TH 114 Section 001: Intro To The Theatre
Fall, 2010
3 Credit Hours
Primary Instructor: Steven Burch
Core Designation: Fine Arts
Tuesday 11am-2pm (or by appointment)
None
Method:
Lectures, demonstrations, videos, A/V and Power Point presentations, forums, discussion
Super-Objectives:
It has often been said that the theatre is an arena where humans attempt to make sense of their experiences, as individuals and as members of a community. This course will assist the beginning student – through a survey of production techniques, a brief history of the western theatre, the viewing of live theatre and examining their texts, and a study of a handful of important plays – with a broad base of knowledge about the various forms of what we call theatre, and to provide the student with the critical tools for assessing and analyzing the theatrical experience. At the conclusion of the course, each student will be able to recognize the materials of theatre, how they are used, and make informed critical decisions and judgments on any aspect of their theatrical experience
Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:
Students are required to attend all four University productions (Screwtape by James Forsyth; An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen; The Bourgeois Gentleman by Moliere; The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams) and write a critique/review about each production, details to be determined by each individual instructor. You will also attend two (2) dance concerts (Dance Alabama and ARDT) and write critiques about them. Two of the play productions will take place in the Marion Gallaway Theatre ($12.00 each with ACT card) and two in the Allen Bales Theatre ($10.00 each). Dance Alabama and ARDT will be performed in Morgan Auditorium. Tickets must be obtained in advance, for seating is limited and productions tend to sell out early. Inability to procure a ticket will not be an acceptable excuse for failure to complete your writing assignment for that play and will result in a grade of “F” for the assignment. Play critiques will be due the Monday after the last performance/concert. All papers must be typewritten, double-spaced, 12 size, Times-Roman font, and must be free of spelling, grammatical, and compositional errors. Each assignment must be a thoughtful analysis of the production in question and handed in on time. The specific subjects for each paper will be determined by your instructor.
Exams will take the form of a multiple choice test. The first two – Sept. 22, Oct. 27 - will cover material during the first and then the second third of the semester. The third exam (final exam) is comprehensive (i.e., cumulative) and will cover material from the entire semester. The final exams are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 6th, #A (#011-019) at 8-10:30am; #B (#001-009) at 11:30am-2pm. Plan your semester break departure carefully. There will be NO early exams for students attempting an early departure at the semester’s end.
Quizzes: there will be four (4) quizzes based on the six (6) play readings. They are roughly 10 mins in length, are graded pass/fail only, and are intended to insure that you are prepared for the discussion
2 Dance Critiques @ 75 pts = 150 pts 979-920 A 719-700 C-
4 Quizzes and classroom = 100 pts 919-900 A- 699-680 D+
Practicum @ 100 pts= 100 pts 899-880 B+ 679-620 D
2 Exams @ 100 pts each= 200 pts 879-820 B 619-600 D-
Final Exam @ 150 pts= 150 pts 819-800 B- 599 or less F
799-780 C+
Total 1000 pts (maximum)
Missed exams and quizzes may be made up but only by prior arrangement with the individual instructor or with a valid written medical excuse. While perfect attendance will not increase grade points (but will be counted under Classroom) absences are quite likely to affect a borderline grade.
Attendance is mandatory and records will be kept. Even if you are legitimately absent (e.g., illness, athletic or scholastic event, etc.), you are responsible for all the information given in that class. This may include any changes in the printed schedule, and will include lecture materials and screenings not found in the reading assignment for the day. You will be allowed a maximum of three (3) unexcused absences. Any unexcused absence beyond the allowed number will result in the penalization of thirty-three (33) points per absence subtracted from your final grade total.
Practicum Assignment:
Theatre is a practical and collaborative art form. The final product we see is the result of many people’s efforts, mostly off stage. This course requires that all students contribute to the creation of the semester’s productions. Your participation in the area of theatre management allows you to experience the practical nature of the other side of production by contributing to one of several areas of public relations, i.e., box office, ushering, distribution of posters, and sidewalk chalking. Occasionally there will be a need (for those interested) in working either in the Costume Shop or the Scene Shop. You will each sign up for one hour’s work on a single production and after the successful completion of that job will be given 100 points toward the 1000 point maximum your grade will be calculated from.
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The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.
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