Read the Case Study, Culture at Wal-Mart. Western Companies Often Impose Western Culture on the Country in Which the Business Is Launched. Locate an Article About a Western Company (Not Wal-Mart) and the Influence of a

Chapter 14 – Acting

Terminology

GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES
ILLUSION OF “THE FIRST TIME”
UPSTAGE/DOWNSTAGE
OPEN UP
GIVE STAGE
FOCUS
SCENE STUDY
BEATS OR UNITS
SPINE OF THE ROLE
SUBTEXT
EMOTION MEMORY
ARTICULATION
INFLECTION
PROJECTION
CUE LINES
LINE READINGS
DRESS REHEARSALS
STAGE FRIGHT

Outline

I. The actor most clearly personifies the stage for the general public
  A. The actor’s function is to embody characters
  B. Stage actors must:
    1. Be aware of how the action develops
    2. Shape their performance for tension, tempo, emphases, and build to the climax
    3. Re-create the performance each time for a new audience
  C. In many ways, acting is an extension of everyday human behavior
    1. We speak, move and interact with others
    2. We play many “roles” as we adjust to changing contexts
    3. However, the ability to use behavior expressively in the theatre differs from the ability to function adequately in daily life
  D. The 3 basic ingredients of acting skill are:
        a. Innate ability (talent) b.   Training c.   Practice (experience)

II. The Actor’s Training and Means
  A. In acting training, different aspects of acting are singled out for specialized attention

III. The Actor’s Instrument
  A. Actors spend years mastering their instrument – themselves
    1. Body and voice are the actor’s primary means of expression
        a. These must be flexible, disciplined and expressive
  B. One of the actor’s primary challenges is to understand how the body and voice function
    1. Work toward gaining control over one’s physical instrument
    2. Eliminate any inhibiting tensions
  C. It is difficult to achieve physical and vocal freedom and expressiveness without some concern for the psychological processes that may create tension or block creative expression
    1. Improvisational exercises or theatre games help overcome these obstacles
  D. Actors often seek more specialized training...