Senior Projects
Step 1: Complete a proposal application for either a Senior Acting Project, a Senior Design Project, or a Senior Directing Project.
Stop 2: Students approved for Senior Directing Projects and stand alone Senior Acting Projects will need to complete a Studio Production application. Senior Design Projects and Main Season Senior Acting Projects will be assigned by the faculty (in consultation with the approved students).
ACTING PROJECT
QUALIFYING/GUIDELINE/OUTLINE
1. SELECTION
a. Where am I as an actor?
b. Given no project can be all things, what would I like/need to work on?
c. How can I best utilize what I’ve developed and stretch (take risks)?
2. PREPARATION
a. Play analysis: Structure, Playwright’s intention
b. Research
c. Production concept
d. Designs: Lights, costume, props, set, sound (where appropriate)
3. REHEARSAL (This phase begins if all aspects of #2 have been met to the satisfaction of faculty advisor/director). Project may be canceled if play is not ready to be put into rehearsal and mounting stage. (Start-up time for a project in the spring semester is the final day of classes in the fall semester. Start up time for a project in the fall semester is the first day of classes.
a. Personal responsibility & input for execution of all aspects of production. Daily meetings with others to ensure production progress.
b. Daily rehearsal of the role. Production concerns laid aside. Emphasis on creating a character, relationships, meanings, etc.
c. Keep a log record of a) and of b) – i.e. the process.
4. PRODUCTION Actor stays with all aspects of production through tech rehearsals, then turns it over entirely to stage manager and his/her running crew. Heaviest emphasis is on creating the role.
5. POST PRODUCTION
a. Self-evaluation (oral and written)
b. Conference with faculty advisor/director on the performances.
i. Progress as an actor
ii. Things learned
c. Submit log records of:
i. Production process
ii. Creating the rule process
Note: The project is only for people who demonstrate multiple interests and talents in the field.
DESIGN PROJECT
1. Writing:
Before 1. Initial images
2. First conference with Director
3. Visual concepts and rationale
4. Second conference with Director
5. The production concept and how your visual statement aids/enhances that
During 6. Journal of construction process
i. Materials
ii. Costs
iii.Changes, compromises
After 7. Assessment
i. quality of what you did
ii. How it “worked” in production
iii.Lessons learned from the process
2. Portfolio Work:
Drawings
1. Ideas, sketches and research photos
2. Rough renderings
3. Ground plan
4. Color rendering(s)
i. Different settings
ii. or Unit set under different light
5. Side/Rear elevations
Detail blow-ups, “working” drawings as needed
6. Photos of construction process
7. Photos of finished product (or slides/disc)
Make a ‘to scale” model
DIRECTING PROJECT
Some possible requirements for discussion
Analysis of basic themes and play’s central focus
Analysis of play structure: 1. How is the play built
2. Dynamics
3. Style
Production concept
Production strategy
Budget sheet
Comments on characters and relationships
1. Blocking
2. Complete prop list
3. Complete sound and light cue list
4. Ground plan
Goals for audience
Any running account of the rehearsal process?
Oral post-play evaluation with advisor. Hand in all written material
Deadline: 2 weeks after performances
Advisement
1. Theme/Structure/Production concept talk(s).
2. See blocking after 1 ˝ weeks rehearsal
3. Look at character, relationships and dynamics development after 2 weeks
4. See tech rehearsal
5. Final dress
6. Performances
7. Post-play meeting (2 weeks). Receive all written material
8. Circulate written material and discuss grade with theatre faculty