Introduction to Theatre – Theatre 110 / Fall, 2006
Instructor:
Brook Davis Office:
207A Scales
davisb@wfu.edu Office hours:
MWF 12-2
Phone:
758-5287 and by appointment
Required
text: Cameron and Gillespie, The
Enjoyment of Theatre. 6th edition
Jacobus,
Lee. The
In
Introduction to Theatre, we will discuss (a) theatre as an art form – its
nature, practice, history; (b) the artists and craftspeople who work in the
theatre and the nature of their work; and (c) theatre’s relationship to the
society of which it is part.
Attendance policy: You are allowed THREE unexcused
absences from the class. No makeup work for unexcused absences will be
allowed. Each additional unexcused absence lowers your final grade.
SEMESTER TESTS: There will be two tests this
semester. These tests will cover reading
assignments (both text and plays), class lectures, handouts, and mainstage productions.
The final exam is scheduled for Monday, December 4th at 2pm. Schedule travel plans accordingly.
Theatrical Productions: You are expected to see and review at least
three theatrical productions during the Fall 2005 semester: An Enemy of the People
(Sept. 22, 23, 27-30 and Oct. 1); Nathan the Wise (Oct. 27, 28 and Nov. 1-5) and one other
production of your choice. I suggest one
of the productions in the Ring Theatre for your third choice (dates will be
announced in class). However, if you
choose a production outside of the Ring, be sure to check with me beforehand to
be assured that your choice is appropriate for a critique. No credit will be given for critiques of
outside productions that were not pre-approved.
A critique format will be provided in a few weeks.
Creative Projects: At around the midpoint of the
semester, you will be assigned to a production team and you will present an
assigned play as a group to the rest of the class. Each group will have a director, one or more
actors, a set designer, a costume designer, and a sound and lighting
designer. We will discuss this more
fully in class.
Student Led Discussions: You and several other students
will be responsible for leading class discussion on one of the plays we will
read in class. Your group will be responsible
for providing a handout about your play – including information on the
playwright, critical information, background of the play, etc. Your group will
also provide a bibliography with at least 3 sources (only one internet source
allowed). You should plan to use the
entire class period for your discussion.
Play Quizzes: On the days that plays are
assigned, there will be a brief quiz (5 questions for 25 points) during the
first minutes of class. Makeup quizzes will not be allowed without appropriate documentation
supporting an excused absence.
Your Theatre
110 grade will be based on a 1,000 point scale.
Class
Participation 200
points
Final Exam 150
points
Play Quizzes
(9 plays- 25 points each – lowest grade dropped) 200 points
Theatrical
Productions and Critiques (3 plays - 50 points each) 150 points
Creative
Project 50 points
Student Led
Discussion 50 points
1,000 – 931 A 930
- 916 A-
915 – 901
B+ 900 – 846 B
845 – 831 B- 830 – 816 C+
815 – 761 C 760 – 746 C-
745 – 731 D+ 730 – 666 D
665 – 651 D- 650 – 0 F
CLASS CALENDAR
Date Topic Assignment due
Aug. 23 Introduction/ Syllabus -
Aug. 25 What is Theatre? Text: Chapter 1
Aug. 28 Audiences
and Spaces Text :
Chapter 2 & 6
Aug. 30 How to Read
a Play Text: Chapter 3
Sept. 1 Fences Quiz and Student Led Discussion
Sept. 4 Fences Commentaries / pp. 1527-1563(Jacobus)
Sept. 6 How
to See and Critique a Play Text: Chapter 4 & 5 and
pp. 1786-1796 (Jacobus)
Sept. 8 “MASTER HAROLD” . . . and the boys Quiz and Student Led Discussion
Sept. 11 “MASTER
HAROLD” . . . and the boys Commentaries
/ pp. 1455-1479 (Jacobus)
Sept. 13 Playwriting Text: Chapter 7
Sept. 15 Death of a Salesman Quiz and Student Led
Discussion
Sept. 18 Death of a
Salesman Commentaries
/ pp. 1126-1203 (Jacobus)
Sept. 20 TEST ONE
Sept. 22 Directing Text: Chapter 9
Sept. 25 Set Design Text: Chapter 10
Sept. 27 Light Design Text:
Chapter 10
Sept. 29 Costume
Design Text : Chapter 10
Oct. 2 Enemy of the People discussion Critiques due
Oct. 4 Acting
Text: Chapter 8
Oct. 6 Topdog/Underdog Quiz
and Student Led Discussion
Oct. 9 Topdog/Underdog Commentaries
/ pp. 1705-1736 (Jacobus)
Oct. 11 Fires in the Mirror Quiz
and Student Led Discussion
Fall Break
Oct. 16 Fires in the Mirror Commentaries
/ pp.1637-1670 (Jacobus)
Oct. 18 Creative
Project
Oct. 20 Creative
Project
Oct. 23 TEST
TWO
Oct. 25 Theatre
of
Oct. 27 Medea Quiz and Student Led
Discussion
Oct. 30 Medea Commentaries
/ pp. 133-163 (Jacobus)
Nov. 1 Middle
Ages Text: Chapter 13
Nov. 3 Shakespeare Chapter 14 (pp. 276-283 only)
Nov. 10 Othello Commentaries and Casebook
pp.
416-490 (Jacobus)
Nov. 17 Reactions
against Realism Text: Chapter 17 (pp. 347-361)
Nov. 20 Happy Days Quiz and Student Led
Discussion
Thanksgiving
Break
Nov. 27 Happy Days Commentaries/
pp. 1206-1230 (Jacobus)
Where are we now? Chapter 19
Nov. 29 How I Learned to Drive Quiz
and Student Led Discussion
Dec. 1 How I Learned to Drive Commentaries/ pp.
1671-1704
In case of an unforeseen event, I will collect home phone numbers and addresses during the first class meetings. I will provide an alternate syllabus and assignments if the need arises.
In this course, the Honor System applies. If you have any questions about the terms of
the Honor Code and/or its applicability, please feel free to speak with me at
any time.