This course will help beginning students understand basic dramatic structure for acting short scenes. Using classic models (Samuel Beckett, Shakespeare, Clifford Odets), we will explore how compelling dramatic scenes are constructed. Students will work with the instructor and with professional actors from Stanford Repertory Theater to come to grips with what makes these scenes successful and how best to bring them to life. As a final project, students will work together to re-stage scenes they’ve performed, choose other scenes from the plays we have looked at, or develop and write their own dramatic scenes. These scenes will be performed on the final class meeting, filmed and posted ( if willing) on YouTube.