THEA 110 DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN THEATRE II
Spring 1999
Instructor: Rosemary McLaughlin x 3678
Email: RMcLaugh or RMcLaugh@erols.com
Office Commons 110; Hours Tue
Syllabus definitely subject to change
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To examine the development of mainstream theatre in relation to Western culture
& society; to
explore significant departures from and complements to the mainstream as well
as other
compelling theatre traditions, particularly that of Asia & Africa; to
synthesize and correlate
classroom work with ongoing observation of historical influences in
contemporary theatre; to
develop familiarity with the particular artists, producers and theatres who are
currently
interpreting, rejecting or reinventing theatre history.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: REQUIRED TEXTS
1. STAGES OF DRAMA, 3rd ed.
Klaus, Gilbert, Field
2. THE LIVING THEATRE: AN INTRODUCTION TO
THEATRE HISTORY.
Wilson & Goldfarb; 2nd edition;
3. The Sunday N Y Times Arts &
Entertainment & NJ sections, available FREE, online
through Email subscription or at newsstand, library
4. N.B. There will occasionally be additional readings, handed out or
emailed.
RECOMMENDED: Reviews, etc. in The Star Ledger or other local
papers; Village Voice;
American Theatre; Backstage. The Dramatists Quarterly, Internet Resources [e.g.
Theatre
Central] & Newsgroups i.e. REC.ARTS.THEA. PLAYS
TESTS: There will be four quizzes and a final exam.Those
with an A average may be exempted
from final exam. There are no makeup tests.
READING/DISCUSSION: This is a SEMINAR class which depends upon
your doing ALL the
assigned reading, on or before schedule, and carefully making note of what you
read (see below)
so that you can fully participate in our discussions. Class attendance is
essential, as is preparation
for class.
THIS IS HOW YOU PREPARE FOR DISCUSSIONS:
1. BRIEF SUMMARY of each play you read-- no more than 3-4
sentences;
Thumb-nail SKETCHES OF ALL MAJOR CHARACTERS. Any pertinent notes on
CHARACTER, SETTING, DIALOGUE, PLOT and THEME.
2. Be sure to include your own reactions
to the play; note whether these impressions
change as you think about what you're reading and, whether the play is
reminiscent of anything
else you've seen/read.
3. Please include any questions/arguments you have about the text;
its staging, context,
the playwright's purpose, etc. Be sure your notes on each Play are complete.
You may be asked to
show these notes at any time in class.
RESEARCH/PROJECT:
Each student will work in a small group to do a
project involving collaborative and indi
vidual research, preparation and presentation on one of the following
topics: 3/25 Modern
Europe (Brecht, Meyerhold, Artaud); 4/8 Modern Dance; 4/10 The Group
Theater; 4/20 Out of
the Mainstream (Ethnic & “other”); 4/22 Off-off Broadway;
4/27 Post Modernism/Contem-
porary Experimental Theater; 4/22 Broadway Musical; 4/29 Contempo rary World
Drama.
Each group will break down its topic into manageable
parts (e.g. “Modern Dance
Pioneers: Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Katherine Dunham, Doris
Humphrey”) prepare a
detailed, typed annotated bibliography, a scrapbook of articles, ads, etc.
collected from news
media related to topic.
Each member of group will prepare a short paper (with
individual annotated bibliography
with at least eight primary & secondary sources) to be handed in on his/her
aspect of research.
Together group will present a vibrant presentation of material in a rehearsed,
thought-out manner,
timed to be between 15-20 minute maximum. Props,
visual/audio aids recommended. “Talking
Head” regurgitation of research is not. DO analyze and interpret
information found. Do
synthesize. Do integrate your findings with what we are covering in
class. Any questions, please
ask.
PLAY REVIEW:
1. Attend a production of a 19th or 20th Century Western play
or any Asian. Indonesian,
African. or Native American performance at a professional Theatre or
cultural center (e.g. Asia
Society; Japan Society). Note: There will be a presentation of Death & the
King’s Horseman in
Febuary, at NYU which can serve as alternative.
2. Write a 1,200 -- 1,500 word paper (five--six
pages)-- no more than 1-2 paragraph
synopsis-- which discusses this play/production in its theater history context.
Must be typed
clearly. fastened (no binders, please) and include a Title Page with your name,
address, phone
number and the paper's title. For plays first produced before 1970, compare
current production to
the original. For new plays or revivals of plays debuting after 1970 choose one
or more aspects
(Text, Performance, Scenic Elements, etc.) and show the influence of or
rebellion against earlier
artists.
3. Include annotated bibliography. Typed,
double-spaced, fastened securely.
NOTE: Those who have NOT taken Theatre History I this fall
will need to read/review the first ten chapters of Living Theatre.
ALSO NOTE: There is a moratorium on pathetic excuses this semester.
Please put
your creativity to other uses.
1. THUR 1/28 Intro. Review at
breath-taking speed 2,300 years of Theatre
History.
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2. TUE. 2/2 DANCE: From
the "Primitive" through Ballet; Reading: LT Intro p. 1-14
3. THUR. 2/4 AFRICAN THEATER;
Reading: Death & the King’s Horseman (on Reserve); LT
Review p. 3-5; 7-8
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4. TUE. 2/9 Africa
5. THUR. 2/11 Use this class time to plan with
your group. Type up plans.
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6. TUE. 2/16 The Mideast; Hand in typed
group plans.
7. THUR. 2/18 QUIZ # 1; England, France,
Germany- Neoclassicism
Reading: Woyzech; Ch. 11, p. 313-348; Chap. 12, Realism p. 357-374
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8. TUE. 2/23 Germany 18th & 19th
Century; Goethe; Romanticism
9. THUR. 2/25 ASIA: India, China, Japan; Reading: LT
p.109-132; 349-352; 392-395;
433-435; 471
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10. TUE. 3/2 INDONESIA
11. THUR. 3/4 Russia; Moscow Art Theatre; REALISM,
NATURALISM; Reading: Miss
Julie; Pygmalion
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12. TUE. 3/9 More Realism
13. THUR 3/11 QUIZ # 2 Please note before making travel plans.
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3/16 & 3/18 SPRING BREAK!
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14. TUE 3/23
SYMBOLISM, EXPRESSIONISM, SURREALISM. Reading: House of
Bernarda Alba; LT Ch. 12 p. 376-389; Ch. 13 397-406
15. THUR 3/25 MODERN EUROPE; Brecht, Wagner,
Meyerhold, Artaud, etc. Project #
1; Reading: Galileo; LT Ch. 13 p. 407--411; 412-421
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16. TUE 3/30 More Modern Europe
17. THUR 4/1 EARLY U.S. ca. 1700 --
1880; MINSTREL SHOWS & early
AFRICAN-AMERICAN THEATRE; Reading: LT Review p. 314-320; 390-392;
p. 430-433
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18. TUE 4/6 More Early America, through WWI; MODERN DANCE; Project 2
19. THUR 4/8 US through WWII; THE GROUP
THEATER; Project 3. Reading: Moon
for the Misbegotten. LT Ch. 13 p. 422- 432; LT Ch. 14 p. 437- 440; 451-456
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20. TUE 4/13 QUIZ #3
21. THUR 4/15 ABSURDISM, EXISTENTIALISM, OFF-BWAY;
Reading: Zoo Story;
Dutchman LT Ch. 14
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22. TUE 4/20 OUT OF THE
MAINSTREAM; Project 4; African-American, "Ethnic" &
"Other" Reading: Fefu & Her Friends; LT p. 467- 471, Ch. 15 p.
475-487
23. THUR 4/22 Rise of REGIONAL THEATERS and
OFF-OFF-BROADWAY; Project 4;
Reading: LT p. 460- 467; p. 500-502
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24. TUE 4/27 CONTEMPORARY
EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE; POST-
MODERNISM; Project 5; Reading: LT P. 456-459; p. 489-500; Top Girls
25. THUR 4/29 Contemporary WORLD DRAMA; Project 6
***PLAY REVIEWS Due***
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26. TUE 5/4 THE BROADWAY
MUSICAL; Project 7; Reading P 423, 460-461; 488
27. THUR 5/6 LAST DAY;
Quiz #4; Yay.