ACTING FOR SINGERS

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: MUS PERF 144 , 205 , 505 or concurrent enrollment in MUS PERF 505 , or 705 or concurrent enrollment in MUS PERF 705 Course Designation: Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: Yes, for 2 number of completions Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Develop stagecraft skills, particularly those specific to opera Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Establish a methodological approach to acting operatic material through attention to texts, individual emotional preparation, personalization, and moment-to-moment work Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Work fluidly back and forth between foreign-language texts and their English translations (using literal, word-for-word translations as well as vernacular English language paraphrasing) arriving at a sense of “owning the text” Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Incorporate the fundamentals of Stanislavsky and/or Chekhov acting technique methodologies into rehearsal and performance Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Cultivate a sense of ensemble within both small and large groups, fostering a true understanding of collaboration Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Support colleagues’ work and receive their support in return Audience: Undergraduate 7. Develop intermediate-level stagecraft skills, particularly those specific to opera Audience: Undergraduate 8. Expand the understanding of the symbiotic relationship between acting and singing in operatic performance Audience: Graduate 9. Integrate other areas of music and voice study (music history, music theory, foreign language diction) into stagework Audience: Graduate 10. Improve the performer's effectiveness in audition and performance Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 11. Communicate verbally and in writing concepts concerning acting techniques for classical singers Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad Learning Outcomes: 1. Develop stagecraft skills, particularly those specific to opera Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Establish a methodological approach to acting operatic material through attention to texts, individual emotional preparation, personalization, and moment-to-moment work Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Work fluidly back and forth between foreign-language texts and their English translations (using literal, word-for-word translations as well as vernacular English language paraphrasing) arriving at a sense of “owning the text” Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Incorporate the fundamentals of Stanislavsky and/or Chekhov acting technique methodologies into rehearsal and performance Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Cultivate a sense of ensemble within both small and large groups, fostering a true understanding of collaboration Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Support colleagues’ work and receive their support in return Audience: Undergraduate 7. Develop intermediate-level stagecraft skills, particularly those specific to opera Audience: Undergraduate 8. Expand the understanding of the symbiotic relationship between acting and singing in operatic performance Audience: Graduate 9. Integrate other areas of music and voice study (music history, music theory, foreign language diction) into stagework Audience: Graduate 10. Improve the performer's effectiveness in audition and performance Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 11. Communicate verbally and in writing concepts concerning acting techniques for classical singers Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad