Warm up: Destiny
Stage Directions
Chapter 6
Simon Says Staging!
● A “director” calls out directions in which the group must move
to either “stage right” or “stage left” while facing the director.
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A Look at the Stage
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See better on raked - or slanted stage
○ “upstage” and “downstage”
originated
○ Helps improve visibility sightlines
○ away from audience upstage
○ towards the audience downstage
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DS - area of power
SR - stronger than SL because of
reading
○ Many scenes will take place
here
Body Positions
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Quarter turn - toward each other
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Full front - bests for monologues
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Profile - side to audience
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Full back - unusual circumstances
tightens focus
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Cross - movement from one side of
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Three-quarter turn - toward the
other actor to “give” them focus
area to another
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Complicated cross - may
convey indecision, casualness
or grace
Moving without Crashing
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Body facing audience
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first step with left foot
Speaking and crossing
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walk in front of other characters
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avoid moving when others are talking
■
if need to, cross quietly behind
character
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Crossing at the same time
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actor with more lines cross DS while other crosses US
■
counter-cross: moving in the opposite direction - and out of the way - of the
other actor
Stage Directions Activity: Plot Three Stage Crosses
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List five stage crosses and body positions
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name on papers and place in bin
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first one should start either off stage or in a specific position on stage (ex: sitting in chair)
Draw at random a set of directions and then hand to the person who wrote it
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They will call out the directions while you perform them starting off stage
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Begin on foot nearest your destination
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Cross to the correct area
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Finish each cross assuming the proper body position
Taking Your Bow
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Depends on the style of the play
●
Humble bow - standing straight
and bending the head and back
slightly forward
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Genteel bow - bend at hips, back straight and head slightly dropped
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Curtsey
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Bob curtsey - feet close together, swing one foot behind the other, bend knees and bob your head
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Court curtsey - deeper and slower
Partner Scene
● With a partner, plot crosses for your scene. You may use the
stage directions given to you in the script or create your own.
● Record your “blocking” in your script using the notations
worksheet as a guide.
● Rehearse your scene 5-8 times until you are familiar with the
lines and movement.
● May use your scripts but remain in character.
Theater Then and Now: The Actor Onstage
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Outdoor theater was the norm
Evidence of rectangular area flanked by rows of stone seats
Ancient Arenas
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Theatre of Dionysus - first theatron, or seeing-place
Choral performances turned into tragedies, wooden seats were added and then stone to replace
Stone auditorium in 330 B.C. sat 14, 000-17,000 people
Music & dancing were main part of productions
After Romans conquered the Greeks - more loud & gory spectacle
Relied heavily on Pantomime and gestures, used stylized movements to signal emotions
Today’s Intimate Spaces
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Arena’s used for concerts & sporting events; Commercial theaters seat 200-1200 people
Stages have been scaled back - no need for large gestures and movements - realistic and intimate
Now actors might act in the house or include audience members