Summer Camp Play: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!"

I've been teaching theatre since 1996 and have produced countless shows with cast after cast (and I’ve directed this show on stage multiple times). There are a few basic lessons that every new actor must learn before they are ready to audition for a play and receive a script. This class will cover those basic lessons but then it will go on to give students a chance to demonstrate those lessons. 

Days 1: Creating a Character
In this class students will learn the basics of creating a character for stage. They will experiment with finding character voices, body movements and consider stories and emotions behind character motivations. It is a first step to performing on a stage. This class is all about using the voice to find a character. Experimenting with high/slow, fast/slow and accent is a good way to start. All exercises are with teacher modeling and mimic so students will feel comfortable (basically, I'm so silly that no one worries about looking silly themselves!). Next learners will learn how to use one's body to convey a character. How does this person walk? What do they do with their hands? How would they stand/sit/move, etc? I also will talk some about body consciousness on stage and basic stage manners like cheating out, not upstaging and how to always be seen. Finally, we'll talk about how we FEEL when we're a particular character and we will add a story to explain who the character is. 

Day 2: Reading through the script
Homework is not required in any of my classes so we will read the script together on day #2 and discuss how to audition for a part.

Days 3: Auditioning for a part 
They will choose their top three favorite characters, develop character voices and movements for each, memorize a few lines and perform for Ms. Jackson and the class. Depending on how many students are enrolled in class, there will be some double casting. 

Days 4-5: Rehearsing
Although we do not have a stage, we will do our best to learn as many parts as we can for stage performance. If students have space, they may move around as the characters. Students are expected to memorize their lines. If they would like to put together costumes and collect props for their parts, they may. 

Days 6: Performance
We perform!