influenced but were actively played out in Shakespeare’s canon, particularly in his comedies. Shakespeare used the Unconventional Woman trope within his comedies in creating certain female characters, all of their endings concluding in …

But They Purloined My Coat: Walking Through The Actor’S Process Of Entering Into The Role Of Tom Collins In Jonathan Larson’S Rent, Cameron Amir Khoshgam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

To explore an actor’s process is to explore the foundation of all acting methods. The purpose of this document is to do just that. From character creation to final performance of the role of Tom Collins in West Virginia University’s spring 2021 production of Jonathan Larson’s Rent, this document will share a detailed look at research into the historical framework of the musical, the playwright, and character inspiration in the pursuit of crafting a well-rounded understanding of the show. Additionally, it will provide an account of textual analysis, an in-depth look at the rehearsal process, and various acting techniques …

The Well-Made Man: An Exploration Of George Tesman In Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, Ryan Ernst

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hedda Gabler is one of the best-known works of Realism theatre, and the character, Hedda, is a showcase of dynamic and challenging work; but her husband, George Tesman, rarely, if ever, is showcased. Here I explain why George’s character deserves more attention and actually makes for a better protagonist than Hedda. Textual analysis shows the absence of the play’s parental figures and a rubber band metaphor illustrates how all the characters are con-nected to each other. The misconceptions and subtext concerning George: a social filtering mechanism, perception of character, George’s selflessness, how he is made fun of, the heart compared …

Performer Training Evolutions: Nsp The Firstborn Son Of Smat, Chelsea Crothers

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study examined the Nobbs Suzuki Praxis (NSP), a performer training that evolved as an Australian variant of the Japanese Suzuki Method of Actor Training (SMAT). There has been little research on NSP up until now and this study seeks to establish its importance as a training approach that has the potential to be transformative for the performers who practice it. The study utilised a multi-modal approach that included traditional and practice as research methodologies. The origins of NSP in SMAT were traced to identify similarities and differences, and reveal NSP’s inspirations and the reasons for its subsequent divergent evolution. …

The Launch 2020: A Senior Cabaret, Otterbein Theatre And Dance Department

2020-2021 Season

No abstract provided.

Theater, Trauma, And The Rehearsal To Recovery, Missy V. Maramara

Magisterial Lectures

Using theoretical concepts, Missy talks about the ways that theater provides a platform for healing.

Speaker: Missy Maramara holds a Master of Fine Arts in Drama (Performance) from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville through the International Fulbright Scholarship Program. She also trained at the L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris and at Tectonic Theater Project in New York City. A Filipino actress with television and film credits, Missy is primarily a theater actress with local and international performances. She has worked with Tanghalang Pilipino, New Voice Company, Repertory Philippines, PETA and Dulaang UP. She performed her solo …

Renouncing Chance: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Brian Friel’S Faith Healer, Forest Clark, Forest C. Clark Mr.

Honors College Theses

Faith Healer by Brian Friel is a play about trauma, addiction, co-dependency, and the inconsistencies of multiples perspectives upon the same narrative. This in-depth academic analysis attempts to examine the themes at play, as well as break-down the script and the characters who are a part of it.

In The Next Room, Or The Vibrator Play

Theatre Programs

No abstract provided.

Dance 2020: The Wild Within, Otterbein Theatre And Dance Department

2020-2021 Season

The Dance Concert, inspired by Maurice Sendak’s children’s classic, “Where the Wild Things Are,” will include a collection of solos, duets and trios which will illuminate the immense power of imagination and prove without a doubt that there’s a wild thing within us all.

Cast(E) Poster, Providence College

Playbill and Promotions

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film

A Virtual Event

Premiering November 12, 2020 at 7:30pm

Cast(e)

A devised performance piece inspired by Black voices and responding to racial injustice

Directed by Erin Joy Schmidt

Please visit the link below for more information:

theatre.providence.edu/current-season

Cast(E) Playbill, Providence College

Playbill and Promotions

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film

A Virtual Event

Premiering November 12, 2020 at 7:30pm

Cast(e)

A devised performance piece inspired by Black voices and responding to racial injustice

CREATIVE & PRODUCTION

Erin Joy Schmidt............Director

Kelly Slader...................Stage Manager

David Costa-Cabral.........Costume Designer

Jimmy Calitri.................Managing Director of Theatre

Megan Chang.................Vocal Coach

Matt Corey.....................Producer/Musician

Trevor Elliott..................Technical Director, Visual Editor

Gabe Luxton...................Asst. Technical Director, Sound Editor

Talia Triangolo................Production Office Coordinator

ENSEMBLE

Sydney Cahill, Santiago Najarro Cano, Starling (Estarlyn Hiraldo), Abbie Joy, Halle Pratt, Kari Elisa Robles, Lucille Vasquez, Nana Akua Asante*, Acklynn Byamugisha*, Thalea Gauthier*, Marvin Tavares*

*PC Alumni

Please visit the …