APPRECIATION OF THE DRAMA – THEATRE 161

SPRING 2012

COURSE SYLLABUS

When you come into the theater, you have to be willing to say, "We're all here to undergo a communion, to find out what the hell is going on in this world." If you're not willing to say that, what you get is entertainment instead of art, and poor entertainment at that.

David Mamet, Three Uses of the Knife: On the Nature and Purpose of Drama

Text: Theatre – Brief Version by Robert Cohen, Ninth Edition ©2011 McGraw – Hill Companies, Inc.

Semester: Spring 2012

Date & Time: Tu & Th – 11:30am – 1:00 pm.

Room: Clow 103

Instructor: John S. Zarbano, J.D. M.A. B.A.

Office: ACW 120

Office Hours: 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm Tu & Th, or by appointment

Email: zarbanoj@uwosh.edu

Telephone
920.235.2415

Course Description:

A survey of drama as an integral element in human society in its cultural aspects, intended to stimulate and develop an appreciation for drama as literature and theatre.  Meets a humanities requirement for General Education.

Course Learning Objectives:

• Using textbook materials, students will articulate the nature of theatre, the language of theatre, and the genre of plays.
• Using textbook materials, student will evaluate the roles of the principals in the production of plays: playwright, actor, director, and designers and technicians.
• Drawing upon their experience from attending productions, students will critique the performances of the principals.
• Using textbook materials and classroom experiences, students will articulate theatre’s expression of the human condition and theatre’s significance in history, in society, and in art.

Course General Rules and Course Decorum:

This syllabus has been prepared for informational purposes only. None of the statements, objectives, schedules, assignments, or rules contained in this syllabus constitutes a contract, express or implied. I may modify this syllabus unilaterally, at my sole discretion, at any time, with or without notice.

All students must be knowledgeable in the use of D2L. For example, I plan to post announcements in “News” on the course homepage and other matters in “Discussions” and “Content.” If you have questions concerning the course, post them in “Ask The Instructor” in “Discussions.” If you find something of interest relating to the course, post is on “Bulletin Board” in “Discussions.”

All students are placed on their honor to complete their own course work. Acts of plagiarism, cheating, and deception are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. All students will strictly adhere to the time restriction on course assignments and tests.

All students shall use Standard American English in all of their writings, including but not limited to their postings on D2L. Slang, colloquialisms, and ellipses often fail to communicate. In all discussions, students shall be polite and courteous towards each other. Each student shall be respectful of another student’s opinion and shall respond only to the student’s stated contentions. Ad hominem attacks are unprofessional and unacceptable.

Email: Rather than use email, I intend to post information about the course in “News” on the D2L “Course Home” page. Students must check “News” at least two times per week. Any questions about the course outside of the classroom must be posted in the “Ask The Instructor” forum in the “Discussions” button. My practice is to answer questions in this forum within 48 hours after posting. Do not email me questions about this course. Do not post any personal information on D2L. For personal matters, contact me in person.

Special Needs: If a student has any special needs that require accommodations to assist or enhance the student’s ability to learn, please contact me to discuss reasonable accommodations to address the special needs.

Course Schedule
“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” Woody Allen

Week 1 (January 31 & February 2)
Course Introduction
Film – Doubt
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 1, “What is Theatre”
Assignment: Read – Introduction & Chapter 1, “What is Theatre” pages 1 – 20 and Chapter 2, “What is a Play” pages 21 – 39.

Week 2 (February 7 & 9)
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 1, “What is Theatre” and Chapter 2, “What is a Play”
Film – Inherit the Wind
Assignment:

Read Chapter 3, “The Playwright,” pages 40 – 65

Week 3 (February 14 & 16)
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 1, “What is Theatre” and Chapter 2, “What is a Play”
Film – Inherit the Wind
Assignment: Attend: UW – Oshkosh production of Almost Maine – February 15 – February 19 (substitute class for February 16)

Week 4 (February 21 & 23)
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 3, “The Playwright,” and Film
Fox Cities PAC for DOUBT - February 21

Week 5 (February 28 & March 1)
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 3, “The Playwright” and UW – Oshkosh production of Almost Maine
Film – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf

Week 6 (March 6)
Film – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf
Lecture and discussion on Films and Review for Test
Assignment: Read Chapter 4, “The Actor” pages 67 – 91
Attend: Student One Acts – March 8 – March 10

TEST – MARCH 8 – No Regularly Scheduled Class on Test Day
TESTING SERVICES CENTER in POLK LIBRARY
TOPICS SUBJECT TO TESTING

1. Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of the textbook
2. Film – Inherit the Wind
3. UW – Oshkosh production of Almost Maine
4. Film – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf

Week 7 (March 13 & 15)
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 4, “The Actor,”
Film – Death of a Salesman
Assignment: Read Chapter 5, “The Director” pages 93 – 133

Week 8 – SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS

Week 9 (March 27 & 29)
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 5, “The Director” pages 93 – 133
Film – South Pacific
Assignment:

Chapter 6, “Designers and Technicians” (part 1) pages 135 – 163

Week 10 (April 3 & 5)
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 6, “Designers and Technicians” (part 1) pages 135 – 163 and Films
Assignment: Read Chapter 6, “Designers and Technicians” pages 164 – 191 (part 2)

Week 11 (April 10)
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 6, “Designers and Technicians” (part 2)
Review for Test
Assignment: Read Chapter 8, “The Modern Theatre” pages 221 - 245

TEST – APRIL 12 – No Regularly Scheduled Class on Test Day
TESTING SERVICES CENTER in POLK LIBRARY
TOPICS SUBJECT TO TESTING

1. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 of the textbook
2. Film – Death of a Salesman
3. Film – South Pacific

Week 12 (April 17 & 19)
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 8, “The Modern Theatre”
Film – Rabbit Hole
Assignment: Read Chapter 9, “The Musical Theatre” pages 247 – 261

Week 13 (April 24 & 26)
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 9, “The Musical Theatre”
Film – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Attend: UW – Oshkosh production of Tartuffe – April 25 – April 29 (substitute class for April 26)
Assignment: Read Chapter 10, “Theatre Today” pages 263 – 315

Week 14 (May 1 & 3)
Film – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Lecture and discussion on Chapter 10, “Theatre Today,” Films, and UW – Oshkosh production of Tartuffe
Review for Test

Week 15
TEST – MAY 8 – No Regularly Scheduled Class on Test Day
TESTING SERVICES CENTER in POLK LIBRARY
TOPICS SUBJECT TO TESTING

1. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 of the textbook
2. Film – Rabbit Hole
3. UW – Oshkosh production of Tartuffe
4. Film – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

MAKE-UP TEST – MAY 10 – COMPREHENSIVE ESSAY MAKE-UP TEST – CLOW 103 – 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Course Requirements: Students are assessed on a “earned points” and a “deducted points” basis. The course requirements are:

1. Three (3) Tests carry a point value of 100 earned points each for a total of 300 earned points. Tests will be administered in the Testing Center in Polk Library.
Test Dates: March 8, 2012, April 12, 2012, and May 8, 2012

In the absence of an excuse from the Dean of Students, only one make-up exam will be accepted. The Make-up Test Date: May 10, 2012 in Clow 103, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm. The make-up test will be a comprehensive, essay examination. TOPICS SUBJECT TO TESTING ON MAKE-UP TEST

1. Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of the textbook
2. Film – Inherit the Wind
3. UW – Oshkosh production of Almost Maine
4. Film – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf
5. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 of the textbook
6. Film – Death of a Salesman
7. Film – South Pacific
8. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 of the textbook
9. Film – Rabbit Hole
10. UW Oshkosh production of Tartuffe
11. Film – Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

2. Attend three (3) performances during the semester, which means one performance of each of the following productions:
Almost Maine – February 15 – February 19
Student One Acts – March 8 – March 10
Tartuffe – April 25 – April 29

Failure to attend any one performance of each of these productions carries a point value of 30 deducted points (10% of 300 points). To prove attendance, students must sign the login sheet after the show.

3. Additional opportunities for “earned points and “deducted points” may be announced throughout the semester.

The grading scale is based on a “percentage of points” system, based on 300 points, which translates to letter grades as follows: