Theater and Advanced Public Speaking

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The information and knowledge economy places an ever-increasing demand on individuals in business to master a wide variety of communication tools in order to function successfully in diverse professional settings. In order to meet this challenge, the concepts and techniques used in acting will be used to help students to extend their confidence, competence and critical awareness as communicators.During the course, students will be guided through a number of tools that actors use to gain knowledge about themselves & their communication styles and, also to learn how to read and understand the communication styles of their interlocutors.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY:
The class draws heavily on the students? involvement and participation as the learning process is cumulative. It requires, on the part of all students, an openness and willingness to experiment and work with others to create a safe learning environment. Therefore, a 100% class attendance is essential.Students will learn how to assess their own communication skills: what image they project, what their body, voice, confidence level, and communication style signal unconsciously to others. They will also learn: effective risk taking skills, flexibility in taking on new roles, to work creatively with others, to manage fear and nervousness, to increase their capacity to listen effectively and to think on their feet.

TEXT:
Esper William & Damon DiMarco. The Actor?s Art and Craft. USA: An Anchor Books Orginal, 2008.
SUGGESTED READING:
Mc Gaw, Charles., et al. Acting is Believing. 11th ed. Cengage, 2012.

EVALUATION:
The final grade will be based on:
Improvisation exercise #1 (Pair work) 10%
Improvisation #2 (Triggering Personal Memory) 15%
Monologue (audition piece) 20%
Improvisation # 3 (Group work / role play) 20%
Scene Performance (duet/group) 25%
Participation 10%