I hope your Memorial Day weekend was one of family, self-care, and remembrance. As we move towards the close of the school year, we will be spending our class time viewing and discussing contemporary works of theatre and their impact on audiences. This content meets the following standard, which has been identified as our remaining “essential learning requirements” for the semester:

• Re9.1.3c: Compare and debate the connection between a drama/theatre work and contemporary issues that may impact audiences. 

TUESDAY:
Watch the following 5-minute performance entitled Celui qui tombe (He Who Falls) by Yoann Bourgeois. Do not research the piece or the director/choreographer. Simply view it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0zqQxz4DHs&fbclid=IwAR1ctNpMekK2Zk_Pe8DdQmGSt3uQP8oXD_cAn43OUNGdr59hKmZBLjojxOw

• In your journal (#3), what do you believe the message in this short performance to be? How do you perceive Yoann Bourgeois’s intention? To what extent do you feel this piece impacts an audience? (Full page journal)

WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY:
Watch the following 47 minute theatrical puppetry piece entitled The Hit by Strangeface, a devising theatre company. Do not read the synopsis at the bottom of the frame or any spoilers – just watch. I want you to go in blank.
https://vimeo.com/408917925?fbclid=IwAR37UB1pgXr_vDMe057oI2LsXquw8cZeDWIbFXBjTHAZxB6hoP7-zaxpqDU
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DO NOT READ THE JOURNAL PROMPT (below) UNTIL AFTER YOU WATCH THE PERFORMANCE.
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• In your journal (#4), “The Hit is inspired by the idea of cognitive dissonance. Leon Festinger’s theory has much to say about modern life: why we do jobs we hate, why we defend the indefensible and how we stay immersed in a world of coercive consumerism. If the 20th century was about ideology, the 21st is about identity. The question is…are we all puppets?” Address this question and the thematic content performed as well as the context provided in this prompt. (Full page journal)

Great work on the submitted audition self-tapes! I loved seeing what monologues you selected and watching your performance skills develop in a digital format. Only three weeks left of course content! As you move towards the end of the year, please make sure you are caught up on your journals. 

I want to introduce you to more non-traditional theatre in the last few weeks we have of the year. This week we will be exploring the “audience experience”, through an experience I doubt any of you have had. 

Complete the following days in order. I am being vague-on-purpose with this specific theatrical experience and want you to “discover” it on your own. I have had friends who have gone to this show, and I don’t want to cloud your discovery with those second-hand opinions/reviews. 

MONDAY:
Explore the following website for 10-15 minutes: https://mckittrickhotel.com/sleep-no-more/ You should also go to the “About” section at the bottom of the page and read through it. Do not click on any video links on the website should you stumble upon them in order to avoid spoilers.

• In your journal, what are your first impressions and questions? Discuss the parts of your exploration that stood out to you and/or peeked your interest. This is a half-page journal.

TUESDAY:
View this trailer for Sleep No More. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k12NZLh_Xvg

• In your journal (and continuing where you left off yesterday), how did the trailer for the theatrical experience change your perceptions? What emotions or curiosities are you left with? Questions?

WEDNESDAY:
View this British news report/advertisement on Sleep No More. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RziojmOarHY

• Contact a fellow classmate via FaceTime or Zoom. As a partnership or small group, discuss your thoughts and questions about the production. 

With any remaining time in your 25 minutes for the day, start Thursday’s work…

THURSDAY:
Take electronic notes on the following informational text:
https://www.bl.uk/20th-century-literature/articles/a-punchdrunk-approach-to-making-theatre

• Pay specific attention to the “mask shows” stylistic sections when they divide between mask and active promenade, so that you are focusing on Sleep No More. 
• Include any answers to questions you posed in your journal in these notes!
• Submit your notes to www.turnitin.com by midnight on Friday evening. 

FRIDAY:
Meet on Zoom at 1:00pm for a class meeting to discuss Sleep No More and Punchdrunk Theatre’s approaches to creating theatre.
- Meeting information has been emailed to you. 

Make sure you submit your electronic notes to turnitin.com by midnight on Friday.

Over the course of the next two weeks, you will spend approximately four hours developing characters, rehearsing your selected pieces, and recording your performances. This project meets the following standards, which have been identified as two of our three remaining “essential learning requirements” for the semester:

• Cr1.1.3c. Integrate cultural and historical contexts with personal experiences to create a character that is believable and authentic in a theatre work. 
• Pr4.1.3b: Apply a variety of researched acting techniques as an approach to character choices in a theatre work. 

Notice that you are creating characters and using researched acting techniques to influence your rehearsal choices.

MONDAY, May 4th – FRIDAY, May 15th:

1. Read through the jigsawed theorists that we worked on last week.
   1. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iD6wDyjMh1O04qkXeJVZ7ncQRKkJGIwnnR17t-RofVM/edit?usp=sharing
2. Select one theorist and watch the documentaries and examples provided on the Google Form above.
   1. **Apply one of the acting theorist’s methods/concepts that were researched on the Google Drive document to your development of the pieces below.
3. Begin the monologue and scene rehearsal process for the requirements below. You will do BOTH Scene 1 and Scene 2 requirements.
   1. Scene 1: Monologue from Television Show or Movie of your choice – one to two minutes. Do not simply recreate what was done in the original. Make it your own and approach it from the character, not the actor who was cast. 
   2. Scene 2: Choose one of the practice scripts from the following link: https://monologueblogger.com/10-practice-scripts-for-actors/ . You choose the character you want to audition for in your film; your reader plays the other character. Since these are practice scripts, you have the opportunity to develop your character from scratch and actually use some acting theory to rehearse and memorize; instead of attempting to distinguish yourself from what a professional has already done with your scene 1 monologue.
      1. Note: Some of the scenes in the practice scripts link include adult language or content. Be advised (and warn your reader).
   3. (Note: Usually in digital auditions you are actually using the script for the show or movie you are auditioning for. There is no “original” to watch unless it is a remake. The script would be posted or given to you by your agent for you to develop and then film or attend the in-person audition.)
4. Watch the examples of self-tape/digital auditions below. They are entertaining!
   1. Rachel McAdams The Notebook: 
      1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=66&v=_XfUUYK7Gkg&feature=emb_logo
   2. Compilation of people who auditioned and didn’t get the roles and, of course, the ones who did: The Office:
      1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5I_OTjH9fg
   3. Henry Thomas ET (if you have never seen this movie, do yourself a huge favor and watch it before watching this…major spoilers….it’s not a scary movie, it’s a heart-tugging, beautiful, crying movie that gets me every time. It’s a classic…and this kid’s audition is amazing.)
      1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA5giyG8E7g
5. Read the “How To” document provided in the Downloads section for this course.
6. Record your audition performance and upload it to the following Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wMeaHm33rgAo2KEGX4tfLLORCeftLqEu?usp=sharing​​​​​​​ . 

This audition recording will be graded on the application of your chosen theorist’s rehearsal and performance technique as well as the quality and standard of the audition recording based on the “How To” document provided.

Your completed self-tape audition is due by midnight on Friday the 15th to the Google Drive link in step 6.