Thea 140-01: F/ Play Analysis

Fall 2009

 

MWF 10:00-10:50                                          Professor: Melanie Blood

Brodie 154                                                      Brodie 121 Office hours: MWF 9, 2

                                                                        IM: TheaProfonCall

 

Required Books: Available at Sundance Books or college bookstore

Aristophanes, Lysistrata (P), 0486282252, DOVER

Brecht, Bertolt, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

Caristi, et al, Tracers, ISBN: 0822211645, DRAMA PLAY87

Ionesco ,Eugene,  Rhinoceros (P), ISBN: 0573614741, FREN

Miller, Arthur, All My Sons (P), ISBN: 0822200163, DRPSE

Raffo, Heather, 9 Parts of Desire, ISBN: 0810123452, UCHIC

Shakespeare, William, Henry V (P), ISBN: 0486428877, DOVER

Shaw, George Bernard. Mrs. WarrenÕs Profession.

 

Required online reading: mycourses.geneseo.edu or http://www.geneseo.edu/~blood

Aristotle, Poetics, (excerpt).

Blood, Melanie. Theatre Spaces, Audience, The Playwright, The Actor, Set Designer, Costume Designer, Lighting Designer, Sound Designer, Director, and Musical Theatre .1997.

Gilbert, William S. and Arthur Sullivan. Pirates of Penzance.

Hare, David. Stuff Happens, (excerpt).

Mycourses.geneseo.edu also has a copy of this syllabus, all handouts, powerpoints, and will include drop boxes for papers and a Wiki for small groupsÕ discussions.

 

Required Performances:

Mrs. WarrenÕs Profession, by George Bernard Shaw, Sept 29-Oct 4, Black Box ($7.)

Pirates of Penzance, by Gilbert and Sullivan, Nov 18-22, Austin ($8.)

All tickets available at bbo.geneseo.edu; more info from 245-5833

 

Optional Performances for extra credit, or to make up one of the above required plays:

West Side Story, by Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, et al.

Macbeth, by William Shakespeare.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, by Stephen Sondheim.

The Importance of Being Ernest, by Oscar Wilde.

Stratford Festival trip, October 9-11, sponsored and subsidized by Cothurnus. More details will be given in class. To receive extra credit, you will write a three-page paper on a leading actorsÕ work in one of the non-musical plays. Last yearÕs trip cost was about $100, plus some money for gas and food.

 

Student Learning Outcomes:

The successful student will:

¥Increase his/her awareness of the variety of live theatre performance in America today by completing the group projects, and by seeing plays in performance and analyzing them verbally and in writing.

¥Analyze a dramatic text from the various perspectives of actor, designer, director, and dramaturge, demonstrating the results in verbal and written form.

¥Learn to use historical and critical material to inform dramatic production, as demonstrated on short answer style tests and in more substantial essays.

¥Develop his/her ability to work in a small group, sharing and building upon one anotherÕs ideas. There are five small group projects over the semester.

¥Note details and evaluate the success of the translation of dramatic texts from page to stage, as demonstrated in analytical essays.

¥Develop his/her ability to write effective analytical essays and to present ideas verbally, skills critical to success in college or as a theatre artist, by writing three essays and giving two oral presentations.

 

Course requirements:

1. Midterm and Final Examinations. Two one-hour, in-class exams. Both will contain short answer and identification style questions, and identifications might include quotes from plays or graphics. All material covered in class or assigned for homework and reading will be on the exams. The midterm (M 10/19, in class) covers everything up to the date of the midterm; the final (Wed 12/16, in the last hour of the exam) covers only the material since the midterm. No late or early exams will be given. (15% each, 30% total)

2. Three Essays. For the first two essays, you will be required to attend two productions at Geneseo and write a paper on each: Mrs. WarrenÕs Profession by George Bernard Shaw (Sept. 29-Oct 4), Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert & Sullivan (Nov 18-22). A three page, typed, double spaced essay is due after each production (Wed Oct. 7 and Mon Nov. 23). Each paper should include

1. a textual analysis, properly footnoted, from the point of view of the artist you have selected (based in the online reading of that artistÕs function);

2. an analysis of the choices made by the artist in this specific production;

3. your evaluation of the artistÕs choice; and

4. your own artistic vision of the chosen production aspect.

You should demonstrate familiarity with the terms and concepts covered in the readings and in class. The first paper will analyze the work of an actor in Mrs. WarrenÕs Profession and the second paper will analyze the work of the set designer, costume designer, or lighting designer for Pirates of Penzance. The Brodie box office extension is x5833, Union box office is x5873. Tickets may be purchased online with a processing fee: bbo.geneseo.edu. See description of assignments at the end of the syllabus. Late papers will not be accepted. (15% each, 30% total)

            Your final essay will be prepared with your small group. The group will pick one play to read, outside of class readings, and assign each group member a role on the production staff or acting a major role. Everyone must work within the directorÕs concept for the production, which should be articulated in your paper as it applies to your role in the production. Your paper should include:

1. a textual analysis, properly footnoted, from the point of view of the artist you have selected

2. pertinent research outside the text

3. your own artistic vision of the chosen production aspect

Your paper should be either five pages or three pages plus sketch(es) if you chose a design element. The paper is due at the final exam, (Wed 12/16, 8-11) and you will present the major points with your group. (20%)

3. Group projects. You will be assigned a group of 4-5 the first week of class and work with this group on five short projects to be presented in class on M 9/14, W 9/30, F 10/30, W 11/11, and F 12/16 (the final exam). Groups should meet once per project outside of class, or demonstrate each personÕs substantive participation using the Wiki function in mycourses. Each student must be presenter on one project, and this project will determine your grade, so long as you participate in the other four. The presenter prepares

1) an outline (or drawing) from which to present the groups solution(s) to the project.

2) a review of the group process, including A) documentation of two different possible solutions, or a disagreement, and its choice/resolution and B) participation of all group members.

Both documents are to be turned in at the end of the presentation. Lack of participation on group projects for which you are not the presenter will substantially reduce your grade. Late assignments will not be accepted.(15%)

 

Final Grades will be calculated as follows:

Midterm:                                                                                 15%

Final:                                                                                       15%

Essays #1 on Mrs. Warrens Profession:                                15%

Essay #2 on Pirates of Penzance:                                           15%

Essay #3 on your artistÕs approach to your groupÕs play:      20%

5 Group Projects:                                                                    20%

Total 100%

 

Policy for accommodating students with disabilities: SUNY Geneseo will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented physical, emotional or learning disabilities. Students should contact the Director in the Office of Disability Services (Tabitha Buggie-Hunt, 105D Erwin) and their faculty to discuss needed accommodations as early as possible in the semester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SYLLABUS:

 

Introduction

M 8/31                        Course Introduction; theatre as a performing art.

**AUDITIONS begin immediately for the VegSOUP Alice in Wonderland, all musical ensembles, Musical Theatre Club, Dance Ensemble, and Freshmen Showcase. Auditions in week two include Pirates of Penzance. All students are welcome and encouraged to audition.

W 9/2              Spaces and terms. Reading due: Theatre Spaces (online)

F 9/4                Reading due: Audience (online)

Theatre Tour; bring handout on terms

M 9/7              LABOR DAY – No class

 

Classical Greek Theatre

W 9/9              Lecture: Lysistrata by Aristophanes

Reading due: Lysistrata by Aristophanes

F 9/11              Lecture: Theatre of classical Athens

Reading due: excerpt from AristotleÕs Poetics (online in mycourses)

M 914             Group Project #1 due: What space at Geneseo can best house a production of

Lysistrata?

W 9/16                        Lecture: Playwrights

Reading due: Playwright (online)       

 

Elizabethan Theatre

F 9/18              Reading due: Actor (online)

M 9/21            Finish Actor and Playwright

W 9/23                        Lecture: Elizabethan Theatre

Reading due: Henry V, by William Shakespeare, Acts 1-3;

F 9/25              Reading due: Henry V, by William Shakespeare, Acts 4-5

M 9/28                        Henry V videos; acting Shakespeare

 

Required Performance: Mrs. WarrenÕs Profession  by George Bernard Shaw. Directed by

Melanie Blood. Tues 9/29-Sun 10/4. 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Black Box. Tickets $7. x5833 or bbo.geneseo.edu

 

W 9/30                        Group Project #2 due: Text analysis for Henry in Henry V            

F 10/2              Reading due: Set Design and Costume Design (online)

Optional Performance: Freshmen Showcase, Fri 10/2, 4 pm Austin Theatre. Free.

 

M 10/5                        Discussion of design choices & production process for Mrs. WarrenÕs Profession

                        Reading and viewing due: Mrs. WarrenÕs Profession by George Bernard Shaw

W 10/7            Essay #1 Due. See assignment on Mrs. WarrenÕs Profession under course requirements; you will analyze the work of an actor in a leading role.

                        In class discussion focusing on acting in the production.

 

Optional Performance: Musical Theatre Club Review. Wed 10/7-Thurs 10/8, 8 pm, Wadsworth

Auditorium. Free.

 

F 10/9              Reading due: Lighting and Sound Design (online)

 

Strongly Recommended trip to Stratford Festival: October 9-11. See ShakespeareÕs Macbeth,

WildeÕs Importance of Being Ernest and two musicals – West Side Story and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – and get two nights accommodation with breakfast in Stratford. More information forthcoming.

Optional Extra Credit Essay due; analyze the work of a lead actor, set or costume designer

for one of the Stratford productions. 3 pp. Due Fri 10/16 in class.

 

M 10/12          FALL BREAK – No class

 

Modern Realism

W 10/14          Lecture: Conventions of Modern Realism, All My Sons by Miller

Reading due: All My Sons by Arthur Miller

F 10/16            Lecture: WWII and theatre in US and Europe

M 10/19          Midterm Examination

 

Modern Anti-Realism: Epic and Absurd Theatre          

W 10/21          Lecture: Bertolt Brecht and Epic Theatre

                        Reading due: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, by Bertolt Brecht, through I:9, p. 72

 

Strongly Recommended Performance: Veg SOUP presents Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Directed by Emma Leigh. Thurs 10/22-Sat 10/24. 8 PM, Black Box. Tickets $5. x5833 or bbo.geneseo.edu

 

F 10/23            Lecture: BrechtÕs historical analogy, Brechtian acting and design

                        Reading due: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, by Bertolt Brecht, rest of play;

excerpt from BrechtÕs ÒShort Organum on TheatreÓ (online in mycourses)

M 10/26          Theatre of the Absurd and IonescoÕs Rhinoceros

                        Reading due: Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco, Act 1

W 10/28          Reading due: Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco, Acts 2-3

                        Film: Rhinoceros starring Gene Wilder

F 10/30            Group Project #3 due: Costume design for Berenger turning into a rhinoceros, Act 2 of Rhinoceros.

M 11/2                        Reading due: Director (online)

 

American Musical Theatre

W 11/  4          Lecture: American Musical Theatre, focusing on those taking place during wartime

Reading due: Musical Theatre (online)

F 11/6              Lecture: Musical Theatre continued

Reading due: Web sitesÕ summaries of South Pacific, Hair!, Miss Saigon

M 11/9                        Video: The Heat is on in Saigon: The Making of Miss Saigon

 

Contemporary Theatre Styles: Group created, Docudrama, Performance Art

W 11/11          Group Project #4: web site reports, first half of class

F 11/13            Group Project #4: web site reports, second half of class                  

M 11/16          Lecture: Stage Manager, Technical Director, other tech staff, crews and theatrical

Unions.

Reading due: Northrop FryeÕs ÒStructure of ComedyÓ and ÒComedyÓ by Bonamy Dobree (online in mycourses)

 

Required Performance: Pirates of Penzance Gilbert and Sullivan. Directed by David Munnell, music directed by Gerry Floriano. Wed 11/18—Sun 11/22. 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm, Austin Theatre. Tickets $8.  Students x5833 or bbo.geneseo.edu

 

W 11/18          Lecture: Vietnam War, 1960Õs Theatre trends, Tracers

                        Reading due: start Tracers, by Caristi et al.

F 11/20            Discussion of Tracers and collaboratively written theatre, with video clips

Reading due: finish Tracers, by Caristi et al.

M 11/23          Discussion: Acting, music and audience expectations in Pirates of Penzance

                        Reading and viewing due: Pirates of Penzance by Brecht/Weill

Essay #2 Due: Set design, costume design, or lighting for Pirates of Penzance

                                               

W 11/25-F 11/27        THANKSGIVING BREAK – No class

           

M 11/30          Finish discussing production choices for Geneseo production of Pirates of Penzance

                        Final play selection and roles due for Final Paper/Group Project

W 12/2                        Lecture: The current war and theatrical responses

Viewing in class: Embedded by Tim Robbins and the Actors Gang

F 12/4              Finish viewing Embedded

 

Recommended Production: GENseng presents A Nanking Winter by  Marjorie Chan

Directed by Randy Kaplan. Thurs 12/3 at 7, Fri 12/4 at 4, Sat 12/5 at 2&7, Black

Box Theatre. Tickets $7.  at x5833 or bbo.geneseo.edu

 

M 12/7                        Discuss Embedded

W 12/9                        Lecture: Introduce HareÕs Stuff Happens and documentary theatre.

Reading due: online excerpt of Stuff Happens by David Hare

 

Optional Performance: An EveningÕs Dances. Thurs 12/10-Sun 12/13. 8 pm, Sun at 2pm,

Austin Theatre. Tickets $8. x5833 or bbo.geneseo.edu

           

F 12/11            Lecture: Solo Performance/Performance Art; Introduce Raffo play

Reading due: excerpt on Performance Art (online in mycourses),  Nine Parts of Desire by Heather Raffo, through p. 41 (up to NannaÕs monologue)                            

M 12/14          Discuss: Nine Parts of Desire

                        Reading due: Finish Nine Parts of Desire by Heather Raffo

                        Review for Final Exam

W 12/16, 8-11 Group Project #5: Presentation of Production plan: Present your production choices for your play with your group. 8-10 am.

                        Final Examination 10-11 am

Paper #3 due

Group Project and Essay Assignments

Theatre 140: F/Play Analysis

Fall 2009

 

Essay Assignments:

Essays can be either submitted in hard copy in class on the due date or in the drop box on mycourses.geneseo.edu for this class, before the start of class on the due date.

 

Essay 1, due Wed Oct 7 in class. See the SOTA production of Mrs. WarrenÕs Profession, and save the program so you can address actors by name in your paper. Write a three-page, typed, double spaced paper analyzing the work of a lead actor. Trace the characterÕs given circumstances in the text, describe the choices the actor made to portray the character (physical, vocal, and intentions), and tell how well the actorÕs choices serve the script and work with other actorsÕ interpretations and overall production choices. Use terms from the Actor reading. Include:

1. a textual analysis (given circumstances plus your interpretation), properly footnoted, from the point of view of the artist you have selected;

2. an analysis of the choices made by the artist in this specific production (physical, vocal, character interpretation, Stanislavsky based choices like intention);

3. your evaluation of the artistÕs choices; and

4. your own artistic vision of the role.

 

Essay 2, due Mon 11/23 in class. See the SOTA and MTC production of Pirates of Penzance, and save the program so you can cite the designer you select by name. Write a three-page, typed, double spaced paper analyzing the work of the set designer, costume designer, or lighting designer. Use terms from the appropriate class readings. Look to the text for visual requirements and suggestions. How does the designer accomplish practical requirements and make visual meaning that enhances the text and supports an overall production concept? Include #1-4 above.

 

Essay 3, due Wednesday 12/16 at the final exam (8am).  With your group that you are assigned for the five group projects, select a play from contemporary world theatre and divide your group into a director, designers, and (optional) an actor in a leading role. Either come up with a production concept together or the director should provide one, rooted in the text. Your paper should include that production concept plus:

1. a textual analysis, properly footnoted, from the point of view of the artist you have selected

2. pertinent research outside the text

3. your own artistic vision of the chosen production aspect

Your paper should be either five pages or three pages plus sketch(es) if you chose a design element. The paper is due at the final exam, (Wed 12/16, 8-11) and you will present the major points with your group.

 

 

Theatre 140: F/Play Analysis

Group Project Assignments:

 

Each group member should document and take the lead on one of the five projects.  Groups are expected to meet once, with reading done, to engage in a substantive conversation as you would if actually making production choices for a script. If you canÕt meet in person, use the Wiki function in mycourses.

 

Project 1, due M 9/14. Read Lysistrata by Aristophanes. Imagine that a contemporary company wants to perform this play at Geneseo and be as true to ancient Greek staging practices as possible. Select a site on campus and defend your choice by references to class materials on ancient Greek theatre.

 

Project 2, due W 9/30. Read Henry V by William Shakespeare. What characteristics does Shakespeare give to Henry that make him a great king? Look to the text for the characterÕs actions, his words, and what others say about him. Find quotes to support your choices. Are there negative qualities, and if so does that make him more fully developed as a character? Which characteristics would you emphasize, when, if you were playing the character?

 

Project 3, due F 10/30. In Act 2 of Rhinoceros, Berenger slowly transforms into a rhinoceros. Design a costume that fulfills all textual requirements, including transforming in several stages. Pay particular attention to silhouette, movement, and what kind of materials would be most effective. Make a rendering.

 

Project 4, due W 11/11 and F 11/13. This web research assignment will examine the range of live theatre activity in the US today. Your group will select a topic and be given several URLÕs of producing or arts advocacy organizations or artistsÕ unions. Look for the following about each organization on its site:

            A. What is the nature of the organization? Describe briefly.

            B. Give highlights of the history of your organization.

            C. What is the current work of your organization?

Each group will be given a set of related URLs. You should discuss similarities and differences so you can make a joint, group presentation on the topic that unites your organizations.

 

Project 5, due W 12/16. Select a play from the given list, or get another approved by me, and divide up production roles by Mon 12/1. After reading your play, meet as a group and either discuss and arrive at a production concept or the director could present a production concept and the group discuss how it can be applied by each of the other artists. Plan a proposed production of your play, with each of you as one of the artists, but working together. Assume an audience of your peers, a theatre space of your choice, and an unlimited budget. Decide how to present your proposed production to the class; I would hope your classmates want to see or read your play when your group is done presenting.

Theatre 140: F/Play Analysis

 

The full assignment is on your syllabus and online; it is due at the final exam, Wednesday 12/16

 

Recommended plays for Essay #3 & Group Project #5:

WWII – Early 60Õs:

Glass Menagerie or Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

ChildrenÕs Hour by Lillian Hellman

Long DayÕs Journey Into Night by Eugene OÕNeill

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

Waiting for Godot or Endgame by Samuel Beckett

Mother Courage or Galileo by Bertolt Brecht

WhoÕs Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee

The Homecoming by Harold Pinter

West Side Story, conceived by Jerome Robbins; must also listen to full score by Bernstein

1960Õs to early 80Õs:

for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf by Ntozake Shange

Fefu and Her Friends by Maria Irene Fornes

American Buffalo or Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet

True West or Buried Child by Sam Shepard

Cloud Nine or Top Girls by Caryl Churchill

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard

Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley

M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang

            1980Õs to now:

Fences or Ma RaineyÕs Black Bottom by August Wilson

The Heidi Chronicles by Wendy Wasserstein

Angels in America pt 1 by Tony Kushner

Master Harold and the Boys by Athol Fugard

Sunday in the Park With George by Sondheim and Lapine – score and script

The America Play or Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks

How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel

Love! Valor! Compassion by Terrence McNally

Three Tall Women by Edward Albee

The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman & Tectonic Theatre Project

Doubt by John Patrick Shanley

 

** This list is heavy on American plays and ones that have won the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Other scripts are also possible, just clear them by me first. All are in the library; no one should need to buy another book.

 

Your group should pick a play and divide up the production responsibilities – pick a director, designers, etc. – as soon as possible