Open Forum

Hi all,
Usually I teach two sections of acting, one for my juniors and one for my seniors. This year I have everyone combined into one class. I am mostly using my senior curriculum but changing up some things to give the juniors the skills they need. However, if I keep this same schedule next year and my current juniors take the class again, I will need new material. I would love to hear your thoughts. I'll lay out what I'm doing now and what I've done in the past in the hopes that you'll have suggestions of what I should resurrect and what I need to create afresh. Please share anything you have that I might want to include in a new combined studio class next year. My hope is then I'll be able to alternate between this year's lineup and whatever I do next year so no students repeat anything. Thank you!!

This year
Combined: Ensemble building, spontaneity, communication, feedback, headshots & resumes, mindfulness, mask work, commedia, Viewpoints, voice/radio acting, Story theatre, script analysis, character creation, student-directed scenes, devising and/or workshopping an original play.

Previous years
Acting I: ensemble building, focus & concentration, constructive feedback, the actor's body, the actor's voice, imagination, chamber theatre, monologue preparation, script analysis (She Kills Monsters), scene study, character creation, Stanislavski method of physical action, GOTE, undirected scenes or group performances, rehearsal etiquette, audition portfolios
Acting II: headshots & resumes, mindfulness, mask work, commedia, Viewpoints, voice/radio acting, Michael Shurtleff's Audition, scene study, audition preparation, acting styles & practitioners, staging and composition, undirected scenes, devising/forum theatre

------------------------------
Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre Department Coordinator
Shenandoah Valley Governor's School
VA
------------------------------

Hi all, I'm giving this a bump in the hope that some of you will have some ideas for me now that the year is winding down. I'd love to find some topics/exercises that are approachable for new actors but still challenging for my more experienced students. Thanks! 

------------------------------
Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre Department Coordinator
Shenandoah Valley Governor's School
VA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2022 14:44
From: Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Subject: Curriculum Planning

Hi all,
Usually I teach two sections of acting, one for my juniors and one for my seniors. This year I have everyone combined into one class. I am mostly using my senior curriculum but changing up some things to give the juniors the skills they need. However, if I keep this same schedule next year and my current juniors take the class again, I will need new material. I would love to hear your thoughts. I'll lay out what I'm doing now and what I've done in the past in the hopes that you'll have suggestions of what I should resurrect and what I need to create afresh. Please share anything you have that I might want to include in a new combined studio class next year. My hope is then I'll be able to alternate between this year's lineup and whatever I do next year so no students repeat anything. Thank you!!

This year
Combined: Ensemble building, spontaneity, communication, feedback, headshots & resumes, mindfulness, mask work, commedia, Viewpoints, voice/radio acting, Story theatre, script analysis, character creation, student-directed scenes, devising and/or workshopping an original play.

Previous years
Acting I: ensemble building, focus & concentration, constructive feedback, the actor's body, the actor's voice, imagination, chamber theatre, monologue preparation, script analysis (She Kills Monsters), scene study, character creation, Stanislavski method of physical action, GOTE, undirected scenes or group performances, rehearsal etiquette, audition portfolios
Acting II: headshots & resumes, mindfulness, mask work, commedia, Viewpoints, voice/radio acting, Michael Shurtleff's Audition, scene study, audition preparation, acting styles & practitioners, staging and composition, undirected scenes, devising/forum theatre

------------------------------
Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre Department Coordinator
Shenandoah Valley Governor's School
VA
------------------------------

Hi Cassy,

I teach at a Performing Arts High School in PA and we teach four levels of acting including individual classes in improvisation and stage combat. Junior year the acting class focuses on various acting methods such as Uta Hagen, Meisner, and Chekov. They also take an in-depth exploration into audition techniques and preparedness and college. Senior year students explore the acting styles of Moliere, Brecht, Commedia dell'Arte, and Shakespeare. The goal is to broaden the student's knowledge of classical texts and acting style. Dedicated time will be spent working on preparation for summer stock and other various auditions.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions. I'm happy to help in any way possible. 

------------------------------
Rebecca Lustig
Westinghouse Arts Academy Charter School
PA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-24-2023 08:09
From: Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Subject: Curriculum Planning

Hi all, I'm giving this a bump in the hope that some of you will have some ideas for me now that the year is winding down. I'd love to find some topics/exercises that are approachable for new actors but still challenging for my more experienced students. Thanks! 

------------------------------
Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre Department Coordinator
Shenandoah Valley Governor's School
VA

Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2022 14:44
From: Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Subject: Curriculum Planning

Hi all,
Usually I teach two sections of acting, one for my juniors and one for my seniors. This year I have everyone combined into one class. I am mostly using my senior curriculum but changing up some things to give the juniors the skills they need. However, if I keep this same schedule next year and my current juniors take the class again, I will need new material. I would love to hear your thoughts. I'll lay out what I'm doing now and what I've done in the past in the hopes that you'll have suggestions of what I should resurrect and what I need to create afresh. Please share anything you have that I might want to include in a new combined studio class next year. My hope is then I'll be able to alternate between this year's lineup and whatever I do next year so no students repeat anything. Thank you!!

This year
Combined: Ensemble building, spontaneity, communication, feedback, headshots & resumes, mindfulness, mask work, commedia, Viewpoints, voice/radio acting, Story theatre, script analysis, character creation, student-directed scenes, devising and/or workshopping an original play.

Previous years
Acting I: ensemble building, focus & concentration, constructive feedback, the actor's body, the actor's voice, imagination, chamber theatre, monologue preparation, script analysis (She Kills Monsters), scene study, character creation, Stanislavski method of physical action, GOTE, undirected scenes or group performances, rehearsal etiquette, audition portfolios
Acting II: headshots & resumes, mindfulness, mask work, commedia, Viewpoints, voice/radio acting, Michael Shurtleff's Audition, scene study, audition preparation, acting styles & practitioners, staging and composition, undirected scenes, devising/forum theatre

------------------------------
Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre Department Coordinator
Shenandoah Valley Governor's School
VA
------------------------------