Pop Culture Players! Acting Scenes From Disney's Princesses & Leading Ladies

Welcome to the "Disney Princesses and Leading Ladies" edition of Pop Culture Players!

In this ongoing interactive workshop, there is no competition among classmates. Come shy, come bold! All learners, regardless of aptitude or experience, are given equal feedback for their participation. Together, we uncover secrets of scene building and fundamentals of western representational acting.
Topics covered will include: 
•	Plot and Character Analysis
•	Breath Control + Line Delivery
•	Facial Expressions + Body Language
•	Comedic vs. Dramatic Timing 
•	An Actor’s Posture and Well-Being

Each week, we explore a different female protagonist using a scene (instructor transcribed and edited) from her corresponding movie. 20 characters in 20 weeks! See below for a list of weekly content.

List of spring-to-summer class themes, alphabetized by character name:
Week 1: April 4-10 (No class on Easter)
Anna.......FROZEN (2013)

Week 2: April 11-17
Alice.......ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951)

Week 3: April 18-24
Ariel.......THE LITTLE MERMAID (1989)

Week 4: April 25-May 1
Aurora.......SLEEPING BEAUTY (1959)

Week 5: May 2-8
Belle.......BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991)

Week 6: May 9-15
Cinderella.......CINDERELLA (1950)

Week 7: May 16-22
Elsa.......FROZEN II (2019)

Week 8: May 23-29
Giselle.......ENCHANTED (2007)

Week 9: May 30-June 5 (No class on Memorial Day)
Jasmine.......ALADDIN (1992)

Week 10: June 6-12
Joy (and Sadness).......INSIDE OUT (2015)

NO CLASSES HELD June 13-July 10 (4 Weeks Off While Teacher Is Away)

Week 11: July 11-17
Judy Hopps.......ZOOTOPIA (2016)

Week 12: July 18-24
"Kida" (Kidagakash Nedakh).......ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE (2001)

Week 13: July 25-31
Merida.......BRAVE (2012)

Week 14: August 1-7
Moana.......MOANA (2016)

NO CLASSES HELD August 8-14 (Teacher Conflict)

Week 15: August 15-21
Mulan.......MULAN (1998)

Week 16: August 22-28
Pocahontas.......POCAHONTAS (1995)

Week 17: August 29-September 4
Rapunzel.......TANGLED (2010)

Week 18: September 5-11
Snow White.......SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)

Week 19: September 12-18
Tiana.......THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (2009)

Week 20: September 19-25
Vanellope.......WRECK-IT-RALPH (2012)

CLASS HANDOUTS
Handout is one or two scripts (1-2 pages in length). Scripts are transcribed and edited by the instructor to meet strict guidelines for child-friendly content. Scripts are uploaded in PDF form to the Outschool Classroom Wall, for families to print at home before class. 
==>> For more information on scene content editing criteria, see the below section labeled, “Parental Guidance”. <<==

CLASSROOM TOOLS 
Using Zoom’s feature called “Breakout Rooms”, students break away from the main classroom to work privately in pairs or small groups. Here, they rehearse one scripted scene. The teacher passes between Breakout Rooms to answer questions, make suggestions, and monitor each group’s progress. The primary advantage of this feature is that it provides space to rehearse scenes without interference or distraction from other groups.

CLASS LENGTH AND AGENDA
All workshop classes run 1 hour, 10 minutes. 

Activities Breakdown: 
10 Min – Introduction and Warm Up
10 Min – Script Analysis
20 Min – Scene Rehearsal (Runtime is 1–3 min, depending on learners' transformative interpretation.)
20 Min – Performance Workshop/Feedback
10 Min – Cool Down, Q&A, Closing Reflection

WHAT IS AN ACTING WORKSHOP?
Workshops differ from after-school drama clubs and extracurricular studio classes, because their emphasis is on PROCESS rather than product. For a performer, the creative process requires ongoing commitment to honing one’s craft by way of learning new things. A “scene” is a snapshot of humanity, and acting is both observance and simulation of that snapshot. Thus, scene making and play rehearsals are ideal settings for practicing acting techniques. In particular, young artists benefit from taking a closer look at the inner workings of a scene – the Who, What, Where, When and Why. 

Benefits: An acting workshop offers a playful and thought-provoking experience that fosters critical thinking, increases empathy for others, improves self-esteem, and boosts confidence in public speaking. 

Ideally, students for Pop Culture Players would possess *at least one* of the following qualities:
•	Capable of working with other students for short bursts without teacher supervision
•	Interest in live theatre, television, or movies 
•	Interest in performing live in front of an audience
•	Curiosity about acting techniques
•	Courage and willingness to be vulnerable in front of others
•	Has prior experience with acting classes or general theatre exposure
•	Has prior experience performing in a scene/play at home, at school, or in their community

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DETAILED CLASS AGENDA
Warm Up:
We begin with theatrical “ice breaker” games to prepare students for acting with classmates. (10 Min)

Script Analysis:
Teacher and students will briefly discuss the script, examining closely the location and time period, the motivations for each character(s), and the action(s) taking place. (10 Min)

Scene Rehearsal:
Inside Breakout Rooms, students collaborate with an assigned partner or group. With the teacher’s assistance, learners cast themselves as scripted characters. In rehearsing the script, students learn to make informed choices about character movement and emotions. No memorization of lines is necessary; dialogue will be read from the script in-hand. Use of small props and/or costume pieces is allowed, as long as it does not take much time to gather an item for their character. (20 Min)

Performance Workshop/Feedback:
Students leave Breakout Rooms and rejoin the main classroom, where they present unique versions of the same script in front of the class. Every scene is performed once without interruption. Then the teacher “workshops” each scene as a learning experience for the class. Finally, students re-perform their scenes to practice implementing constructive changes provided by their instructor and peers. (20 Min)

Cool Down, Q&A, Closing Reflection:
Students relax and discuss their feelings, impressions, and thoughts about their scene work. Students can ask questions of each other and of the teacher to promote further learning and exchange. (10 Min)

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(Class photo credit goes to “FreeFunInAustin”.)