BCC: WINTER 2008
Drama 101: INTRODUCTION TO THE THEATRE
Ms. Karen Jo Fairbrook
Phone: (425) 564 – 2719 // e-mail: kfairbro@bcc.ctc.edu
My office: rm. E120 // Office
Hours: Tues/Thur
Class meets in
L221 Daily
REQUIRED TEXTS
The
Theatre Experience –
Drama: A Pocket Anthology – Gwynn/Penguin Academics
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. to gain understanding of the process by which a play becomes produced: Page to Stage
2. to experience aspects of that process including concept development, acting & design
3. to become a more critical audience member
4. to become acquainted with a variety of genres of dramatic literature
5. to be able to analyze the various parts of any theatre piece
GRADING CRITERIA
--ATTENDANCE / PARTICIPATION / PREPARATION: You must attend class every day. This is not strictly a lecture class – it involves your participation. Be prepared and ready to participate in each day’s topic or class presentation. If you are late you will be marked “tardy”. 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. (This class follows the guidelines found in STUDENT PROCEDURES AND EXPECTATIONS which is available in the Arts & Humanities Office (R230) and on the A&H Web Page. Please read these by the end of first week.)
Be sure to have all CELL PHONES turned OFF before class!
--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, videotapes, 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/exams. Reading The Theatre Experience is essential – you need the information to write your papers and to take the mid-term and final. You are responsible for the whole text, even if we don’t cover it all in class.
--PRODUCTIONS: You must see “Falsettos”
and “The Importance of Being Earnest” both being done
here at BCC. Falsettos plays– February 8,9,13,14,15,16 @
The Importance of Being Earnest plays March 7,8,13,14, 15 @
WORK WILL INCLUDE:
Reading the Text: The Theatre Experience
Reading 5 plays outside of class and 2 plays during class (all from Drama: A Pocket Anthology)
Class Participation (includes attendance) -- 15%
Attendance at Falsettos and The Importance of Being Earnest w/ critiques due of plays -- 10%
3 short papers on text chapters and plays assigned -- 15%
Short Quizzes on the plays -- 5%
An Acting Scene with written support material -- 10%
A Design Project with written support material -- 10%
Production Assignment (Your Choice of One): -- 10%
10 Hours of work in the shop / box office / concessions
Crew work backstage on a show
5-page research paper on an aspect of production agreed on with me
See a Professional Show and write a detailed critique of entire production
Midterm Written Exam -- 10%
Final Project -- 15%
{EXTRA CREDIT: Attending &
critiquing additional plays –or- doing two Production Assignments}
DRAMA 101: INTRODUCTION TO THE THEATRE
425-564-2719 / kfairbro@bcc.ctc.edu
Unless
there is a specific due date the reading material is due by Monday of each
week.
(You will be able to participate more fully in class activities having read the assigned material.) This is a flexible outline of the things we will cover in class – I will let you know if we need to make any timing changes as we move through the quarter.
ALWAYS BRING YOUR ANTHOLOGY OF PLAYS TO CLASS. We refer to these plays often.
WEEK
ONE Jan. 2 – 4 Introductions and Tour
of the
Discuss “What is Theatre”, Theatre vs. Film/TV
READ Trifles (in Drama Pocket Anthology) in class.
By Friday:
READ The Theatre Experience – Introduction,
WEEK TWO Jan. 7-11 READ Drama Pocket Anthology - Introduction & Writing About Drama
Importance of Audience, Critics and Reviews.
Discuss “The Role of the Critic” , Differences between Reviews/Critiques.
READ Othello scenes in class. Discuss. Watch Othello videos.
By Friday: READ
WEEK
THREE Jan. 14-18 READ
On Monday: “Role of the Critic” paper due
Discuss “The Role of the Actor” and
your ACTING PROJECT.
SCHEEP / AIR discussion
QUIZ on Othello
Videos of great Actors at work.
READ Sure Thing in class. Discuss.
On Wednesday: Choose Acting Scene Partners – Look for scenes in library
By Friday: Have Scene Chosen for Acting Project (Give me a copy)
WEEK FOUR Jan. 22-25 READ entire PLAY in which your acting scene appears
(no class 21st) READ
Work on Acting Scenes all week in class w/ partner.
Work on ACTING PROJECT at home.
WEEK FIVE Jan.28-Feb.1st READ Theatregoers Guide on CD (Theatre Experience)
Work on scenes in class (Memorized by Monday)
Thurs & Friday: Present Acting Scenes (w/ props, simple costumes)
ACTING PROJECT paperwork due at scene presentation
WEEK
SIX
Feb. 4 - 8 READ
BEGIN Death of A Salesman in class. Finish reading at home.
CENTRAL METAPHOR / GUIDING IMAGE discussion.
Work on Death of A Salesman Concept/Design Ideas in class.
On Friday: Death of a Salesman Design Concept paper due
By Friday: DESIGN PROJECT area and/or Partner chosen
WEEK
SEVEN Feb. 11-15 READ
Work on DESIGN PROJECT in class/library all week.
Friday: MIDTERM written exam : BRING TEXTS TO CLASS!
WEEK EIGHT Feb. 19-22: Present DESIGN PROJECTS –hand in all paperwork (Tue/Wed)
(No class 18th) READ
How I Learned To Drive in class. Discuss.
by
Friday: READ
on Friday: REVIEW of Falsettos due.
WEEK
NINE Feb. 25-28 READ
(No class 29th)
READ The Glass Menagerie in class. Discuss.
Thursday: QUIZ on Trifles, Sure Thing, How I Learned to Drive
& The Glass Menagerie
WEEK
TEN
Mar. 3 – 7 READ
Discuss Musical Theatre. Watch musical videos.
READ Playwriting Handout in class. Discuss.
In-Class playwriting exercises. Work on 3-page scene @ home.
On Friday: READ 3-page Scenes in class
WEEK ELEVEN Mar. 10-14 READ Fences at home before Monday’s class.
Discuss Fences & multi-cultural theatre. BRING TEXTS TO CLASS
On Tuesday: FINAL PROJECT discussion (will include all quarter’s material)
Work on FINAL PROJECT in class (Wed/Thur/Friday)
On
Friday: Fences paper due.
FINAL : TUESDAY Mar.
18 @
FINAL PROJECT presentations.
REVIEW of The Importance of Being Earnest due.
PRODUCTION ASSIGNMENT paper due.
DO NOT FORGET YOU HAVE
A PRODUCTION ASSIGNMENT DUE BY END OF QUARTER!
Theatre is a collaborative art form. We would like you to understand that first hand as you work with the BCC Drama Department on a project. You may choose which Production Assignment you will complete:
1) You can sign up NOW for “BOX
OFFICE/CONCESSIONS” for Falsettos or
The Importance of Being
Earnest – an easy & fun way to take care of this requirement.
2) See me about setting up a meeting w/
Brian Healy the Technical Director in charge of production for backstage crew (either show) or shop work (Earnest only).
3) If you plan to write a 5-page paper . . . let me know soon of the topic you wish to research.
4) Finally, if you plan to see a professional theatre production & write a detailed critique – plan ahead and clear the production with me.
This is a tough requirement to meet if you wait until the last minute!