MS Theater Instructional Guide

Topic: Character Analysis and Development Middle School Theatre Course

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS:

Analyze a script and develop a character physically, vocally and emotionally in order to sustain a believable, authentic, and relevant character in performance.

Examples of Learning Intention and Success Criteria ​ Learning Intention:

●​ I am learning the important components of a theatrical character. ●​ I am learning how to find clues in a script to better understand character, plot, and relationships. ●​ I am learning how to determine a character’s motivations and objectives in a script or scenario. ●​ I am learning to analyze a script for physical character traits so I can develop and perform a character’s physicality.

Success Criteria : I will know I have learned it when:

●​ I can explain a character’s traits and motivations. ●​ I can read and analyze a script for character physicality traits. ●​ I can experiment with physical and vocal traits to help make choices for performing a character. ●​ I can develop and perform a character based on text from the script.

Example of Learning Progression

1. ​ Read a script intended for theatrical performance. 2. ​ Analyze the script to identify physical character traits in the text. 3. ​ Develop a character based on your analysis of the text. 4. ​ Rehearse a physical character based on your character analysis. 5. ​ Perform your physical character in a performance of the script.

CONCEPTS:

PRIORITY VOCABULARY:

SKILLS:

●​ Character Development ●​ Character, Setting, and Essential Events ●​ Physical, Vocal, and Emotional Character Choices ●​ Believability, Authenticity, and Relevance ●​ Given Circumstances

●​ Character Development ●​ Given Circumstances ●​ Character ●​ Setting ●​ Essential Events

●​ Create and sustain physical, vocal, and emotional choices for a character in performance ●​ Create and perform a believable, authentic, and relevant character