Five Minute Shakespeare
Working with a small group you will prepare and present a
reduced performance of Much Ado About Nothing. Your performance will highlight key moments from the entire play
and focus on one theme. In preparation
for the production, you will create a prompt book containing the following:
- Company Report- a one page write up of how your acting company understands the play, what theme you are focusing on, and how you want your performance to be experienced by the audience.
- Script- a reduced version of the complete play, including key lines from key parts of the play that focus on the theme your group discusses in the Company Report.
- Character Notes- a chart of characters, their characteristics, and costuming.
- Production Notes- notes about how you will perform your play
- Cover- Include the title of the play (you can give it a subtitle of your own), the names of the actors, and a visual that reflects the decisions you made in your company report.
- Rubric
Company Report
- What is the main message or theme of the play? How will you highlight this theme in your performance?
- Review your Act Reports. Briefly outline the key events of the play that connect to the theme your group has chosen.
- What are your reactions to the play? What do you want your audience to feel as they watch your reduced version?
4. If you are going to change the setting or period of the play, how will you do this? Why have you chosen to make this change? How does the change relate to the theme or feeling you hope to convey to your audience? If you are not making any changes, why not?
Script
Using the Act Report work each of
you has already completed, compile a script for your performance.
- You do NOT have to include everything you chose when writing the Act Reports.
- Your choices should be made after considering the decisions you made in your Company Report.
- You must include work from each person in the group, and at least one to two events from each act, but you do not need to include everything that each group member write about in each Act Report.
- The script will be written using original lines by Shakespeare.
For the ease of understanding, you may add one sentence that you write yourselves, for every fifteen lines you take from Shakespeare. I suggest using these sentences to transition, summarize, or clarify what you cannot otherwise make clear through your acting or through the lines you’ve chosen.
Production Notes
Because the script is abbreviated, you will need to rely
heavily on your acting to convey what is happening. Because the script probably has more characters than actors, you
will need to reply heavily on your acting to make it clear whom you are
playing. Your acting choices cannot be
accidental.
In the margins of your script, make notes indicating:
- Tone and volume of voice
- Facial expressions
- Gestures
- Actions
- Movements around the stage/ room
- Costume
changes
Performance Rubric
|
Exceptional
|
Strong
|
Capable
|
Developing
|
Presentation
|
A well-coordinated, smooth performance.
Well
rehearsed.
No
awkward lapses.
Smooth
and effective delivery of fully memorized lines.
|
A
mostly smooth performance in which rehearsal is apparent.
Some
lapses, but does not detract from performance. Majority of lines are memorized, but there may be some errors
or pauses while actor attempts to recall them.
|
Laughter
or other lapse detracts from performance.
Timing is off at points.
Some
errors in delivery of lines. Some
lines memorized, while others are read or significant errors.
|
Performer
is clearly distracted.
Under-rehearsed.
Several
major mistakes in line delivery or reading lines without effort to memorize.
|
Interpretation of characters
|
Characters
are vividly presented. Production
enhances audience’s understanding of the characters.
Something
extra!
|
Motivations,
personalities, and identity are clearly presented with well acted scenes,
emotional delivery of lines, appropriate defining traits and costume choices.
A
thoughtful and effective presentation.
|
Motivation
of character is not always clear.
Meets expectations, with defining traits and costuming of characters,
but lacks pizzazz or energy.
|
Presentation
leaves audience confused regarding personality or identity of character.
|
Interpretation of play
|
Theme
is vividly and consistently emphasized throughout the performance. Something extra!
|
Performance
is focused around a common theme or tone. Conveys essential events from all
parts of the play.
A
thoughtful and effective presentation.
|
Events
of play are clear and relate to one another.
May give unbalanced representation to certain Acts within the play.
|
Presentation
leaves audience confused about events of play.
|
Costumes/Props/Scenery
|
Costumes,
props, & scenery significantly enhance performance.
Goes
above and beyond expectations.
|
Costumes,
props, & scenery enhance performance by adding clarity or entertainment
value.
|
Costumes,
props, & scenery somewhat enhance performance.
|
No
costumes, props, or scenery.
|
Script
Using the Act Report work each of
you has already completed, compile a script for your performance.
- You do NOT have to include everything you chose when writing the Act Reports.
- Your choices should be made after considering the decisions you made in your Company Report.
- You must include work from each person in the group, and at least one to two events from each act, but you do not need to include everything that each group member write about in each Act Report.
- The script will be written using original lines by Shakespeare.
For the ease of
understanding, you may add one sentence that you write yourselves, for every
fifteen lines you take from Shakespeare.
I suggest using these sentences to transition, summarize, or clarify
what you cannot otherwise make clear through your acting or through the lines
you’ve chosen.
Production Notes
Because the script is abbreviated, you will need to rely heavily
on your acting to convey what is happening.
Because the script probably has more characters than actors, you will
need to reply heavily on your acting to make it clear whom you are playing. Your acting choices cannot be
accidental.
In the margins of your script, make notes indicating:
- Tone and volume of voice
- Facial expressions
- Gestures
- Actions
- Movements around the stage/ room
- Costume changes
Script
Using the Act Report work each of
you has already completed, compile a script for your performance.
- You do NOT have to include everything you chose when writing the Act Reports.
- Your choices should be made after considering the decisions you made in your Company Report.
- You must include work from each person in the group, and at least one to two events from each act, but you do not need to include everything that each group member write about in each Act Report.
- The script will be written using original lines by Shakespeare.
- For the ease of understanding, you may add one sentence that you write yourselves, for every fifteen lines you take from Shakespeare. I suggest using these sentences to transition, summarize, or clarify what you cannot otherwise make clear through your acting or through the lines you’ve chosen.
Character Notes
(We gave you a chart to fill in with this information)
Each actor will need to play multiple parts. Go through the script and figure out who will play which roles. Remember the same actor cannot play two parts in the same scene (unless you can be very creative!). Obviously, you will need a way to show the audience which characters you are playing when. Create table of characters in your play, including:
Each actor will need to play multiple parts. Go through the script and figure out who will play which roles. Remember the same actor cannot play two parts in the same scene (unless you can be very creative!). Obviously, you will need a way to show the audience which characters you are playing when. Create table of characters in your play, including:
- Character’s name
- Character’s goal in the play
- Obstacle(s) to obtaining that goal
- Actor who will play the role
- An easily removable piece of costuming that clearly represents the character.
- A key behavior that represents the character (voice quality, posture, etc)
Production Notes
Because the script is abbreviated, you will need to rely
heavily on your acting to convey what is happening. Because the script probably has more characters than actors, you
will need to reply heavily on your acting to make it clear whom you are
playing. Your acting choices cannot be
accidental.
In the margins of your script, make notes indicating:
- Tone and volume of voice
- Facial expressions
- Gestures
- Actions
- Movements around the stage/ room
- Costume changes