R. ZWEIG (THEATER ARTS)

"All the world's a stage." -- William Shakespeare

Welcome students and parents!

Hello Students and Families!
I am so excited to get this year started with you all. Things may look different this year, but I am here to support you the best way I can.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at:
rzweig3@schools.nyc.gov
TalkingPoints
www.pupilpath.skedula.com/
***

Homework Assignments

Homework Policy
Homework will be assigned every class. Each assignment will be graded out of 2 points. All homework must be handed in by the indicated due date in order to receive full credit. Late homework can only achieve 2 points if a student is absent on the day it is due. In this case, the homework is due the following class. Otherwise, late homework will receive 1 point. Extra Credit: Extra credit opportunities will be available to make up missed homework upon request when more than 2 assignments are missing. Students are responsible for speaking with Ms. Zweig about extra credit opportunities, and cannot ask for extra credit opportunities within 1 week of the end of the marking period. Each student can only complete a maximum of 2 extra credit assignments per marking period. Please note that these assignments take more time and effort than a standard homework assignment.

Click on your class title below to see your homework and upcoming assessments/due dates:

8D1
8D2
7D1 Musical History SPARK
7D2 Musical History SPARK
6D1 Musical History SPARK
6D2 Musical History SPARK
Headline 6

8D1 Homework
Homework #1, Due Wednesday 9/23

8D2 Homework
Homework# 1 Due Tuesday 3/2
.

803 Homework

Homework# 17 Setting Journal Prompt, Due Tuesday 3/3
Journal Prompt: What’s another word we learned today for the “WHERE” of a scene? Describe in detail what gestures and movements you might use to communicate being in a school hallway.

Catch up on any homework not handed in. I will no longer accept late homework after MARCH 2nd.
Email Ms. Zweig for extra credit assignments.

Homework# 16 Stage Directions, Due Tuesday 1/21

Using the script assigned in class (click here to view), write down 2 additional stage directions you would add for your character in this scene.
You must justify each choice with an explanation.
Hand in these stage directions on a piece of loose leaf, or via Google Docs to Ms. Zweig.

Homework #15, Due Tuesday, 1/6
Ensemble handout
On a lined piece of paper (or a typed document shared with Ms. Zweig), reflect on the nature of ensemble and the exercises you participated in today. Address these questions (Length: ¾ - 1 page):

Every week you are given an ensemble grade. What is an ensemble?
Why is everyone in a play or in a class part of the ensemble?
What are the expectations of those in an ensemble?
What was your favorite exercise today? Why?
Where did you struggle today?

Homework #14, Due Thursday, 12/19
Self-Reflection Worksheet.

Homework #13, Due Tuesday, 12/3
Strong Offer
On a lined piece of paper, respond to the following questions in full sentences.

What is a strong offer in improv? What is a weak offer?
Provide an example of a strong offer using an improv activity we played in class.

Homework #12 Due Thursday, 11/21
Give yourself feedback on the 2 criteria reflecting the first 2 rules of improv. Use the following sentence stems for EACH CRITERIA to guide your self-feedback. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RUBRIC.

I would give myself a (score on Rubric) for (accepting and building offers/trusting yourself)
This is because…. (use words from Rubric + specific actions of peer to defend your answer).
One suggestion I have for improvement is (clear, specific way to improve).

Homework #11, Due Tuesday, 11/19
Unit 1 Wrap Up Written Reflection (deadline extended!):
On a lined piece of paper, respond to the following 4 questions in full sentences. You should write at minimum 2-3 sentences per question.

Looking back on the “Taking a Stand” unit, what theatre skills did you improve on throughout the unit? Provide an example.
Looking forward to Unit 2: Improvisation, Use the word “offer” to describe what you learned today about improvisation.
Why is having a strong class ensemble important for good improvisation?
How can improvisation help you beyond just this class?

Homework #10, Due Thursday, 10/25
1) Memorize lines and stage movement you created with your group today.
2) REFLECTION: On a lined piece of paper, or in a google doc shared with me, please answer the following questions:

How have I contributed to my group thus far during this project? Provide examples.

Can I contribute more? How?

Homework #9, Due Tuesday, 10/15
**IF YOU DID NOT COMPLETE YOUR STORY FOR HOMEWORK #8, PLEASE DO,. IT WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT YOUR GROUP.**
Memorize the tableau work your group created today.
This could look like taking notes, drawing, or practicing aloud at home. Whatever works for you.
This is important so that you can move forward and add on more to your performance next week.
While you will not need to hand anything in, your preparation will be evident when you’re observed working in your groups next class.

Homework #8, Due Thursday, 10/10

On a lined sheet of paper, write out a story (one location, 5 characters) based on your group’s "Taking a Stand" theme.
Length: 1/2 page -- 1 page long.
How you chose to present the story is up to you. You can write dialogue, or simply outline the story. You may also present the story in a storyboard format, although this would need to be at least 2 pages long.
The story must have a clear beginning, middle and end.
We will workshop these stories next class, so your completion of the homework will directly support your group.
See groups here

Homework #7, Due Tuesday, 10/8
Which theme/issue that we explored today most interests you? Let Ms. Zweig know by completing this Google Form here.

Homework #6, Due Thursday, 10/3
So far in theatre, we’ve been getting acclimated to procedures, what theatre is, and how to work together as an ensemble. Now we’re going to dive deeper into what theatre can do for social good?
1.  Watch this video of teenage activist Greta Thunberg at the UN this week, and respond to these questions on a lined piece of paper:
  a. What matters to Greta? What is she passionate about?
    b. What performance skills is she using to demonstrate this passion?
2.   On index cards or separate pieces of paper respond to the following:
What matters to you? What do you feel passionate or care about? What are major issues you believe teenagers face today? Bring in your responses to these questions on an index card or piece of paper. You can bring in multiple ideas, with one idea per card/paper (your name must be on each one). They can be questions, themes, ideas, or a one-word topic. We will be sharing these ideas with the ensemble so ensure they demonstrate thoughtfulness and maturity.

Homework #5, Due Thursday, 9/26
On a lined piece of paper share the following:
(Minimum ½ page)

What did you and your group do well during the tableaux tasks? Give examples.*
What was challenging about creating tableaux? How can you improve next time? Give examples.*

* Use the tableaux checklist and the Say Yes Ensemble Criteria to give yourself and your group feedback.

Homework #4, Due Tuesday, 9/24
On a lined piece of paper share the following:
(Minimum ½ page)

Describe one time in your life where you needed to work with a group of people.
What skills did you need to be successful? Were you? Or what would you have done differently?

Homework #3, Due Tuesday, 9/17
On a lined piece of paper share on the following
( ½ page - 1 page):

Your name, pronouns, and class number.
Tell me anything you’d like about yourself! I want to get to know you :)
Tell me anything you’d like about prior experience with theatre: Have you seen or created any theatre before? What did you think? Describe the experience.
Do you have any specific learning needs you would like Ms. Zweig to know about?

Homework #2, Due Thursday, 9/12
On a lined piece of paper reflect on the following:

What types of acting skills did you work on today? How do you think these skills will be useful to you as an actor in the future?
What did you find challenging about today’s activities? How can you work to overcome these challenges?

Homework #1, Due Tuesday, 9/10
Please read the syllabus and class expectations with your parent/guardian. You and your parent/guardian should complete and sign the contract. It will be collected your next Theatre class.

804 Upcoming Assignments and Due Dates
Homework# 17 Setting Journal Prompt, Due Tuesday 3/3
Journal Prompt: What’s another word we learned today for the “WHERE” of a scene? Describe in detail what gestures and movements you might use to communicate being in a school hallway.

Catch up on any homework not handed in. I will no longer accept late homework after MARCH 2nd.
Email Ms. Zweig for extra credit assignments.

Homework #16 Stage Directions, Due Tuesday 1/21

Using the script assigned in class (click here to view), write down 2 additional stage directions you would add for your character in this scene.
You must justify each choice with an explanation.
Hand in these stage directions on a piece of loose leaf, or via Google Docs to Ms. Zweig.

Every week you are given an ensemble grade. What is an ensemble?
Why is everyone in a play or in a class part of the ensemble?
What are the expectations of those in an ensemble?
What was your favorite exercise today? Why?
Where did you struggle today?

Homework #14, Due Thursday, 12/19
Self-Reflection Worksheet.

Homework #13, Due Tuesday, 12/3
Strong Offer
On a lined piece of paper, respond to the following questions in full sentences.

What is a strong offer in improv? What is a weak offer?
Provide an example of a strong offer using an improv activity we played in class.

Homework #12 Due Monday, 11/25
Give yourself feedback on the 2 criteria reflecting the first 2 rules of improv. Use the following sentence stems for EACH CRITERIA to guide your self-feedback. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RUBRIC.

I would give myself a (score on Rubric) for (accepting and building offers/trusting yourself)
This is because…. (use words from Rubric + specific actions of peer to defend your answer).
One suggestion I have for improvement is (clear, specific way to improve).

Looking back on the “Taking a Stand” unit, what theatre skills did you improve on throughout the unit? Provide an example.
Looking forward to Unit 2: Improvisation, Use the word “offer” to describe what you learned today about improvisation.
Why is having a strong class ensemble important for good improvisation?
How can improvisation help you beyond just this class?

How have I contributed to my group thus far during this project? Provide examples.

Can I contribute more? How?

On a lined sheet of paper, write out a story (one location, 5 characters) based on your group’s "Taking a Stand" theme.
Length: 1/2 page -- 1 page long.
How you chose to present the story is up to you. You can write dialogue, or simply outline the story. You may also present the story in a storyboard format, although this would need to be at least 2 pages long.
The story must have a clear beginning, middle and end.
We will workshop these stories next class, so your completion of the homework will directly support your group.
See groups here

Homework #7, Due Tuesday, 10/8
Which theme/issue that we explored today most interests you? Let Ms. Zweig know by completing this Google Form here.

Homework #6, Due Thursday, 10/3
So far in theatre, we’ve been getting acclimated to procedures, what theatre is, and how to work together as an ensemble. Now we’re going to dive deeper into what theatre can do for social good?
1.  Watch this video of teenage activist Greta Thunberg at the UN this week, and respond to these questions on a lined piece of paper:
  a. What matters to Greta? What is she passionate about?
    b. What performance skills is she using to demonstrate this passion?
2.   On index cards or separate pieces of paper respond to the following:
What matters to you? What do you feel passionate or care about? What are major issues you believe teenagers face today? Bring in your responses to these questions on an index card or piece of paper. You can bring in multiple ideas, with one idea per card/paper (your name must be on each one). They can be questions, themes, ideas, or a one-word topic. We will be sharing these ideas with the ensemble so ensure they demonstrate thoughtfulness and maturity.

Homework #5, Due Thursday, 9/26
On a lined piece of paper share the following:
(Minimum ½ page)

What did you and your group do well during the tableaux tasks? Give examples.*
What was challenging about creating tableaux? How can you improve next time? Give examples.*

* Use the tableaux checklist and the Say Yes Ensemble Criteria to give yourself and your group feedback.

Homework #4, Due Tuesday, 9/24
On a lined piece of paper answer the following:
(Minimum ½ page)

Describe one time in your life where you needed to work with a group of people.
What skills did you need to be successful? Were you? Or what would you have done differently?
What is required of you to be part of the ensemble* in Theatre class?

*An ensemble is a group of people who work together to achieve a goal. In an ensemble, group members put the needs of the group and goal ahead of their own needs.

Homework #3, Due Tuesday, 9/17
On a lined piece of paper share on the following
( ½ page - 1 page):

Your name, pronouns, and class number.
Tell me anything you’d like about yourself! I want to get to know you :)
Tell me anything you’d like about prior experience with theatre: Have you seen or created any theatre before? What did you think? Describe the experience.
Do you have any specific learning needs you would like Ms. Zweig to know about?

Homework #2, Due Thursday, 9/12
On a lined piece of paper reflect on the following:

What types of acting skills did you work on today? How do you think these skills will be useful to you as an actor in the future?
What did you find challenging about today’s activities? How can you work to overcome these challenges?

Upcoming Assignments and Due Dates

719 Homework
Homework #8, Due Thursday, 2/13
Black History Month
Pick a Black actor that you admire or think is a talented actor. The actor could be someone we looked at in class, or another actor of your choice. On loose leaf, write 3-4 sentences explaining who they are, what work they've done, and why you think they are talented. We will share these in class next week.

Homework #7, Due Thursday, 1/16
Lesson Reflection - Answer the following on loose leaf:
Next class we will act out a mimed food fight. In 3-4 sentences, tell me how you will make your food fight look realistic using your body language and your facial expressions.

Homework #6, Due Thursday, 1/9
Lesson Reflection - Answer the following on loose leaf:

What does ‘attention to detail’ mean? Give an example from class today.
Why is paying attention to detail useful for an actor?

Homework #5, Due Thursday, 10/31
Rehearse lines for our two Lion King scene assessments.

Homework #4, Due Thursday, 10/24

Finish last week's homework if you did not complete it.
Memorize lines for our two Lion King scenes..

Homework #4, Due Thursday, 10/17

Create a 3 box comic strip that shows the beginning, middle, and end of The Lion King. Write a sentence for each picture to explain what is happening. Hint: The scene we acted out in class this week was the middle of the play. Here is an example using the story Charlotte's Web.
Practice your lines that you were assigned today!

Homework #3, Due Thursday, 10/3
On a lined sheet of paper respond to the following:

List another skill we have been working on in Theatre class. This cannot be the same skill you wrote about last week.
Explain: Why is this skill useful for an actor?
Connect: How can this skill be useful for you in everyday life?

Homework #2, Due Thursday, 9/26
On a lined sheet of paper respond to the following:

List one skill we have been working on in Theatre class.
Explain: Why is this skill useful for an actor?
Connect: How can this skill be useful for you in everyday life?

Homework #1, Due Thursday, 9/19

Please read the syllabus and class expectations with your parent/guardian. You and your parent/guardian should complete and sign the contract. It will be collected your next Theatre class.
Complete Student Interest Survey! :)

SPARK Musical History
Homework #5 Due Monday, 1/13
Read the following article and come prepared to discuss the idea of "Yes, And." Your preparation and homework grade will be evident by your participation in group discussion.
https://www.secondcity.com/how-to-say-yes-and/

Homework #4 Due Monday, 11/18
Complete the Newsies Character Creation Sheet. Remember to make notes about how your character stands, moves, and talks on the back of your worksheet.

Homework #3 Due Monday, 10/28
Give yourself some feedback. Take a look at the ENSEMBLE RUBRIC, and and on a lined piece of paper give yourself a grade on both criteria: SAY YES and BE SAFE. You must explain why you chose the grade for yourself, providing examples from work in class.
Hand in any missing homework. Missing homework for Marking Period 1 will only be accepted until November 1st.

Use the following examples to help you if needed:
I would give myself a (grade from Ensemble Rubric) for when I (specific action you did). This seems like the right grade because (defend your grade using evidence from that column of the Rubric!)
Example: For the "Say Yes" criteria, I would give myself a Partially Meets when I took a while to get started creating a tableau with my group. This seems like the right grade because I felt resistant to taking risks/trying something new and was hesitant to participate in the activity, but I eventually did..

Homework #2 Due Monday, 10/7
Note: You have 2 weeks to complete this assignment:
Take a look at this video on feedback to help guide your response. On a lined piece of paper please respond to the following questions:

What does effective feedback look and sound like in Theatre? Provide examples to support your ideas.
What is an ensemble? How have you contributed to the Musical History ensemble so far this year? Provide examples.
What else can you do to help our ensemble succeed? Provide examples.

Homework #1 Due Monday, 9/23
Complete Theatre Interest Survey, hand in next class.
If you lost your survey, please answer the following questions on a piece of paper, or a Google Doc shared with Mr. Cummings and Ms. Zweig

Why did you decide to take Musical History?
What do you hope to learn in this class this year?
Have you ever performed for others before?
(for example, a play, talent show, dance performance, speech)
What are your talents? What do you love to do?
(for example, singing, acting, dancing, art, clubs, sports, hobbies)
Have you ever seen a play or musical? If so, what did you see and where did you see it?
(for example, Broadway, High School Theatre)
What is your favorite play? Book? Movie? TV Show?
Anything else you want us to know about you?

Resources

Syllabi / Welcome Letters / Expectations

Ms. Zweig's Class Page

"All the world's a stage." -- William Shakespeare

Welcome students and parents!

Homework Assignments

Resources