Caveat Academy course · Grades 8 to 12

Acting and Performance

A semester of acting: the body, voice and stage map, reading a script for what a character wants, scene work with a partner, improvisation and status, theatre from Athens and Kyoto to Shakespeare and Stanislavski, and auditions, stage fright and careers. Six modules at your own pace, each with exercises you can do at home and a certificate at the end.

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$19one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $19

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Arts & Creativity collection, $69 for 23 items.

6 modules · 18 lessonsabout 12 hours$19

Six modules, eighteen lessons

Each module ends with a practice set that tracks mastery, an explain-it-back prompt, a short written response and a module exam. The final opens when every module is proficient; passing it earns a certificate with a verification code.

  1. Module 1: The actor's instrument and the stage

    Apply given circumstances, objectives and Stanislavski's if, warm up the body and voice, and follow stage directions and blocking on different kinds of stages.

    • What actors actually do
    • Body and voice
    • The stage and how to move on it
    about 2.1 h

  2. Module 2: Building a character from the script

    Analyze a script for circumstances, beats, objectives, obstacles, tactics and subtext, and base physical and vocal choices on that analysis.

    • Reading a script like an actor
    • Actions, tactics and subtext
    • Physical and vocal characterization
    about 2.1 h

  3. Module 3: Scene work

    Plan and carry out scene rehearsal with a partner, using listening, rehearsal stages and effective line memorization.

    • Listening and reacting
    • Rehearsing a scene
    • Learning lines
    about 2.1 h

  4. Module 4: Improvisation

    Build improvised scenes with yes, and, specific offers, status and the CROW elements.

    • The rules of yes, and
    • Status
    • Building an improvised scene
    about 2.1 h

  5. Module 5: Theatre through history

    Compare major theatre traditions and acting approaches, from Greek and Sanskrit drama and Noh to Shakespeare, Stanislavski, Meisner and Brecht.

    • Ancient roots: Greece, India and Japan
    • Shakespeare's stage
    • Realism and the modern acting teachers
    about 2.1 h

  6. Module 6: Auditions, performance and careers

    Prepare an audition, manage performance nerves and evaluate career paths on and off the stage.

    • Auditions
    • Stage fright and performing
    • Careers in theatre and performance
    about 2.1 h

Try it before you start

This is how every lesson works: step through a worked example at your own pace, then answer a check and get the reason right away. Nothing here is saved; the course keeps your progress.

Module 1 · What actors actually do

Worked example: one line, three circumstances

  1. The line is: “You’re home early.”

A lesson check from each module

The checks need JavaScript turned on. The course itself works the same way.

What you get

Enrichment · Arts & Creativity$19 · included with the Academy pass and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A finished semester of acting: you can warm up your body and voice, follow blocking on any stage, analyze a script for circumstances, objectives, beats, tactics and subtext, rehearse and memorize a scene with a partner, build improvised scenes with yes, and, status and CROW, compare the major traditions and acting teachers, and prepare an audition and handle nerves. Passing the final earns a Caveat certificate of completion.
Who it is for
Students in grades 8 to 12 who want to act in school plays, film or improv, who are preparing for a theatre class or an audition, or who want more confidence speaking in front of people; homeschool families who want a complete semester unit. It teaches technique and understanding; it does not replace a director, a drama teacher or acting lessons.
Format
An online self-paced course: 6 modules and 18 lessons with worked examples you reveal step by step, 144 practice and exam items (multiple choice, numeric, fill-in and ordering), an explain-it-back prompt and a rubric-checked short response in every module, module exams with one retake, a 24-question final and a certificate with a verification code. About 12 hours in all; works on a phone or a computer.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the course opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Arts & Creativity collection ($69) and the Enrichment Suite pass ($119), and 1 more bundle. Progress is saved in this browser on this device, and the certificate page lets you download your record.
Where it lives
The Arts & Creativity space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Access, a receipt, a refund or a correction to the course: team@caveatacademic.com.

How it works

  1. Open the course and start Module 1. Each lesson takes about 25 to 35 minutes; two or three a week finishes the course in about a semester.
  2. Answer the checks as you read. Every answer shows the reason, and a miss links you back to the lesson that covers it.
  3. Finish each module with its practice set and exam. Proficient on every module opens the final; 70 percent passes it.
  4. Print or download your certificate and record from the certificate page.

Start the course

Sources and accuracy

The lessons are original writing by Caveat Academic Services. Facts were checked against these free, open references, which are also good places to read further.

  1. Folger Shakespeare Library, the plays in free online editions: folger.edu
  2. Shakespeare's Globe, the history of the Globe theatre: shakespearesglobe.com
  3. Project Gutenberg, public-domain plays, including Greek drama in translation, Chekhov and Ibsen: gutenberg.org
  4. Educational Theatre Association, resources for student theatre: schooltheatre.org
  5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: actors, producers and directors: bls.gov

Acting and Performance is a self-paced course from Caveat Academic Services. It follows the sequence of a typical one-semester acting elective but does not replace a school course, a director or acting lessons, or award credit. Scenes used in lessons are original or from public-domain plays. Physical contact and stage combat should only be rehearsed slowly with an adult or trained director present. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.