conflict and the writing of believable dialogue. Stu- dents study and analyze classic dramas in order to fully understand the various techniques and styles used for the stage. Student scripts are extensively workshopped and critiqued. Prerequisite(s): ENGL 180.
MPRA 226 Stagecraft Vocabularies of Live Performance This course focuses on the onstage arrangement of actors and the intersection of design elements. Students will learn the vocabularies—both verbal and physical—to properly move and place themselves onstage, to enhance the possibilities of the playwright, the work of the director, and their own characteriza- tions. Prerequisite(s): DSGN 101, MPRA 106.
MPRA 230 Professional Studies in Media Relations By studying industry standard techniques and pro- fessional practices in media criticism, news writing, marketing, casting, unions, and contracts, students in this course will explore a variety of writing and edit- ing approaches necessary for clearly communicating ideas and opinions through scholarly criticism, effec- tive news writing techniques and oral adjudication. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 201, MPRA 204.
MPRA 240 French Classical Theater By reading and performing selections of plays from the classical French canon, students in this course will become thoroughly familiar with the great playwrights of the French classical tradition: Jean Racine, Pierre Corneille, Marivaux and Molière. Special emphasis will be placed on the all encompassing influence of clas- sical culture on the playwrights to be studied, as well as the performative influences of the Italian commedia troupes. Every opportunity will be taken to view plays from the classical canon in performance, and students will perform their own scenes from selected plays as part of the school wide vernissage at the close of the quarter.
MPRA 250 Women in Dramatic Arts This course examines the changing roles of women in the performing arts from the Restoration to the current time. Plays as well other supporting documents writ- ten by and about women will be read and discussed. The class will examine the different ways women’s lives and “issues” are conveyed through performance. The lives of women artists and their work, specifically women who have been visionary leaders in the world of the performing arts are the main focus of the course. Prerequisite(s): ARTH 110, ENGL 123.
MPRA 261 Improvisation This course provides an overview of the origins and philosophy of improvisation since the mid-twentieth century, and how it is has been a major influence since the 1960’s on live performance, film and TV and now as a primary format for digital performance media. Students will learn the basics of improvisation through coaching, warm-up exercises, creative per- formance games and basic short-form scene-work, team-building, trust, speed, status, active listening, and agreement. Students learn to be fearless and creative on stage using a modern approach to improvisational comedy and how to apply improvisational approach to character creation. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 160.
MPRA 300 Theory and Acting for the Classics This advanced course of theory and practice examines the works of Shakespeare and his contemporaries for style, execution and physicalization. Emphasis is placed on interpretation of roles, text and performance. Students explore scene work and analysis and cre- ate a canon of monologues for additional purposes. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 210.
MPRA 310 Stage Combat I Using the single-sword and unarmed combat, the actor will develop safe and effective means of demonstrat- ing a believable skill set for the stage audience. This specialized form of actor movement develops physical and spatial awareness, grounding, centering, economy of effort, extension of line, focus, timing, action/ reaction, moment to moment and impulse reaction. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 106, MPRA 210.
MPRA 314 Acting for the Camera I This course enables students to gain hands-on experi- ence in camera acting technique and methodology. The course includes cold reading, text work, immedi- ate character development and dissection of dra- matic action. Emphasis is placed on practical perfor- mance for video and film. Additional practicum time is required and assigned by the professor. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 103 or MPRA 160 or FILM 106.
MPRA 315 Advanced Playwriting This course is designed for students who would like to further develop their playwriting skills. Students’ plays are analyzed and critiqued in a workshop set- ting that includes read-through, walk-through and other performance formats to develop professional- quality work. Students have the opportunity to create, develop and revise full-length scripts for performance. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 215.
MPRA 322 Casting for Film and Television Students will learn the process of casting a film, tv pilot, series, and live performance. Through a series of auditions and callbacks, the students will learn how to direct actors, discern talent levels, break down scripts and create idea lists, in order to put together a cohesive cast for any given project. Students will have hands-on experience of the inner workings of network and independent casting offices, thus positioning them for internships in the television and film industry. Prerequisite(s): FILM 100, MPRA 103, MPRA 160.
MPRA 330 Singing for the Actor A studio class designed to prepare the actor for success in performance events that require singing. Students will learn and practice the basic fundamentals of singing (i.e. breath management, phonation, reso- nance, articulation, registration and interpretation) as related to acting and preparation for singing auditions. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 106, MPRA 210.
MPRA 340 Scene Study Focusing on the development of character in two and three person scenes, students in this advanced perfor- mance course learn to use a variety of method acting techniques to enhance of the possibilities to be found in a broad range of physical and vocal characteriza- tions. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 106, MPRA 210.
MPRA 366 Advanced Character Development This course is a focused study in the art of specific character development. Actors will study world events, history and sociology and draw from the world of ideas to create characters that reflect upon the world in which we live. Each student will create two to three original characters that they can use in sketch comedy, stand-up comedy or in the creation of unique individual performance works for live theatre, film, TV, or media performance arts. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 160.
MPRA 375 Directing Through the analysis of a classic play from the 19th or 20th century, students in this course will learn about the craft of the modern stage director. All aspects of stage direction will be studied; the history, the process of dramaturgical research and script analysis, the cast- ing process, the development of a visual aesthetic, and the fundamentals of staging a play. The course will culminate in the staging of one scene and the presentation of a production notebook. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 300, MPRA 340.
MPRA 399 Off-campus Performing Arts Seminar This course is an off-campus immersion experience that will take students to various cities within or out- side of the United States. Students will learn about the performing arts and/or film industry through attendance at live events, meeting the artists that create those events, and attending seminars at lead- ing arts organizations. Students will gain an under- standing of the evolution of the arts in the locale by putting the arts into the context of the city’s history. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 204.
MPRA 400 Audition Techniques and Materials Through the study of cold readings, improvisational and interview techniques, as well as prepared audition
materials, students in this course will select, develop, and rehearse materials as related to casting oppor- tunities in film, stage, concert and cabaret events. Students will also prepare industry-standard résumé materials for presentation. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 300, MPRA 340.
MPRA 401 Special Topics in Performing Arts The topic of this course varies from quarter to quarter. Each seminar focuses on various issues in the field of performing arts and allows students to pursue projects related to the subject of the course. Prerequisite(s): Vary according to topic.
MPRA 404 Voice-over and Dialects This is an advanced course in performance and pro- fessional practice. Students will study and apply the techniques of voice-over performance in radio, film, commercials, animation, game design, television and other media. Students will acquire the techniques of the application of dialect in character work proceed- ing from the fundamental study of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Students will record their voice- over work for use on their website or industry demo. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 400.
MPRA 410 Issues of Contemporary Acting Genres This course introduces students to various types of acting styles, including theater of the absurd, envi- ronmental theater and poetic realism. Focus is placed on the works of Samuel Beckett, Eugene Ionesco, Jerzy Grotowski, Eugene O’Neill, Lillian Hellman, Ten- nessee Williams, August Wilson and Tony Kushner. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 201.
MPRA 414 Acting for the Camera II In this course, students are expected to refine their on-camera technique. The course examines acting with special effects, replicating shots take after take, overcoming obstacles, timing commercials, honing advanced marketing and auditioning techniques, and more. Acting for single-camera shoots, studio three- camera, ADR (looping) and voice-over technique are also introduced. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 314.
MPRA 415 Stage Combat II This course will refine stage violence techniques with the study of the rapier and dagger. Students will develop safe and effective means of demonstrating command of this weapon for an audience. This spe- cialized movement training enhances spatial aware- ness, centering, economy of effort, extension of line, focus, and moment-to-moment playing of the actor. Students will perform scenes as actors with approved fight choreography that demonstrates their ability as actors, as well as basic mastery of skills and possible certification by the Society of American Fight Direc- tors. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 310.
MPRA 416 Auditioning for Film and Television Through hands-on practice auditioning each week with current film and television material, students will gain professional insight and working knowledge of how to audition for series television, pilots, soap operas, independent and feature films. Students will learn eti- quette of casting processes and be ready to walk into casting offices in NY and LA and appear professional and prepared. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 314.
MPRA 421 Advanced Acting for the Classics This advanced course continues the development of the actor through his/her exploration of the classical repertoire. Focusing on the development of character in two, three and multicharacter scenes from the Shakespearean, Restoration, and/or the Neo-classical French theatrical canon, the course builds on the techniques learned in prerequisite courses in scansion and dialect and prepares students for professional performance work. Prerequisite(s): MPRA 300.
MPRA 435 Diverse Voices- Multi- Cultural American Theater This course emphasizes the multi-cultural dramatic American theatre of the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will study dramatic theatre from the Afri- can American, Asian American, and Hispanic canon.
cour se descr ipt ions
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