In our course textbook Chapter 3 covers the work of actors and Chapter 4 covers the work of
playwrights. Both chapters offer some excellent explanations of the processes artists in these
categories explore but we want to give you a chance at trying some of the creative explorations
related to these topics. The intent is to challenge you to think creatively within each of the
disciplines of acting and playwriting.
This assignment asks you to experience the work of the actor in the first section and the work
of the playwright in the second section. The entire assignment should be between 2 to 4 pages
in length. The entire assignment requires that you read a short play that can be found at:
Charity by Lisa Kron- http://www.lisakron.org/Lisa-Kron-theWorkOf-10MinutePlays.html
Be sure to use Charity for the assignment. You might also find it useful to take a second to
Google Lisa Kron and learn about her work and other projects.
REVIEW THE COURSE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY IN THE SYLLABUS. This will be submitted
via SafeAssign and any document in violation of the policy (having improper or lacking citations,
overt similarities to other works, copying, facilitating, improper consultation) will result in the
policy being strictly enforced.
Section #1- The Actor
Use your interpretive skills to answer the following Character Biography questions about ONE
character (of your choosing) from the play. Some advice:
A. You want to base your answers on the play (use the setting and other information to
help you come to logical answers).
B. Some information may have to be invented- not all of the questions will be directly
answered but it is an actor�s job to be specific in the details a normal person would
know about themselves. Feel free to be creative but don�t forget to use the reality and
the FACTS of the play as a basis for your creation. First facts- then creativity.
C. You will want to offer a short explanation as to why you answered what you answered.
For instance- if you answer question #1 What is your full name? as Mary Margaret
O�Connell- you might include a sentence saying something like: ONLY MARY�S FIRST
NAME IS GIVEN IN THE SCRIPT BUT SINCE THE PLAY IS SET IN IRELAND I THOUGHT IT
PRUDENT TO GIVE HER A SEEMINGLY IRISH LAST NAME.
�JW Morrissette. All Rights Reserved. 2
Character Biography Questions:
(Fill out in the first person, as though you are the character.)
- What is your full name, age, and date of birth?
- What is your ethnic/cultural heritage?
- What is your religion/spiritual belief system?
- What is your marital status?
- Do you have children? (If so who are they?)
- What is your occupation?
- Who are you closest to in the play? Why?
- Who do you not get along with in the play? Why?
- What is the single most important event in your life?
- What is your level of education?
- What is your overall goal in the play?
- Where do you want to be in five years?
Section #2- The Playwright
Using the assigned play and the Character Biography Questions completed in Section #1 write an additional monologue for the character you selected. Remember, a monologue is a set piece of speech spoken by only one character. The monologue can be considered an addition to the
script either within the script or you could imagine a final monologue that is written to come at the conclusion of the play. Either way, we ask that you feel free to be creative and explore your character�s voice as a playwright. You can use the monologue to clarify your character�s point of view/experience/wishes/hopes or to defend your character�s point of view as that character- or in other creative ways that allow you to practice creating lines that a character from this play might speak.
Sample Solution
