Third Semester Courses

Note:  Dance and Movement:  Students dance 9 hours per week.  Hours per course vary per rotation. 

For information on transferring courses as college credit, please visit the College Credit page on our website.

THIRD SEMESTER COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Acting III

Actors will expand and deepen the work learned in first year with continued technique and scene work. In the first semester, a Character Workshop helps the actor create characters who are large, eccentric and truthful. These lessons are then applied to scene work.

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Musical Scene Study I

In the second year of training, the actor takes all the tools and insights gathered from Acting, Scene Study, Improvisation, Voice and Speech, Vocal Technique, Vocal Performance, Dance/Movement and Private Voice into the work on musical scenes. 

In the first semester, this class builds a foundation in acting the musical scene by working on the Rodgers and Hammerstein canon (South Pacific, King and I, Carousel, Oklahoma, and Sound of Music) and continues with selections from the Golden Age (e.g., Guys and Dolls, Gypsy).

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Vocal Performance II

In the first semester of second year, actors will work on songs from contemporary musical theatre.

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Voice and Speech III: Dialects

The objective of this class is to provide the actors with the ability to utilize the primary dialects found in musical theatre, as well as to understand the process of researching all dialects first-hand.  The primary dialects studied are: Standard British (RP), Cockney, Traditional Southern, Texas, Southern Irish (Dublin), and New York.  Finally, students work in small groups to research another dialect (North Country, Yorkshire, Scottish, French, German, Hispanic, etc.) from contemporary musical theatre, and teach this to the rest of the class.  The course builds on the work from the first year, adding the application of all of these skills in replicating authentic dialects on text.

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Dance and Movement III

In the second year of dance classes, students are re-evaluated to determine their appropriate level. Students further develop their awareness of how dance and movement supports the actor performing in a variety of styles in musical theatre. The Jazz classes will introduce new Theatre Dance styles and begin preparations for Song and Dance work.  In addition to regular dance classes, students will participate in a Song and Dance project.  This project will focus on combining acting, singing, and dancing to create a dance musical production.  See Song and Dance Project Course Description for more information.

Dance courses in the third semester continue to develop the skills addressed in the first two semesters.  In this semester, the lessons include:

• dynamics of movement
• interpretation of music
• singing while dancing
• ensemble work/duets/trios
• working with a musical director

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Audition Repertoire

In this semester, students
research, choose and prepare appropriate audition material from all genres of American Musical Theatre.  Students prepare a minimum of two songs per week for each style and era of musical theatre from standards to pop-rock material.  Many new shows require a pop-rock style of singing.  Knowing how to make the sounds as well as what type of material is appropriate for auditions is crucial to working actors.  Homework assignments include reading Backstage and being aware of which shows are currently auditioning and what is en route to Broadway.  Class discussion topics include:

• Identifying your "type"
• Preparing appropriate music for an audition
• Presenting a successful headshot and resume
• Entering the room and addressing the panel
• Talking to the accompanist
• Exiting the room

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Private Voice Lessons III (Singing Lessons)

This one on one experience allows students the opportunity to polish the skills introduced in Vocal Technique.  In each lesson, students work on vocal exercises to further develop technique and then apply that technique to material.  CAP21's voice faculty is experienced in teaching the sounds required for legit material, mix, belt and even pop-rock material.  Students meet with their private voice teacher weekly (12 hours total) during the semester.

THIRD SEMESTER PRODUCTION PROJECTS

Song and Dance Project

In this project, students incorporate their acting, singing and dance into a "Song & Dance" presentation.  The primary techniques of Jazz, Ballet, and Tap will be utilized within the choreography to enable the actor to acquire discipline, strength, and stamina.  Song and Dance presentations will be selected from the musical theatre cannon including, but not limited to: Chicago: "All That Jazz", "Cell Block Tango", "Me and my Baby"; White Christmas: "Blue Skies"; Singing in the Rain: "Good Morning"; Jelly's Last Jam: "Jelly's Jam"; Cabaret: "Two Ladies, "Money Money"; Damn Yankees: "Shoeless Joe", "Who's Got the Pain"; Annie: "Easy Street"; Crazy for You: "I Got Rhythm"; Irving Berlin: "Puttin' on the Ritz"; Kiss Me, Kate: "Too Darn Hot".

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Creative Ensemble Project

The project strengthens the artist's facility as a full
collaborator by creating an original musical theatre performance piece with an ensemble of fellow actors. The focus will be on integrating and augmenting the actor's technique and skill levels to include the creation of stories and music and the
structuring of themes and written materials.

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