Playwriting/Playmaking
Syllabus
| SYLLABUS for PLAYWRITING/PLAYMAKING T/D 255 Dr. Amy Seham Spring 2002 —T/R 2:30-4:20 Office: FAC 221, ext. 7460 aseham@gac.edu Office hours: Monday/Wednesday 2:30-3:30 and by appointment Required Texts: The Art of the Playwright William Packard Types of Drama: Plays and Contexts Barnet, Burto, Ferris, Rabkin **And a special notebook for your playwright's journal PLEASE MAKE A HABIT OF BRINGING THESE TEXTS TO CLASS, AS WE MAY OFTEN REFER TO THEM. Required Performances: Threepenny Opera Feb 21-March 1 Anderson Theatre Balm in Gilead May 16-19 Anderson Theatre Outside Production TBA Minneapolis Attendance: ATTENDANCE WILL AFFECT YOUR GRADE! Theatre means being there. You can not learn this material by merely reading a book and taking a test. Attendance is critical -- as with any rehearsal or performance. You will be expected to participate fully and enthusiastically in class exercises, respond constructively to colleagues' work, and show ongoing progress through your writing and playwright's journal on a class-by-class basis. ® After two unexcused absences, your overall grade will be reduced (from B+ to B, for example) and will continue to be reduced with additional absences. Missing half the class periods of the semester is automatic failure. The ONLY excused absences are those with a doctor's note, or dean's note. Job interviews, rides to the airport, all-nighters are never excused absences. Leaving early or returning late from spring or Easter breaks are NOT excused absences. Tell your families now not to plan on it! Grading: Grades will not be based on “talent” but on discipline, preparedness, hard work, a positive attitude, respect for others, imagination, and attention to detail. Grade breakdown: Class participation/attendance 20% Final one-act play 30% Autobiographical monologue 10% Journal 10% Homework scenes and exercises 40% Out of class scenes and monologues should be typed, and use a standard playwriting format (see Packard). This syllabus is detailed for your convenience. It is up to you to be responsible for assignments listed without additional reminders. This syllabus may be adjusted by the professor if time constraints demand it. You will be informed of any changes. SCHEDULE (subject to change or adjustment) Week 1 Feb 12-14 Read Trifles and Dumbwaiter. Week 2 Feb 19-24 Monday Read A Doll's House Read Chapter 2 Wednesday Chapters 2 and 3 -- Exercises Threepenny Opera Feb 21-March 1 Anderson Theatre Week 3 Feb 26-28 Monday -- read Rachel Rosenthal My Brazil Read Chapters 4 and 5 in Packard In-class exercises Wednesday -- Write Personal Monologue Week 4 March 5-7 Monday Read Top Girls Read Chapter 6 In class exercises Wednesday -- Rewrite monologue Hand in, typed Read in class Week 5 March 12-14 Monday Read Fences Read Chapter 7 Wednesday --Experimental Dialogue scene due Week 6 March 19-21 Read Conduct of Life Read Chapter 8 In class exercises Wednesday -- Expositional setting and scene due-- working toward final play Show journals, discuss play ideas. Week 7 March 19-23 Read True West Read Chapter 9 In class exercises Wednesday -- Conflict action scene due-- working toward final play Week 8 March 26-28 Monday Read Pantomime In class exercises Wednesday -- Character revealing scene due-- working toward final play SPRING BREAK MARCH 29-APRIL 7 Week 9 APRIL 9-11 Monday Read Angels in America In class exercises Wednesday -- Bring journals. Scene using imagery, symbolism, visuals due Discuss and read for critique Week 10 APRIL 16-18 Monday Fires in the Mirror In class exercises Wednesday -- Outline of your play on file cards Week 11 APRIL 23-25 Monday Death of a Salesman In class exercises Wednesday -- Missing scene due Discuss and read for critique Week 12 APRIL 30-May 2 Monday Catch up discussion In class exercises Wednesday -- Rewrite of one scene due Discuss and read for critique Week 13 May 7-9 Monday -- Show journal Read key scenes for critique Wednesday Read key scenes for critique Week 14 MAY 14-16 Monday -- Revised outlines due Wednesday -- Read and discuss scenes/problems Balm in Gilead May 16-19 Anderson Theatre Week 15 May 21 Monday -- Full draft of play due Read and discuss scenes/problems Wednesday -- Read and discuss scenes/problems Final Exam time -- Fully rewritten one-act play due Public reading of scenes from the plays |