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TD 326: Introduction to Theatre for Young Audiences
Unique #25230
Fall 2007
Tuesday/Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
WIN 1.134
Professor: Nat Miller
Office: TBA
Office Hours: Wednesday 10-11 a.m., Wednesdays 2:00–3:00 PM (please sign-up on my office door
in advance). I’m also available by appointment.
Email: [email protected]
Mailbox: Winship main office
Course Description
“Children are America’s underclass. Among industrialized countries, the United States ranks
first in a half a dozen categories, including defense spending, health technology, and the
number of millionaires and billionaires. We rank sixteenth, however, in efforts to lift children
out of poverty, eighteenth in the income gap between rich and poor children, and last in
protecting children against gun violence. Children cannot vote, many have no voice, and few
are empowered with the tools necessary to change their lives and the lives of others. Theatre
can and must be one of those tools.”
~Peter Brosius, Artistic Director of Minneapolis’s Children’s Theatre Company
Introduction to Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) is a survey course designed to provide an
overview of a genre of theatre presented and intended for audiences of children, adolescents, and/or
adults. Specifically, children’s theatre describes performances with a target child audience, primarily
for those who are ten-years-old or younger; theatre for youth is intended for audiences older than ten
but younger than twenty. Over the semester students will discuss the history and development of TYA
through discussion and reading about children and education, analysis of plays for various age groups
categorized in TYA, and rehearsing a scene related to the TYA field. Students will also be required to
attend a TYA performance at the university or in the Austin community. The semester is divided into
units to reflect the thematic threads of TYA more than its chronological history. The articles and plays
have been selected to deepen our conversation about the way TYA reflects attitudes towards young
people and their education.
Course Objectives
Students will:
 Understand the philosophy and development of theatre for young audiences.
 Develop critical observation and language skills to analyze texts and performances.
 Analyze and critically observe TYA texts and productions as informed audience members.
 Facilitate a discussion about a TYA play.
 Research the history and context of TYA plays, and give a presentation on the history and
themes.
 Respond to the theatrical elements--acting, lights, sound, staging, costumes, and scene design—
in a live theatre for youth performance.
 Rehearse and perform a scene from a TYA play
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Required Materials
Textbooks:
Jennings, Coleman A., ed. Theatre for Young Audiences: Twenty Great Plays for
Children. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998.
Berghammer, Gretta and Coleman A. Jennings, eds. Theatre for Youth: Twelve Plays with
Mature Themes. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1986.
Pearson-Davis, Susan, ed. Wish in One Hand Spit in the Other: A Collection of Plays
by Suzan Zeder. New Orleans, Louisiana: Anchorage Press, 1990.
Smith, Marisa, ed. Seattle Children’s Theatre: Six Plays for Young Audiences. New
Hampshire: Smith and Kraus, 1997.
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Active email account available free through the university. Please check it regularly.
Occasional course handouts given by the instructor as needed.
**A copy of the text and the course packet will be on reserve in the library.
Suggested Texts and Resources
Journals and Periodicals
 Stage of the Art, published by the American Alliance for Theatre in Education (AATE)
 Theatre for Young Audiences Today, published by the International Association of Theatre for
Children and Young People, US Center: New York (ASSITEJ)
 Youth Theatre Journal, published by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE)
Required performances:
You are required to buy tickets and attend one TYA theatre production either through UT’s
Department of Theatre and Dance or in the greater Austin community. You are required to write a
critical response to this production. You must attach your ticket stub to your critical response in order
to receive full credit. If you would like to attend a UT performance, do note that UT tickets sell out
fast. The box office is located in the Performing Arts Center on Trinity between San Jacinto and
Robert Dedman Drive. Open M-F noon-6 pm, or call 471-3333. Bring your student ID for a discount.
Students will be alerted to recommended productions in the community as dates and times become
available. Students may also find theatre listings on-line at www.austin360.com
Extra credit opportunity:
Students may choose to see a second TYA performance to receive extra credit over the semester. This
activity is NOT required. If you choose to attend a second TYA performance it must be in a different
venue from the first performance (e.g. required play was at UT, extra credit play was at Second Youth
[a professional TYA company in Austin]). Students will receive up to 25 extra credit points for a twopage, double-spaced [500 words] critical response to this second TYA performance.
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Attendance:
Class attendance and active participation are required; they are the most important part of this course!
You are expected to attend every session and participate in all activities to the best of your ability;
however, if you must miss:
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You are allowed 3 unexcused absences.
For every unexcused absence after 3, your final grade will drop 5 points.
3 tardies or instances of leaving class early equal one unexcused absence.
If you are absent for an unexcused reason on a day you are scheduled to present a performance
project, you will receive a zero for the assignment. Please note that if you are ill on the day you
are to perform, you must bring a doctor’s note in order for the absence to be excused.
Absences may be excused for the following reasons:
 Illness with a doctor’s note.
 Documented University obligation approved one WEEK in advance.
 Holy Days: In accordance with UT policy, you must provide notice 14 days in advance if you
plan to be absent from class for an approved religious holy day. It’s your responsibility to
make arrangements for turning in work due that day and to find out about upcoming
assignments. Please see the UT catalogue for more information.
Since all work beyond performances is submitted electronically, assignments are expected to be turned
in by the due date regardless of whether an absence is excused or unexcused. After returning from an
excused absence, please provide necessary documentation so I can maintain accurate attendance
records.
Drops
Drops are not permitted after the 4th class day.
Late Work
Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Late work is unfair to me and unfair to
classmates who turn in work on time. Therefore, work submitted late will lose a full letter grade per
day for the first two days. I will not accept work more than two days late. Computer/printer/disk
problems are not valid excuses for late work; I will still penalize work that is late for these
reasons.
Special Needs Accommodations
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for
qualified students with disabilities. For more information, please contact the Office of the Dean of
Students at 471-6259, or 471-4541 TTY. If you have a disability, please do this ASAP. I am glad to
make any accommodations you need; it helps me to know this sooner rather than later.
Scholastic Dishonesty
Students who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the
possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. According to the 2004-2005
General Information Catalog, “ ‘Scholastic dishonesty’ includes, but is not limited to, cheating,
plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to give unfair academic
advantage to the student (such as, but not limited to, submission of essentially the same written
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assignment for two courses without prior permission of the instructor, providing false or misleading
information in an effort to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz or other assignment),
or the attempt to commit such an act.” If you have any questions about what constitutes academic
dishonesty, please ASK me. You may also contact the Office of Student Judicial Services, or find
information online at: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/academicintegrity2.html
Blackboard
We will use UT’s Blackboard program, an online website where students will be able to read
announcements and download lost syllabi or other course handouts. Please familiarize yourself with
our class pages at http://courses.utexas.edu (To use: Go to the URL, then login using your UT EID
and password. After logging in, look towards the bottom of the page for a listing of courses you’re
enrolled in. Click on the Introduction to Theatre for Young Audiences link, then use the blue buttons
on the left side of the page to navigate.)
Grading Criteria:
Assignment
Participation
Facilitation of a play
Critical Response Paper
Quizzes
Pitch of Plays to Schools
Final Presentation
TOTAL
Percent
20%
20%
10%
10%
10%
30%
100%
Points
200
200
100
100
100
300
1000
Grades
900-1000
800-899
700-799
600-699
0-599
A
B
C
D
F
Evaluation:
1) Participation (20%): You will receive a daily participation grade on a check plus, check, check
minus system, corresponding roughly to A, B, and C, the total of which will be averaged
cumulatively at the end of class. This system takes into account your punctuality and
preparedness for class, respect and support for your peers and instructor, your positive attitude, as
well as your undivided attention and full commitment to everything we do. Please bring
observations, opinions, and questions about the assigned reading. Your class participation grade
will also be evaluated on your punctuality, attendance, positive attitude, and respect for your
peers and instructor.
2) Facilitation of a play (20%): Each student will co-facilitate, with the professor, a portion of our
in-class discussion of ONE of the assigned plays. Students will need to be prepared to do the
following:
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Facilitate a group discussion of a question that you created about the play based on the theme
of the week.
Present an analysis of the play’s form and structure.
Present EITHER research of where the play was first produced, by whom, and how it was
received OR research of how the time period of when it was written affects the content of the
text.
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3) Quizzes (10%): Throughout the semester there will be four quizzes which cover concepts we
discuss in class, and major plot points of the plays we read. These quizzes will be worth 25 points
each, and are announced on the syllabus.
4) Critical response to live performance (10%): Students will write a review of at least one TYA
theatre production that they attend during the semester. Each review must include:
 Date attended, name of play, playwright, director and a brief synopsis of the play.
 A discussion of at least three of the following production aspects: lighting, sound, set,
staging (movement) of actors, or costumes and how they relate to the field of TYA.
 Your response to at least two different actors’ performances and why or why not you felt
these performances were successful in this TYA production
 Reviews should be 2-3 pages in length, double-spaced, 12 point type (no larger).
 Pages numbered and stapled.
 One-inch margin on all four sides of each page.
 Papers are to be submitted as a hard copy and will be posted to blackboard.
5) A Pitch for Your Play in a School (20%): You must write a pitch to an imaginary elementary
school administration, advocating why they should have the play you have chosen performed at
their school. You will present your paper in class. You must include:
 A summary of the play.
 Reasons the play is relevant to the age group you are presenting to.
 A connection of the content of the play to two different Texas State Standards [TEKS]
that are appropriate to that age group.
 An explanation of how a pre- or post-show workshop will help relate the play to their
curriculum.
 Pitches should be 2-3 pages in length, double-spaced, 12 point type (no larger).
 Pages numbered and stapled.
 One-inch margin on all four sides of each page.
 Papers are to be submitted as hard copy and will posted to blackboard.
6) Presentation of a TYA Scenes (30%): In small groups you will be working on a scene from a
TYA play that you will present for an elementary school. You will be given class time to
rehearse these scenes, and must find additional time outside of class to work on it.
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Course Schedule and Due Dates
Subject to change at instructor’s discretion
Assignments/readings are DUE on the date listed and are written in italic type.
Week 1
Introduction to TYA
__________________
Thursday August 30
Welcome, Syllabus, and Schedule
 Sign Up For Student Facilitation
Week 2
Historical Context for TYA
________________________
Tuesday September 3
 Read: Kincaid, “What’s a Young Audience?: An Argument” (53-58)
Thursday September 5th
Earliest Beginnings -1950’s
 Read: Bedard, “Dramatic Literature for Children” (1-26)
 Read: Chorepenning, The Emperor’s New Clothes
Note: I will model the facilitation for future student facilitations.
Week 3
Overview of the Field
_______________________________
Tuesday September 11
 Read: Bedard, “Dramatic Literature for Children” (26-39)
 Read: Zeder, Wiley and the Hairy Man
Thursday September 13
Student Facilitation #1
Student Facilitation #2
 Read: Step On a Crack
 Read: Introduction to Wish in One Hand, Spit in the Other
 Quiz #1
Week 4
Using Humor in TYA____________________________________
Tuesday September 18
Student Facilitation #3
 Read: Androcles and the Lion
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Thursday September 20
Student Facilitation #4
Student Facilitation #5
 Read: Go Dog Go
 Read: The Wise Men of Chelm
Week 5
Adaptation____________________________________________
Tuesday September 25th
Teacher Led Facilitation
 Read: Bedard, “Negotiating Marginalization: TYA and the Schools”
 Read: Charlottes’s Web [the play]
Thursday September 27th
Student Facilitation #6
 Read: Jungal Book
 Read: Lily’s Little Plastic Purse
Week 6
Plays About Death________________________________
Tuesday October 2nd
Student Facilitation #7
Student Facilitation #8
 Read: Arkansas Bear
 Read: A Thousand Cranes
Thursday October 4th
Teacher Led Facilitation
 Read: The Yellow Boat
 Quiz #2
Week 7
Dealing With Social Issues____________________
Tuesday October 9th
Student Facilitation #9
Student Facilitation #10
 Read: The Ice Wolf
 Read: Lily Plants a Garden
Thursday October 11th
Student Facilitation #11
 Read: Bless Cricket, Crest Toothpaste and Tommy Tune
 Read: Black Butterfly, Jaguar Girl, Piñata Woman and Other Superhero Girls Like Me
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Week 8
Social Issues (continued)______________________
Tuesday October 16th
Student Facilitation #12
Student Facilitation #13
 Read: The Journals of Ben Uchida
 Read: Afternoon with the Elves
Thursday October 18th
Student Facilitation #14
 Read: Bacon
 Quiz #3
Week 9
Historical Themes____________________________
Tuesday October 30th
Student Facilitation #15
Student Facilitation #16
 Read: The Rememberer
 Read: Home on the Morning Train
Thursday November 1st
Student Facilitation #17
Student Facilitation #18
 Read: A Woman Called Truth
 Read: A Midnight Cry
Week 10
Plays for Teens_______________________________
Tuesday November 6th
Student Facilitation #19
Student Facilitation #20
 Read: The Wrestling Season
 Read: Brave No World
Thursday November 8th
 Read: Chat Room
 Quiz #4
Week 11
Nationalism and Transnationalism________________
Tuesday November 13th
Class discussion of Theatre for Youth scenes for semester final.
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Thursday November 15th
Administrator Pitch Presentation
 Administrator Pitch Papers Due
Week 12
Putting on a Play____________________________
Tuesday November 20th
In Class Rehearsal
Thursday November 22nd
Thanksgiving Break (No Class)
Week 13
Putting on a Play____________________________
Tuesday November 27th
In Class Rehearsal
Thursday November 29th
In Class Rehearsal
Week 14
_____Putting on a Play__________________________
Tuesday December 4th
Rehearsal of Scenes
Thursday December 6th
Final Rehearsal of Scenes
Week 15
Final__________________________________________
Wednesday December 12th
Final Performance at an Elementary School