Untitled
SHAKESPEARIAN PERFORMANCE
Robert F. Gross
gross@hws.edu
Office Hours: 1-3 Tues./Thurs.
Texts:
Barton, John. Playing Shakespeare [on reserve]
Berry, Cicely. The Actor and his Text
Brook, Peter. The Empty Space
Shakespeare, William. Complete Works. any edition.
Vendler, Helen. The Art of Shakespeare's Sonnets [on reserve]
Links to Shakespeare-related sites:
 | A fascinating and exemplary website devoted to Measure to Measure. |
| The Bard's complete works on line. |
| Ideas for studying Shakespeare in performance, including class exercises. |
| You can get to allworts of interesting Shakespeare-related sites from here. |
| Shakespeare's works are far from the only English Renaissance playwright worth knowing. |
Class Schedule
Week 1
T--Introduction
Th--Preparation:
Read Brook, Chapt. 1
Read Berry, pp. 14-81
In class:
Discuss readings
Vocal exercises
Week 2
T--Preparation:
Rehearse group sonnet; use Vendler [on reserve] as reference.
Read Brook, chapt. 2
In class:
Vocal exercises
Present group sonnet
Discuss readings
Receive sonnet assignment
Th-- Preparation:
Read Berry, 82-139
Prepare individual sonnet; use Vendler [on reserve] as reference.
Rehearse group sonnet
In class:
Vocal exercises
Present group sonnet for grade
Rehearse individual sonnets
Week 3
T--Preparation:
Prepare and memorize individual sonnet
In class:
Vocal exercises
Rehearse individual sonnets, memorized
Th--Preparation:
Read Brook, chapt. 3.
Prepare individual sonnets
In class:
Discuss Brook
Vocal exercises
Present individual sonnets
Receive monologue assignments
Week 4
T--Preparation:
Read play for monologue.
Read 15-20 pages of Shakespearian scholarship specifically on your play.
Prepare 3-4 page report on your research.
In class:
Vocal exercises
Present individual sonnets
Th--Preparation:
Read Brook, chapt. 3
Rehearse monologue
In class:
Discuss Brook
Vocal exercises
Rehearse monolgues
Week 5
T--Preparation
Read Brook, chapt. 4
Memorize and rehearse monologue
In class:
Discuss Brook
Vocal exercises
Present monologues, memorized
Receive assignments for first scene
Th--Preparation:
Read play for first scene.
Read 15-20 pages of Shakespearian scholarship specifically on your play.
Prepare 3-4 page report on your research
Rehearse sonnet
In class:
Present sonnet for grade
Rehearse monologues
Week 6
T-- Preparation:
Begin rehearsals with partner on scene
Prepare beat analysis and scene breakdown.
In class:
Hand in beat analysis
Rehearse monologue
Th--Preparation:
Continue work on monologue.
Rehearse scene with partner
In class:
Present monologue for grade
Present scenes
Week 7
T--Preparation:
Memorize scene
Rehearse scene with partner
In class:
Vocal exercises
Rehearse scenes
Th--Preparation:
Rehearse scene with partner
In class:
Vocal exercises
Present scenes in class.
Week 8
T--Preparation:
Rehearse scene with partner
In class:
Vocal exercises
Present scenes in class.
Receive second scene assignment-
Th--Preparation:
Rehearse first scene with partner
Read second play
.
Read 15-20 pages of criticism on your play.
Prepare 3-4 page report on reading.
In class:
Present first scene in class for grade.
Hand in report
Week 9
T--Preparation:
Rehearse second scene with partner
Prepare beat analysis and scene breakdown.
In class:
Rehearse second scene
Hand in beat analysis
Th--Preparation:
Memorize scene
Rehearse second scene with partner
In class:
Rehearse scenes, memorized.
Week 10
T--Preparation:
Rehearse second scene with partner
In class:
Rehearse scenes
Th--Preparation:
Rehearse second scene with partner
In class:
Rehearse scenes
Final examination:
(check calendar)-
-Sonnet, group sonnet, and second scene presented for grade.
Grading:
10% sonnet
10% monologue
10% group sonnets
10% first scene
20% writtern work
20% second scene
20% final examnation
Assignments will not be accepted late.
After one absence, the final grade will go down one point with every succeeding day.
Noticeable lapses of memory or concentration will result in a "D" on monologues and scene work.