Created by Annie Dragoo
Musical theatre performers use their bodies to sing, to dance, and to act. We must think of our bodies as instruments and learn to use our instruments properly in order to be better musical theatre performers.
The overall objective with this unit, by Annie Dragoo, is for students to demonstrate an understanding of the use of good movement as it connects to musical theatre. Some of the activities include using action verbs, moving as animals and inanimate characters, nonverbal communication and situational movement. Students will then perform a scene that will allow them to put to practice all the movement techniques they have learned.
National Core Arts Standards
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 7
TH:Pr4.1.7.b - Use various character objectives in a drama/theatre work.
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 8
Perceive and analyze artistic work - Grade 8
TH:Re7.1.8.a - Apply criteria to the evaluation of artistic choices in a drama/theatre work.
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - High School Proficient
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 6
TH:Pr5.1.6.a - Recognize how acting exercises and techniques can be applied to a drama/theatre work.
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 7
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 8
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 6
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 7
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade HS Proficient
TH:Pr6.1.HSI.a - Perform a scripted drama/theatre work for a specific audience.
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work - Grade HS Proficient
Florida Sunshine State Standards
Critical Thinking & Reflection
Innovation, Technology & the Future
Organizational Structure
California VAPA Standards (2019)
6.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
7.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
7.TH:Pr4.b - Use various character objectives in a drama/theatre work.
8.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
8.TH:Pr4 Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
8.TH:Re7 Perceive and analyze artistic work.
8.TH:Re7 - Apply appropriate criteria to the evaluation of artistic choices in a drama/theatre work.
Prof.TH:Cr1 Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
6.TH:Pr5 Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
6.TH:Pr5.a - Recognize how acting exercises and techniques can be applied to a drama/theatre work.
7.TH:Pr5 Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
8.TH:Pr5 Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Prof.TH:Pr5 Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Acc.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Acc.TH:Cr2.b - Cooperate as a creative team to make interpretive choices for a drama/theatre work.
Acc.TH:Pr5 Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Adv.TH:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
6.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
6.TH:Cr3.b - Identify effective physical and vocal traits of characters in a drama/theatre work.
7.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
8.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
Prof.TH:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work.
Prof.TH:Pr6 Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
Prof.TH:Pr6 - Perform a rehearsed, scripted short drama/theatre work for a specific audience.
Prof.TH:Re9 Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
Acc.TH:Pr6 Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
Common Core
Language
Georgia Performance Standards - Theatre Arts
Grades 9-12 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Creating
Grades 9-12 - MUSICAL THEATRE LEVELS I-IV - Creating
North Carolina Essential Standards 2024
Beginning High School Create
B.CR.1.1 - Devise a variety of scenarios and scenes through improvised and scripted activities.
Beginning High School Present
Intermediate High School Create
I.CR.1.1 - Develop a variety of unique characters within given situations through improvisation.
Intermediate High School Present
I.PR.2.1 - Develop scenes for formal or informal presentations.
Accomplished High School Create
Accomplished High School Present
AC.PR.1.2 - Display a progression of character moments within the performance of theatrical texts.
North Carolina Essential Standards 2010
Beginning High School Standards - Communication
Intermediate High School Standards - Communication
I.C.2.2 - Interpret scenes through formal and informal presentations.
Proficient High School Standards - Communication
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Theatre Arts
MS 117.211 LI - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
C.1.C - respond to sounds, music, images, and the written word, incorporating movement.
C.1.E - identify theatrical vocabulary and terminology, including basic anatomy of theatre spaces.
MS 117.211 LI - Creative Expression: performance
MS 117.212 LII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
B.1.B - develop and apply theatre preparation and warm-up techniques.
MS 117.212 LII - Creative Expression: performance
B.2.G - create improvised scenes that include setting, character, and plot.
MS 117.213 LIII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
B.1.B - explore preparation and warm-up techniques.
B.1.C - create expressive movement and mime to define space and characters.
MS 117.213 LIII - Creative Expression: performance
B.2.B - portray characters through familiar movements and dialogue.
HS 117.315 LI - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
C.1.B - develop and practice theatre preparation and warm-up techniques.
HS 117.315 LI - Creative Expression: performance
HS 117.316 LII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
HS 117.316 LII - Creative Expression: performance
C.2.A - model safe, appropriate techniques to allow for physical, vocal, and emotional expression.
HS 117.317 LIII - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
C.1.A - apply theatre preparation and warm-up techniques effectively.
HS 117.318 LIV - Foundations: Inquiry and Understanding
C.1.A - create and demonstrate theatre preparation and warm-up techniques.
HS 117.318 LIV - Creative Expression: performance
C.2.D - interpret scripted scenes of various styles to portray believable characters.
Alberta, Canada
Improvisation Drama 10
1 - use warmup techniques for preparation of body, voice and mind
13 - communicate meaning without words
14 - discover how various emotions affect one vocally and physically
26 - use body language to add physical dimensions and depth to a character
30 - demonstrate understanding of and apply the concepts of a character’s objectives and motivation
31 - demonstrate the ability to focus on, and achieve, the objective of a scene
32 - sustain a character throughout a scene or exercise
5 - create experiences through imaging, visualizing and fantasizing
Improvisation Drama 20
36 - integrate improvisational skills learned, in planned and spontaneous improvisations
Acting Drama 20
1 - analyze a script for explicit character clues
2 - create, select and sustain physical details of the character from scripted material
Movement Drama 10
10 - demonstrate focus, concentration and energy in all movement and gesture
14 - create physically shapes in space
15 - use basic locomotor movements (eg. walking, running, crawling) to explore space
16 - create and repeat patterns of movement
18 - appreciate that physical expression can enhance language
22 - translate words, images and emotions into movement
23 - demonstrate non-verbally the who, what, where, why and when of a story
24 - demonstrate understanding of mood, and communicate mood
Junior Goal II Objectives
Junior Orientation
communicate through use of voice and body
demonstrate a willingness to take calculated and reasonable risks
focus concentration on one task at a time
meet deadlines and follow through on individual and group commitments
recognize the purposes of and participate in warmup activities
share ideas confidently with others
Movement Level I - Beginning
10 - use varying speed of movement
11 - use directions and pathways
17 - use movement to communicate non-verbally
18 - create movement in response to music
19 - translate sounds, words, images, and emotions into movement
4 - recognize the need for and demonstrate warmup activities
5 - move individual body parts
7 - demonstrate awareness of his or her own body and its movement potential
8 - display increased freedom of movement
9 - travel through space in a variety of ways e.g., running, creeping and jumping
Movement Level II - Intermediate
21 - display clarity of movement and gesture
22 - use exaggerated movement and gesture
23 - plan, repeat and combine movement patterns
25 - communicate environment, character and situation nonverbally
Improvisation/Acting Level I - Beginning
1 - use warm-up techniques for preparation of body, voice and mind
10 - use essential story elements in spontaneous and planned scenes
11 - create a dramatic situation in response to varied stimuli: objects, pictures, music
12 - make logical choices within the boundaries of situation and character
5 - create and tell a story spontaneously
7 - use stage vocabulary: stage areas, body positions and crosses
8 - demonstrate appropriate rehearsal behaviours and routines
9 - communicate a clear beginning, middle and end in spontaneous and planned scenes
Improvisation/Acting Level II - Intermediate
15 - use the body and body language to enhance characterization
16 - demonstrate economy in movement and speech
21 - sustain a character throughout an exercise or scene
Junior Goal I Objectives
develop a sense of responsibility and commitment
explore and develop physical and vocal capabilities
Senior Goal I Objectives
demonstrate a sense of inquiry and commitment, individually and to the group
demonstrate a sense of responsibility and commitment, individually and to the group
demonstrate the ability to initiate, organize and present a project within a given set of guidelines
extend the ability to concentrate
sharpen observations of people, situations and the environment
Senior Goal II Objectives
extend the ability to give form and expression to feelings, ideas and images
British Columbia (2018)
GRADE 6 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 7 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 8 - ARTS - Exploring and creating
GRADE 9 - DRAMA - Exploring and creating
GRADE 10 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
GRADE 11 - DRAMA - Explore and Create
Develop and refine performance skills in a variety of contexts
Ontario, Canada
Grade 6 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
Grade 6 - Creating and Presenting
Grade 7 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
Grade 8 - Reflecting, Responding and Analyzing
Grades 9 & 10 - Foundations - Responsible Practices
Grades 9 & 10 - Creating and Presenting - Presentation Techniques & Technologies
Grade 11 - Foundations - Concepts and Terminology
Grade 12 - Creating and Presenting - Presentation Techniques & Technologies
A.3.2 - use different acting approaches to explore and depict character in a variety of situations
Grade 12 - Creating and Presenting - Elements and Conventions
A.2.1 - use the elements of drama to achieve specific purposes in drama works
Virginia Standards Of Learning (2020)
Theatre Arts I: Introduction to Theatre
TI.2 - The student will apply a creative process for theatre.
Theatre Arts I: Introduction to Theatre
TI.5 - The student will apply communication and collaboration skills for theatre experiences.
Theatre Arts I: Introduction to Theatre
TI.11 - The student will analyze how music, visual art, and dance arts enhance performances.
Theatre Arts I: Introduction to Theatre
TI.12 - The student will refine physical and vocal techniques for theatre performance
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