Acting for the Stage

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Acting for the Stage
Edwin Booth as Hamlet
2
Function of the Actor

• Take the character created by the playwright and
  turn him into a living breathing human being

3
Actor and Character

• Actor is the artist
• Character is the work of art

4
Two Approaches

• External Create the character through external
  signs gestures, posture, body language.
  
• Internal The character grows from within the
  actor

5
Delsarte System

• Created by Francois Delsarte (1811-1871)
• He believed a characters emotions could be
  projected by a formal set of gestures, postures
  and physical attitudes
  
• Popular in the late 19th century
• Used by the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and
  Emersons School of Oratory

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Delsarte System in Action
Phantom of the Opera
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Constantin Stanislavski1863-1938

• Russian Actor
• Director of the Moscow Art Theatre
• Developer of The Method approach to actor
  training
  
• Author of four books on acting

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American Home of the The Method

• The Actors Studio
• Founded 1947 by Elia Kazan
• Master Teacher Lee Strasburg
• First major Broadway production to use The
  Method A Streetcar Named Desire
  
• Directed by Elia Kazan
• Stared Marlon Brando, the Studios first major
  star

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The Stanislavskian Method

• Trained body and voice
• Know stage technique
• Skilled observer
• Analyze the script
• Emotionally involved with the character
• Concentrate on the character
• Continually work on your art

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Stage Technique

• Adapting everyday life to the conventions of the
  theatre
  
• -- Opening a door
• -- Pointing
• -- Making a turn
• -- Talking on the phone
• -- Sitting in a chair

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Emotional Involvement

• Emotional recall recalling an experience from
  you past.
  
• The Magical If Asking yourself, If I was the
  character, what would I do

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Emotional Memory
Conscious
A Memory
Unconscious
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Play Analysis

• Text The lines written by the playwright
• Sub-text The meaning behind those lines
• Spine The characters major goal
• Motivation (Verb) What is the character
  attempting to achieve.
  
• Active verbs To belittle, To challenge, To
  avoid
  

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Actors greatest challenge

• Make each performance new and fresh
• Make the audience believe that this is the first
  time this event has occurred
  
• How? By listening and responding honestly

15
Economic Reality

• You will spend much of your time unemployed
• You will audition often
• When you do get a part, you wont make a lot of
  money
  
• Scale in New York ranges from 63 / performance
  to 187 / performance (on Broadway)

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Actor Unions

• Actors Equity (AEA) Theatre
• Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Film
• American Federation of Radio and Television
  Artists (AFTRA) Television
  
• American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Opera,
  Ballet and Modern Dance
  
• American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) Show
  girls (dancers)
  

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Actor Diversity (SAG)

• 81 -- White
• 13 -- African American
• 4 -- Hispanic
• 2 -- Asian
• 63 -- Male (37 Female)
• 60 -- Under 40 (40 over 40)