Taught by Ashaunti Samms

This course is a dynamic and immersive experience within the performative art of acting. Not only does this course go in depth about different acting techniques (like character development and story analysis) but also the literary concepts needed to understand scripts.

The historical period we are working within are The Middle Ages which span roughly from the 5th Century to the 15th Century. The majority of the theatrical history that existed within this time period occurs in modern day Europe, China, and Japan. We will explore the works of these regions such as Everyman, Passion Play, The Peony Pavilion, The Story of the West Chamber, The Kabuki Dance, and the Tale of the White Fox.

We will also be studying the play adaptive version of C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Though this story takes place during World War 2, the majority of the narrative is set in a medieval style fantasy world. It is a very rich literary source to help teach medieval historical themes and concepts, as well as relate those concepts to WW2 era and modern day for deeper cultural comprehension.

The fall show (which will be performed towards the end of the semester) is Shakespeare’s Love Labour's Lost. This show is set towards the end of the Middle Age period. We will not only be working on the performance of this text, but also working through analysis of characters, the Shakespearean language, themes, historical context, imagery, and more in order for students to perform in the most informed and specific way possible to give a compelling and believable performance.

The spring show will be a new work musical based on classical fairy tales. This show is currently in development.

Textbook & Course Materials

Required Texts:

• No Fear Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost
• The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by Joseph Robinette
• Must Know High School Grammar

Course Requirements

• 2 Notebooks (one for class and one for your acting journal)
• Pencils (never write in something you can’t erase)
• Highlighter
• Yoga Pillow (we’re gonna sit on the floor a lot)
• Straws (vocal warm-up tool)
• Water bottle (keep water in the room with you; no cups without lids)

Prerequisites & Commitment:

• Prior acting experience is recommended but not required.
• Students must be committed to physical discipline, artistic exploration, and professional rehearsal etiquette.
• Performance participation is mandatory.