INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE THR 116 COURSE CREDITS AND CONTACT HOURS 9 00 a m 11 54 a m Credits 3 3 class hours week CLASSROOM BW 202 and Potter Center Theatres INSTRUCTOR Sandy DiCesare OFFICE LOCATION AND NUMBER George Potter Center 109 Scene Shop PHONE NUMBERS 517 796 8625 office 517 414 2450 cell OFFICE HOURS Friday before and after class or by appointment A COURSE DESCRIPTION A survey of Western theatre and drama An appreciation of theatre through the understanding of historical development and societal function Theatre architecture production costuming lighting and acting styles and the artists who create it B PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES You will be able to demonstrate your knowledge understanding and appreciation for the cultural and mechanical aspects of theatre and appreciate why and how theatre is created You will also be introduced to the language theories and a brief history of theatre through the use of lectures texts visual aids and projects labs and you will be able to discuss and evaluate a performance C REQUIRED TEXT The Essential Theatre by Oscar Brockett and Robert J Ball and any handouts D ASSIGNMENTS AND WHEN DUE 1 Readings assignments from the text and handouts 2 Quizzes and tests based on the text and lecture demonstrations and handouts You are responsible for all assignments and material covered in class 3 in class projects and hands on experiences 4 Daily class journaling 5 Two short papers one will be a review of the live theatre performance Cinderella Waltz and another will be a short paper on an actor of your choice You will also talk about your actor to the class E EVALUATION Class participation 25 Journaling 25 Papers 25 and Quizzes and Tests 25 F MAKE UP WORK AND OR TEST POLICY Making up work is the student s responsibility Quizzes cannot be made up Extra credit may be an option Exams and projects can be rescheduled if the student has a legitimate excuse such as a serious illness or emergency Students must make arrangements with the instructor within the week of the missed exam or project G FAILURE Class only meets once a week Attendance is crucial for success in this course Failure in this class usually results from poor attendance Due to the nature of this course the text is used to supplement the lectures and therefore cannot be used in and of itself to pass the course H ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY Academic honesty is expected of all students It is the ethical behavior that includes producing your own work and presenting others work as your own either by plagiarism by cheating or by helping others to do so I HOW TO GET HELP AND WHAT KIND IS AVAILABLE Please ask I will be available and tutors plus additional services for academic success can be accessed by calling 517 796 8415 or by stopping by the Center for Student Success Bert Walker Hall Room 123 Students requiring special assistance including those affected by the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the Center for Student Success This is the first step in acquiring the appropriate accommodations to facilitate your learning J INSTRUCTOR ATTENDANCE POLICY Regular attendance and participation is expected Failure to attend every day will seriously affect your grade More than two absences will result in the reduction of the student s final grade K COURSE MANAGEMENT Please call if you will be late or absent Exceptions to the syllabi can be arranged L HELP Supplemental materials are available I will be more than happy to guide you to the proper sources If you are unsure about an assignment or a lecture please ask me for help or for further explanation Email or call me M CALENDAR Please note that this calendar is subject to change Sept 2 Introductions and expectation Introduction to the course Tours of the theatres Vocabulary Journal Assignment Read Chapter 1 Sept 9 Notes on Chapter 1 Talk about melodrama In class project Vocabulary Journal Assignment Read Chapter 3 Sept 16 Finish terms Talk about Chapter 3 View Melodrama Project Journal Review for quiz on terms Assignment Read Chapter 2 and study for quiz Sept 23 Quiz over terms Talk about Chapter 2 Project Lecture on Comedy Journal Assignment Read Chapter 14 Decide on your actor Sept 30 Project Talk about Chapter 14 View Comedy Journal Assignment Read Chapter 11 Oct 7 Talk about Chapter 11 Project Talk about Tragedy View part of Tragedy Journal Paper and or Presentation on your actor due Journal Review for MIDTERM Talk about Cinderella Waltz times to see it and paper Assignment Read Chapter 12 and study for Midterm note Chapters 12 WILL NOT BE ON THE MIDTERM Oct 14 MIDTERM Project Talk about Chapter 12 Go and see the set and discuss Journal Assignment Read Chapter 13 Oct 21 Actors Project Talk about Chapter 13 Review for Midterm Journal Assignment Read Chapter 17 Oct 28 Go over Midterm Cinderella Waltz discussion Discuss Chapter 17 Journal Project Assignment Read Chapter 15 and Cinderella Waltz paper due on Nov 4th Nov 4 Turn in paper Discuss Musical View Musical Project Journal Assignment Read Chapter 15 Nov 11 Discuss Chapter 15 Project Catch up Start Theatre history Review for quiz Assignment Reading TBA and study for quiz Nov 18 Quiz Discuss reading Project Journal Assignment Reading TBA Nov 24 Happy Thanksgiving Dec 2 Theatre History Project Journal Assignment Reading TBA Dec 9 Theatre History Project Journal Review for Final Assignment Reading TBA Dec 16 FINAL Project Assignment Enjoy your holiday CAVEAT Due to differing factors some revisions may be necessary in this course School closings failure of a student to attend on an assigned day illness etc will be considered and appropriate adjustments made INTENDED COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES THR 116 In this course you will able to 1 To appreciate theatre as a means of entertainment and as an art form 2 To gain insight into the work of actors directors and designers and others who practice this art 3 Learn to understand the difference between reading a play and seeing a play 4 Learn to evaluate a performance 5 Learn how theatre from other times and how our own times shape the theatre of today Grading 4 0 3 5 3 0 2 5 2 0 1 5 1 0 5 0 0 94 100 88 93 81 87 74 80 67 73 60 66 53 59 46 52 0 45 2 papers Midterm Final 2 quizzes Journal Projects Class participation