MYP Drama 10 at GSIS

Introductory Materials

Greek Theatre

Summative Assessments Greek Theatre

For the Poster Assignment you may choose to do a search for and read ar electronic or print version of an ancient Greek tragedy or comedy. Many, however, are very long and were often the standard translations are from the late Victorian era and use difficult obscure English. These are usually shorter adaptations generally using more modern English.

Fragment of a Greek Tragedy 

Kennedy Center Medea Production Video

Here is the rest of the Medea clips in all of their horror.  Warning: They take a long time to load...be patient!  Happy (or perhaps I should say "tragic") watching. Read and complete the Medea questions on the "MedeaInfo.pdf" document as a Google Doc Journal Assignment when you are finished.  

Note: Each clip is about 10 minutes long. 

Part A-D In Class

Part E - Watch Online Here

Part F - Watch Online Here

Part G - Watch Online Here

Part H - Watch Online Here

Greek Comedy and Tragedy Performance January 2013

Greek Costume Design Assignment

1. Most Greek costumes are based on the basic Greek garment known as th Chiton.  Both men and women wore Chitons.  Men wore them shorter (above the knees) while women wore them longer (to the ankle).  Women sometimes wore the Chiton pinned on one shoulder only.  Men would often wear wide leather belts around their waists while women wore belts of braided leather or cloth in different patterns.  Class distinctions included dye color and the thread count of the fabric, the type of broaches used to pin the shoulders, and other trim.  Cloaks and capes were also worn.  Study the basic pattern of a Greek Chiton below.

2. After studying the chiton and remembering the basics, research the costume your character might wear on the following pages.  

Ancient Greek Costumes by Paul Anderson
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~chrisandpeter/radical_romans/snorri/greek_clothing.htm

Ancient Greek and Roman Costume by Pauline W. Thomas
http://www.fashion-era.com/ancient_costume/index-ancient-greek-costume-history.htm

Greek, Prof. Scott Robinson, Central WA Univ. http://www.cwu.edu/~robinsos/ppages/resources/Costume_History/greek.htm

Costumer's Manifesto by Tara Maginnis
http://www.costumes.org/history/100pages/timelinepages/ancientgreece1.htm

3. Now, draw your character in costume using your research, your understanding of the Greek Chiton and your imagination.  Your depictions should be reasonably realistic and in colour.  When you are finished, scan your drawing and paste it into your Google Doc Journal.

4.You will be asked to explain your costume choices in a written essay.  You should discuss these choices both from an historical perspective (based on your reading and research) and a character perspective (based on your understanding of your character's given circumstances).

Greek Tragedy and Comedy Performance Summative Assessment

Interlude

Engineering an Empire - The Roman Colosseum 

More on the Flavian Amphitheatre:

Colosseum - A Gladiator's Story

The Coloseum of Rome - Engineering Marvel

Roman Colosseum - Unsolved History

Medieval Drama

Presentation 

In Mel Gibson's 1990 production of "Hamlet" a pageant wagon and troupe of players are featured beginning at 58:00 and ending at 1:13:00

In the 2003 film "Luther" a medieval mystery play is performed in the town square.  In this clip this scene is from 4:00 to 5:33.  By the way this film is a great, though very simplified biography Martin Luther, an important Christian historical figure whose aim was to return the medieval church to the core message of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Homework Assignment:

Read Chapters 3 and 4 from Theatre History 101 and answer the accompanying questions in full sentences.  Please share your answers with me in your Google Doc journal under the heading:

Summative Task 1:

A trailer for a film adaptation of "Everyman"

A Modern Morality Tale - Allegorical Drama

Final Summative Task for Medieval Drama:  

Allegorical Playwriting 

Choose between the following options:

1. Write a morality play called Everystudent for middle school kids which would teach them how to overcome any obstacles that might keep them from graduating.  For example, perhaps the counselor summons Everystudent to give a reckoning of their four years' work and students who fail don't have enough credits in their account. Personify the problems Everystudent faces during his journey to graduation and the qualities that help him overcome those problems.  Since you can't act out every single thing that might happen in the four years of high school, you would have to be selective and choose events which might represent typical problems faced by every student.  Name your characters allegorically.  Teach a moral by showing how Everystudent can succeed.

2. Write your own morality play, basing it upon images and/or moral concerns that you find in a recent print or website newspaper.  Follow morality play format, as demonstrated in Everyman. Name your characters allegorically and make sure your play has a moral. Do not merely personify some vices and virtues, having them converse inanely -- create a lesson for a modern Everyperson.  For this option you should include a photocopy of the newspaper article or a printout of the website news article that inspired you. 

General Requirements

Plays must be a minimum of 12 minutes in length when read out-loud in a "Reader's Theatre" performance.

Plays must have a minimum of three characters listed in order of appearance in a “dramatis personae” at the beginning of the script.

Plays must be set essentially in the modern era, although flashbacks or individual scenes may be set in the past.

Plays must include both dialogue and stage direction, including a setting paragraph at the beginning.

You may work with a partner to develop your script but you must each turn in your own separate document for grading.  You may not work in groups of more than two without specific given permission.

Follow the story structure guide below to develop your story.

PLEASE SUBMIT AS A GOOGLE DOC TITLED:

ALLEGORICAL PLAY.YOUR NAME.MYP 10

French/Restoration Comedy

Homework Assignment:

Read Chapters 5, 6 and 7 from Theatre History 101 and answer the accompanying questions in full sentences.  Please share your answers with me in your Google Doc journal under the heading Theatre History Chapter 5,6,7

Moliere's "The Miser" -

2) Watch the 1988 BBC production starring Nigel Hawthorne.

Link to the Youtube Playlist: Click Here

HOMEWORK ALERT: YOU SHOULD WATCH THE REMAINING SECTIONS OF "THE MISER" AS "HOMEWORK" AS THIS PLAY WILL BE ON THE FINAL TEST.

Summative Assessment - Moliere Interpretation

Directions: You will each be given an ensemble and (a) character(s).  You will be performing with bare stage and only essential props and costuming.  

Your task is to: 

1. Memorize your lines, 
   
2. Block your play with your ensemble, 
   
3. Work on a character analysis for (one of) your characters

Ensemble 1: A Doctor in Spite of Himself (English adaptation of "Le médecin malgré lui" aka. "The Mock Doctor")

Ensemble 2: The Imaginary Invalid (English adaptation of "Le malade imaginaire" aka. "The Hypochondriac")