Course Syllabus

Psycholophysical Foundations of Acting BA Winter 2022.docx

Psychophysical foundations of acting explores various psychophysical exercises that awaken and synthesize the breath, voice,  body, intellect, emotion and imagination for character transformation.  Michael Chekhov's technique of acting will be a substantial focus of the course. He was the nephew of the playwright Anton Chekhov, and a student of Konstantin Stanislavski.

We will explore the foundational principles of Stanislavski's 7 questions for the character and play ( Who am I, Where am I, What time is it, What do I want, Why do I want it, How do I get what I want, What is in my way of getting what I want) from a psycho-physical perspective. Michael Chekhov said" every move I make is a little work of art". The answer then to these questions is in the doing.

This work has the possibility of increasing awareness and sensitivity as an actor, expand the imagination, find new discoveries within the text, turn the words on the page into a living breath experience, develop a way of working and how to approach the part, and, as Michael Chekhov tells us, "open the doors and go fearlessly into the treasure house and search".

We will apply the work to monologues and scenes.

I look forward to seeing you this Winter quarter!