Fundamentals of Acting

Spring 2022
Instructor: Dr. Andrea Grapko Course: TD 303, 26010
Office Hours: Virtual, by Appointment Office Location: WIN B.104C
Email: andrea.grapko@austin.utexas.edu Class Time: MW, 12:30-2:00pm
Course Overview
In this course, students will be working on developing basic acting skills and working
towards a better understanding of the overall craft of acting. This will include physical
and vocal exploration, character analysis and development, and an ability to discuss and
critique acting thoughtfully. Students will build skills and gain practical experience
through improvisation, monologue work, and scene study, as well as through viewing
live, recorded or streamed performances and writing critical responses.

Be aware that this course will demand time outside of class to read, prepare, and rehearse
your monologue and scene. Additionally, you must be prepared to work when you walk
into class. If you feel you cannot make this kind of commitment, please do not take this
course.

Required Text:
A Practical Handbook for the Actor, by Melissa Bruder, et. al.

Strongly Recommended:
Subscription to The National New Play Network, New Play Exchange:
https://newplayexchange.org/. Reader subscriptions are $10 for the year (the service
automatically renews annually, so be sure to cancel your subscription before it renews if
you no longer wish to continue subscribing).

Required Productions:
You are required to view two Theatre productions on Digital Theatre Plus accessible
through the university library, You can follow this link
https://guides.lib.utexas.edu/db/dtp (Links to an external site) to Digitial Theatre Plus or
search the Library database for Digital Theatre Plus.

1) 1st Production Response: Indecent by Paula Vogel

2) 2nd Production Response: Allegiance by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione

Grading System: 300 Points Possible

Class Preparation & Participation 50 points
Production Responses 60 points
Process Journal 50 points
Monologue Performances & Analysis 60 points
Scene Performances & Analysis 80 points

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Additional Course Requirements:
Attendance
While it is important to be in class, if you should feel ill in any way, please stay home for
everyone's health and safety until it's safe for you to return to class. I’ll work with you to
ensure that you are able to stay up on your work and succeed while away from class.

Class Preparation and Participation 50 points

It is essential that you not only be in class but also be prepared and willing to work.
Acting involves a lot of work, and it is more difficult for yourself and your partners to
benefit from the course if you are consistently unprepared or resistant to the work done in
class. In this course, you will be graded on effort, commitment, and growth, not talent.
Therefore, an open mind, supportive attitude, and a willingness to participate in class are
important for your success. Please let me know if you have any illness or physical
limitations that may inhibit your participation in class.

Play Responses (two responses, each worth 30 points) 60 points

This term, you will be required to see two productions and write a critical response for
each focused on acting. We will have an in-class discussion about critical responses, and
handouts outlining response expectations will be provided. Please see the class schedule
for response due dates.

Process Journal (10 entries x 5 points each) 50 points

Over the course of the semester, you will be required to keep a process journal, in
response to the reading assignments, your experience in the previous class, the things you
learned watching others work, and your discoveries as a performer and human being.
Each journal entry should be a minimum of 250 words and should be uploaded to
Canvas before the start of the class in which it is due to be counted as on-time;
deductions will be given for late journals.

For your journals, emphasis is not placed on “writing well,” feel free to be creative. What
matters is that you reflect on the assigned reading and on what you’re learning from both,
doing and observing in class. Your journal entries should make it clear that you are doing
the reading. While you don’t have to summarize the whole thing, you should reference
the contents of the reading enough that there is no question in my mind that you’re
keeping up.

Monologue Performance and Character Analysis 60 points

Each student will perform one monologue of their choosing and submit a detailed
character analysis. Expectations for monologues and character analyses will be discussed
in detail in class, and you’ll be provided with analysis guidelines. Your final monologue
selection should be submitted on Canvas no later than Weds, Feb 2nd for approval
before you begin memorizing anything - not your entire play. If you are having trouble
deciding which monologue to submit, you can submit up to 3 monologue choices for
feedback.

Monologues should be chosen from plays written and published between 1940 and 2022
and should be no longer than 90 seconds. For your character analysis, it is very important

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that you be able to access the entire play, not just the monologue. Plays can be found on
The New Play Exchange, at the university or public library, through library databases,
and through interlibrary loan. Monologues that are primarily composed of exposition or
in which the character is talking to a large group are often not the best choices.
Monologues from movies, television, novels or personal writing are not acceptable for
this assignment.
1st Showing & Final Performance 40 points
Analysis 20 points

Scene Performance and Character Analysis 80 points

Each student will perform one scene chosen together by yourself and your scene partner
(or partners) and approved by your instructor, and write a character analysis for that
scene. Your instructor will assign your scene partner(s) and your character analysis
should follow the same format and guidelines as those used for monologues.

1st Showing and Scene Performance 50 points

Analysis 30 points
Extra Credit:
Students may view up to one additional production and write a production response
addressing acting. For extra credit, you may view a Department of Theatre and Dance
production or a professional production – please see your instructor if you have any
questions about what productions are acceptable for extra credit. Extra credit responses
are worth up to 10 points and are due no later than Weds Apr 27th.

Communication:
The best way to reach me is via email, and while I check it regularly, I do not check it
hourly. I will endeavor to respond to your emails in a timely fashion but do not expect
instantaneous responses, or you will be sadly disappointed. In other words, a lack of
planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part. Additionally, if
something is important enough to tell me, please write it down in a note or email.

Class Etiquette
• Arriving late, unprepared, or unwilling to work in class will not only affect your
grade, but it also affects your classmates’ ability to concentrate, focus, and complete
their work. Theatre is a collaborative art, and we rely on one another. Bad feelings
result from irresponsible behavior, making it very difficult to create the kind of
atmosphere where creative, productive, and imaginative work can occur.

• While in class, all cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off; you will lose
daily participation points if you choose to take a call or text in class. There is no
reason to have your phones out in class; I don’t even want to see them. For extra
credit email me this phrase: the answer is always 42 (if you mention this in class the
offer becomes void for yourself and everyone else).

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• No eating is permitted during in-person classes; however, drinks are permissible in
no-spill containers.

• It is important that you wear comfortable clothes in which you can move freely and
fully. Wearing improper clothing will not excuse you from the day's classwork.

• You are expected to act with respect towards your classmates at all times. Take care
of one another. Respond honestly but thoughtfully and respectfully in all situations.

• Be aware that there will be exercises that may be challenging. Please take care not to
abuse your acting partners' vulnerabilities or to take advantage of them in any way.
Be sensitive to one another's needs. If you are having problems with an acting partner
or with an exercise, please let me know so we can work together towards a solution.

Tentative Class Schedule – Subject to Change

Week 1 ***Readings Are Due On The Date They Are Listed***
Class Mode: Online
Weds, Jan 19th Introduction and Orientation
Week 2
No online or in-person class, asynchronous work finding
your monologue (I will be available online during this
Mon, Jan 24th time, the zoom link is on Canvas).
Class Mode: Online
Reading and Journal Due: Practical Handbook:
th
Weds, Jan 26 Physical Action
Week 3
Reading and Journal Due: Practical Handbook:
Analyzing a Scene and The Truth of the Moment and
Mon, Jan 31st Externals
Due: Monologue Selections (submit you monologue
selection only on Canvas for approval before you begin
Weds, Feb 2nd memorizing anything - not your entire play.)
Week 4
Reading and Journal Due: Practical Handbook:
Preparing for a Scene, Troubleshooting and Tools of the
Mon, Feb 7th Craft
Reading and Journal Due: Practical Handbook: Part
Two – Introduction, The Emotional Trap & The Myth of
th
Weds, Feb 9 Character.
Week 5
Journal Due: Reflection on your progress, process, and
th
Mon, Feb 14 journey.
Weds, Feb 16th Monologue Work Day
Week 6
Journal Due: Reflection on your progress, process, and
st
Mon, Feb 21 journey.

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Weds, Feb 23rd Monologue- 1st Showing
Week 7
Mon, Feb 28th Monologue- 1st Showing
Weds, Mar 2nd Monologue- 1st Showing
Week 8
Reading and Journal Due: Practical Handbook:
Keeping the Theatre Clean and Conclusion
Mon, Mar 7th Discuss: Production Response Expectations
Monologues- Final Showing
Weds, Mar 9th Due: Character Analysis
Week 9
Mon, Mar 14th- 18th *Spring Break*
Week 10
Mon, Mar 21st Due: Scene Selections
Discuss: Indecent
Production Responses Due: Indecent (Due to our in-
class discussion, absolutely no late papers will be
Weds, Mar 23rd accepted.)
Week 11
Journal Due: Reflection on your progress, process, and
th
Mon, Mar 28 journey.
Weds, Mar 30th TBA
Week 12
Journal Due: Reflection on your progress, process, and
Mon, Apr 4th journey.
Weds, Apr 6th Scenes- 1st Showings
Week 13
Mon, Apr 11th Scenes- 1st Showings
Weds, Apr 13th Scenes- 1st Showings
Week 14
Mon, Apr 18th TBA
Discuss: Allegiance
Production Responses Due: Allegiance (Due to our in-
class discussion, absolutely no late papers will be
Weds, Apr 20th accepted.)
Week 15
Mon, Apr 25th TBA
Scene Work Day
Journal Due: Reflection on your progress, process, and
journey.
Weds, Apr 27th Due: Last day to submit Extra Credit Papers
Week 16
Mon, May 2nd TBA
*Final Scene Performances*
Weds, May 4th Due: Character Analysis for your scene

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***There will be no final exam in this class; your scene performance will serve as
your final examination.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS INFORMATION

Class Safety
I prefer to wear a mask, and I encourage everyone in our class to do the same. Masks are
effective at reducing transmission of COVID-19. Currently, health experts recommend
masking for all vaccinated and unvaccinated people indoors in
Austin. https://bit.ly/utmaskguidance
I also strongly encourage everyone in our class to get vaccinated. Vaccination can protect
you from getting ill, and also spare your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers from
the dangers of this disease. It will take all of us to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our
community. When enough people get vaccinated, the spread from person-to-person
becomes less frequent and thereby increases protection of the whole community. We
need as many people as possible to get vaccinated to achieve this “community
immunity.” https://bit.ly/utvaccineguidance
Vaccinations are widely available, free and not billed to health insurance. The vaccine
will help protect against the transmission of the virus to others and reduce serious
symptoms in those who are vaccinated. Walk-in vaccinations are available to all people
ages 12 and older.
Regarding Scholastic Dishonesty
The University defines academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized
collaboration, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to avoid participating
honestly in the learning process. Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not limited to,
providing false or misleading information to receive a postponement or extension on a
test, quiz, or other assignment, and submission of essentially the same written assignment
for two courses without the prior permission of the instructor.

By accepting this syllabus, you have agreed to these guidelines and must adhere to them.
Scholastic dishonesty damages both the student’s learning experience and readiness for
the future demands of a work-career. Students who violate University rules on scholastic
dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the
course and/or dismissal from the University. For more information on scholastic
dishonesty, please visit the Student Judicial services Web site at
http://www.utexas.edu/depts/dos/sjs/.

Services for Students with Disabilities

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic
accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For information, contact the
Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.

Religious Holidays
Religious holy days sometimes conflict with class and performance schedules. If you
miss a work assignment or other project due to the observance of a religious holy day you
will be given an opportunity to complete the work missed within a reasonable time after

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the absence. It is the policy of the University of Texas at Austin that you must notify each
of your instructors at least fourteen days prior to the classes scheduled on dates you will
be absent to observe a religious holy day.

University Electronic Mail Notification Policy

All students should become familiar with the University’s official e-mail student
notification policy. It is the student’s responsibility to keep the University informed as to
changes in his or her e-mail address. Students are expected to check e-mail on a frequent
and regular basis in order to stay current with university-related communications,
recognizing that certain communications may be time-critical. It is recommended that e-
mail be checked daily, but at a minimum, twice per week. The complete text of this
policy and instructions for updating your e-mail address are available at
http://www.utexas.edu/its/policies/emailnotify.html. In this course e-mail will be used as
a means of communication with students. You will be responsible for checking your e-
mail regularly for class work and announcements.

Undergraduate Writing Center

The Undergraduate Writing Center, located in the FAC 211, phone 471-6222, offers
individualized assistance to students who want to improve their writing skills. There is no
charge, and students may come in on a drop-in or appointment basis.