FACULTY OF ARTSDEPARTMENT: Acting/ChoreographyCOURSE: English Language IInd Year COURSE TUTOR: Teach. Assist. Cecilia Vrlan

Essay Questions Winter Exam 2014I. Types of Stages [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L99g_Wg5Gh8]1. What are the four main types of stages? Describe each type of scene. What advantages and disadvantages do they offer in terms of artistic consideration, practicality, and aesthetics in theatre?

Proscenium stage is the most common stage used in theaters. The audience directly faces the stage which is typically raised several feet above front row audience level and views only one side of the scene.

An arena stage is a central stage surrounded by audience on all sides. Assigning stage directions in an arena setting can be almost arbitrary.Sometimes directors use compass directions (north, south,east, west) from center stage.

Athrust stage is one that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by itsupstageend. Entrances onto a thrust are most readily made from backstage, although some theaters provide for performers to enter through the audience aisle.

Flexible stage or sometimes called an environmental stage can take on many different forms and functions and allow for extreme creativity on the part of the director.

2. What is an apron of a stage? How is it used? Who decides whether to use the apron as an acting space or not?

The part of the stage located downstage of the proscenium is called theapron. It is used as an additional playing area for the actors. The director is the one that decides wheter or not the apron will be used in his play. But sometimes this choice is dictated by the fire code of the theater.

3. How do the actors enter or exit an arena stage?

Actors can enter or exit an arena stage through the audience from different directions or from below the stage.

4. How do the actors enter or exit a thrust stage?

Actors can enter or exit a thrust stage from the backstage, although some theaters provide for performers to enter through the audience aisle.

5. What are the two examples of flexible theater space given in the film?

The black box theater and the outdoor theater are a good example of a flexible stage.

II. Theatrical Terms [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un85gA0S1wc] Explain the following theatrical terms:moving downstage = moving toward the audiencemoving upstage = moving away from the audiencebringing a backdrop in = bringing the backdrop on stageflying a backdrop out = removing the backdrop from the stagegoing on-stage = someone comes into a scenegoing off-stage = someone goes out of a scenestage left = right side of the stagestage right = left side of the stagehouse right / house left = left and right side of the audience

What is a fly loft? A fly loft is a Space above some proscenium stages wherecurtains and scenery are hanged on pipes and battens to fly them in and out. What are the main types of curtains on a stage? Describe them very briefly.The front curtain,is called a grand drape hangs downstage, just behind the proscenium arch. It is typically opened and closed during performances to reveal or conceal the stage and scenery from the audience. How is the audience seating organized in a theater? All theaters provide a space for an audience. The orchestra seats is the main level of audience seating in most theaters. Orchestra seats are categorized by sightlines and proximity to the stage.Prime orchestra seats are in the front section, close enough so that the expressions and gestures of the performers can be clearly seen.The seats in the mezzanine or balcony are on the level above the orchestra seats and extend over it. The front, center mezzanine seats have an excellent, unobstructed view of the entire stage, although they are not close to the stage. What is a running crew in a theatre?Running crew represents the members of thetechnical crewwho supervise and operate the various technical aspects of the production during aperformance

Theatrical Conventions [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ojo3ik8M6Bk]

What are theatrical conventions? Which is the key-term that is being used in connection with these conventions? Theatrical conventionsare the specific actions or techniques the actor, writer or director has employed to create a desired dramatic effect or style.A theatrical conventionis a set ofrules,which both the audience andactorsare familiar with and which act as a useful way of quickly signifying the nature of the action or of a character.

How can the passage of time be indicated onstage?By revealing to the audience the timelapse between the scenes or between the acts from a play.The audience knows thata the play theyre watching it isnt happening in real time.Two hours may represent a week, a month or a year. How and why can the convention of the fourth wall can be broken onstage?An actor performing in a scene can break the ,,fourth wall to deliver a line directly to the audience or to themselves, which is called an aside. List the various types of focus (minimum 3 types) an actor can use onstage and describe them briefly.The 3 types of focus are: on stage focus, where the actor is focusing on his stage partner, off stage focus, where the actor is creating the illusion that he is speaking with someone even though he or she isnt there, and the audience focus where the actor is addressing comments directly to the audience and making the audience become the scenery of the play.

Understanding Emotions in Acting [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV5FP0KsPpA]

Write a short paragraph (70 110 words) to summarize the main ideas the NYC Acting teacher Adam Hill gave in his opening lecture Understanding Emotions in Acting.A few vital characteristics of a great actor: a free-flow of emotions and impulses expressed in the body and voice; an understanding of how to create life-and-death, moment-to-moment acting; a vivid imagination; and a body and voice capable of telling all kinds of stories. We live in a dangerous world. People are insensitive, self-absorbed and emotionally retarded. Interacting with people can hurt, often far more than we consciously realize. So when it comes time to act and genuinely experience the reality of a character, we are blocked. Great actors understand the human tendency to shut down. They fight against it. So in a real acting class, you need to learn how to raise the stakes, beyond simply being told you must do this. You need to learn why people fight. You need to learn some relationship psychology. You need to learn about and experience your vulnerabilities, and about how vulnerability underlies every human conflict. You need to learn about archetypes, relationship patterns and the human psyche. When you do, your imagination will grow leaps and bounds. So will your acting.Note: Your written essays should be submitted electronically (via e-mail) by Monday, February 3, 2014.