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COURSE NUMBER: DRAM 399 Fall 2011
COURSE TITLE: Special Topic - Advanced Improvisation
NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: Lori Mohascy
CREDIT WEIGHT AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION: credits 3(hrs lect 0 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 6)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A course on a topic of special interest to a faculty member of the drama faculty and offered on a non-recurring basis.

Prerequisites: 3 credits in drama or consent of the instructor
SAMPLE MARK DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT:
Attendance and Participation20%
Presentation (Virtues)15%
Presentation (Psychology)10%
Presentation (Soap Opera)45%
Journal10%
100%
COURSE OBJECTIVES: As a result of this course the student will develop a further understand the art of improvisation with relation to the dramatic process for the actor. This will be accomplished by:
  • The creation of various character types, which will serve as a springboard for other character development.
  • The creation of a Live, Improvised Soap Opera character with greater definition than those created in Drama 249.
  • The creation and development of characters to be used in assisting Psychology students.
  • Participation in exercises and projects that will move the student from the creation of characters to the placing of those characters in various scenes, using various emotions, for the purpose of learning the techniques of improvisation.
  • Promoting creativity through individual and group exercises and projects. 
Further benefits of the course will be: 
  • The development of greater self-confidence and self-discipline as required by the theatre and its related arts.
  • The promotion of trust, diplomacy, and leadership in collaborative work.
  • The ability to articulate a Christian approach to the drama-worker’s task.
  • The promotion of personal growth and understanding of one’s own strengths and weaknesses. 
In each session, students will work on projects and character creation to advance their knowledge of improvisation. They will learn to use improvisation to assist in other areas of society (psychology), as well as create pieces that can be used within church settings. They will create "soap" characters that will be deeper and more well-rounded and must be sustained over a longer period of time. 
COURSE OUTLINE:
  • 1. Wed. Sep.7    GETTING COMFORTABLE 1. Introductions, exercises & games. Journal assignment. Talk through semester goals. 
  • 2. Mon. Sep.12    GETTING COMFORTABLE 2 Warm-up and games.       
  • 3. Wed. Sep.14     VIRTUES 1. Begin work on Virtues graded presentations. 
  • 4. Mon. Sep.19    VIRTUES 2 . Continue working with small groups on Virtues graded presentations. Warm up & exercises. 
  • No class Wednesday, Sept.21 due to Interdisciplinary Studies Conference. 
  • 5. Mon. Sep.26     VIRTUES 3. Finalize virtues improvs in preparation for graded presentations. Warm up & exercises. 
  • 6. Wed. Sep.28     VIRTUES PRESENTATIONS. (Graded Presentation for 15% of final grade) Warm up & exercises. 
  • 7. Mon. Oct.3      VIRTUES PRESENTATIONS. (Graded Presentation for 15% of final grade) Warm up & exercises. 
  • 8. Wed. Oct.5    VIRTUES PRESENTATIONS. (Graded Presentation for 15% of final grade) Warm up & exercises. WORK ON IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA 1.  
  • No class Monday, October 10. Thanksgiving Monday. 
  • 9. Wed. Oct.12.       CONTINUE WORK ON IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA 2 . Warm up & exercises. 
  • 9. Mon. Oct.17     CONTINUE WORK ON IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA 3. Warm up & exercises. 
  • 10. Wed. Oct.19     CONTINUE WORK ON IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA 4. Warm-up. Exercises. (Hand in 1st half of Journal Assignment for 5% of final grade) 
  • 11. Mon. Oct.24    LIVE IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA, EPISODE 1  (Lori writes)  
  • 12. Wed. Oct.26    PSYCHOLOGY IMPROVISATION WORK 1. Warm-up & exercises. 
  • 13. Mon. Oct.31    LIVE IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA, EPISODE 2 (Group 2 writes) 
  • 14. Wed. Nov.2    PSYCHOLOGY IMPROVISATION WORK 2.  Warm-up. Exercises. 
  • 15. Mon. Nov.7      LIVE IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA, EPISODE 3 (Group 4 writes) 
  • 16. Wed, Nov.9    GROUP 1 & GROUP 3, PSYCHOLOGY PRESENTATIONS WITH THERESA ZOLNER. Rest of group, warm-up & exercises (TBA - we may attend one another's presentations) (Graded Presentation for 10% of final grade) 
  • 17. Mon. Nov.14    LIVE IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA, EPISODE 4 (Group 1 writes) 
  • 18. Wed. Nov.16    GROUP 2 & GROUP 5, PSYCHOLOGY PRESENTATIONS WITH THERESA ZOLNER. Rest of group, warm-up & exercises (TBA - we may attend one another's presentations) (Graded Presentation for 10% of final grade) 
  • 19. Mon. Nov.21    LIVE IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA, EPISODE 5 (Group 3 writes) 
  • 20. Wed. Nov.23    GROUP 4 PSYCHOLOGY PRESENTATIONS WITH THERESA ZOLNER. Rest of group, warm-up & exercises (TBA - we may attend one another's presentations) (Graded Presentation for 10% of final grade) 
  • 21. Mon. Nov.28    LIVE IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA, EPISODE 6 (Group 5 writes) 
  • 22. Wed. Nov.30    DEBRIEF AND PLANS FOR FINAL EPISODE. Warm-up & exercises 
  • 23. Mon. Dec.5    LIVE IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA, EPISODE 7 FINAL (Graded presentation for 45% of final grade - see Grading Sheet. Hand in 2nd half of Journal Assignment for 5% of final grade)) 
  • 24. Wed. Dec.7     DEBRIEF & FINAL GATHERING

Required texts, assignments, and grade distributions may vary from one offering of this course to the next. Please consult the course instructor for up to date details.

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