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Phillips 1 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 Phillips 2 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: Phillips 3 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 Phillips 4 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” Phillips 5 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)