This course is conceived as an introduction to stage arts in Buenos Aires and their unique ways of creation. It is divided in two stages: (a) Learning the Basics and (b) Applying Knowledge. During the first stage, there will be six major themes: playwriting and direction, acting, dance, music for the stage, set design and costume design. Each one will be presented by an artist in an interview during class followed by introductory exercises for the students. Students will also attend at least four theater plays during this stage. They will write essays about each of them. In the second stage, students will be divided in groups (5 maximum) and compose, rehearse and show a short play for the end of the course.
Prerequisites:
None
Learning outcomes:
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
Learn about the creative process as it is developed in Buenos Aires and their productions.
Evaluate critically the use of the different elements that takes part on a stage play, in order to make a critic approach to theater as art.
Compose and perform a short play based on an ancient greek myth and influenced by their experience in Buenos Aires.
Method of presentation:
Exercises on acting and voice techniques; exercise on playwriting, exercise on costume and stage design; visiting lecturers on Buenos Aires theater; programmed theater visits; play rehearsals and final production.
Required work and form of assessment:
Participation in exercises and discussions (30%)
Essays on field studies and performances (25%): Mandatory attendance to 4 performances / theater plays. Attendance to theater plays in Buenos Aires. Written essays on the characteristics of the shows; description of the characters, the scenery, costumes, most relevant musical effects, analysis of the kind of public that attends to these theaters, theatrical architecture and location of the theater.
Mid-term exam (15%)
Contribution to and participation in a final production (30%): The instructor will coordinate the creation of short plays written, designed and played by the students. During classes, they will develop and rehearse scenes to build some short plays or sketches, that will be “on stage” by the end of the course.
content:
1st week. Introduction to the course
Theater as a communication system. Meaning of words and action on stage. The playwright/director and his work.
ASSIGNMENT: Design of a schedule of four plays to attend in Buenos Aires in the coming weeks.
2nd week. An actor prepares.
The work of an actor on text. Interview and working with an actor on acting vocal technique.
ASSIGNMENT: During this week, students must attend their first play in Buenos Aires (defined at the beginning of the course).
3rd week. Introduction to dance
The space and the movement on stage. Interview and working with a choreographer on principles of contemporary dance.
ASSIGNMENT: Review paper on first play due. During this week, students must attend their second play in Buenos Aires (defined at the beginning of the course).
4th week. Music for the masses
Basic principles of music for the stage. Interview and practice with a stage musician in an approach to composing for the scene.
ASSIGNMENT: Review paper on second play due. During this week, students must attend their third play in Buenos Aires (defined at the beginning of the course).
5th week. The space
Space and scenography in a modern low budget scene. Interview with a stage designer and design of virtual sets for a yet unwritten play.
ASSIGNMENT: Review paper on third play due. During this week, students must also attend their fourth play in Buenos Aires (defined at the beginning of the course).
6th week. The costume
Costumes for the stage and their possibilities for fiction. Interview with a costume designer and work in principles of design.
ASSIGNMENT: Review paper on fourth play due.
7th week. MIDTERM EXAM.
The students will divide themselves in groups (5 each) and will design a project of a play to be developed during the second part of the course.
8th week. MIDSEMESTER BREAK
9th-11th week. Writing and designing
During this three weeks, the students must compose a short play inspired by the interviews and the plays they had seen during the first part of the course. The story of each short play must be an adaptation of an ancient Greek myth. They also must design a production project: poetics, materials, characters, costumes and set must be shown in a folder.
12th-13th week. Rehearsing
During this two week, students must show their rehearsals work to the course during class in order to receive corrections. Out of class, they must consider at least two rehearsals per week each group.
14th week. FINAL EXAM.
General rehearsals.
15th week. Final Public Performance.
Required readings:
All texts will be available at the IES library or electronically via Moodle.
“Mitos griegos” Robert Graves. Alianza Editorial, Madrid, 1985.
“Género Chico” Autores varios. Eudeba – Libros del Rojas, Buenos Aires, 1997
Recommended readings:
“La Nona” Roberto Tito Cossa. En Roberto Cossa, Teatro 2. Ediciones de la Flor, Buenos Aires, 1985.
“Visita” Ricardo Monti. Editorial Talia, Buenos Aires, 1977.
“Salto al cielo” Mauricio Kartun. En Mauricio Kartun, Teatro. Editorial Corregidor, Buenos Aires, 1993.
“La estupidez” Rafael Spregelburd. Editorial Atuel Teatro, Buenos Aires, 2003.
“Casino” Javier Daulte. En Caraja-ji La disolución; Eudeba – Libros del Rojas, Buenos Aires, 1997.
“Juegos de Damas Crueles” Alejandro Tantanián. En Foollyk Teatro I; Colihue Teatro, Buenos Aires, 2005.
“Un acto de comunión” Lautaro Vilo. En Poéticas de Iniciación, Editorial Atuel Teatro, Buenos Aires, 2006.
Brief Biography of Instructor:
Lautaro Vilo (1977, Buenos Aires) is an stage artist who works as an actor, playwright, screenwriter and stage director. He earned a degree in theater from the University of the Center of Buenos Aires Province (UNICEN), and the he took the Course of Playwriting at EAD in Buenos Aires. He has been working as a Drama and playwriting teacher since 2002, in Buenos Aires and other cities in Argentina and South America.
Theater And Performance Workshop
This course is conceived as an introduction to stage arts in Buenos Aires and their unique ways of creation. It is divided in two stages: (a) Learning the Basics and (b) Applying Knowledge. During the first stage, there will be six major themes: playwriting and direction, acting, dance, music for the stage, set design and costume design. Each one will be presented by an artist in an interview during class followed by introductory exercises for the students. Students will also attend at least four theater plays during this stage. They will write essays about each of them. In the second stage, students will be divided in groups (5 maximum) and compose, rehearse and show a short play for the end of the course.
None
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
Exercises on acting and voice techniques; exercise on playwriting, exercise on costume and stage design; visiting lecturers on Buenos Aires theater; programmed theater visits; play rehearsals and final production.
1st week. Introduction to the course
Theater as a communication system. Meaning of words and action on stage. The playwright/director and his work.
ASSIGNMENT: Design of a schedule of four plays to attend in Buenos Aires in the coming weeks.
2nd week. An actor prepares.
The work of an actor on text. Interview and working with an actor on acting vocal technique.
ASSIGNMENT: During this week, students must attend their first play in Buenos Aires (defined at the beginning of the course).
3rd week. Introduction to dance
The space and the movement on stage. Interview and working with a choreographer on principles of contemporary dance.
ASSIGNMENT: Review paper on first play due. During this week, students must attend their second play in Buenos Aires (defined at the beginning of the course).
4th week. Music for the masses
Basic principles of music for the stage. Interview and practice with a stage musician in an approach to composing for the scene.
ASSIGNMENT: Review paper on second play due. During this week, students must attend their third play in Buenos Aires (defined at the beginning of the course).
5th week. The space
Space and scenography in a modern low budget scene. Interview with a stage designer and design of virtual sets for a yet unwritten play.
ASSIGNMENT: Review paper on third play due. During this week, students must also attend their fourth play in Buenos Aires (defined at the beginning of the course).
6th week. The costume
Costumes for the stage and their possibilities for fiction. Interview with a costume designer and work in principles of design.
ASSIGNMENT: Review paper on fourth play due.
7th week. MIDTERM EXAM.
The students will divide themselves in groups (5 each) and will design a project of a play to be developed during the second part of the course.
8th week. MIDSEMESTER BREAK
9th-11th week. Writing and designing
During this three weeks, the students must compose a short play inspired by the interviews and the plays they had seen during the first part of the course. The story of each short play must be an adaptation of an ancient Greek myth. They also must design a production project: poetics, materials, characters, costumes and set must be shown in a folder.
12th-13th week. Rehearsing
During this two week, students must show their rehearsals work to the course during class in order to receive corrections. Out of class, they must consider at least two rehearsals per week each group.
14th week. FINAL EXAM.
General rehearsals.
15th week. Final Public Performance.
All texts will be available at the IES library or electronically via Moodle.
“Mitos griegos” Robert Graves. Alianza Editorial, Madrid, 1985.
“Género Chico” Autores varios. Eudeba – Libros del Rojas, Buenos Aires, 1997
Lautaro Vilo (1977, Buenos Aires) is an stage artist who works as an actor, playwright, screenwriter and stage director. He earned a degree in theater from the University of the Center of Buenos Aires Province (UNICEN), and the he took the Course of Playwriting at EAD in Buenos Aires. He has been working as a Drama and playwriting teacher since 2002, in Buenos Aires and other cities in Argentina and South America.