In today’s world, where truth is often contested, actors portraying real people face unique challenges. This advanced Scene Study course builds on students’ prior acting experience, focusing on the craft of portraying characters whose words, stories, and experiences are drawn from real life. Students will explore documentary, verbatim, and investigative theater techniques to bring authenticity and depth to their performances. Through the study of innovative storytelling methods—including witness accounts, legal transcripts, interviews, archival materials, and multimedia elements—students will engage with works by Emily Mann, Anna Deavere Smith, Moisés Kaufman, and Ping Chong (among others). They will also develop their own acting practice through physical training, improvisation, monologues, and in-depth scene study. The semester will culminate in final scene performances. This course fulfills a theater elective requirement for Lang Theater majors and minors.