LIST OF CLASSES TAUGHT
SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
UNDERGRADUATE
PERF 160- Introduction to Character Development
Focus on basics of both scripted and non-scripted character development as well as basic concepts of staging, monologue preparation, and various acting methodologies.
PERF 204: Survey of Drama, II
Beginning with 19th century realism, course traces the evolution of modern theatre from Ibsen to contemporary playwrights. Through reading and discussion of important plays, students learn about the major playwrights, actors, directors, producers and movements of world drama.
PROD 201: Script Analysis
Taught primarily for designers, this course focuses on a director’s process of script
analysis, and how designers can utilize this process to both interpret plays and
communicate with directors. Professor acts like the “director” in a dialogue with the
design students who interpret plays and create basic designs for discussion.
PERF 340- Scene Study
Initial scene study class, utilizing techniques from Stanislavksi, Meisner, and Michael Chekhov. Class covers 19th century realism, mid-20th century American realism and contemporary realism.
MUST 230 Vocal Repertoire
Students work on developing a wide range of repertoire through solo work. Class covers early 20th century, Golden age and modern musical canons. Students are coached on performance and vocal technique, acting the song, interpretation of lyrics, phrasing, character development, story-telling.
PERF 300- Theory and Acting for the Classics
Study of classic text theory and Shakespeare in performance. Using
John Barton’s Playing Shakespeare as the primary text, students study sonnets and the plays focusing on both solo and partnered work.
PERF 375- Introduction to Directing
Students explore the history of the modern stage director, study various influential directors and their approach to the text. Course includes introduction to the methodology of the director including dramaturgy, casting, developing a concept, working with designers, and rehearsing a play. Each student develops a concept book and directs a scene from the play. I use my own text, A Director’s Itinerary.
MUST 400 Audition Techniques for Musical Theatre
Audition class that focuses on the preparation of materials for use in musical theatre auditions. Classwork includes industry research, methods of finding and securing employment, development of a repertoire book, audition technique, monologue technique, choosing material, and auditioning for various companies.
MUST 410: Survey of American Musical Theatre History
Covers musical theatre history from The Black Crook through the contemporary musical theatre. Covers composers and lyricists, major periods, major works, important performers, designers, directors, producers.
PERF 425- Audition Techniques and Professional Development
The advanced student works on audition material, develops professional resumes and headshots, learns about various aspects of the profession they are about to enter including unions, professional publications and organizations, agents and casting directors, the structure of not for profit and for profit theaters, etc.
MUST 440 Musical Theatre Scene Study
A continuation of MUST 230, this class brings the acting work into scene study
using musical theatre’s greatest duet literature. Emphasis is on vocal technique, acting, partnering, listening and create honest characters that listen and relate to their partners.
PERF 495- Senior Project
Capstone course for all performing arts students at SCAD. Students develop final workshop presentation showcases of scenes and monologues that travel to New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles.
GRADUATE
PERF 731: Acting: Realism, & PERF 741 Acting: Anti-realism
Graduate acting courses, newly developed as part of the MFA revision. Focus in first quarter is on texts in realistic canon, starting with Ibsen and Chekhov, continuing through early American realism and to contemporary realism. Second quarter focuses on non-realistic plays, starting with early 20th century expressionism through modern anti-realism and theatre of the absurd.
PERF 780, Production Lab
Graduate capstone class. Students perform full-length plays.
COLLABORATIONS
Other World: Developmental workshop of new musical with artistic team that includes high-level Broadway professionals, developing both book, music in lyrics in one workshop and arranging collaboration with SCAD departments to develop interactive media components
Animation: worked with animation professor, bringing animation and performing arts students together in the creation of original characters
A New Brain: collaboration between Performing Arts, Film and Television, Graphic Design, Animation and Drawing departments.
Fahrenheit 451: Produced collaboration of 10 departments to create cutting-edge vision of Ray Bradbury’s iconic work adapted by the author.Presented on campus and then at Washington, DC’s Round House Theatre. Featured in American Theatre Magazine.
The Casting Office: Performing Arts collaborates with Film and Television, Game
Design and Animation to cast performers in student projects.
.
OTHER INSTITUTIONS
Acting Styles for Opera Singers. University of New Hampshire
Class focused on techniques applicable to enhanced musical performance styles required by Opera genre. Using acting technique, singers were guided through scene study (non-musical), and exercises to train in spontaneity, listening and reacting, creating characters, and being truthful. The class proceeded to musical theater and opera scenes, incorporating the techniques to result in honest characterizations and interactions.
Acting for Opera, Musical Theater and Drama, Cincinnati Conservatory
Introductory acting class that includes students from all three majors. Class sought to find a foundational approach to acting that translated easily to all three genres, offering students a technique that could be applied to their discipline. Focus on monologues and scene study, utilizing Meisner technique, and exercises drawn from Stanislavski and Michael Chekhov.
Shakespeare Styles, Cincinnati Conservatory
Advanced MFA Acting course exploring styles of performance of works by Shakespeare through scene study.
Audition Workshop, Cincinnati Conservatory
Intensive course in preparing monologues and songs for professional auditions. Included interviews and master classes with professional agents and theatre companies touring through Cincinnati.
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SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
UNDERGRADUATE
PERF 160- Introduction to Character Development
Focus on basics of both scripted and non-scripted character development as well as basic concepts of staging, monologue preparation, and various acting methodologies.
PERF 204: Survey of Drama, II
Beginning with 19th century realism, course traces the evolution of modern theatre from Ibsen to contemporary playwrights. Through reading and discussion of important plays, students learn about the major playwrights, actors, directors, producers and movements of world drama.
PROD 201: Script Analysis
Taught primarily for designers, this course focuses on a director’s process of script
analysis, and how designers can utilize this process to both interpret plays and
communicate with directors. Professor acts like the “director” in a dialogue with the
design students who interpret plays and create basic designs for discussion.
PERF 340- Scene Study
Initial scene study class, utilizing techniques from Stanislavksi, Meisner, and Michael Chekhov. Class covers 19th century realism, mid-20th century American realism and contemporary realism.
MUST 230 Vocal Repertoire
Students work on developing a wide range of repertoire through solo work. Class covers early 20th century, Golden age and modern musical canons. Students are coached on performance and vocal technique, acting the song, interpretation of lyrics, phrasing, character development, story-telling.
PERF 300- Theory and Acting for the Classics
Study of classic text theory and Shakespeare in performance. Using
John Barton’s Playing Shakespeare as the primary text, students study sonnets and the plays focusing on both solo and partnered work.
PERF 375- Introduction to Directing
Students explore the history of the modern stage director, study various influential directors and their approach to the text. Course includes introduction to the methodology of the director including dramaturgy, casting, developing a concept, working with designers, and rehearsing a play. Each student develops a concept book and directs a scene from the play. I use my own text, A Director’s Itinerary.
MUST 400 Audition Techniques for Musical Theatre
Audition class that focuses on the preparation of materials for use in musical theatre auditions. Classwork includes industry research, methods of finding and securing employment, development of a repertoire book, audition technique, monologue technique, choosing material, and auditioning for various companies.
MUST 410: Survey of American Musical Theatre History
Covers musical theatre history from The Black Crook through the contemporary musical theatre. Covers composers and lyricists, major periods, major works, important performers, designers, directors, producers.
PERF 425- Audition Techniques and Professional Development
The advanced student works on audition material, develops professional resumes and headshots, learns about various aspects of the profession they are about to enter including unions, professional publications and organizations, agents and casting directors, the structure of not for profit and for profit theaters, etc.
MUST 440 Musical Theatre Scene Study
A continuation of MUST 230, this class brings the acting work into scene study
using musical theatre’s greatest duet literature. Emphasis is on vocal technique, acting, partnering, listening and create honest characters that listen and relate to their partners.
PERF 495- Senior Project
Capstone course for all performing arts students at SCAD. Students develop final workshop presentation showcases of scenes and monologues that travel to New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles.
GRADUATE
PERF 731: Acting: Realism, & PERF 741 Acting: Anti-realism
Graduate acting courses, newly developed as part of the MFA revision. Focus in first quarter is on texts in realistic canon, starting with Ibsen and Chekhov, continuing through early American realism and to contemporary realism. Second quarter focuses on non-realistic plays, starting with early 20th century expressionism through modern anti-realism and theatre of the absurd.
PERF 780, Production Lab
Graduate capstone class. Students perform full-length plays.
COLLABORATIONS
Other World: Developmental workshop of new musical with artistic team that includes high-level Broadway professionals, developing both book, music in lyrics in one workshop and arranging collaboration with SCAD departments to develop interactive media components
Animation: worked with animation professor, bringing animation and performing arts students together in the creation of original characters
A New Brain: collaboration between Performing Arts, Film and Television, Graphic Design, Animation and Drawing departments.
Fahrenheit 451: Produced collaboration of 10 departments to create cutting-edge vision of Ray Bradbury’s iconic work adapted by the author.Presented on campus and then at Washington, DC’s Round House Theatre. Featured in American Theatre Magazine.
The Casting Office: Performing Arts collaborates with Film and Television, Game
Design and Animation to cast performers in student projects.
.
OTHER INSTITUTIONS
Acting Styles for Opera Singers. University of New Hampshire
Class focused on techniques applicable to enhanced musical performance styles required by Opera genre. Using acting technique, singers were guided through scene study (non-musical), and exercises to train in spontaneity, listening and reacting, creating characters, and being truthful. The class proceeded to musical theater and opera scenes, incorporating the techniques to result in honest characterizations and interactions.
Acting for Opera, Musical Theater and Drama, Cincinnati Conservatory
Introductory acting class that includes students from all three majors. Class sought to find a foundational approach to acting that translated easily to all three genres, offering students a technique that could be applied to their discipline. Focus on monologues and scene study, utilizing Meisner technique, and exercises drawn from Stanislavski and Michael Chekhov.
Shakespeare Styles, Cincinnati Conservatory
Advanced MFA Acting course exploring styles of performance of works by Shakespeare through scene study.
Audition Workshop, Cincinnati Conservatory
Intensive course in preparing monologues and songs for professional auditions. Included interviews and master classes with professional agents and theatre companies touring through Cincinnati.
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