Category: Theater

Regional Theatre Presentation – Video

This weeks module introduces you to the role regional theatres (p. 70) play in spreading high-quality, professional theatre across the country. Regional theatres are not-for-profit entities that possess a strong mission statement, produce a season of plays each year, and serve their communities through various educational & outreach initiatives.

For this assignment, you need to learn more about one of our countrys major regional theatres. Below the directions is a list of theatres to choose from. Before selecting a company, look at all the websites and choose the theatre that most interests you. When learning about this theatre,start with their website but also look at secondary sources such as newspapers for production reviews or profiles of/interviews with the artistic director.

Once you have conducted your research, record a short video presentation (~ 7 minutes) aboutthe theatre. The presentation should include the following information:

The theatres mission statement & values Describe the mission and core values of the theatre. Explain what you find most compelling about the theatres mission/values. This information is typically located on the About page.

The theatres current season Tell your audience about the theatres current season. What are they producing? What are these shows about? What does their selection say about the companys taste and values. For instance, is the company interested in new plays or classics? Commercial theatre, family theatre, political theatre, cultural theatre, experimental theatre? Finally, which play in their current season are you most interested in seeing, and why?

Educational/community outreach programs Describe some of the programs the theatre offers and explain how these programs help the theatre serve its community.

Conclusion Articulate the reasons you think this theatre is unique and valuable.

List of Theatres to Choose From

Steppenwolf Theatre (Chicago, IL)

Baltimore Center Stage (Baltimore, MD)

Alliance Theatre (Atlanta, GA)

Arena Stage (Washington, DC)

Berkeley Rep (Berkeley, CA)

The Goodman Theatre (Chicago, IL)

Seattle Rep (Seattle, WA)

Cleveland Playhouse (Cleveland, OH)

Alley Theatre (Houston, TX)

Assignment Total: 10 Points

Rubric:

Grade	Criteria
A/A- (9-10)	These presentations are well-organized and cover all topics in detail. They demonstrate a deep familiarity with the companys mission,programming, and outreach. They show that the presenter has clearly taken the time to learn about this theatres work.
B+/B/B- (8-9)	These presentations are well-organized and cover all topics but not always in detail. They demonstrate a general familiarity with the companys mission, programming, and outreach.However, it doesnt seem like the presenter has taken that much time to learn about the theatre beyond the broad outlines.
C+/C/C- (7-8)	These presentations have omitted a topic or have touched upon all topics but only provided a scant amount of information for each. They demonstrate a familiarity with some but not all aspects of the companys mission, programming, and outreach.
D+/D/D- (6-7)	These presentations have omitted a topic and have only provided a scant amount of information for the remaining topics. They demonstrate very limited familiarity with the companys mission, programming, and outreach.
F (Less than 6)	These presentations demonstrate absolutely no familiarity with the theatre or anything related to its mission, programming, and outreach.

1. Script: Write a script for your short video.

Title: Projects must have a working title (if title has changed from Part 1 to Part 2, submit new title 1st & working title (past title) in parenthesis. For your project, the script should be approx. 2-5 pages. If the idea is longer than 5 pages, you are welcome to write more than 5 pages, but make sure to include a few opening scenes, a middle scene, and an end scene.

Grading considerations include

1. Story Development: Good Beginning, Middle & End
2. Clarity of script: can a reader understand the story from the scene headings, action & dialogue
3. Formatting: coming in Lectures 10 and/or 11 & our reading for formatting a script
4. Grammar: correct spelling, punctuation, etc.

1. Storyboard: If an individual project, submit a sequence of 6-12 storyboard frames. Artistic ability will not be judged. Tracing is ok!

Grading considerations include

1. Visual Development: Creative but well-reasoned visuals that support the script. Select framing and camera angles to enhance the visuals.
2. Captions: Storyboards should include information on Video (camera description, i.e. WS + any camera move (zoom, pan, etc.) and Audio (Beginning dialogue and/or music for each shot)
3. Grammar: correct spelling, punctuation, etc.

1. Music: Select or compose music. If selecting music, include title of piece, performer or group. Number your music selection(s) and use that number in your script and storyboard to show where the music fits, i.e. Music #1. If the music fades out, denote that in the script & storyboard.

Grading considerations include

1. Does music selection enhance the idea?
2. Is music credit included?

In this project you will create one Powerpoint slide for a presentation on The Cherry Orchard.( filmed version of The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. The play is 2 hours and 30 minutes long,) The presentation will be

• Your name
• Name of character (nick name if applicable): Yasha
• A photo of the character (either from this production, or from another)
• What they do in the play. What is their role in the family?
• How are they connected to Madame Ranesvkayas family?
• A theme from the play that they represent and how they represent that theme.
• A line of dialogue that demonstrates how they represent the theme.
• What their action is (what do they want in the play)?
• What their conflict is.

Themes:

• Social and economic change
• Home/memory of home or a place we call home
• Class shifts
• Upward mobility
• Hope
• Any other theme you choose

• Theme was clear	2 points
  Conflict was established	2
  Action was identified	1
  Line of dialogue was included	1
  Photo was included	1
  Relationship included	1
  Present at all classes related to play	2

Write a 3 page Essay on what about this play speaks to you, and ways you could think of using those in the design of a production.

Also, Create 6 Projection Images that you would use in a Production of The Mental State