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Workshop Descriptions:
ACTING GAMES
Each one of us has a “child within us” who loves to play games. The art of acting often involves connecting with the child
within us in order to perform roles that are quite unlike our personal nature. Stage games have purposes such as helping the
actor with coordination and interaction, discovery and spontaneity, language, listening, logic and reasoning, and more. Games
will be used to demonstrate specific acting principles. This workshop may be taken more than once. Notebook and pencil are
required. Attendance is expected. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
ANIMAL ANIMATION
Students will learn how to walk and talk like the animals! Imagine seeing life through the eyes and ears of an animal! You
can be Tweety Bird, Snoopy, Woodstock, Charlotte, Wilbur, Chicken Little, a Cowardly Lion, or Peter Rabbit. Children’s theatre
literature is full of great animal roles. Maybe you will be the next Mr. Toad, Golden Goose, or Garfield! May be taken more
than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Regular attendance is expected. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
BEGINNING PLAYWRITING
Ever wanted to write a play, but didn’t know how to get started? This is where it begins. Learn how to work with ideas; how
to create a story line from an idea; how to develop characters in your story line; and how to write a story from a story line.
The next step is how to convert your story into a play! You need to have an interest in writing and a willingness to learn
new things. May be taken more than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Regular attendance is expected. There will be assignments.
6 sessions.
INTERMEDIATE PLAYWRITING
Want to make your play special? Make it unique? This workshop will focus on two important keys to successful playwriting:
(1) creating clear characters, and (2) creating strong action. Great characters are essential if you want to create believable
action. Crafting character and action is a process and takes patience. This workshop may be taken more than once. Completion
of Beginning Playwriting is recommended. Notebook and pencil are required. Regular attendance is expected. There will be
assignments.
ADVANCED PLAYWRITING
Want to put your fingerprint on your play? Make it your play? This workshop will focus on two writing principles that will
tie all elements of your play together: (1) learning to write good dialogue for your characters to speak, and (2) connecting
dialogue and plot. Good dialogue conveys conflict, attitudes, character intention and is easily spoken. This workshop may
be taken more than once. Completion of Beginning Playwriting and/or Intermediate Playwriting is recommended. Notebook and
pencil are required. Regular attendance is expected. There will be assignments.
CHARACTER OF CHARACTER
This workshop will explore the five “W’s” of character development: Who, What, Why, Where, and When. You will also learn that
the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch) are a part of the character process. The “How” of acting a character
involves performing behavior which brings the five “W’s” and “senses” together. Stage exercises and games will be used to
focus on these principles. Prerequisite: successful completion of SO, YOU’RE A CHARACTER is recommended. Should be taken more
than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Attendance is expected. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
CHARACTER AND STAGE BUSINESS
Action on the stage falls into two basic types of business: (1) character business - actions an actor does to help identify
the unique qualities of his/her character - set the character aside from other characters in the play; (2) stage business
- actions characters do on stage to further the action and plot of the play. This workshop will focus on “perfection of task”
when it comes to these two types of business. Such things as how to walk with a limp, how to carry yourself in a distinct
manner, nervous mannerisms of characters, and group actions such as countermoves, group compositions, and zany action! Maybe
be taken more than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Regular attendance is expected. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
THE FIVE SENSES AND DIALOGUE
This workshop will focus on: (1) learning to use and rely on your senses; (2) learning to create “idea” from senses; (3) how
to turn “idea” into characters; (4) how to create two-character happenings and situations; and (5) learning how to create
dialogue (what people say to each other). May be taken more than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Attendance is expected.
There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
HOW TO AUDITION — FOR CHILDREN’S THEATRE
You will learn to be creative and enjoy the art of trying out for a part. Learn how to prepare for the audition, how to use
the script; how to be more relaxed, how to play a rock or a tree, even be an animal; how to be understood, and how to use
your excitement and energy to have fun in an audition. Should be taken more than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Attendance
is expected. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
I CAN’T HEAR YOU!
“What did they say?” “I can’t understand them? Can you?” “Why don’t they speak louder?” These questions are common audience
reactions in theatre when small voices on big stages are trying to be heard by large audiences. One of the first rules of
acting is: be heard and understood. This workshop will focus on the proper techniques for clarity and for speaking loud enough
to be understood. Should be taken more than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Attendance is expected. There will be
assignments. 6 sessions.
JUST PLAYING AROUND
A chance for FUN! A time to be inventive, creative and dramatic! You will learn what creative drama is, what creative play
is, what a creative idea is! Workshop will focus on the use of creativity and imagination...creative body movement, creative
mime, feeling and characterization, and constructing simple story lines. Bring your energy and willingness to do something
new! May be taken more than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Regular attendance is expected. There will be assignments.
6 sessions.
MAKING THE UNSEEN, SEEABLE
This workshop will focus on the basic elements of mime. You will learn: (1) how to copy shapes, sizes, and weights of objects;
(2) how to move like animals, water, objects swaying in the wind; (3) how to make the audience see things which aren’t really
there; and (4) how to use your face, hands, and body to project emotions like being happy, sad, or afraid. May be taken more
than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Regular attendance is expected. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS
This workshop will focus on specific problems related to the use of face, head, hands, and body during the act of imitating
something. You will learn: (1) how to see what happens around you; (2) how to imitate what you see and hear; (3) how to perfect
what you imitate; and (4) how to create happenings based on your observations and imitations. May be taken more than once.
Notebook and pencil are required. Regular attendance is expected. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
REHEARSAL TECHNIQUES
I got the part! Now what do I do? Can’t remember when to come in? Or, where you are supposed to be? Can’t remember your lines?
Or, what you are supposed to do on your line? Don’t know how to write your blocking in your script? This workshop will focus
on the crafts of learning blocking, lines, and business. The workshop will focus on the use of proven stage techniques that
will help the actor make connections between movement, dialogue, and action. Mastering these mechanics gives the actor more
time to spend on developing the character. Actors can increase their rehearsal quality. Should be taken more than once. Notebook
and pencil are required. Regular attendance is required. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
SHARING THE STAGE
To be the best you can be on stage takes harmony and work. In this workshop you will learn how to build harmony on the stage.
The topics will include: how to follow the lead; how to recover from mistakes; how to focus on the scene; how to listen to
each other; how to sustain character and work together; and how to gain confidence in yourself and others. Should be taken
more than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Regular attendance is expected. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
SO, YOU’RE A CHARACTER!
Have you ever wanted to be a snooty maid? Or a King or Queen? A wicked witch? A pirate? A woodsman? A forgetful baker? A Prince
or Princess? Perhaps a storyteller? How about a mushroom with an attitude? A sleepy tree? This workshop will teach you the
difference in types of characters, and, help you learn the techniques of how to perform character in plays...how to talk,
move, and behave different from yourself. May be taken more than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Attendance is expected.
There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
STAGE DECORUM
The difference between good acting and just acting is, in a performance, called decorum. Decorum refers to the ability of
the performer: (1) doing what is appropriate, (2) being in harmony, (3) creating unity, and (4) staying focused on the task
in terms of the demands of the character (part), subject (story), locale (setting), or time (period). This workshop will focus
on learning these acting skills through the use of games and exercises. May be taken more than once. Notebook and pencil are
required. Assignments will be given. Attendance is expected. 6 sessions.
STAGING AND PLAYING ACTION
Action scenes, especially in children’s theatre literature, are commonplace. Prancing prat-falls, ferocious fights, swash-buckling
sword-play, and zany, comic chases are audience delights but very difficult to act and stage convincingly. This workshop will
focus on such stage action with an emphasis on control and safety. May be taken more than once. Notebook and pencil are required.
Attendance is expected. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
TAKING THE STAGE
“Take the stage!” is a common phrase used by directors. What does it mean? You will discover a variety of meanings. Topics
will include: (1) the difference between thinking as “self” or thinking as “actor”; (2) the difference between personal discipline
and stage discipline; (3) the difference between leading and following in a scene; and (4) the difference between playing
with the audience and playing for the audience. Stage exercises and stage games will be used to accent such differences. Should
be taken more than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Attendance is expected. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
THEATRE: IDEAS INTO ACTIONS!
You will work with the creative process involved in taking an idea and expressing that idea into visible actions. The translations
of ideas (word centered) into actions (behavior centered) is a very challenging aspect of acting on the stage. Focus will
be on creative play and problem-solving. Each of you will have opportunities to test your skills as decision-makers in front
of audiences. You will be expected to come ready to have fun and be willing to try different things. Should be taken more
than once. Notebook and pencil are required. Attendance is expected. There will be assignments. 6 sessions.
Additional Information:
For Additional Information or to Register
Contact the Office for Educational Outreach at BGSU Firelands
419 433-5560 or 800 322-4787, Extension 20617.
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