School of Theatre > For educators > In your classroom > Creating Character

Creating Character

How does an actor bring someone to life on stage? In individual and group character development exercises, participants delve into the mind and body of a fully dimensional being. Learn to move, think and speak like the character. Recognize habits that you possess and free yourself to make deliberate choices to benefit the character. Berkeley Rep Teaching Artists will modify curriculum based on students’ grade, level of experience and teacher feedback. Creating Character is available as a one- or three-hour workshop.

program benefits

Introduces and develops theatrical skills and knowledge in middle and high school students.
Students develop the skills necessary to develop characters through improvisation, collaboration and group work.
Through exploring characters, students develop an increased understanding of others’ points of view.
Provides an avenue for creative expression and increased self-confidence, particularly in public speaking.
Exposes students to multiple modalities of learning and expression.
Offers flexibility of curriculum for students in all degrees of learning, ELL, students from different cultural backgrounds and students with learning and physical disabilities.

To bring a Creating Character workshop into your classroom, please complete the registration form. We will contact you to confirm your scheduling once we have received all necessary registration information.

workshop dates

September 2011–May 2012

workshop length

One- or three-hour sessions

maximum class size

30 students / 1 teaching artist

grade level

Grades 6–12

workshop costs

First one-hour workshop—FREE * (one hour per public school)
Additional one-hour workshop—$75/hour
($60/hour educator discount **)
Three-hour session—$60/hour
($55/hour educator discount **)
Title I discount—$55/hour
Non-public schools—$75/hour

* Limited to one free teaching hour per public school in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties. Based on availability of Berkeley Rep School of Theatre staff. Limited to 30 students per classroom. Must sign and agree to Berkeley Rep School of Theatre booking agreement.

** Must be paid by personal check or credit card for use in educator’s own classroom.

Register now

new concepts and vocabulary introduced

Action
Articulation
Character
Character center
Character development
Character profile
Conflict
Dialogue
Diction
Dramatic structure
Exposition
Gesture
Monologue
Objective
Shape
Space
Statue
Status
Tactic
Voice

content integration

All of the subjects below are integrated into the Creating Character curriculum. Depending on grade level and number of bookings, some subjects are explored further than others.

all standards covered

English Language Arts: Literary Response and Analysis: 3.3, 3.4; Writing Applications: 2.0; Listening and Speaking: 1.6, 2.1
Physical Education: 1.4, 1.5, 5.3, 5.4
Visual and Performing Arts, Theatre: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

key standards

English Language Arts

Develop complex major and minor characters.
Analyze characterization as delineated through a character’s thoughts, words, speech patterns and actions.
Use speaking techniques, including voice modulation, inflection, tempo, enunciation and eye contact.

Physical Education

Demonstrate body management and locomotor skills.
Evaluate the effect of expressing encouragement to others while participating in a group physical activity.

Visual and Performing Arts, Theatre

Artistic Perception

Observe and describe the traits of a character and identify the differences between real people and imaginary characters.
Identify a character’s objectives and motivations to explain that character’s behavior.

Creative Expression

Use effective vocal and facial expression, gesture and timing to create character.
Write and perform scenes that include monologue, dialogue, action, setting together with a range of character types.
Create characters, environments and actions that exhibit tension and suspense.
Improvise or write dialogues and scenes, applying basic dramatic structure (exposition, complication, crises, climax and resolution) and including complex characters with unique dialogue that motivates the action.
Make acting choices, using script analysis, character research, reflection and revision to create characters from classical, contemporary, realistic and nonrealistic dramatic texts.