Download Phillips 1 THEA 101: Introduction to Theatre Instructor: Laura J

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THEA 101: Introduction to Theatre
Instructor: Laura J. Phillips
Phone: 330-272-2060
Email: [email protected]
Office: Thompson Clark 408
T/TH 3:40pm – 5:10pm
Location: Patterson Hall, Rm: 105
Office Hrs: By appointment
Course Description
This course is the disciplinary study of all aspects of theatre including acting, directing, design,
and history, focusing on the role of audience and performer and emphasizing the collaborative
nature of theatre. This course includes, lecture, discussion, as well as hands on experience in
design and performance. This course is intended for the student who has had little participatory
experience in theatre. Beyond this, the purpose of this course is to familiarize learners with
fundamental elements inherent to plays on the page and plays on the stage.
Student Outcomes
By the end of the course, my hope is that learners will:
1) Come to a lasting understanding of terms, concepts and principles that are
foundational to the expressive art of theatre;
2) Deal with creative-collaborative processes through analysis, evaluation and inventive
problem-solving;
3) Connect the relationship of dramatic literature and live performance to the global
community in order to demonstrate awareness of ethical or cultural values necessary
in shaping the human experience (broadly defined);
4) Emerge as informed spectator/readers who analyze, interpret and evaluate both the
elements and the personal and societal impact of the art of theatre;
5) Perceive the art of theatre as a life-enhancing experience that extends far beyond our
time together in the learning environment;
6) Prepare a learning plan for their future as producers and reader/spectators of dramatic
literature and live performance.
Ethics
Promptness, attendance, and “attentiveness” are valued in this class. Please behave accordingly
and do not disrupt the class with excessive talk or the use of cell phones (that includes texting)
and other devices. It is presumed that learners will work cooperatively with one another, and all
work that is not “original” will be properly credited.
The most common form of academic dishonesty is often described as plagiarism, that is,
presenting someone else’s words or ideas as your own. Examples include, but are not
limited to:
-turning in a rewritten copy of a paper whether your own or that of someone else;
-turning in a paper posted on the internet;
-copying text (i.e. cut and paste) from the web;
-or using words, ideas, or a pattern of words, ideas and paragraphs without a
citation.
Accommodations
Anyone requiring special adaptations or accommodations should inform the instructor as soon as
possible. In accordance with University procedures, if you have a documented disability and
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require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact Faith Craig, Director
of Disability Support Services, located in 209 Thompson-Clark Hall. Phone: 724-946-7192.
Email: [email protected]. Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through
the Office of Disability Support Services.
Policy on Recording Classroom Activities
No student may record or tape any classroom activity without the express written consent of the
professor. If a student believes that he/she is disabled and needs to record or tape classroom
activities, he/she should contact the Office of Disability Resources to request appropriate
accommodation.
Required Text
Cohen, Robert. Theatre: Brief Version, 9th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher
Education, 2010
Supplies Needed
Tracing Paper, Pencils, Eraser, Colored Pencils, Scissors, Old Magazines (for cutting), glue stick,
notebook, pen. NOTE: I will distribute (via either email or copies) three short plays, please have
these scripts with you every day in class, as we will refer to them throughout the semester.
Grading Scale:
250-226
225-200
199-172
171-149
148-0
A
B
C
D
F
A
B
C
D
F
represents exceptional work in which the student shows that s/he has firmly
grasped and achieved given objectives
indicates good work and considerable grasp of essentials
indicates average work and a useable grasp of essentials
indicates poor work and a not a fully useable grasp of essentials
indicates the student has failed to develop a minimum grasp of essentials
**You cannot earn an “A” in the course if you have not completed all assignments
regardless of your final point value**
Seven (7) In Class Engagements @15 points
One (1) Performance Response Essay @50 points
One (1) Theatre Troupe Project @20 points
One (1) Final Exam @75 points
105 points
50 points
20 points
75 points
Attendance (Taken from the Undergraduate Catalogue):
Regular class attendance is essential if students are to realize the full benefits of
a college education. Accordingly, Westminster students are expected to attend all classes, unless
specifically excused for some valid reason. Although each individual instructor may specify what
constitutes a valid excuse, in general excused absences are allowed only for the following
reasons:
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1. Course-related field trips.
2. Illness that requires confinement to bed on physician’s orders or confinement in a hospital.
3. Death or serious illness in the immediate family.
4. Appearance in court.
5. Co-curricular and extracurricular activities recognized and/or sponsored by the College.
Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities, since these functions are often
closely tied in to their professional preparation. Students who are involved in extracurricular or
co-curricular activities at Westminster College must make this known to their professors before
the end of the add period of each semester, particularly if such participation is anticipated to
require them to be off campus at specific times.
Excused absences do not excuse a student from completing the work missed. When possible,
students should complete the assigned work in advance, or at such time as the professor specifies.
It is the student’s responsibility to apprise all appropriate professors of off-campus
involvement(s). With the professor’s knowledge of the student’s upcoming absences, conflicts
should be minimized. The Office of Student Affairs will be notified whenever excessive
absences occur. Where problems are identified which the faculty member and the student cannot
resolve, a resolution will be made by the dean of the College.
ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS:
In Class Engagements
This series of exercises is a way for you do a variety of theatre-related tasks, including but not
limited to analysis, directing, scenic drafting and production research.
Performance Response Essay
This exercise requires that you attend a live Westminster Theatre performance and write a five
paragraph response to the given prompt (forthcoming). All essays must be typed in either Times
New Roman 12 pt. font or Courier 10 pt. font, using 1” margins. You are expected to generate a
draft for peer review and a final hard copy to be turned in on the given date. I will not accept
responses after the class period it is due. If you cannot make it on that day, then you must
arrange for a hard copy of the essay to arrive regardless. You are responsible for securing
your ticket in a timely manner.
Theatre Troupe Project
This project will require you to work in groups and present to the class a short theatre piece (10 to
15 minutes in length). The group will hand in the design elements (costumes of each character
and set design) and the group will perform the piece (memorized) in the front of the class. The
set and costumes designs will be handed in on paper so there is no requirement to purchase or
build anything (although if you wish to create costumes from stuff at home/ HAVE AT IT!)
Groups should be no larger than the number of characters in the theatre piece and work should be
divided amongst the group as equally as possible. For example, each actor could design their
own character’s costume and the director could submit the set designs; ground plan/front view.
Time will be set aside prior to finals week for performances everyone MUST attend ALL
presentations. Your project grade will be negatively affected (you will lose points) for each
day you do not show up to view your peers presentations. Your group will submit a project
proposal, on the date outlined in the syllabus, that outlines the name of the theatre piece, includes
a copy of script, the names of persons in the group, and for what part of the project each will be
directly responsible. This proposal must be typed and submitted in memo form
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A Note on Expectations
This is not an “easy A” course. You will be expected to learn and use terms, concepts and
processes inherent to the creation of theatre with some capacity over the course of the term. This
introductory course is no different than math, biology, business, or anthropology in that it asks
much of you in a short time so as to give you a full introduction to the discipline and art of live
theatre, its history and its intense demands on creative-collaborators. Standards of assessment are
not lax either. The excuse, “I am not a theatre major” will not work at any time. The final is a
cumulative assessment and based on all of the course reading as well as information and skills
learned in class. I have found that lack of attendance prevents students from performing well as
the “in class explorations” make up a large part of your grade and cannot be repeated. They must
be completed in class and cannot be turned in as “homework”. They are the equivalent of a quiz
and cannot be “made up” at a later date.
COURSE CALENDAR
Sept. 1 T
Getting Started – Why Theatre?
Sept. 3 TH
What is Theatre? Diverse Theatre (Read Chapter 1)
Sept. 8 T
Dramatic Structure/Genre (Read Chapter 2)
Aristotle’s Six Elements of Drama
Sept. 10 TH
Form versus Style: Realism (Chapter 8)
Clues to Realism
READ: “Trifles”
Sept. 15 T
Form versus Style: Non-Realism
Clues to Non-Realism
READ: “Sandbox”
Sept. 17 TH
Playwrights and the Script (Read Chapter 3)
Writing a monologue/Genre/Character
Sept. 22 T
Dramaturgy
Form Theatre Troupes/Discuss Expectations
Sept. 24 TH
Script Selection for Final Projects (We will meet in class and walk to library)
IN CLASS EXPLORATION 1a (7.5pts)
Sept. 29 T
Playwrights and the Script (Read Chapter 11)
Critics, Reviewers, Watchers
Submit Final Project Proposals
IN CLASS EXPLORATION 1b (7.5pts)
Oct. 01 TH
Scenery and Theatre Spaces (Read Chapter 6)
IN CLASS EXPLORATION 2: Ground Plan, et al (15pts)
Oct. 06 T
Stage Costumes (Chapter 6)
Design Elements & Character Development
READ: “Sure Thing”
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Oct. 08 TH
IN CLASS EXPLORATION 3: Renderings (15pts)
Oct. 13 T
Troupe Project Group Work: Bring design tools and scripts.
Oct. 15 TH
Lighting Design (Chapter 6)
Projections , Special Effects, Color/Mood
Oct. 20T
IN CLASS EXPLORATION 4a Light Plot (7.5pts)
Oct. 22 TH
IN CLASS EXPLORATION 4b Cue Sheet (7.5 pts)
Oct. 24-27 T
No Classes Mid-Break
Oct. 29 TH
Performers and Directors (Read Chapters 4-5)
Nov. 03 T
IN CLASS ENGAGEMENT 5- Acting The Open Scene (15 pts)
Nov. 05 TH
Acting – Monologue vs. Dialogue
Work on Troupe Projects: Bring scripts
Nov. 10 T
Essay Expectations and Assignment Given
Work on Troupe Projects if time permits – bring scripts
Nov. 12 TH
IN CLASS ENGAGEMENT 6 – Directing The Picturization Process(15pts)
Nov. 17 T
Early Theatre: Greek/Roman/Medieval (Chapter 7)
See Clybourne Park, Nov. 18 - 22, 2015 in Beeghly Theatre.
Students are responsible for securing a ticket in a timely manner
Nov. 19 TH
Asian Theatre (Chapter 7)
Nov. 24 T
Musical Theatre (Chapter 9)
Completed Performance Response Essay Due Today (50pts)
Discuss Performance
Nov. 25 – 29
No Classes – Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 01 T
Theatre Today/Public Relations (Chapter 10)
IN CLASS ENGAGEMENT 7: Image collage (15pts)
Dec. 03 TH
Workshop Troupe Projects in class
Dec. 08 T
Workshop Troupe Projects in class
Dec. 10 TH
Troupe Projects Presented for Grade – Attendance Graded
Finals Week Begins December 14, 2015: FINAL FOR THIS CLASS TBA (75pts)