Theatre Appreciation
Syllabus
| T/D 101 THEATRE APPRECIATION Professor Amy Seham Fall 2002 T, R 12:30-2:20 Office: FAC 221, ext. 7460 Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10:30-11:30 COURSE OBJECTIVES: This class is designed to give students an introduction to the theory and practice of the theatrical arts -- playwriting, acting, design, and directing -- and to enhance students' appreciation of the nature and place of theatre in contemporary culture. Students will experience theatre in depth by reading playscripts, analyzing and critiquing productions, and especially by participating in and embodying a variety of theatre arts, skills, and practices. REQUIRED TEXTS: Stages of Drama. Klaus, Gilbert, and Field, eds. The Theatre Experience. Edwin Wilson REQUIRED THEATRE PRODUCTIONS: Spinning into Butter Anderson Theatre Translations Anderson Theatre Outside production Minneapolis ATTENDANCE POLICY: Because Theatre is BEING THERE, attendance is crucial for the successful completion of this class. Your participation, interaction, physical experience and shared ideas are key to the process. There is no way to "catch up" by reading a book. In addition, as we move into the final projects, your classmates will be depending on you to be there, working collaboratively. Please make an effort never to miss class. If it is unavoidable, you are responsible to get notes from class, and to touch base with your project director or stage manager in order to make up as much as possible of the missed work for the class and the project. CREATIVE PROJECTS: A number of the assignments in this class are "creative projects" -- writing a play, performing, designing. Don't Worry. YOU WILL NOT BE JUDGED ON "TALENT." You will be evaluated on the care, work, effort, thought, and preparation you have put into the project, and the way in which you demonstrate what you have learned about theatre through the project and through the one-page paper due with each project. Special instructions will be given for each Creative project before it is due. Please pay special attention to them. PLEASE HAVE FUN WITH THESE PROJECTS! GRADING: CLASS PARTICIPATION 15% ORIGINAL PLAY 15% MID-TERM and FINAL QUIZ 15% DESIGN PROJECT/PAPER 10% MONOLOG/PAPER 10% OUTSIDE PLAY CRITIQUE 10% FINAL PROJECT and 1-page analysis paper 25% SCHEDULE: Week 1 Sept. 5 INTRODUCTION Week 2 Sept. 10 BACKGROUND Experience Introduction, Chapters 1, 2 Sept. 12 Experience Chapter 8 Oedipus the King (in Stages) Also read review of Guthrie production Week 3 Sept. 17 THE PLAYWRIGHT Experience Chapters 7, and Chapters 12-14 Discuss playwriting assignment Sept. 19 A Doll's House (in Stages) Also read review of Playhouse production. Week 4 Sept. 24 THE DESIGNER Read Experience ALL CHAPTERS IN Part 5 (pp.331-430) Discuss design project Sept 25 Read M. Butterfly (Klaus) Read Experience Chapter 3 Week 5 Oct. 1 Nobel Conference -- no class Oct. 3 Read Los Vendidos (Klaus) and Trifles (Klaus) Week 6 Oct 8 THE ACTOR Read Experience Chapters 4 and 5 Discuss monologue assignment Oct 10 THE DIRECTOR Read Experience Chapter 6 ** 10 page play due ** Week 7 Oct. 15 Read Translations Read Selected Student Plays in Class Oct. 17 Midterm Final Project Assignments – First read-through [Break Oct 18-21] Week 8 Oct. 22 DESIGN PRESENTATIONS/Paper -- Group A Brief production meeting final project Oct. 24 DESIGN PRESENTATIONS/Paper -- Group B Meeting with final project groups to schedule outside rehearsals See Spinning into Butter October 24-27 (PRODUCTION DETAILS WILL BE ON FINAL QUIZ) Week 9 Oct 29 Read Angels in America: Millenium Approaches *** Monologue choice due. Hand in two copies Oct 31 Acting exercises with your monologue. Must be approved! Bring two copies of monologue to class. Brief meeting final project Week 10 Nov. 5 DISCUSS Spinning into Butter production Acting Exercises Production meeting/rehearsal for Final Project Nov. 7 Monologue memorized! Peer coaching exercises. Bring copies. Production meeting final project. Continue planning outside meetings for final project. Week 11 Nov. 12 MONOLOGUES Group C Nov. 14 MONOLOGUES Group B Week 12 Nov. 19 MONOLOGUES Group A Nov. 21 Meet with final project groups November 21-24 -- See Translations -- (PRODUCTION DETAILS WILL BE ON FINAL QUIZ) Week 13 Nov. 25 Discuss Translations Nov 28 THANKSGIVING Week 14 Dec 3 Rehearsal/preparation for Final Projects Dec. 5 Rehearsal for projects Week 15 Dec. 10 Quiz on material since midterm Rehearsal for projects Dec 12```````(LAST DAY) Final dress rehearsal for projects. All costumes, set pieces in place, lines memorized. THE FINAL EXAM WILL BE A PERFORMANCE OF THE FINAL PROJECTS SCHEDULED AT THE REGULAR EXAM TIME (WED Dec 18 from 1-3 pm) OR THE EVENING OF EXAM DAY. FEEL FREE TO INVITE FRIENDS AND FAMILY! |