DRAMA 101: Intro to Theatre Syllabus

Spring 2012

Instructor: Karen Jo Fairbrook

E-mail: kfairbro@bellevuecollege.edu

Phone: 425- 564-2719

Office location: E-121 (Theatre Building near the Box Office Windows)

Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday @ 3:00 – 4:00pm & as Arranged

Course Information

Course Outcomes

1) Understand and analyze the relationship between culture and theatre.

2) Identify a process of analyzing theatre to become a more critical audience member.

3) Analyze script, directorial concept, design elements, & acting styles of a variety of plays.

4) Describe process in which a play goes from "page to stage" becoming fully produced.

5) Evaluate theatre as a potential lifelong interest as an audience member, professional or amateur theatre artist.

6) Identify and analyze the objectives of theatre including education, entertainment & enlightenment.

7) Understand and experience the group process that leads to theatrical collaboration.

How Outcomes will be met

--ASSIGNMENTS: This class uses a variety of tools to present material and enhance your ability to learn. These tools range from take-home questions to play reviews, videos, lectures, play reading in and out of class, student presentations, written analysis, the mid-term and the final. From the first day, the presentation of material (and your understanding of it) will rely on what has been covered before. In order to do well you should keep daily notes and be responsible for finding out what you’ve missed if absent. This will help you with quizzes/papers. Reading The Theatre Experience is essential – you need the information to write your papers and to take the mid-term. You are responsible for the whole text, even if we don’t cover it all in class.

--PRODUCTIONS: You must see “SPRING AWAKENING” being done here @ BC in Stop Gap Theatre:

Buy your tickets in advance @ www.brownpapertickets.com *You will write a 2-3 page Critique*

Play dates: May 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, June 2 @ 7:30pm; June 1 @ 9:30pm * Ticket Price: $10 students / $12 general

{NOTE: Auditions for Summer Quarter’s musical ONCE UPON A MATTRESS will be later this quarter.

See me if interested! Everyone interested is encouraged to audition or participate backstage!}

Our StageFright production of The SHADOWBOX plays: April 12, 13, 14 @ 7:30pm * All Tickets At Door: $5

Everyone is very highly encouraged to attend and will get extra credit for attendance/review of production

ESPRESSO ~ an evening open mic/variety show all students can participate in plays: June 9 @ 7:30pm

WORK WILL INCLUDE:

Reading the Text: The Theatre Experience

Reading plays during and outside of class (from Drama: A Pocket Anthology, and SPRING AWAKENING)

Class Participation (includes attendance)

Attendance at SPRING AWAKENING with a critique due of the play

2 short papers on text chapters and plays assigned

1 Quiz on the plays

1 short playwriting assignment

An Acting Scene with written support material

A Design Project with written support material

Production Assignment (You Will Complete One of the Following):

1)  6 Hours of work in the shop working on set, props or costumes

2) Front-of-house / concessions for 4 performances

            3) 5-page research paper on an aspect of production agreed on with me

Midterm

Final Exam

EXTRA CREDIT: Attending & critiquing additional plays --or-- do Extra Work on SPRING AWAKENING

Grading

Class Participation (includes attendance) -- 15%

Attendance at The FOREIGNER w/ 2-3 page critique due of play -- 10%

2 short papers on text chapters and play assigned -- 10%

1 Quiz on the plays -- 5%

1 short playwriting assignment -- 5%

An Acting Scene with written support material -- 10%

A Design Project with written support material -- 10%

Production Assignment (Your Choice of One): -- 10%

1)  8 Hours of work in the shop working on set, props or costumes

2) Front-of-house / concessions for 2 performances

            3) Crew work backstage on the show for all performances

            4) 5-page research paper on an aspect of production agreed on with me

Midterm Written Exam -- 10%

Final Project -- 15%

EXTRA CREDIT: Crew work; Attending & Critiquing extra Plays; Doing two Production Assignments

Books and Materials Required

The Theatre Experience (Twelfth Edition)– Wilson

Drama: A Pocket Anthology (Fifth Edition)– Gwynn/Penguin Academics

SPRING AWAKENING playscript

Final Exam Schedule

Our FINAL PROJECT presentations will take place: FRIDAY June 15th @ 11:30 am – 1:20 pm

http://bellevuecollege.edu/classes/exams

Classroom Learning Atmosphere

Instructor’s Expectation

--ATTENDANCE / PARTICIPATION / PREPARATION:   You must attend class every day. This is not strictly a lecture class – it involves your participation. If you are late you will be marked “tardy” – habitual tardiness is a class disruption. Three “tardies” equal one “absent”. Five “absences” will cause your final grade to automatically be lowered one whole grade. Ten “absences” causes failing the class. Let me know ahead of time (email or leave a voice message) if you know you will be missing a particular class for an excusable reason (illness, emergency, or school-related conflict)!

Be prepared and ready to participate in each day’s topic or class presentation. Bring your Drama: A Pocket Anthology every day unless otherwise instructed. Read the assigned material by the due dates and turn in assignments on time or you will not get full credit. Particularly important is being a good “partner” when working on group projects. If you do not attend or are not prepared for class activities – you leave your partner incapacitated and unable to fully participate which is extremely rude and unfair! Absences will be judged harshly when working in scene and project partnerships.

Be sure to have all CELL PHONES turned OFF before class! I will take phones and return them after class if they ring or you are caught texting (I have been known to answer phones that ring during class J). We only have 50 minutes . . . you can survive that long without telecommunicating. This includes using laptops during class unless approved for a specific project or reason. Unfortunately, too many “during class computer game-players” have made this mandatory.

You are welcome to bring drinks, but please refrain from eating during class – and particularly no gum

chewing as these get in the way of our readings and exercises.

Mutual respect and understanding that we all have different views and tastes is paramount in our class. Diversity and a variety of points-of-view are the norm . . . there is very little “right or wrong” in our discussions. We can learn a great deal from each other and when applicable: agree to disagree! Every single student MUST feel safe and welcome to express their opinions, thoughts and feelings in this class. I will be a stickler and very proactive about this! Those of us who participate in theatre are accustomed to “taking risks” – this is a safe place to do so! Absolutely no name-calling, slurs or prejudicial talk will be tolerated. BE SUPPORTIVE OF EACH OTHER!!!!

It is the expectation of the instructor that as college students you are prepared to investigate and perform adult material. This is the kind of material you will find at the university, semi-professional & professional level. It may challenge your politics, culture, beliefs and personal comfort. Let it. At any time you are uncomfortable in the class or with the material, please see me immediately in class or in my office.

Affirmation of Inclusion

Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination.

We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect. http://bellevuecollege.edu/about/goals/inclusion.asp

Student Code

“Cheating, stealing and plagiarizing (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting

the source) and inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code of

Conduct at Bellevue College. Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to: talking

out of turn, arriving late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and

inappropriate behavior toward the instructor or classmates. The instructor can refer any violation of the

Student Code of Conduct to the Vice President of Student Services for possible probation or suspension

from Bellevue College. Specific student rights, responsibilities and appeal procedures are listed in the

Student Code of Conduct, available in the office of the Vice President of Student Services.” The Student

Code, Policy 2050, in its entirety is located at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/policies/2/2050_Student_Code.asp

Important Links

Bellevue College E-mail and access to MyBC

All students registered for classes at Bellevue College are entitled to a network and e-mail account.

You must use this email in this class.

Your student network account can be used to access your student e-mail, log in to computers in labs and classrooms, connect to the BC wireless network and log in to MyBC. To create your account, go to: https://bellevuecollege.edu/sam.

BC offers a wide variety of computer and learning labs to enhance learning and student success. Find current campus locations for all student labs by visiting the Computing Services website.

Disability Resource Center (DRC)

The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as possible.

If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.

The DRC office is located in B 132 or you can call our reception desk at 425.564.2498. Deaf students can reach us by video phone at 425-440-2025 or by TTY at 425-564-4110. Please visit our website for application information into our program at www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc

Public Safety

The Bellevue College (BC) Public Safety Department’s well trained and courteous non-commissioned staff provides personal safety, security, crime prevention, preliminary investigations, and other services to the campus community, 24 hours per day,7 days per week.  Their phone number is 425.564.2400. The Public Safety website is your one-stop resource for campus emergency preparedness information, campus closure announcements and critical information in the event of an emergency. Public Safety is located in K100 and on the web at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/publicsafety/

Division Statements

At Bellevue College Drama Classes are housed in the Theatre Arts Department within the Arts and Humanities Division.

Please look at the following page. You will find good information about ways to succeed as a student in Arts and Humanities classes at Bellevue College.

http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/policy.html

http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/AHGdlns-StdntGrwth.htm

Academic Calendar

The Bellevue College Academic Calendar is separated into two calendars. They provide information about holidays, closures and important enrollment dates such as the finals schedule.

* Enrollment Calendar - http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/calendar/deadlines/. On this calendar you will find admissions and registration dates & important dates for withdrawing / receiving tuition refunds.

* College Calendar - http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/calendar/holidays/1011.asp. This calendar gives you the year at a glance and includes college holidays, scheduled closures, quarter end and start dates, and final exam dates.

Course Calendar

Our daily / weekly class calendar is subject to change ~ I will inform you of revisions.

April/ may 2012
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
READ: Ch. 1, 2, 3 & 4 In Theatre Experience	April 2 FIRST DAY Introductions Syllabus Talk	“Patsy” video What is Theatre / Theater?___ Theatre Productions you’ve seen	What does it take to create a production? Why Attend? Why Critics? “Role of Critic” paper assigned;	Bring DRAMA: Anthology READ: in class TRIFLES DUE: Online Syllabus questions	TRIFLES Discussion /video Theater Tour First Stage Fright Meeting @ 12:30pm in Bldg E (theatre) lobby	7
READ: Ch. 5 & 6 in Theatre Experience	9 READ: SURE THING in class- bring Anthology Great & Bad Actors	Acting Project Introduced Pick Scene Partners	“Theatre Goer Guide” Handout Role of Critic Paper DUE	READ: ANTIGONE scenes in class (Anthology) TheSHADOW BOX @ 7:30pm	READ: MIDSUMMER scenes in class bring Anthology Have ACTING SCENE chosen TheSHADOW BOX @ 7:30pm	14 TheSHADOW BOX @ 7:30pm
READ: Ch. 7, 8 & 9 In Theatre Experience	16 Acting work	Acting work	Acting work	Acting work	Acting work	21
READ: Ch. 10, 11 & 12 In Theatre Experience	23 Design Project Introduced	Director’s Work & Guiding Image/ Central Metaphor	Work with your Scene partners	READ: Glass Menagerie in class (Bring Anthology)	Guiding Image Paper Assigned Design work	28
REVIEW: Ch. 1 thru 12	30 Discuss Study Guide For Midterm Acting Work	May 1 CATCH UP DAY	Acting Scenes Presented	Acting Scenes Presented	Acting Scenes Presented	5

may / june 2012
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
READ: Ch. 13,14, 15, 16	7 Acting Scenes Presented	Bring to class & READ: SPRING AWAKENING	Discuss SPRING AWAKENING MultiCultural Theatre	MIDTERM EXAM on The Theatre Experience	CATCH UP DAY	12
READ: Ch. 13	14 Work on Design Project	READ: scenes from PIANO LESSON	Discuss MUSICALS	Work on Design Project Presentation	CATCH UP DAY	19
READ: Ch. 14 & 15	21 Design Projects Presented	Director & Design Discussion of SPRING AWAKENING	Design Projects Presented Playwright Assignment	Design Projects Presented SPRING AWAKENING @ 7:30PM	READ: scenes from SANDBOX SPRING AWAKENING @ 7:30PM	26 SPRING AWAKENING @ 7:30PM
	28 NO SCHOOL HOLIDAY	READ: scenes from CUBAN SWIMMER	READ: scenes from GOD of CARNAGE SPRING AWAKENING @ 7:30PM	Final Project Assigned SPRING AWAKENING @ 7:30PM	May 1 Work on Final Project SPRING AWAKENING @ 9:30PM	2 SPRING AWAKENING @ 7:30PM
	4 QUIZ on Plays/Last 3 chapters Playwright Assignment DUE / READ	Playwright Assignment DUE / READ	Playwright Assignment DUE / READ	Playwright Assignment DUE / READ	CATCH UP DAY / WORK ON FINAL	9 ESPRESSO Open Mic
	11 Work on Final Presentations w/ Group	Wrap Up Day Videos & Conversation (PARTY???)	No Drama 101 Class	No Drama 101 Class	June 15 FINAL PROJECT Presentations & all class work submitted by 11:30–1:20p	16 HAPPY BREAK!!!

Expansion

So, this is how I know if you have read all the way to the end or not! These are the easiest extra points to earn because all you have to do is bring me back a piece of paper on Tuesday telling me the following information,

starting with YOUR name and Bellevue College email address at the top of the page:

1) What are MY name, email & phone info, and office location?

2) What are the text & books you need to have for the quarter? Which do you bring often to class?

3) What play must you attend at BC this quarter? How many pages is your Review to be?

4) What are your Production Assignment options? How many must you do?

5) What can you do to be well-prepared for class? What should you NOT do in class?

6) What happens to cell phones if they ring or you are caught texting during class?

7) What will I be a stickler about?

8) Why is attendance so important when we are working on partner activities?

9) When is our FINAL scheduled to take place?

10) When is the first STAGE FRIGHT meeting (OPTIONAL FOR YOU) of the quarter and where is it?