Name: __________________________

Foundations of Acting: Given Circumstances and Objectives

This worksheet was created to accompany Episode 2 of Ovation Academy: Classes with Katy, and is
designed to guide you through developing and staging your very own open scene.

INSTRUCTIONS
Your challenge is to create a scene using a short section of dialogue known as an ​open scene​.
An open scene contains dialogue that is open to many different interpretations and has no
specific information about setting, characters or plot.

Once you choose your scene from the options at the end of this worksheet, find someone to
perform the scene with you. Decide who will be “A” and who will be “B” and read through the
lines a couple of times. Then, it’s time to get creative! Now you get to decide with your scene
partner on the situation and the ​given circumstances ​of your scene. Since there’s no specific
information in the dialogue, it’s all up to you! Use the questions below to guide you through
deciding on your given circumstances.

SETTING
Where ​does your scene take place? _______________________________________________
When​ does your scene take place?
Time period: ____________________ Season: ________ Time of day: _____________

CHARACTERS
Character A
Name: ___________________ Age: _______
Describe ​who ​Character A is, giving at least three specific details. Some examples include:
gender, race, class status, job, and values.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Character B
Name: ___________________ Age: _______
Describe ​who ​Character B is, giving at least three specific details. Some examples include:
gender, race, class status, job, and values.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

RELATIONSHIP
How​ do your characters know each other?
The relationship between our characters is _________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
How long​ have you known each other?
Our characters have known each other for __________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
What is your relationship like ​now​? Has it ​changed​ over the time you have known each other?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

MOMENT BEFORE
What ​just happened​ right before your scene begins?
Right before this scene, ________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

CONFLICT
Character A
What is your character’s ​objective​? What is your goal?
I want to ____________________________________________________________________
What is your character’s ​obstacle​?
What is getting in the way of me achieving my goal is __________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
What ​tactic​ is your character using to achieve your objective in this scene? How are you trying to
overcome your obstacle? (Remember that this should be a verb, not an adjective! You can use
the word bank of possible tactics at the bottom of the page to give you some ideas)
The tactic I am using to achieve my goal in this scene is ________________________________

Character B
What is your character’s ​objective​? What is your goal?
I want to ____________________________________________________________________
What is your character’s ​obstacle​?
What is getting in the way of me achieving my goal is __________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
What ​tactic​ is your character using to achieve your objective in this scene? How are you trying to
overcome your obstacle? (Remember that this should be a verb, not an adjective! You can use
the word bank of possible tactics at the bottom of the page to give you some ideas)
The tactic I am using to achieve my goal in this scene is to ______________________________

Some Possible Action Verbs to Use as Tactics

(there are many more to choose from!)

Reason with Threaten Trick Hurt

Persuade Intimidate Lie to Soothe
Convince Guilt-trip Belittle Command
Coax Bribe Reject Befriend
Caress Flatter Shut out Ignore
Beg Appeal to Infantilize Charm
Suck up to Seduce Attack Include
Share with Get ___’s attention Provoke Exclude
Bully Educate Antagonize Show
Confront Explain Force Reveal to
Get ___’s help Touch Get __ on my side Scare
Inspire Suppress Incite Enlighten
Crush Encourage Destroy Ensnare
Tease Cheer up Reassure Justify
Mock Aggravate Deceive Enchant
STAGING
Now you’re finally ready to stage your scene! With your scene partner, decide on the ​action​ ​for
the scene. Remember that action can occur between lines of dialogue, before dialogue, and after
dialogue. Don’t be afraid to include some moments of silence to build the conflict!

When determining the action for your scene, keep in mind that since the lines do not provide
much information, what you do within the scene is even more important. Use ​strong, clear,
physical actions​ to communicate information about the given circumstances to the audience, just
like we explored in the activity in the video.

You may deliver the lines in any way you like—put in pauses, change a question to a statement,
or vice versa—but ​do not change any of the words​.

Feel free to use props and costume pieces you can find around the house to help tell the story of
the scene you created, but don’t be afraid to keep it simple. It doesn’t have to be fancy to be
effective!

I hope you had fun staging your open scene! I can’t wait to see all your
awesome work. Don’t forget to ​share your videos​ ​with us​ so we can see
what you’ve been working on!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at ​OvationTC@gmail.com​, and I will
get back to you as soon as I can.

Happy creating!
Katy
 OPEN SCENE 1

A:​ Hi

B:​ Hey

A:​ Whatcha doing

B: ​Nothing

A: ​Doesn’t look like nothing

B: ​That’s what it is

A: ​Can I do nothing too

B: ​Up to you

A: ​Doesn’t sound inviting

B: ​Do you need an invitation

A: ​No

B: ​What do you think you’re doing

A: ​Nothing

B: ​I wouldn’t call that nothing

A: ​What would you call it

B: ​I would call it something

A: ​What would that something be

B: ​I don’t know

A: ​Why not

B: ​Look, what do you want

A: ​Isn’t that clear

B: ​No

A: ​Now it is
 OPEN SCENE 2

A: ​Stop

B:​ Oh

A:​ Oh no

B:​ Can you uh

A:​ No, here, use this

B:​ Come on

A:​ I told you to be careful

B:​ I was, it just happened

A:​ There, let me see

B:​ Oh—where are you going

A:​ For help

B:​ And leave me here? You can't leave me here

A:​ You stay here—I'm off to get help

B:​ No, no, please, one more time—Try it again

A:​ Stay here, I'll be right back

B:​ Ah
 OPEN SCENE 3

A:​ Hi

B:​ Hello

A:​ You all right

B: ​Yes

A: ​Are you sure

B: ​Yes, I’m sure—A little headache, that’s all

A: ​Oh, good—You want some aspirin

B: ​No—Don’t be so helpful, OK

A: ​You are upset

B: ​Good Lord

A: ​OK, OK—I thought you might want to talk

B: ​About what

A: ​About anything

B: ​I’m going away

A: ​What do you mean

B: ​I’m going away, that’s all

A: ​Where

B: ​Not far—Don’t get excited

A: ​When?

B: ​Now
If you loved this activity...

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Stage the same open scene a second time, with a completely different set of given
circumstances. Get creative and see how different you can make the same set of dialogue!

KEEP ON LEARNING
As mentioned in the video, this activity just began to scratch the surface of the most foundational
acting concepts. For example, in this exercise, you only identified one tactic. In reality, however,
you would most likely use many different tactics throughout the scene. Anytime you change
tactics, that is called a ​beat​. Identifying the beats in a monologue or scene by ​scoring your script
is a very helpful tool as an actor, because it allows you to really break it down and make different
choices for each moment. The attached extension activity on the following pages provides a bit
more detail about these terms as well as the ones already discussed. Then, there is an example
of how to score a script, and an opportunity to try it for yourself!
 Scoring a Script
Rationale: ​Scoring a script means to mark it up in order to make ​specific choices​ about the
dramatic choices you are going to make when you are performing a character. Actors score their
scripts because it forces you to slow down your brain, think about making deliberate choices and
not “just talk.”

RULE #1 in Acting:​ As a character, you ALWAYS WANT SOMETHING FROM SOMEONE. You are
never just saying things for the heck of it. Words are your weapons to achieve what you want.

Terms to Know:

Objective What your character ​needs​ more than life or death. This is your ​goal​ or
motivation behind everything you say and do.

Super-objective What your character ​wants deep-down​ more than anything else in the world.
This is the thing that drives most of the character’s decisions. It is a primal
(basic, animal) need. This ​never changes​.

Examples: Your father’s love. Your child’s safety. Security. A legacy that will
live on after you die. Revenge. Security. To be safe. To be free. For your
mother to finally approve of you.

Scene What your character ​wants​ to get FROM ANOTHER PERSON ​in a particular
objective scene​ or monologue. You may not always achieve your objective, but you
definitely want it badly. At times the objective can change midway through
the scene.

Examples: To get my wife to stay with me. To convince the boss to hire me.
To persuade my son to give me another chance. To trick my friend into going
to the surprise party. To make my mom get out of my business. To make my
boyfriend tell me the truth .

Obstacle What is ​in the way ​of your character achieving your objective.

Tactic What you DO​ to get the other person to give you what you want. With every
beat, your tactics change. If one thing doesn’t work, you try something else.

Tactics must always be ​ACTION VERBS​ (persuade, intimidate, coax) that you
do to the other person with your words. They should never be adjectives
(​angry, sad, excited​)

Beat A section of a monologue or scene. Every time you shift what you are feeling
or thinking about, have a realization or ​try a new tactic​, that is a new beat.
 Example

Objective:​ ​My objective in this monologue is to get Troy to recognize that he needs to
recommit to our relationship.

Command his attention Make him see me

I been standing with you! I been right here with you, Troy. ​/​ I got a life too. I gave
Appeal to his sympathy
eighteen years of my life to stand in the same spot with you. ​/​ Don’t you think I ever
Make him jealous
wanted other things? Don’t you think I had dreams and hopes?​ ​/​ Don’t you think it ever

crossed my mind to want to know other men? That I wanted to lay up somewhere and

forget about my responsibilities? That I wanted someone to make me laugh so I could feel
Force him to see his selfishness Make him recognize my sacrifice
good? ​/​ You not the only one who’s got wants and needs. ​/​ But I held on to you, Troy. I took
Touch his
heart
all my feelings, my wants and needs, my dreams...and I buried them inside you. ​/​ I planted a
Belittle him
seed and watched and prayed over it. ​/​ And it didn’t take me no eighteen years to find out

the soil was hard and rocky and it wasn’t never gonna bloom.

Some Possible Action Verbs to Use as Tactics

(there are many more to choose from!)

Reason with Threaten Trick Hurt

Persuade Intimidate Lie to Soothe
Convince Guilt-trip Belittle Command
Coax Bribe Reject Befriend
Caress Flatter Shut out Ignore
Beg Appeal to Infantilize Charm
Suck up to Seduce Attack Include
Share with Get ___’s attention Provoke Exclude
Bully Educate Antagonize Show
Confront Explain Force Reveal to
Get ___’s help Touch Get __ on my side Scare
Inspire Suppress Incite Enlighten
Crush Encourage Destroy Ensnare
Tease Cheer up Reassure Justify
Mock Aggravate Deceive Enchant
TRY IT YOURSELF

Now it’s your turn! The process of scoring a script can be used for a monologue or a scene, but it
can also be very helpful with a song. In musical theatre, scoring a song as if it is a monologue
helps you to focus on what the lyrics are actually saying so that you don’t just perform it like it’s a
concert. Let’s give it a try with “Stay with Me” from ​Into the Woods​! Read through the monologue
once, and then follow the instructions at the top of the next page.

Objective: __________________________________________________________

WITCH

What did I clearly say? Children must listen. What were you not to do? Children must

see—and learn. Why could you not obey? Children should listen. What have I been to

you? What would you have me be? Handsome like a Prince? Ah, but I am old! I am ugly. I

embarrass you. You are ashamed of me. You are ashamed. You don't understand. I was

not company enough? Don't you know what's out there in the world? Someone has to

shield you from the world. Stay with me. Princes wait there in the world, it's true. Princes,

yes, but wolves and humans, too. Stay at home—I am home. Who out there could love

you more than I? What out there that I cannot supply? Stay with me. Stay with me; the

world is dark and wild. Stay a child while you can be a child. With me. I gave you

protection, and yet you disobeyed me. You lied to me! Why didn’t you tell me you had a

visitor? I will not share you. But I will show you a world you’ve never seen.

From Into the Woods, by Stephen Sondheim

Who is your character talking to? ______________________________________________

What is your objective? ______________________________________________

What obstacles are in your way? ______________________________________________

Once you have answered these questions, follow the steps below:

1. At the top of the page, write your ​objective.

2. Go through the monologue and break it into ​beats.​ Put a slash mark ​/​ each time there is a
new beat.
3. For each beat, decide what ​tactic​ you are using to overcome your obstacle and achieve
your objective. Write a tactic over each beat. Remember that it needs to be an action
verb, and remember that it must be something you are doing TO the other person. Refer
back to the word bank if you need ideas!

Remember that there isn’t a right or wrong answer - there are endless possibilities! Scoring a
script is a tool that is meant to be helpful to you as the actor, so you should choose an objective,
obstacle, and tactics that make sense to you.

APPLY & ANALYZE

Now that you’ve tried your hand at scoring a monologue yourself, let’s take a look at how this
concept relates to performance. Watch Donna Murphy perform as the witch in the following
video: ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3cwpB7fP3U​ As you watch, look closely to see if the
actress uses any of the beat changes or tactic shifts that you identified.

Afterwards, answer the following questions:

What moments did you notice where Donna Murphy separated the song at the ​beat breaks​ you
identified? ​How​ did she show this change in beat?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Do you think Donna Murphy was playing any of the ​tactics​ you chose? What ​evidence​ can you
pick out of these tactics being used?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Did Donna Murphy do anything ​differently​ than you expected? What did you like or dislike about
this choice and why?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

I hope you enjoyed exploring further how to apply the concepts of

objectives, obstacles, tactics, and beats to the process of scoring a script.
Next time you are working on a monologue or scene, try it out and see how
doing this work on paper first impacts your performance!