THR 350 - Acting Classical Verse

1 course unit

This advanced acting class investigates methods for approaching, rehearsing, and performing pre-modern lyric texts, such as those by William Shakespeare and his contemporaries. With a focus on the practical demands of heightened language, the course addresses technical, stylistic, historical, and interpretive considerations as they relate to the feat of performance. Special attention is paid to linguistic structure as well as to its relationship to the individual experience of the actor/character. A directed emphasis on voice and speech development complements study by providing physical conditioning aimed at enhancing the student’s production of poetic language. Topics of study also include verse structure, metrical variation, rhythm, language-as-action, forward movement, prose, phonetic word fabric, and imagery. The course acknowledges the modern actor’s psychological approach to text (regardless of period) while at the same time recognizing that classical plays require actors to make distinct shifts in both acting-style and psychology. Graded performance projects involve advanced scene work from Shakespeare’s oeuvre. Class will meet for four hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): THR 251 - Acting II: Scene Study .