Character: Uncovered!

The following character analysis elements have been pulled from various sources including
Acting Onstage & Off- 4th Ed. by Robert Barton, Acting in Musical Theatre by Joe Deer & Rocco
Dal Vera, The 113 Keys to Acting by Hugh O’Gorman, the works of Stanislavski and my own
mind!

WHO AM I?

Helps to identify the character’s defining personality traits- shaped by likes/dislikes, where born, when
born, race, social class, gender roles, religion, wealth, education, occupation, intelligence, marital
status, parental status, current location (get specific), defining attitudes, defining event, key
relationships, what character says about self and what others say about character (both text & subtext)

WHAT DO I LOOK/SOUND LIKE?

Height, weight, posture, physical stature, health status, accent, group identity, disability, society’s
valuation of appearance

WHAT DO I NEED?

The super objective, the objective hierarchy

WHAT DO I DO TO GET WHAT I NEED?

Actions, tactics, strategy, ethical system, obstacles

WHAT NEXT?

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