Texas Shakedown (Physical Warm-up) - INSTRUCTIONS AND VIDEO

Throw Your Voice on “Hah” (Vocal Warm-up) - INSTRUCTIONS

Sound Ball (Physical/Vocal Warm-up) - INSTRUCTIONS AND VIDEO

Me May Ma Moe - INSTRUCTIONS AND VIDEO
Review proper breath support for projection.

Stage Directions and Parts of the Stage (Stage Conventions) - INSTRUCTIONS AND VIDEO

• Explain and demonstrate the terms upstage, downstage, stage right and stage left. 

• Explain and demonstrate the nine areas of the stage.  

• Explain the term “blocking”—which is simply the set of instructions that tell an actor when and where to move on stage—and the word “cross”—which means to move from one place to another on stage.

• Have the students stand on stage as you call out blocking directions. E.g. “Everyone point stage left!”, “Everyone point stage right!”, “Everyone take one step downstage.”

• Ask for volunteer pairs. With two students on stage, call out stage directions for each one. E.g. “Tom, take two steps down right.” “Jessica, cross up center.”, “Tom, now cross to upstage left.” “Jessica, take three steps toward center right.” Etc. 

Freeze Demonstration (Body Awareness, Stage Technique)
Show the students how to hold a “freeze” on stage—as though they are a statue. They must be completely unmoving, but it will be more interesting if the statue is posed in the midst of an action. It’s also essential that they have their eyes focused on a single point. Stress that—while it’s O.K. to blink—their eyes should not be moving from side to side.

Tableaux (Body Awareness, Teamwork, Stage Technique) - INSTRUCTIONS AND VIDEO 
Introduce the basic concepts of what contributes to a good stage picture–namely interaction and levels. Students should use their newly acquired freezing skills.

Body Sculpture Statues (Body Awareness, Teamwork, Stage Technique) - INSTRUCTIONS AND VIDEO
It’s possible to communicate ideas and emotion with just your body. Encourage the students to practice good “freeze” technique and to use what they’ve learned about stage pictures as they create individual and group sculptures. 

Group Sculpture Masterpiece (Body Awareness, Teamwork, Stage Technique) - INSTRUCTIONS AND VIDEO

Night at the Museum (Concentration, Body Awareness) - INSTRUCTIONS AND VIDEO
Students pose as statues in a museum as a “Security Guard” tries to catch them moving.