Class Readiness and Responsibility: You should always
have your notebook/journal. When working on a text, please make sure you have a
copy of the text with you. Punctuality: we only have an hour and 15 minutes,
you should arrive early enough to begin on time. Whatever problems you may be
experiencing outside, you are expected to leave them behind during class time.
The professor is glad to help and available to discuss any issues or problems
before or after class.
Week 1: Introduction. Theatre Games involve exercises
that encourage confidence, listening, and working as an ensemble. There will be
a viewing of the video WHAT IS THEATRE and a presentation of a Brief History of
Theatre Architecture and Stage Technology to give an overall sense of history.
An introduction to Greek theatre through an initial reading of Medea by
Euripides. Distribution of Theatre History notes.
READING: Medea by Euripides
Homework Assignment: to compose a visual tree of
Theatre history in the journal.
Week 2: Voice and Body Work: physical warm up; with a
focus on centering and diaphragmatic support, an introduction to subtext and
the creation of a character biography. We will read Medea and select scenes to
rehearse in class. Distribution of world events during the life of Euripides.
There is an introduction to Script breakdown through an analysis of the generic
5 part structure of Greek theatre.
READING: Conclusion of Medea by Euripides
Homework start to build a visual archive and character
bio of Medea.
Week 3: There will be continued theatre games warm up
(15 min). There is an introduction to early twentieth century theatre through
The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekhov and late twentieth century theatre through
the parody of Medea by Wendy Wasserstein and Christopher Durang in class. A
discussion of temporal and production differences of a 5 act, 4 act, 3 act, 2
act, and a 1 act play.
READING:
Medea by Wendy Wasserstein and Christopher Durang (a
ten minute play).
The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekhov (Tom Stoppard
translation).
Task: internet reading and research of Method Acting,
Strasberg in preparation for Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. Research on Chekhov,
his life and work for journal.
Week 4: There is continued theatre games and warm up
(15 min). The character bio and subtext work of the Chekhov character is due.
Initial scene presentation. There will be a quick quiz on Chekhov.
READING: OUR TOWN by Thornton Wilder
Task: Research of Thornton Wilder and world and
cultural events of 1938.
Week 5: There will be continued theatre game warm up
(15 min) Script analysis on Our Town. Research of author and period due in journal.
. Distribution of sections from Spoon
River Anthology. Introduction to Take Home Directorial Project begins.
READING: Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters,
Task: Internet search: Public Domain Stories - Spoon
River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
Week 6: There is continued theatre game warm up and
scene rehearsal. The student is expected to memorize the Spoon River monologue,
build a visual archive of period including costume, house and bio of both Our
Town and the Spoon River characters in journal. An introduction to stage
blocking. Continued rehearsals of scene selected.
RESERVE VIEWING Film viewing of Glengarry Glen Ross by
David Mamet.
READING: Proof by David Auburn
Week 7: Discussion of the importance of the curtain
line and the changes we find in the structure of two act and one act plays in
contemporary theatre. Options of Play
Selection for Directorial Take Home project begins. There will be a discussion of a through line
in each play that the student presents. Subtext work and character bio
assignment on Spoon River Anthology is due. Distribution of Shakespearean Sonnets
READING: Shakespearean
Sonnets
Week 8: There will be a continued theatre game warm
up, final scene rehearsal and script analysis of play. Spoon River monologue
presentation. Introduction to iambic pentameter and scansion. The student
should begin to decide in what period he/she would like to present the play for
the final project and where.
Task: Scan and write subtext of the selected sonnet.
Week 9: Continued theatre game warm up, rehearsal.
Scanned sonnets and subtext due. Initial presentation of sonnet.
Task: Select
music which best represent their sonnet. Rehearse and memorize the sonnet.
Week 10: Final
Sonnet presentation
Journals and Directional Take Home Project Topic are
due.
Rehearsal for final scene or monologue presentation
Week 11: Continued theatre warm up. Journals and
Directorial Take Home projects are returned with suggestions and tasks assigned
to improve the handbook and the oral presentation as a director. Class
performances of selected scenes and / or monologues are due.
Week 12: Continued theatre warm up, rehearsal of
scene, or monologue. Final selections of the performance space which best
matches the play are due. Philadelphia by David Ives (a ten minute play) will
be read in class. Discussion of temporal
and production differences of entertainment for the audience today.
Week 13: Final performances continue. Introduction to
production budget. The student must complete all his visual archive and period
research he has collected to justify the place and period he has chosen to
direct his play. Additionally one should consider practical production cost
effectiveness for his final presentation as director.
Week 14: Final
preparation as director of the oral persuasive project. In turn, each student
as director and presents his chosen play of the take home project. He presents
his research, visual archive, and reasoning of why, where and how this play
should be produced to “the board”. The students likewise become the board and
must grade and prepare questions which challenge the director to think on his
feet during his persuasive performance.
Exam Week: Public Performances