Acting and Directing

Overview  

Gwen Jensen, Assistant Professor at Wayne State College, heads the acting and directing components of WSC’s Theatre program. With four productions per academic year, students receive ample opportunity to learn the essential skills necessary to pursue acting and directing oriented careers. In addition, undergraduate directing students are able to mount the full production of a one-act play in the Advanced Directing class. With three different venues in which to work, acting and directing students gain first-hand experience with various styles.

Ramsey Theatre

Ramsey Theatre housed in the Lied Performing Arts Center, is the main performance venue. With a 52’ X 32’ stage, the space accommodates our larger productions seating up to 675 spectators. This large space helps actors and directors gain a better understanding of the necessary scale of acting and vocal projection required to fill a large house.

Ley Theatre

Furthermore, the WSC Theatre program utilizes Ley Theatre, housed in the Brandenberg Education Building. This early twentieth-century space was renovated in 1982. With its modifiable thrust stage, Ley Theatre lends a classic atmosphere to productions. Seating space can vary depending on the production, but the venue seats no more than 312. A smaller space than Ramsey, actors and directors gain experience in “scaling down” the acting to establish a closer relationship to their audiences.  

Black Box Theatre

And finally, now that the addition of the Theatre Annex is complete, WSC possesses a Black Box Theatre, located on the lower level of the Lied Performing Arts Center. Seating approximately 70, the Black Box is a valuable addition to the WSC Theatre program. In this intimate environment, students gain experience in learning to relate to their audiences in a more realistic and emotionally pure manner. This venue allows actors to internalize their emotion and express it honestly. The closeness of the audience to the action assists directors in gaining a better understanding of the emotional connection between character and spectator that is powered by proximity.

Acting Classes

Acting classes at WSC take studio format with integrated analysis and activity components. Acting I is offered every fall and teaches students the basic principles of character analysis and stage movement. Actors learn various techniques for creating a believable “life” on the stage. Some of these techniques include emotional memory, sense memory, immediacy, endowment, dealing with physical and emotional obstacles, relaxation, and vocal projection. Regardless of a student’s acting background, Acting I is a required course for WSC’s Theatre program for two reasons. First, acting is relationship based. Actors need to create positive working relationships. Acting I allows students the opportunity “get to know” their fellow actors in an emotionally supportive environment. And second, Acting I acclimates students to Theatre vocabulary in general and WSC specific vocabulary for performance. This common vocabulary significantly aids communication in further WSC production work. Acting II is offered every other spring and takes students to the next level. The instruction in this course varies depending on the students’ needs. Past offerings of Acting II have included analysis and activity addressing specific period styles of acting, understanding the concept of “being in the moment,”and physical development of character(s). Television Performance is a further acting class offered at WSC. In this course, students work in conjunction with the Video Production class to develop commercials, newscasts, and dramatic scenes.  

Directing Classes

Two directing courses are offered at Wayne State College. Play Directing I instructs students in the basic principles of directing including script analysis, auditioning, blocking, effective communication with actors and technicians, scheduling, time management, creating stage moments, and prompt book development. The students in this course direct a 10-minute scene. Advanced Directing is offered every other fall and allows students the opportunity to direct a 30-minute one-act play. Further development of basic skills are fostered in this studio course. The culmination of the course is a mainstage production of their work entitled Director’s Showcase. A regular part of the WSC Theatre Season, the Director’s Showcase is an exciting time for student directors to illustrate their talents and skills in a public venue.  

Students in rehearsal for Director’s Showcase.

Director’s Showcase

Primarily utilizing Wayne State College Theatre students, the Director’s Showcase is a student mounted production. It is a regular fixture of the program, occurring every other November. Student directors work with student designers, technicians, and actors to create an evening of one-act plays that runs for three performances. Emphasizing the collaborative nature of theatrical production, all students involved learn the valuable skills of effective communication and the joy of seeing their efforts come to fruition.   

Fall 2002 Advanced Directing Class

Left to Right: Ryan Tweedy, Joel Hurtado, Mike Nissen, Kerri Couran  

Fall 2004 Advanced Directing Class

Left to Right: Adam Peterson, Dylan Rohde, Adam Nathan, Kate Heiman, Kristen Nollette

Contact Information
For more information, please contact:
Janet Roney , M.F.A.
Professor, Technical Director, and Designer
Dept. of Comm. Arts
FA 110A
Wayne , NE 68787
(402) 375-7354
FAX: (402) 375-7130
jaroney1@wsc.edu

Gwen Jensen , Ph.D.
Professor and Director
Dept. of Comm. Arts
FA 111A
Wayne, NE 68787
(402) 375-7422
FAX: (402 375-7130
gwjense1@wsc.edu