Acting I
Barbara Anger, Instructor
(3 credits)
“Acting is play quite heavily disguised as work.”
Judi Dench
Acting I is fun and rigorous. It is an opportunity to explore some fundamental acting concepts and techniques through exercises, improvisations, presentations, readings and discussions. It is a way of understanding what we do in life and making it work on stage. Acting is a life-enhancing process that involves commitment and focus with a willingness to explore and communicate. Both newcomers to acting and those who have experience will have a chance to challenge themselves and enjoy the work.
Classes begin with a vocal and physical warm-up preparing everyone for the day’s work followed by theatre games, projects and script work (monologues and scenes). We create an ensemble where students feel free to work together and give feedback. Over the course of the semester you will learn improvisation and audition techniques and work on a monologue and a scene. Some techniques explored are Meisner, Stanislavski, sensory work, mime and Rasa Boxes.
We delve into many different acting techniques to achieve the following goals:
- learn to analyze a script
- learn the basic components for both scripted and unscripted work
- develop spontaneity – a sense of “being in the moment”
- learn techniques for developing the voice and the body
- transform self into dramatic characters
- connect emotionally to the inner life of the character
- work cooperatively and collaborate with fellow actors
- let go of inhibition
- free up creative energy
- manage tension
- take emotional risks
Barbara has been teaching acting at Ithaca College since 1985. At Ithaca she wrote and directed Socially Transmitted Dread and the interactive play, Date At Eight. Both plays toured to several colleges including Wells College, Binghamton University, Cornell University, and Dartmouth College. In 2000, under her direction, she initiated the yearly production of The Vagina Monologues.
