Drama History Study

	A) Purpose:  
The academic purpose of this series of projects is to familiarize you with the eras of drama history.  These projects will also give you in-depth knowledge in one era that will help you to gain the following core understandings:
	1. Drama is influenced by past traditions.
	2. Theatre reflects the society that creates it.
	3. Observing drama teaches us about ourselves.
	4. Certain themes, characters and situations are universal.

The creative and productive goal of the theatre history segment is for you to make historically accurate projects and productions using the drama process.  Your work must communicate the answers to the key areas listed.

Your final goal is a critical and responsive one.  You will write a group exam and respond to the work of other groups.  Details on this segment of the evaluation will be provided later.

	B) The Assignment:

You will be working on an era in theater history as a group, but will do several assignments as an individual.  Only one group may pick each topic, but individuals may choose the same individual projects within a topic.  

Era				Individual Projects (choose 2)
Roman 			Model of any major theatre
				Perform a historical monologue 
				Build a prop (armor, bust)
				Audio/Visual summary of the era

Medieval 			Model of a pageant wagon
				Paint a typical backdrop
				Perform a historical monologue 
				Build a prop (devil, bible)
				Audio/Visual summary of the era

Elizabethan 			Design costumes for Romeo and Juliet
				Build a model of any major London theatre
				Perform a historical monologue 
				Build a prop (sword, crown)
				Audio/Visual summary of the era

Restoration			Create a historically accurate playbill
				Write a biography of a major figure
				Perform a historical monologue 
				Design costumes for a major production
				Create a maquette for a major production

Realism			Create a written report on how Stanislavski reforms theater
				Perform a monologue by Ibsen or Shaw
				Create a box set for an Ibsen or Shaw production
				Build a prop
				Create a light diagram

As an individual, you will have two weeks to create any two of the individual projects.  As a group, you will have 6 days of work time.  You will need at least three days for research, so you will have a maximum of three class periods to complete your group project. 

Theater History Group Project

	You can work in groups of three to five and will have six days to complete your project.  Your final project will be a presentation of 5-10 minutes on your era.  The final product will be evaluated on presentation skills, content and a skit in period acting style.  Your process as a group and use of class time will be evaluated during your work periods.

Days 1-3

Step One – Choose a group of three to five people.

Step Two – Choose a topic.  Only one group may do each one.

Step Three – Read research information as a group, record responses to research questions.  Decide who will find which parts of the information you are still missing.

Step Four – Go to the library to find additional information

Days 4-6

Step One – Develop a presentation, assign jobs

Step Two – Practice your scene lots

Step Three – Practice your entire presentation

Evaluation

Process

	Use of time 						/15
	Group dynamic					/10
	Group problem solving				/10		/35

Product
	Pace							/5
Structure						/10
	Clarity, Diction, Pronunciation, Variety		/10
	Content						/25
	Memorization						/10
	Acting style						/15		/75

Drama History Group Project Evaluation

	Group Members:

Process

	Use of time 						/15

	Group dynamic					/10

	Group problem solving				/10

		/35

Product
	Pace							/5

Structure						/10

	Clarity, Diction, Pronunciation, Variety		/10

	Content						/25

	Memorization						/10

	Acting style						/15	

/75
 
Comments:

Theatre History Group Questions

1. How does the time period influence the qualities of the drama produced?

2.  How does the drama produced influence the time period?

3.  Where was theatre produced?

4.  How was a theatre company organized?

5.  Who were the major playwrights, and what kind of plays did they make?

6.  What technical theatre capabilities existed?

7.  What was the acting style like?

8.  What where the characteristics of a good actor?

9.  What dates does the period include?

10.  What factors influenced the success of the theatre?

11.  Who went to see the theatre and why?

12.  Who were the important personalities associated with the theatre?  Why?

13.  What would an audience member see at a typical production?

14.  What commonalties exist between theatre in your time period and modern theatre?

Need help getting a feel for your time period?  Below are lists of videos you may be interested in.  ***Please note that many contain material inappropriate for school, and you should discuss them with your teacher and parents before viewing.

“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” – contains pageant wagon and troop of players from the medieval period

“Shakespeare in Love” – good period costumes, theater and social information, excellent model of the Globe Theatre

“Gladiator” – good Roman society clues, good costumes

Evaluation of a Scale Model or Maquette
Theatre History Individual Project, Drama 30

							Name:

Apparent Effort								/10

Appropriate Detail								/15

Quality of Construction							/15

Proportion									/10

Visual Appeal									/10

Use of Class Time								/10

											/70

Comments:

Evaluation of a Monologue
Theatre History Individual Project, Drama 30

							Name:

Apparent Effort								/10

Appropriate Acting Style							/20
(Voice, mannerism, facial expression, pace)

Characterization								/15

Objective and Audience							/10

Costume and Set								/5

Use of Class Time								/10

											/70

Comments:

Evaluation of a Prop
Theatre History Individual Project, Drama 30

							Name:

Apparent Effort								/10

Appropriate Detail								/20

Quality of Construction							/15

Sturdiness									/5

Visual Appeal									/10

Use of Class Time								/10

											/70

Comments:

Evaluation of a Mini-Backdrop
Theatre History Individual Project, Drama 30

							Name:

Apparent Effort								/10

Historical Detail								/10

Painting Style									/15
(Brush strokes, choice of color, choice of canvas)

Perspective									/10

Visual Appeal									/15

Use of Class Time								/10

											/70

Comments:

Evaluation of a Costume Design Set
Theatre History Individual Project, Drama 30

							Name:

Apparent Effort								/10

Historical Detail								/25
(Clothing, shoes, hair, undergarments, construction)

Visual Rendering								/15
(Use of color, graphics, choice of cloth swatches)

Visual Appeal									/10

Use of Class Time								/10

											/70

Comments:

Evaluation of an Audio/Visual Production
Theatre History Individual Project, Drama 30

							Name:

Apparent Effort								/5

Content									/20

Quality of Graphic Design							/15

Editing										/10

Visual Appeal									/10

Use of Class Time								/10

											/70

Comments:

Evaluation of a Written Project
Theatre History Individual Project, Drama 30

							Name:

Content									/30

Writing Style									/15

Drafting									/10

Mechanics									/5

Use of Class Time								/10

											/70

Comments:

Evaluation of a Playbill
Theatre History Individual Project, Drama 30

							Name:

Apparent Effort								/10

Appropriate Detail								/20

Quality of Hand Lettering							/15

Mechanics									/5

Visual Appeal									/10

Use of Class Time								/10

											/70

Comments: