Acting | Academic Requirements | Courses | Faculty

The Acting B.F.A. Program: Courses

Note: Acting courses have been extensively revised, effective Fall 2010 (3/16/10 update). In the two-semester course sequences offered every year, successful completion of the fall course is a prerequisite for the spring course, unless otherwise noted. For example, TAC 1010/Acting I (part one, fall) is a prerequisite for TAC 1020/Acting I (part two, spring).

TAC 1000–1999:

Credits reduced from 5 per semester:
Acting I
TAC 1010 and 1020 / 3 credits (per semester) / Every year
Development of the basic acting instrument through exercises that promote relaxation, sensory awareness, expressiveness, logical stage behavior, and creative interaction with fellow performers. Beginning character and scene work emphasize various intellectual and instinctive approaches, such as script analysis and improvisation.

Phased out as a requirement for acting majors:
Design/Technical Practicum
TDT 1010 Refer to Theatre Design/Technology B.F.A. Courses for description.

Credits increased from 1; second semester (TAC 1040, spring) phased out:
Script Analysis
TAC 1030 / 2 credits / Fall
In-depth analysis of selected dramatic texts to identify elements of structure, character, and language and to understand their function in creating the dynamics of dramatic action. Explores the active purposes of analytic terminology for the actor to gain awareness of action as a basic creative process for theatre. Selected plays are used.

Acting Workshop for Film and Design/Technology
TAC 1050.11 and 1060.11 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
Introduction to the problems, processes, and techniques of the actor. Exercises deal with the focus of attention, use of objects, improvisations and beginning scenes, textual analysis to perceive acting problems, practice in communication, personal involvement, and selecting and accomplishing stage tasks. Limited to freshman film majors and sophomore design/technology majors.

Dramatic Structure
THC 1050 Refer to Theatre History/Critical Studies Courses for description.

Changed from TAC 1055 to SOA 1750:
Fundamentals of Acting
Refer to SOA 1750 in School of the Arts Courses.

Speech I
TAC 1160 and 1170 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
An enlightening approach to learning the sounds of Standard American speech for clear articulation, without emphasis on “correct” speech. Students become fluent in their use of the International Phonetic Alphabet, as a means of “training the ear” in preparation for dialects.

Voice I
TAC 1210 and 1220 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
Basic work on freeing the actor’s natural voice. Alignment, relaxation, breathing, production of vibration, and exercises in recognizing habits and beginning to free the voice from physical and psychological tension. Exploration of vocal expression and emotion. Fundamentals of voice/text work.

“Stage” deleted from title; description revised (3/23/10):
Movement I
TAC 1310 and 1320 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
Teaches the actor how to actualize essential information and awareness through exercises that explore relaxation, breathing, muscular stretching, and alignment work. The practice of kinesthetic sense development and spatial relationships, along with awareness of body language and the sharpening of the senses, helps support the development of other skills (e.g., voice, speech, alternate movement styles).

Course numbers changed to TAC 2325 and 2335:
Lecoq I
TAC 1350 and 1360 Refer to TAC 2325 and 2335.

Second semester (TAC 1365, spring) phased out:
Stage Combat I
TAC 1355 / 1 credit / Fall
Beginning with basic, unarmed stage combat, students are drilled in use of the sword. An emphasis on fencing with foil épée and saber helps students attain better coordination and focus, as well as the practical applications thereof. In the latter part of the class, which is dedicated to the quarterstaff and its use, students explore this weapon through exercises and choreography.

Phased out:
Physical Dynamics I
TAC 1380 and 1385 / 1 credit (per semester) / Every year

Phased out:
Sensory Actualization I
TAC 1430 and 1435 / 1 credit (per semester) / Every year

Added:
Improvisation I
TAC 2700 / 1 credit / Spring
An intensive workshop focused on building an understanding of the techniques and applications of improvisatory practice.

TAC 2000–2999:

Credits reduced from 5 per semester
Acting II
TAC 2010 and 2020 / 3 credits (per semester) / Every year
A continuation and extension of first-year work, with particular emphasis on characterization, text analysis, and techniques of various stylistic demands. TAC 2020 leads to performance in a full stage production.
Prerequisite: TAC 1020

History of the Theatre
THC 2010 Refer to Theatre History/Critical Studies Courses for description.

Speech II
TAC 2160 and 2170 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
A progression of first-year work, brought to classical texts with strong emphasis on Shakespeare. Includes awareness of the devices of language and poetry necessary for speaking verse. Continued use of the International Phonetic Alphabet, followed by beginning dialect work.
Prerequisite: TAC 1170

Voice II
TAC 2210 and 2220 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
Continued work on freeing the actor’s natural voice, developing a voice in contact with emotional impulse, and strengthening this connection. Work on extending the voice.
Prerequisite: TAC 1220

“Stage” deleted from title; description revised (3/23/10):
Movement II
TAC 2310 and 2320 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
An introduction to modern dance technique, emphasizing kinesthetic and anatomical awareness of the body. Concepts include strength emulating from the center, skeletal alignment, mobility in the torso, turn out, use of breath, connection to the floor, gravity, dynamic quality, musicality, and the body’s relationship to the proscenium space and to other performers. Includes exercises to warm up the body and develop muscle tone, agility, and fluidity of movement.
Prerequisite: TAC 1320

Course numbers changed from TAC 1350 and 1360, “I” deleted from title:
Lecoq
TAC 2325 and 2335 / 1 credit (per semester) / Every year
First-year study focuses on preparing actors’ bodies for the physical demands of playing a character. The neutral mask is central in the first semester, helping each performer to identify physical habits and gain a basic presence in the space. Movement analysis and theatre games are used to help free the actors, put them in their bodies, and develop the ability to physically respond to their environment.

Phased out:
Lecoq II
TAC 2345 and 2360 / 1 credit (per semester) / Every year

Course number changed to TAC 3365:
Stage Combat II
TAC 2355 Refer to TAC 3365.

Phased out:
Physical Dynamics II
TAC 2380 and 2385 / 1 credit (per semester) / Every year

Directors’ Scene Workshop
TAC 2450 and 2460 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
An introduction to directing actors in theatre scenes. Film majors direct sophomore acting majors in scenes under the guidance of film and theatre arts faculty. In the spring semester, the focus is on transferring the stage work to film/video.

Stage Makeup
TAC 2610 and 2620 / 1 credit (per semester) / Every year
Makeup begins with basic corrective work on the student’s own facial structure and progresses to characterization work with hair, putty, and beards, aiming throughout to learn the makeup requirements of the major style periods and specialties like fantasy characters, animals, and clowns.

Phased out:
Singing for the Actor
TAC 2650 / 1 credit / Fall

Added:
Introduction to Rehearsal and Performance
TAC 2700 / 1 credit / Spring
Rehearsal and added performance of selected plays produced before the public.

TAC 3000–3999:

Acting III
TAC 3010 and 3020 / 3 credits (per semester) / Every year
Acting techniques applied to more complex dramatic forms, including genres in which language and characterization are particularly demanding. Theatre periods and special authors for whom style skills are developed may include some or all of the following: Greek, Elizabethan, Restoration, Molière.
Prerequisite: TAC 2020

Acting Scene Study
TAC 3070 / 3 credits / Spring
A continuation and extension of first-year work, with particular emphasis on Shakespeare, characterization, text analysis, and techniques of various stylistic demands. Intended for and normally limited to drama studies majors.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

Credits increased from 1 per semester:
Speech III
TAC 3160 and 3170 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
After the first two years of study, students are able to speak in a standard contemporary American accent and to meet the additional demands of classic texts. In the third year, actors use their newfound skills to learn various American and international dialects. The spring semester includes more advanced work on dialects.
Prerequisite: TAC 2170

Credits increased from 1 per semester:
Voice III
TAC 3210 and 3220 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
Developing the actor’s natural voice. Emphasis is on developing vocal strength, range, variety, texture, coloration, and the connection with thought and feeling. Sound and movement exercises enlarge the voice and develop vocal stamina and sensitivity through detailed work on contemporary and classical texts.
Prerequisite: TAC 2220

Added; description revised (3/23/10):
Movement III
TAC 3310 and 3320 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
Third-year, intermediate-level modern dance technique. Students are given combinations that are lengthier, with more intricate floor patterns and spatial relationships between dancers, gesture articulation at a more advanced level, richer musical and dynamic choices, a deeper vocabulary of movement, and an introduction to partnering techniques.
Prerequisite: TAC 2320

Phased out:
Lecoq III
TAC 3345 and 3360 / 1 credit (per semester) / Every year

Phased out:
Period Movement I
TAC 3350 and 3355 / 1 credit (per semester) / Every year

Course number changed from TAC 2355 and prerequisite changed from TAC 1365:
Stage Combat II
TAC 3365 / 1 credit / Fall
Covers the rapier and dagger, traditional weapons of Shakespeare’s day, and the broadsword, a classic medieval weapon. Rapier and dagger training picks up from single sword technique, with the second weapon added to the nondominant hand. Students practice this double-fence style until they can use both weapons with facility. Broadsword basics include rudimentary footwork and guards of the weapon, cut and parry drills, and exploration of styles and choreography.
Prerequisite: TAC 1355

Phased out:
Physical Dynamics III
TAC 3380 / 1 credit / Fall

Added Spring 2010 (10/09/09); “II” added to title:
Improvisation II
TAC 3670 / 1 credit / Spring
Continued exploration of improvisatory technique for advanced acting students.

Credits changed from 6 per semester, fourth course in sequence (TAC 3730, spring) phased out:
Rehearsal and Performance I
TAC 3700 and 3710 / 3 credits (per course) / Fall
TAC 3720 / 3 credits / Spring
Rehearsal and performance of selected plays produced before the public. This three-course sequence is required of all acting majors in their junior year. It covers separate Conservatory productions, which are presented across a two-semester period.
Prerequisite: TAC 2020

TAC 4000–4999:

Acting IV
TAC 4010 and 4020 / 3 credits (per semester) / Every year
Advanced acting, which may include one or more areas of special studies, like in-depth work on a role, audition techniques, or preparation for rehearsal. Career development is emphasized.
Prerequisite: TAC 3020

Credits increased from 1 per semester:
Voice and Speech IV
TAC 4250 and 4255 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
Every actor has a unique vocal instrument. This course focuses on methods used to develop the speaking voice and integrate it with good speech while staying true to one’s self. Emphasis is placed on deepening the connection between voice, body, and mind through exercises, warmups, and focused work on both classical and contemporary texts.
Prerequisite: TAC 3220

Credits increased from 1 per semester, prerequisite changed from TAC 3355; description revised (3/23/10):
Movement IV
TAC 4310 and 4320 / 2 credits (per semester) / Every year
The culmination of all previous movement classes, plus an introduction of basic yoga techniques that include meditation and the ability to focus.
Prerequisite: TAC 3320

Phased out:
Special Topics in Movement
TAC 4350 and 4360 / 1 credit (per semester) / Every year

Phased out:
Physical Dynamics IV
TAC 4380 / 1 credit / Spring

Phased out as a requirement for acting majors:
Advanced Shakespeare Workshop
DRA 4450 Refer to Drama Studies Courses for description.

The Business of Acting
TAC 4500 / 1 credit / Spring
Prepares students to make the transition into the professional acting world. Topics include how to attract and keep an agent, headshot and résumé requirements, auditioning, making and using a business plan, writing cover letters, unions, contracts, and marketing techniques. Sessions with a New York casting director are included.
Prerequisite: TAC 3020

Acting for Camera
TAC 4550 / 1 credit / Fall
Students apply the tools and vocabularies developed in studio work to acting in front of the camera. The physical freedoms and limitations of particular shots, from handheld to extreme close-up, are examined. The professional audition is replicated, and techniques for working on location are developed. Throughout the course, students view footage from features and rough cuts, independent films, television, actor’s reels, and audition tapes.

Credits reduced from 5 per course, third course in sequence (TAC 4730) added:
Rehearsal and Performance II
TAC 4700 and 4710 / 3 credits (per course) / Fall
TAC 4720 and 4730 / 3 credits (per course) / Spring
Rehearsal and performance of selected plays produced before the public. This four-course sequence is required of all acting majors in their senior year. It covers separate Conservatory productions, which are presented across a two-semester period.
Prerequisite: TAC 3720

Updated May 28, 2010