- Spring 2025
Syllabus Description:
Advanced Scene Study with Cathy Madden
The center of this course will be developing consistent preparatory skills for acting performance and building tools to create the biopsychosocial history for characters, taking embodiment of the action of the play to a new level. The course will provide a roadmap for integrating a wide variety of approaches in your process. Note: Integrative Alexander Technique will be among the tools offered; no prior experience with it is required.
Advanced Scene Study Syllabus
Spring 2025
Monday and Wednesday 11:30 to 1:20 Room 208
Books :
Integrative Alexander Technique Practice for Performing Artists: Onstage Synergy
By Cathy Madden
Integrative Alexander Technique Practice for Performing Artists: Onstage Synergy by Cathy Madden This book is available through Amazon in either hard copy ($50), kindle edition ($40), or Google Play ($10). It is also available as an ebook from UW Libraries –
Acting Action: A Primer for Actors
By Hugh O’ Gorman
London: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011.
Primarily Part 2.
Additional Readings will be posted to the modules.
Module One
First Two Weeks
Setting up Class Ground Rules/Consent/Warm-up Practices:
Introducing Term Project – Forest Unseen; Choosing Churchill scenes and scene partners to be used throughout the class as we add new processes.
Content: Uta Hagen renewal
Churchill Scenes
Full Term Projects: Forest Unseen
Stage Crosses
Module Two
Weeks 3-5
Second Scene, A conversation – one person speaking, one listening
Continuing : Forest Unseen
Stage Crosses
Module Three
Weeks 5-10, 10 minute plays
Continuing : Forest Unseen
Stage Crosses
Assignments:
Weekly Response Papers (40 % of grade)
Due by 7 p.m. each Sunday in Canvas
Report on Forest Unseen, on Class, on Rehearsals, inside and out of class, and any supplemental readings. 10 -12 sentences. May be videoed or recorded – less than 5 minutes please. This is a place for your questions and requests to me.
Stage Cross Worksheets (15% of grade)
Cathy will distribute these the first week of class.
Each class’ warm-up includes a play that is a stage cross. Each time you do it, I will ask you to plan new elements to include in your play. Cathy will collect these at the end of each unit.
Preparation and Rehearsal (45% of grade)
Everyone is expected to prepare their material between classes. While we will do most of the rehearsing of material in class, daily mini-rehearsals on your own plus full rehearsals twice a week outside of class (this may be with a partner or on your own) are necessary for you to get to a more advanced level of practice. Your response paper includes reports from these rehearsals.
RESPECT
The underlying communication guidelines I use for myself in teaching are: Is it honest? Is it kind? Does it serve constructive learning?
It is my intent to serve students from all backgrounds and perspectives, to respond to students' learning needs, and to welcome the diversity that each of you brings to this class as a resource, strength and benefit. It is my intent to respect you. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally, or for others.
Syllabus Addendum
University Land Acknowledgment
The University of Washington acknowledges the Coast Salish peoples of this land, the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip and Muckleshoot nations.*
Note on Class Content: Throughout history, theatre and performance have grappled with the world’s most complicated subject matter, including violence, sex, and psychological and emotional conflict. To this end, much of the world’s theatre and performance is “adult-themed” and includes references to or representations of violence, intimate sexual activity, and adult language (including coarse terms, obscenities, and slurs). Performance is a forum in which the world’s conflicts can be contemplated and discussed, and performance can often even be a tool for positive change. As such, the School of Drama believes the formal classroom environment and related academic activities, including productions, lectures, and other events, should be respectful spaces where sensitivity to personal backgrounds, experiences and beliefs can be balanced with rigorous and thoughtful discourse.
If you believe material and/or experiences in the course will compromise the success of your learning, please consider one or more of the following options: 1) approach your instructor and share your concern: you may be able to find a suitable alternative arrangement or assignment; 2) contact a Livewell Student Advocate in Health and Wellness who will help determine how a past incident may be impacting your academic success and will work with your courses and professors: hwadvoc@uw.edu; 3) Contact UW Student Coaching and Care, which has staff trained to help students in distress and in need of multiple levels of support: ajmyhre@uw.edu.
School of Drama Consent Policies –
Consent makes everyone in theater better. We, in the School of Drama, care about creating learning and training environments that equitably support students across all identities with strong consent policies. We believe that strong consent policies enhance student learning. We believe in “brave space” learning environments where all can explore theories and practices of theater in ways that do not violate or sexualize others, especially students. We intend for every student who moves through this program to feel honored in the work of theater. Through a shared understanding of consent, students can stretch, grow, and make big choices as artists.
Consent is mutual communication and respect for each other’s physical boundaries. Consent is also Considered, Reversible, Informed, Specific, Participatory.
We are building a culture of accountability and repair to best support our community of learners. We strive to build a culture where we can name harm and seek repair when harm happens. Please also note that all students are responsible to the UW’s Student Code of Conduct. https://www.washington.edu/cssc/for-students/student-code-of-conduct
All students have a right to engage and work in the School of Drama without being sexualized or harassed. If you are in a class, and you feel like you are being sexualized or harassed in any way, you can get help through the resources linked below.
- School of Drama voicing a concern policy
https://drama.washington.edu/process-voicing-concerns
- Safe Campus
https://www.washington.edu/safecampus
- Counseling Center https://wellbeing.uw.edu/unit/counseling-center
- Title IX https://www.washington.edu/titleix
By utilizing the School of Drama’s Voicing a Concern process, students can voice a concern to any faculty member, instructor, or staff member. The faculty member, instructor, or staff member will also file a record of your complaint or concern with the School of Drama, unless you ask them not to. This record can remain anonymous if you wish. If you have requested a response, you can expect one within 30 days.
Covid Acknowledgment
“These are difficult times, and we want to accommodate students as best we can. The university has resources for health and wellness and are available if you feel the need https://wellbeing.uw.edu/topic/mental-health/Links to an external site. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with remote classes, please alert your instructor to discuss accommodations. You can also get information about resources if you are in need of laptops, internet access, and/or other technology through this link
Most importantly, take your self- care seriously.
Religious Accommodation
“Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..”
Guidance to Students Taking Courses Outside the U.S.
Faculty members at U.S. universities – including the University of Washington – have the right to academic freedom which includes presenting and exploring topics and content that other governments may consider to be illegal and, therefore, choose to censor. Examples may include topics and content involving religion, gender and sexuality, human rights, democracy and representative government, and historic events.
If, as a UW student, you are living outside of the United States while taking courses remotely, you are subject to the laws of your local jurisdiction. Local authorities may limit your access to course material and take punitive action towards you. Unfortunately, the University of Washington has no authority over the laws in your jurisdictions or how local authorities enforce those laws.
If you are taking UW courses outside of the United States, you have reason to exercise caution when enrolling in courses that cover topics and issues censored in your jurisdiction. If you have concerns regarding a course or courses that you have registered for, please contact your academic advisor who will assist you in exploring options.
Access and Accommodations:
Your experience in this class is important to me. It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please activate your accommodations via myDRS so we can discuss how they will be implemented in this course.
If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), contact DRS directly to set up an Access Plan. DRS facilitates the interactive process that establishes reasonable accommodations. Contact DRS at disability.uw.edu (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..
Student Conduct (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
The University of Washington Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-121) defines prohibited academic and behavioral conduct and describes how the University holds students accountable as they pursue their academic goals. Allegations of misconduct by students may be referred to the appropriate campus office for investigation and resolution. More information can be found online at https://www.washington.edu/studentconduct/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Respect for Diversity
Diverse backgrounds, embodiments and experiences are essential to the critical thinking endeavor at the heart of university education. We choose to:
- respect individual differences which may include, but are not limited to: age, cultural background, disability, ethnicity, family status, gender presentation, immigration status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and veteran status.
- engage respectfully in discussion of diverse worldviews and ideologies embedded in course readings, presentations, and artifacts, including those course materials that are at odds with personal beliefs and values.
Students seeking support around these issues can find more information and resources through https://www.washington.edu/diversity/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Safe Campus (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Call SafeCampus at 206-685-7233 anytime – no matter where you work or study – to anonymously discuss safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others. SafeCampus’s team of caring professionals will provide individualized support, while discussing short- and long-term solutions and connecting you with additional resources when requested.