Improvisational Theatre

Course Number:
TA 144
Transcript Title:
Improvisational Theatre
Created:
Aug 16, 2022
Updated:
Jul 17, 2023
Total Credits:
3
Lecture Hours:
30
Lecture / Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0
Satisfies Cultural Literacy requirement:
No
Satisfies General Education requirement:
No
Grading Options
A-F, P/NP, Audit
Default Grading Options
A-F
Repeats available for credit:
0

Course Description

Utilizes improv games, exercises and energizing challenges, incorporating and requiring movement, imagination, enthusiasm and desire to take risks and explore. Focuses on the process and not the product – “working in the moment.” Encourages student actors to rediscover the art of play in its rawest form by placing emphasis on the art of creating something from nothing. Working without a script, builds skills in ensemble, spontaneity, listening and observing, and organically creating characters. Audit available.

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Creatively develop and perform 1 and 2 man improvisations.
  2. Apply understanding of rules and framework of improvisations.
  3. Perform numerous ensemble formats in competitive Theatre Sports.
  4. Utilize collaborative and ensemble methods in creating long form Harolds.

Suggested Outcome Assessment Strategies

The determination of assessment strategies is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: writings (journals, self-reflections, pre writing exercises, essays), quizzes, tests, midterm and final exams, group projects, presentations (in person, videos, etc), self-assessments, experimentations, lab reports, peer critiques, responses (to texts, podcasts, videos, films, etc), student generated questions, Escape Room, interviews, and/or portfolios.

Department suggestions:
  1. Completion of weekly homework assignments that address specific exercises.
  2. In-class commitment to performance and risk taking
  3. In-class analysis of self and others
  4. Midterm performance of short form Harold
  5. Final long form Harold

Course Activities and Design

The determination of teaching strategies used in the delivery of outcomes is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: lecture, small group/forum discussion, flipped classroom, dyads, oral presentation, role play, simulation scenarios, group projects, service learning projects, hands-on lab, peer review/workshops, cooperative learning (jigsaw, fishbowl), inquiry based instruction, differentiated instruction (learning centers), graphic organizers, etc.

Course Content

Themes

  1. Collaboration  and ensemble building
  2. Team work
  3. Critical analysis
  4. Appropriate use of warm-up activities

Skills

1.0 IMPROVISATION FROM TEXT
    1.1 Analysis of character and plot line
    1.2 Rehearse and perform scene by improvisation
    1.3 Critique other performances using examples

2.0 BEGINNING USE OF IMPROVISATIONAL SKILLS
    2.1 Demonstrate rules of improvisation
    2.2 Perform improvisational exercises
    2.3 Develop ideas to form basis for exercises

3.0 PHYSICAL AND VOCAL WORK (TRUST EXERCISES)
    3.1 Use the body and voice to convey character
    3.2 Practice exercises to determine time and place
    3.3 Demonstrate "blind walk", "circle of trust", "free falling"

4.0 THEATRE SPORTS
    4.1 Rehearse and perform mirrors, one-line story, sound ball as methods for warm-up
    4.2 Develop competitive exercises such as Story, Die and Freeze Frame
    4.3 Practice use of the system of rating improvisations

5.0 HAROLD
    5.1 Define a Harold using improvisational terminology
    5.2 Rehearse scene-to-scene connections
    5.3 Perform a long-form improvisation or Harold
    5.4 Critique other Harolds