Intro to Acting

Scripts

• You’ll be given a script (words and lines you’ll say as a character)

• Read the lines next to your character’s name

• You don’t say anything in paranthesis (these are stage directions and not meant to be heard by the audience)

Stage Direction

• Stage directions are given to actors (either by the script or the director) that tell the actor where to stand or what to do while he/she is saying his/her lines (ex: brandishes his sword)

• If stage directions are not in parenthesis (blablabla) they’ll be in italics

• DO NOT SAY STAGE DIRECTIONS ALOUD!!!

The Stage Diagram

Upstage Right Upstage Center Upstage Left

Center Stage

Right

Center Stage Center Stage Left

Downstage

Right

Downstage

Center

Downstage

Left

Speaking

• Without screaming, you must speak loudly enough so that the people in the back of the auditorium can hear you (in case your mic goes out)

• When speaking your lines, you can never turn you back on the audience. If you’re standing with your side to them, angle yourself more toward the audience.

Acting Terms

• 1. Emotional recall:a technique used to reactivate emotions you think are parallel to the emotions a character is feeling.

For example, if a character is going mourning a death, you would think back to a death you’ve experienced, and try to bring those emotions out

• Improvisation

performing without a script (or “winging it”)

• Monologue

an uninterrupted, extended speech by a single person that is said to others

• Soliloquy

an uninterrupted, extended speech by a single person that is said aloud, but only meant for the speaker to hear (like he or she is talking to him/herself, but the audience gets to listen)

For the Play, You Will Need:

• A bed sheet (DON’T BRING YOUR BEST SHEETS!)• Safety pins• Some sort of sandal or flip flop (to be worn ONLY in

this classroom during your period)• A rope to tie around your waist• You may add an ivy wreath or bracelets to your toga

if you wish• You’ll be given a script in class that must stay in

class; if you’re interested in memorizing your lines, you can buy No Fear Shakespeare: Julius Caesar

• Your extra credit name sign