INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE

THEATRE 161 FALL 2013

“Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue….Nor do not saw the

Air too much with your hand, thus, but used all gently.”

_Hamlet 3.ii

Professor: Eunice Gabor                                                                                    Classroom: Clow 101                                                                                                                      Office: Arts and Communication W102                                                          Times: Tu & Th 11.30am-1.00pm   Office hours: T-Th 1.15pm-2.15pm and by appointment                            Credits: 3

Contact info:

Required Textbook, materials and fees:

Required to read the syllabus and be familiar with course requirements and policies.

The Compact Bedford Introduction to Drama-7^th Edition, By Lee A. Jacobus

Attendance at the two plays being produced on campus this Fall

Additional articles as assigned

About this course

This course introduces students to the major dramatic genres and performance styles of Western theatre as well as aspects of drama, including plot, characterization, setting, staging etc.  Beginning with Greek tragedy and ending with contemporary drama, we will explore the development of and trends in drama as it becomes the art form we recognize today.  We will work to view drama as both literature and performance through reading and analysis, performance and viewing.

Objective and learning outcomes

• Discuss and analyze aspects of drama, including plot, characterization, setting staging etc.
• Place plays in their social and historical contexts.
• Analyze and compare the themes and subjects of different plays both in conversation and through writing.
• Describe and analyze historical and contemporary trends in performance
• Evaluate performances.
• Develop an appreciation for drama and theatre as an art form.

Tips For success

• When reading plays do so with pencil in hand and questions in your mind.  Talk back to the text, question assumptions and techniques. Try to understand why the text is as it is or how it could be different.  Learn to trust in your own interpretations rather than immediately turning to “Authorities”.
• You cannot fully appreciate or even understand this literature if I’m the only one who talks about it in class; conversely you have much to learn from each other.  Thus, even though I’ll provide some background information and will lead discussions, our class sessions should involve a common effort to comprehend and appreciate more fully what we’ve read and seen in and outside of class.
• Watching the performance of plays or movies for this course is an active and demanding process.  You will need to watch not just for entertainment but more importantly understanding.  You must learn to use your critical eyes in viewing and strive to view all aspects of the play or movie not just the spoken word.

EXPECTATIONS

Questions and Concerns

Please ask if you have questions or concerns about any of the material. I am always available via email and will endeavor to respond to your questions as quickly as possible.  As noted at the front of this syllabus I do have office hours Tuesday and Thursday after this class. I will also end this class a few minutes early to answer your questions.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me but also remember that I am not responsible for your success, YOU ARE!

Electronic use in class

ONLY laptops, tablets or pads may be used in class for note taking purposes.  ALL OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES MUST BE TURNED OFF INCLUDING CELL PHONES, IPODS, ETC…  If any of these devices are used or ring during our time together, the class will be given a quiz that will be factored into the grade accordingly.  Should I find that your laptops are being used for things, other than note taking i.e. emailing, surfing the web, you will no longer be allowed use of them in my class.

Behavior

Treat others in the class, the professor and yourself with respect.  Harassment or bullying of any form will not be tolerated.  Use good judgment and appropriate behavior in class. Please no eating during class.  If a student is found be a distraction during the class a warning will be given or possible ejection from the class.   All students are placed on their honor to complete their own course work. Acts of plagiarism, cheating and deception are unacceptable and will result in an F for the assignment or possibly the course.

Attendance

Attendance is a must due to the collaborative nature of theatre.  Please be on time, seated and ready to start by 11:30am.  This class will include presentations, guest lecturers, group discussion and video viewings that won’t be on D2L.

Performance attendance

You are required to attend the two main stage productions being produced by the Department of Theater during the semester.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  PUT THESE DATES IN YOUR CALENDAR NOW! Tickets per show are $4 with your UW-Osh ID.  The day before each show opens our class will meet at the Fredric March Theatre to purchase your tickets at the box office. You may also reserve your tickets on line but there is an additional cost involved in doing this.

Shows being produced this semester are:

The Underpants: September 25^th, 26^th, 27^th,28^th, at 7:30pm and 29^th, at 2pm

The Laramie Project: November 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd, at 7:30pm and 24^th, at 2pm

It is the policy of this school and of this professor not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, age, martial or veteran status, disability, carrier status, genetic predisposition or any other protected status in the admission of students to this school.

If you are a student with a documented disability that requires special accommodation, please notify the instructor as soon as possible.  It is my intention to make every student feel as comfortable and as vital to this class as possible.

If you are a student athlete and your participation in a sport will require you missing this class, a letter from an athletic advisor documenting your required absences for your sport will be necessary to maintain a good grade for this class.

Tests, Quizzes and other assignments

There will be three tests during the semester, (for dates see class schedule)   there will also be four quizzes and one 2 page paper.  For the paper you will have a choice of either writing a production critique on one of the 2 plays that you will see on campus or write a compare and contrast on any of the plays you will read, see or watch for this course.  (see schedule for due dates).  Other assignments will be given throughout this course .

Grading:

Test 1 and 2 are each worth 100 points.

Test 3 is worth 100 points.

Quizzes each worth 25 points (4 total during the semester)

Paper 100 possible points

Attendance and participation 100 points

There are 600 points available for this class.

THERE ARE NO MAKE UP DATES FOR THE TESTS OR QUIZZES UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EXCUSE FROM THE DEAN OF STUDENTS.  THE “ONE”MAKE UP TEST WILL BE A COMPREHENSIVE, ESSAY EXAMINATION COVERING THE COMPLETE FALL COURSE.  I WILL ADMINISTER THE TEST DECEMBER 10^TH OR DECEMBER 12^TH.

THERE WILL BE NO EXTRA CREDIT POINTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS CLASS

As professor of this course, I reserve the right to modify the syllabus should the need arise.  The class will be notified if this becomes necessary.

NO class Thursday November 28^th Thanksgiving break. Enjoy!

COURSE SCHEDULE

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

WEEK 1-September 5^th

Course introduction

Lecture and discussion, “What is theatre”

Intro to 168 course

Assignment: read syllabus and come to class with questions

WEEK 2-September 10^th & 13^th

Answer questions concerning syllabus and course 168

Lecture and discussion on “Origins of Theatre”

Video presentation of Greek Theatre

Lecture and discussion “What is a play”

Assignment to be read by September 17^th “Tartuffe”

Assignment 25 theatre terms to learn quiz next week, (see D2L)

WEEK 3-September 17^th & 19^th

Quiz #1

Lecture and discussion “Theatre through the years”

Lecture discussion and readings “Tartuffe”

Watch “The importance of being Ernest”

Lecture and discussion on realism and “A Doll House”

WEEK 4-September 24^th & 26^th

Meet to purchase tickets for “The Underpants”

Watch “The Importance of being Ernest”

Lecture and discussion “The Playwright” and “Film”

Assignment, Read “Mother Courage”

Watch exerts from “Mother Courage”

Assignment 25 Theatre terms to learn for next week’s quiz, (see D2L)

Assignment Read “Desire Under the Elms”

WEEK 5-October 1^st & 3^rd

Guest lecturer, “The Art of Directing a Play”

Quiz #2

Discuss the production “The underpants”

Watch, “Desire Under the Elms”

Review for test one

WEEK 6- October 8^th & 10^th

NO CLASS PER TESTING # 1. AT THE TESTING CENTER. (100 points)  Test day is Tuesday 8^th, Wednesday 9^th and Thursday 10^th.  The test will cover items from the beginning of the semester including, Tartuffe, The Importance of being Ernest, Mother Courage, The Underpants, and A Doll house.

Hours are 8am-6pm   The test should take no longer than 60 minutes but I have allowed 90 minutes for you to take the test in.  They close the doors at 6pm so you need to be there no later than 4:30pm to complete the test.  You might need to wait in line so allow extra time please.  My advice is to get there early.

Assignment,  read “Death of a Salesman” for October 15^th

WEEK 7- October 15^th & 17^th

Watch and discuss “Death of a Salesman” Compare to Greek tragedy

Guest lecturer, Lighting design and technical direction

Assignment read “Doubt”

WEEK 8- October 22^nd & 25^th

Watch “Doubt”

Lecture discussion, “The modern play, the modern Theatre”

Assignment Learn 25 theatre terms for next week’s quiz, (see D2L)

WEEK 9- October 29^th-31st

Quiz #3

Guest Lecture - Costumes

Lecture on stage management and makeup

WEEK 10- November 5^th & 7th

Lecture and discussion on types of Theatres/stages

Guest Lecturer- stage/set design

Test review

Assignment “Fences and Ruined” (for November 19^th)

WEEK 11- November 12^th & 14^th

TEST WEEK. NO CLASSES.  SEE WEEK 6 FOR DETAILS

Test dates November 13^th,14^th and 15th

Things to review for test: “ Desire Under the Elms”,” Death of a Salesman”,” Doubt”, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”, Lighting and tech design, The modern theatre, stage management, costume, makeup design and other topics cover from October 15^th-November 7^th.

Assignment 25 word review for fourth and final quiz to be given week 12 (see D2L)

WEEK 12- November 19^th & 21^st

Meet in Fredric March Theatre to purchase tickets for “THE LARAMIE PROJECT”

Lecture and discussion on African American playwrights and plays

Lecture and discussion Fences and Ruined

Watch “Westside Story”

Assignment- Watch “The Laramie Project”

Quiz #4

WEEK 13- November 26^th (no class 28^th Thanksgiving)

Guest lecture- Musical theatre

Assignment:  2 page paper due December 3^rd You may choose to write either a production critique on one of the two productions you saw this semester or a compare and contrast of any of the plays seen, read or watched this semester.  Please double space no more than 1nch indenting.  Papers will be graded and returned last day of class, (December 10^th)

Week 14- December 3^rd & 5^th

December 3^rd Review for test #3 that will be given December 4^th 5^th and 6^th @ the testing center

WEEK 15- December 10^th Final Class Meeting

Extra credit opportunity and make up test day

0-50 points available.  To be announced