Stagecraft - Costumes and Masks

Topic for Discussion:

When creating a costume for an actor, what kinds of things must be taken into consideration?

The students have been learning not only how to think like costume designers they are also trying their hands at sewing, sketching and mask making. 

Everyone is required to create a presentation board showing their costume idea. Attention to detail is very important. I'm looking to see that they have considered not only every article of clothing including footwear, but also make-up or masks.

Once their presentation board is complete they are to become accustomed to the sewing machine. This involves learning how to thread the machine and sew basic stitches. In order to practice these basics they are making a simple apron. Once that is complete they will begin learning a paper mache mask making technique.

Everyone will go at different paces but effort and progress will be graded each week. 

click HERE to read a costume designer's story

Pantomime

This week we will be focusing on the art of acting with exaggerated facial expressions and body language. We will be viewing some very early 20th century films by the french illusionist and filmmaker Georges Méliès.  For the students who are more interested in filmmaking than live theatre I hope to shed light on historical facts that make clear how deeply intertwined the two arts actually are.    

Poems and Skits

We will be working on voice projection, enunciation, and memorization.  Each student will be given a simple poem or a portion of one to memorize.  By the end of this week they should be ready to recite it.  I will grade them on this exercise and I will expect them to speak so that the class can hear and understand them.  I would also like to see them deliver their words with feeling. The audience wants to feel something so put your heart into it!

Working at Relaxing!

This first brief week in PACE Academy's new Theatre Arts class will be devoted to warm-up games and Improvisation,  I will set into motion some routines that the students will be doing at the beginning of every class in order to warm up and get comfortable being vocal and active.  Students will receive prompts to get them going with the whole idea of improv.  Some students will find it fun, others a little scary and others will find it downright hard, but that's alright, the more you have to work at it, the more you stand to gain.