EDR5220EN - Theories & Methods of Acting II: Character Development

Course description

Develop a personal framework for creating believable and engaging characters. This course explores the techniques of character development. Actors engage in a rigorous investigation of text, personalization, character development, and character-specific listening in order to lift language off the page and translate it into the dynamic exchange of energy that stems from human need.

How this course benefits students

The skills gained throughout this course allows students the space to grow as artists and to understand their own journey as actors and performers. Many actors are inhibited by the state of the performing arts in their social circles and communities. This course provides tools for the performer to forge their own path and play a role in what God is doing in their community and culture.

Why this course is important

This course lays the foundation to pursue professional acting work. Students familiarize themselves with terms and concepts that form the basis for professional acting both within a wider community and to develop individual work.

Credit hours
3 hours
Subject area
Ethnodramatology
Educational level
Master
Learning type
Instructional
Prerequisites
None
Upcoming terms
Pending
* Schedule subject to change. Please contact the Registrar's office with schedule questions.
Professor
Prof. Ben Roberts, Professor of Theatrical Performance

How this course relates to missional core values

Biblically based

Christian performers must root themselves and their work in a biblical foundation. In this course, as with other performance courses, the Bible is used directly as text for creating personal expression.

Missionally driven

This course lays the groundwork for creative expression which places itself fully within the work that God is doing in the world. Jesus told stories, and we as performers can continue that work.

Contextually informed

Learning how to pursue a clearer personal theory of acting and performance provides us the context to better understand our characters, the context of their own lives, and the context within which our performances are intended to resonate.

Interculturally focused

Students experience concepts and ideas from all over the world and from many different time periods.

Practically minded

As an actor or performer there is nothing more practical than digging deeper into our own personal journeys and subsequently creating work that reflects that effort. This course allows students to honestly reflect on their own journey and goals, and create work which can be used in their communities.

Experientially transformed

Exercises throughout this course require students to work through creation, rehearsal, and performance, in the same why they would in a professional setting.