Frederick Community College

DR101 Introduction to Theatre

Fall 2008

Instructor Information:

Name: Julie Herber
E-mail: jherber@frederick.edu	Phone Number: 301-639-2408
	Campus Mail Box Number: #211 located in room A109 in the Administration Building

Course Information:

Credits: 3	Last Day to Drop: November 3, 2008
Prerequisites: EN52, EN50A
Meeting Day(s):	Meeting Time(s):

Course Description:

This course introduces the history or drama and the theatre through reading, viewing and discussing plays.

Core Learning Outcomes:

Students completing this course will be able to:

1. 1. Write and speak effective, organized, clear, and grammatically correct English appropriate for the subject of theatre, the purpose of the class, and the other students in class.

2. 2. Demonstrate the ability to understand and interpret both written texts and oral presentations in English.

3. 3. Understand the critical role of listening in communication.

4. 4. Research, analyze, compare, synthesize, and draw inferences from readings and other research materials in order to make valid judgements and rational decisions.

5. 5. Demonstrate a disposition toward critical thinking.

6. 6. Demonstrate a general knowledge of the history, culture, society and relationships within the parameters of the theatre

7. 7. Display historical awareness and demonstrate an understanding of contemporary issues within their historical and cultural context with regards to classic and contemporary theatre.

8. 8. Use the technology of a changing world.

9. 9. Evaluate historical, cultural, political and ethical issues related to the application of technology as it pertains to theatre.

10. 10. Have access to computer systems, video and other instruments of modern technology appropriate to demonstrate an understanding of theatre.

11. 11. Be able to identify and evaluate moral issues and conflicts in the realm of theatre.

12. 12. Display academic honesty.

13. 13. Value the importance and responsibility of the individual.

14. 14. Understand the need for lifelong learning and its applicability to their educational goals.

15. 15. Acknowledge a plurality of cultural and personal values and will demonstrate respect for the right of others to express their viewpoints.

16. 16. Be able to examine a global issue/event from multiple perspectives.

17. 17. Recognize the importance of language in understanding cultural differences.

18. 18. Be able to work cooperatively in groups with diverse membership and contribute to the group’s efforts with ideas and suggestions.

Additional Outcomes: (if desired)

Instructional Methods:

1. Task oriented assignments on the nature of theatre and its relationship to the audience, the producing of theatre, and history of theatre from the Greeks to the present.

2. Class forums/discussions of 3 selected plays.

3. Viewing of videos/dvd/films/audio of acting and production techniques.

4. Viewing of pertinent web pages.

Text(s) for Course:

The Essential Theatre, Oscar G. Brockett.

The Bedford Introduction to Drama, Jacobus, etc.

Videos, websites and plays:

A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen (in the Bedford Collection)

Lysistrata by Aristophanes (in the Bedford Collection)

Twighlight: Los Angeles by Anna Deavere Smith (text will be available electronically)

Evaluation Methods:

Tests / Papers / Projects	Point Value	Final Grade Scale
2 Reviews (100 points each)	200	A 450-500 B 400-449 C 350-399 D 300-349
Final Exam/Project	100
Class Assignments	200
Total Points	500

Progress Report:

Grades for all class assignments will be posted on the Blackboard site as they are graded. By week six, students will be able to assess their performance by viewing grades from the first five assignments.

Attendance Policy:

All assignments are due by the due date and time. Late assignments will have 5 points subtracted per week.

TOPICAL OUTLINE

Class	Subject	Content
1	Introduction, Audience	Chapter 2
2	Producers, Directors and Acting	Chapters 12 & 13
3	Theatre Spaces	Chapter 10, pgs. 283-291
4	Lysistrata by Aristophanes
5	Production Design	Chapter 10, pgs. 291-302, Chapters 14 & 16
6	The Playwright	Chapter 11
7	Twilight: Los Angeles by Anna Deavere Smith
8	Review Week
9	Greek, Roman and Medieval Theatre	Chapter 4
10	Renaissance	Chapter 5
11	Melodrama to Realism	Chapter 6
12	A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
13	Reevaluation and Subsidization	Chapter 8
14	Contemporary Diversity	Chapter 9
15	Final Projects

Email Policy

Your e-mail will be available to all students in this class. If you wish your home e-mail to remain confidential, please find a site such as “hotmail” or the like to create a new e-mail address that you may use for the purposes of this class.

Assignments

Each Friday, assignments will be posted to the Blackboard. Typically, assignments are due the following Thursday, however, please be make sure to check, as the assignment due dates may change. There may be weeks that there are certain parts of an assignment due throughout the week.

Many of our assignments can be completed on the assignments board in Blackboard. Some, however, will need to be submitted separately (reviews, etc.) Please attach any papers and reviews to the Digital Dropbox. Assignments emailed to me will not be graded.

Reviews

Students must attend at least 2 theatrical productions throughout the semester and submit a review for each. These performances must be a professional or college production. These two reviews are MANDATORY for passing this course.

The review should be 2-3 pages and should include all of the following:

1. A BRIEF synopsis -- one or two paragraphs is enough.

2. A critique of the lead actors or in the case of a small cast, all of the actors.

3. A critique of the lighting

4. A critique of the stage setting

5. A critique of the costume design

7. A critique of the sound design

8. Your overall thoughts about the play

Please follow these guidelines. The more specific you can be, the better. Pick up a New York Times or a Washington Post and read their theatre reviews to get an idea of how a review should read if you have never seen one.

Final Project

Details regarding the final projects will be distributed by the 13^th week of class.

Extra Credit

One page theatrical reviews by the student will be accepted for extra credit after completion of the mandatory assigned reviews. These performances may include community theatre productions. Extra point reviews will be worth a maximum of 20 points each. Students may not receive credit for more than two. Notification must be given to the instructor before attending the performance.