Rachel Ironmonger

Text Set Assignment

Standard:
TI.4
The student will apply the creative process in
storytelling, playwriting, and acting by
1.creating and writing a monologue and/or scene;
2. analyzing the physical, emotional, and social
dimensions of characters;
3.employing voice, body, and imagination in
roleplaying;
4.presenting a memorized monologue and/or scene
from a published work
5. investigating and applying audition techniques.

Citation:
Act Well Your Part (Online Image). 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2014 from
https://www.theatrefolk.com/giveaways/acting-tips-poster
This image, which was created by the Theatrefolk is useful because it allows students to
more deeply think about the standard. In regards to character analyzation, it forces
students to answer questions about physicality of the character they are embodying. The
text offers a positive outlook and helpful advice regarding things that can make
auditioning/acting scary.
Suitability: Suitable for all ages.
Readability: 4.5 Grade Equivalency on Flesch-Kincaid Scale.

Citation:
Dietrick, E. (Ed.). (2008). Actor's Choice: Monologues for Teens. New York: Playscripts.
This text is excellent because it provides several monologues for both genders from
already published works. Almost all the plays can be found in their entirety on the
playscript website and read for no charge. This allows students the opportunity to not
only be exposed to published work for monologue purposes but also they can then
explore the work further for better understanding of character. There is also a section on
audition tips in the foreword.
Suitability: Suitable for ages 14+
Readability: 8.6 Grade Equivalency on Flesch-Kincaid Scale.

Citation:
Evans, R. (2009). Auditions: A practical guide (pp. 1-19). London: Routledge.
This book was written by Richard Evans who was a casting director in various capacities
for several decades. He is very knowledgable on the subject of auditioning and in this
book shares his knowledge with us. The reading details how to find auditions and then
how to prepare for them. With this reading, I would give students an assignment to go
home and find one audition notice online and then Id compile them and discuss as a
class which auditions seemed right for actors like them and which didnt. Also we would
talk about what to expect at an audition and practice things that are discussed in the
reading such as coldreading and audition demeanor.
Suitability: Suitable for ages 12+
Readability: 6.3 Grade Equivalency on the Flesch-Kincaid Scale.

Citation:
The Beyoncelogues: Irreplaceable [Motion picture]. (2014). Youtube.
This video is great because it provides a chance for character analyzation that may be
more difficult when the lyrics are sung. The students can watch this video to help gain an
understanding of physical, emotional, and social dimensions as well as importance of
voice and body in roleplaying. Once they have analyzed the piece they can then create
their own with a song of their choosing.
Suitability: Suitable for all ages.
Readability: 2.4 Grade Equivalency on the Flesch-Kincaid Scale.

Citation:
Harbison, L. (Ed.). (2012). The Best Men's Stage Monologues and Scenes of 2012.
Hanover: Smith and Kraus.
This text offers several contemporary comedic and dramatic monologues and scenes for
men. Contemporary theater is difficult to find and all of these texts also come from
previously published works. While the whole text is not suitable for the classroom due to
appropriateness, parts of it are certainly worth exploring. The text is useful for
memorization as well as character analyzation. It is also beneficial in a classroom setting
because the readability level varies based on the monologue so it can be useful to readers
on a variety of levels.
Suitability: Suitable for ages 15+
Readability: 9 Grade Equivalency on Flesch-Kincaid Scale.

Harbison, L. (Ed.). (2012). The Best Women's Stage Monologues and Scenes of 2012.
Hanover: Smith and Kraus.
This text offers several contemporary comedic and dramatic monologues and scenes for
women. Female texts can be difficult to find, but they are important especially in a
gender skewed classroom. This text helps meet standards regarding voice and body,
memorization from public works, and character analyzation. As with the male companion
text, the entire text is not suitable due to appropriateness, but a lot of the material is
worthwhile.
Suitability: Suitable for ages 15+
Readability: 9 Grade Equivalency on Flesch-Kincaid Scale.

Citation:
Seurat, G. (1884). A Sunday on La Grande Jette [Painting]. Retrieved from
http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/27992
This image is really excellent because theres a lot of different characters depicted as well
as a really clear sense of setting. This image could be used in the students creation of a
character and monologue. They can pick/be assigned a character in the painting and then
write a monologue from the point of view of that character. There are several things for
them to take into consideration such as body language of the character and where they are
in relation to others.
Suitability: Suitable for all ages
Readability: N/A

Citation:
Silverstein, S. Noise Day. (2012, January 24). Retrieved October 25, 2014, from
http://shelsilversteinpoems.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/noise-day/
This poem is great because it has a lot of descriptive vocal and physical words. I would
use this as an exercise in physicality and vocalization by splitting students into groups
and having one person in the group narrate, one physicalize the poem, and one vocalize
it. They could also trade off. This will help students think creatively about their bodies
and their voices and also meet the third substandard.
Suitability: Suitable for all ages.
Readability: 0.5 Grade Equivalency on the Flesch-Kincaid Scale.

Citation:
Remember You [Music Video]. (2013). Youtube.
This music video is good to use because its long enough to establish backgrounds and
personalities of the characters depicted. I would have students watch this music video
once or twice and then have them write a monologue from the point of view of one of the
characters. This would be a good exercise in character development as well as honing
writing skills. This would be better for dramatic writing because it is about a couple
whos broken up but I think that is important because dramatic writing is often neglected.
Suitability: Suitable for all ages.
Readability: 2.8 Grade Equivalency on the Flesh-Kincaid Scale.

Citation:
[Untitled online image of Harry Potter, Gilderoy Lockhart, and Ron Weasley]. Retrieved
October 26, 2014 from http://www.hypable.com/2014/01/15/harry-potter-spinofffantastic-beastskenneth-branagh/
This is an excellent source image and I would use it to prompt my students to write a
scene. The scene would either take place right before the photo was taken, or
immediately after. It can include two to three of the characters in the scene. This would
be something fun for them to do after a week of difficult work and most likely I would let
them do it in pairs. This would help them expand their scene writing skills.
Suitability: Suitable for all ages.
Readability: N/A