THEATRE 1: CONTENT
Unit 14: Early Modern Theatre Movements & 20C Theatrical Diversity
Essential Questions:
How have contemporary trends in theatre mirrored popular culture and current events?
Key Terms:
Realism
Naturalism
Stanislavski System
Symbolism
Unit set
Theatricalism
Biomechanics
Constructivist
Expressionism
Futurism
Dada
Surrealism
Theatre of Cruelty
epic theatre
alienated
Existentialism
Theatre of the Absurd
Happenings
Multimedia
Environmental Theatre
Poor Theatre
Musical
Burlesque
Book
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: lyrics & music
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, read/analyze Midsummer scenes, acting exercises
Career Catalog: composer, marketing/sales
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
How have contemporary trends in theatre mirrored popular culture and current events?
Key Terms:
Realism
Naturalism
Stanislavski System
Symbolism
Unit set
Theatricalism
Biomechanics
Constructivist
Expressionism
Futurism
Dada
Surrealism
Theatre of Cruelty
epic theatre
alienated
Existentialism
Theatre of the Absurd
Happenings
Multimedia
Environmental Theatre
Poor Theatre
Musical
Burlesque
Book
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: lyrics & music
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, read/analyze Midsummer scenes, acting exercises
Career Catalog: composer, marketing/sales
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Unit 13: Theatre from Restoration through Romanticism
Essential Questions:
How did the Restoration and Romanticism change dramatic forms and the spaces in which they were played?
Key Terms:
Comedies of Manners
Drame
Ballad opera
Sturm und Drang (storm and stress)
Box set
régisseur
Romanticism
Melodrama
The Well-Made Play
exposition
repertory company
Gesamtkunstwerk
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal:
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, read/analyze Midsummer scenes, acting exercises
Homework: memorize Midsummer scripts
Career Catalog:
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
How did the Restoration and Romanticism change dramatic forms and the spaces in which they were played?
Key Terms:
Comedies of Manners
Drame
Ballad opera
Sturm und Drang (storm and stress)
Box set
régisseur
Romanticism
Melodrama
The Well-Made Play
exposition
repertory company
Gesamtkunstwerk
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal:
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, read/analyze Midsummer scenes, acting exercises
Homework: memorize Midsummer scripts
Career Catalog:
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Unit 12: Renaissance Theatre
Essential Questions:
What was the intended result of imposing neoclassical rules on playwrights?
What was the effect of the producer-to actor-to audience relationship in Elizabethan England?
How was commedia dell'arte rehearsed and performed?
Key Terms:
-apprentice
-box
-cazuela
-comedia
-companias de parte
-corral
-gallery
-grove system
-hireling
-lazzi
-masque
-neoclassical ideals
-patio
-perspective
-pit
-pole and chariot
-private theaters
-public theaters
-shareholders
-sides
-soliloquy
-tiring house
-unities
-yard
-zanni
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Mask design and creation
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, read/analyze Midsummer scenes, acting exercises
Homework: memorize Midsummer scripts
Career Catalog: Production Manager
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
What was the intended result of imposing neoclassical rules on playwrights?
What was the effect of the producer-to actor-to audience relationship in Elizabethan England?
How was commedia dell'arte rehearsed and performed?
Key Terms:
-apprentice
-box
-cazuela
-comedia
-companias de parte
-corral
-gallery
-grove system
-hireling
-lazzi
-masque
-neoclassical ideals
-patio
-perspective
-pit
-pole and chariot
-private theaters
-public theaters
-shareholders
-sides
-soliloquy
-tiring house
-unities
-yard
-zanni
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Mask design and creation
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, read/analyze Midsummer scenes, acting exercises
Homework: memorize Midsummer scripts
Career Catalog: Production Manager
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Unit 11: Designers - Costumes
Essential Questions:
Detail the costume designer's objectives & the process by which he or she achieves them.
How do those objectives serve the production?
What the difference between realism & nonrealism in costume design.
Key Terms:
-build
-costume designer
-pull
-realism
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Design a series of costumes for Midsummer scene.
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, rehearse Midsummer scenes, acting exercises
Homework: costume review
Career Catalog: Costume Designer
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection.
Detail the costume designer's objectives & the process by which he or she achieves them.
How do those objectives serve the production?
What the difference between realism & nonrealism in costume design.
Key Terms:
-build
-costume designer
-pull
-realism
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Design a series of costumes for Midsummer scene.
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, rehearse Midsummer scenes, acting exercises
Homework: costume review
Career Catalog: Costume Designer
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection.
Unit 10: Ancient Greek & Roman Theatre
Essential Question:
What were the social and religious parameters of Greek and Roman theater? What are lasting features of Greek and Roman theatre that are still alive today?
Key Terms:
-agon
-amphitheater
-choregus
-chorus
-City Dionysia
-dominus
-new comedy
-old comedy
-orchestra
-pantomime
-parabasis
-parodos
-satyr play
-scaena
-theatron
-thespian
-trilogy
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: script writing
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises
Homework: puppet creation
Career Catalog: Technical Director
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
What were the social and religious parameters of Greek and Roman theater? What are lasting features of Greek and Roman theatre that are still alive today?
Key Terms:
-agon
-amphitheater
-choregus
-chorus
-City Dionysia
-dominus
-new comedy
-old comedy
-orchestra
-pantomime
-parabasis
-parodos
-satyr play
-scaena
-theatron
-thespian
-trilogy
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: script writing
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises
Homework: puppet creation
Career Catalog: Technical Director
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Unit 9: Early Asian Theatre
Essential Questions:
What is the significance of the synthesis or integration of acting, mime, dancing, music, and text in Asian theatre?
What features of Asian theatre have transposed to Western theatre?
Key Terms:
-bunraku
-hanamichi
-hashigakari
-kabuki
-kathakali
-noh
-Peking (Beijing) opera
-platform stage
-shadow play
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Puppet design sketches
Classroom: lecture, articles, film-clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises
Homework: puppeteer review
Career Catalog: Puppeteer
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
What is the significance of the synthesis or integration of acting, mime, dancing, music, and text in Asian theatre?
What features of Asian theatre have transposed to Western theatre?
Key Terms:
-bunraku
-hanamichi
-hashigakari
-kabuki
-kathakali
-noh
-Peking (Beijing) opera
-platform stage
-shadow play
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Puppet design sketches
Classroom: lecture, articles, film-clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises
Homework: puppeteer review
Career Catalog: Puppeteer
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Unit 8:
From Page to Stage
Essential Questions:
How do designers convey their thinking in the process of bringing a show to life?
Key Terms:
-scale model
-pitch
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Brainstorm and draft gobo designs
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Homework: finalizing designs, build model of set design
Career Catalog: Stage Manager
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
How do designers convey their thinking in the process of bringing a show to life?
Key Terms:
-scale model
-pitch
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Brainstorm and draft gobo designs
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Homework: finalizing designs, build model of set design
Career Catalog: Stage Manager
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Unit 7: Designers - Lighting & Sound
Essential Questions:
How can the five elements of stage lighting be used to help achieve the objectives of lighting design?
How is sound reproduction and sound reinforcement used in a theatre?
Key Terms:
-automated lights
-backlighting
-batten
-blackout
-composition
-cue
-dimmer
-downlighting
-environmental sounds
-fade
focus
-follow spot
-fresnel
-gobo
-light plot
-motivated sounds
-pan
-reinforcement
-reproduction
-tilt
Creative Journal: Brainstorm sketches, story concept, set design sketches
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Homework: light design review
Career Catalog: Lighting Designer
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
How can the five elements of stage lighting be used to help achieve the objectives of lighting design?
How is sound reproduction and sound reinforcement used in a theatre?
Key Terms:
-automated lights
-backlighting
-batten
-blackout
-composition
-cue
-dimmer
-downlighting
-environmental sounds
-fade
focus
-follow spot
-fresnel
-gobo
-light plot
-motivated sounds
-pan
-reinforcement
-reproduction
-tilt
Creative Journal: Brainstorm sketches, story concept, set design sketches
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Homework: light design review
Career Catalog: Lighting Designer
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Unit 6: Designers - Scenery
Essential Questions:
Detail the scene designer's objectives and the process by which he or she achieves them.
How do those objectives serve the production?
What the difference between realism and nonrealism in scene design?
Key Terms:
-downstage
-flat
-fly loft
-ground plan
-left stage
-props
-realism
-right stage
-scrim
-technical director
-upstage
-wagon
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Set design project inspiration collage
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises, Monologue Performances
Homework: set design review
Career Catalog: Set Designer
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection, monologue performance rubric
Detail the scene designer's objectives and the process by which he or she achieves them.
How do those objectives serve the production?
What the difference between realism and nonrealism in scene design?
Key Terms:
-downstage
-flat
-fly loft
-ground plan
-left stage
-props
-realism
-right stage
-scrim
-technical director
-upstage
-wagon
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Set design project inspiration collage
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises, Monologue Performances
Homework: set design review
Career Catalog: Set Designer
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, career catalog rubric, blog reflection, monologue performance rubric
Unit 5: Theatre Spaces
Essential Questions:
Why is the relationship between the spectator and the performer important and how can that stage-to-audience relationship in the three most popular theatre architecture arrangements differ?
What is a multipurpose or black box theatre arrangement? Why might such a space be desirable?
Key Terms:
-aesthetic distance
-arena stage
-corral
-created of found space
-fly loft
-fourth-wall convention
-multifocus theater
-multimedia theater
-orchestra
-platform stage
-proscenium
-rake
-run
-thrust stage
-wagon stage
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Theatre architecture sketches Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises
Homework: monologue edits
Career Catalog: Producer
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Why is the relationship between the spectator and the performer important and how can that stage-to-audience relationship in the three most popular theatre architecture arrangements differ?
What is a multipurpose or black box theatre arrangement? Why might such a space be desirable?
Key Terms:
-aesthetic distance
-arena stage
-corral
-created of found space
-fly loft
-fourth-wall convention
-multifocus theater
-multimedia theater
-orchestra
-platform stage
-proscenium
-rake
-run
-thrust stage
-wagon stage
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Theatre architecture sketches Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises
Homework: monologue edits
Career Catalog: Producer
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Unit 4: The Theatre Director
Essential Questions:
What is the process required to move a production from "page to stage"?
Who is responsible for organizing and moving the process forward and what are their functions and contributions?
Key Terms:
-artistic director
-audition
-auteur director
-blocking
-casting
-director
-dramaturge
-dress rehearsal
-front of the house
-pace
-producer
-run-through
-spine
-stage manager
-stage picture
-technical rehearsal
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Draft Monologue
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises Homework: director review
Career Catalog: Director
Homework: Draft monologue
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
What is the process required to move a production from "page to stage"?
Who is responsible for organizing and moving the process forward and what are their functions and contributions?
Key Terms:
-artistic director
-audition
-auteur director
-blocking
-casting
-director
-dramaturge
-dress rehearsal
-front of the house
-pace
-producer
-run-through
-spine
-stage manager
-stage picture
-technical rehearsal
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Draft Monologue
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises Homework: director review
Career Catalog: Director
Homework: Draft monologue
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Unit 3:
Theatrical Forms & Stage Performers
Essential Questions:
Why is it important for the actor to warm up?
What are the basic elements of Konstantin Stanislavski's approach to realistic acting?
What does a theatrical form dictate to the actor in regard to their approach to the work?
Key Terms:
-bourgeois or domestic drama
-burlesque
-comedy
-comedy of manners
-comic premise
-farce
-genre
-heroic drama
-melodrama
-satire
-slapstick
-theatre of the absurd
-tragedy
-tragicomedy
-emotional recall
-ensemble playing
-magic if
-realism
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Begin to draft a monologue.
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises
Career Catalog: Actor
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection, mime performance rubric
Why is it important for the actor to warm up?
What are the basic elements of Konstantin Stanislavski's approach to realistic acting?
What does a theatrical form dictate to the actor in regard to their approach to the work?
Key Terms:
-bourgeois or domestic drama
-burlesque
-comedy
-comedy of manners
-comic premise
-farce
-genre
-heroic drama
-melodrama
-satire
-slapstick
-theatre of the absurd
-tragedy
-tragicomedy
-emotional recall
-ensemble playing
-magic if
-realism
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Begin to draft a monologue.
Classroom: lecture, articles, film clips
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises
Career Catalog: Actor
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection, mime performance rubric
Unit 2:
The Playwright: Creating the Script
Essential Questions:
Is the playwright more or less important to the creative process than the actors and the director of a production?
What are the essential elements of dramatic structure?
Why are they essential to effective storytelling?
Key Terms:
-action
-antagonist
-chorus
-climatic structure
-climax
-commedia dell’arte
-complication
-conflict
-crisis
-deus ex machina
-dialogue
-dominant trait
-episodic structure
-exposition
-minor characters
-obstacle
-plot
-protagonist
-representative characters
-ritual
-stock character
-subplot
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Draft a script that brings a classic folk tale to life through dialogue
Classroom: lecture, articles
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises, script reading
Homework: script review
Career Catalog: Playwright
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Is the playwright more or less important to the creative process than the actors and the director of a production?
What are the essential elements of dramatic structure?
Why are they essential to effective storytelling?
Key Terms:
-action
-antagonist
-chorus
-climatic structure
-climax
-commedia dell’arte
-complication
-conflict
-crisis
-deus ex machina
-dialogue
-dominant trait
-episodic structure
-exposition
-minor characters
-obstacle
-plot
-protagonist
-representative characters
-ritual
-stock character
-subplot
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: Draft a script that brings a classic folk tale to life through dialogue
Classroom: lecture, articles
Theatre: warm-ups, acting exercises, script reading
Homework: script review
Career Catalog: Playwright
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, creative journal rubric, participation in learning activities, review rubric, career catalog rubric, blog reflection
Unit 1:
Theatre as an Art Form
Essential Question:
How do we define art in general and what is the role theatre plays as one of the arts?
Key Terms:
-temporal
-spatial
-audience
-performer
-theatre space
-design elements
-scenery
-costume
-lighting
-sound
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: “Notice, Wonder, Discover, Imagine” worksheet. Create a short story and sketch based on an inspiration: Vassily Kandinsky's Joyful Arising, 1923, oil on canvas.
Classroom: procedures, creative writing
Theatre: warm-ups, theatre games
Homework: My App Logo
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, participation in learning activities, blog reflection
How do we define art in general and what is the role theatre plays as one of the arts?
Key Terms:
-temporal
-spatial
-audience
-performer
-theatre space
-design elements
-scenery
-costume
-lighting
-sound
Learning Activities:
Creative Journal: “Notice, Wonder, Discover, Imagine” worksheet. Create a short story and sketch based on an inspiration: Vassily Kandinsky's Joyful Arising, 1923, oil on canvas.
Classroom: procedures, creative writing
Theatre: warm-ups, theatre games
Homework: My App Logo
Blog Reflection: Write a response to this unit’s essential question(s). Use moments of success and challenge from the learning activities to exemplify your understanding.
Assessment: Weekly quiz, participation in learning activities, blog reflection
