THEATRE 310
THEATRE IN PERFORMANCE
Spring 2013 – Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:30-1:45p.m. (or as arranged)
Course #: 11350
NH 113 (and elsewhere)
Professor Doug Kaback
Phone: 818/ 677-5811
Email: [email protected]
Office Hrs: TR 11:00-12:00
Office: NH 215
PREREQUISITES:
Completion of Lower Division Writing Requirement. Junior standing achieved this semester or
earlier.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to theatre through the experience of attending performances, preparatory
lectures, and post-performance critiques and discussions. Critical writing assignment required.
Not open to theatre majors.
TEXT:
Hansen, Brian. Theatre: The Dynamics of the Art. Second Edition. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.:
Prentice Hall, 1991.
Rich, Allan. A Leap from the Method: An Organic Approach to Acting. First Edition.
Bloomington, IN.: AuthorHouse, 2006. ISBN: 978-1-4208-2223-6 (sc)
www.authorhouse.com
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is mandatory in class for lectures and discussions. I look forward to your engaged
and active participation. On the nights when we attend productions, class will meet at the
theatre. You are responsible for your transportation and parking.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Because the purpose of this class is introduction to the theatre, you will be expected to pay for
tickets to five productions on campus and elsewhere. The anticipated cost will be kept as low as
possible. On dates, when we will view performances at CSUN, you will make arrangements to
buy your own tickets (either from A.S. Ticket Office 818-677-2488 or at the door). On dates
when we will attend plays at professional venues, I will either make arrangements for you to buy
your own tickets or I will arrange to buy group tickets at a discount. Payment will be made to
me in cash only. If you wish to bring a guest to any or all of the productions, the additional
tickets will cost the same as your own and must be purchased when ticket money is collected.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN FOR TICKETS THAT HAVE BEEN PURCHASED.
CRITIQUE:
A 4-5 page typewritten critique of the production, GRAPES OF WRATH, at A Noise Within
Theatre in Pasadena. You must attend a performance between February 20 - 24. A handout will
be given with guidelines for your critique. DUE Tuesday, February 26th, at the beginning of the
class. Since you are required to have completed Lower Division writing for this class, your
papers will be graded on content and style as well as form, which includes: neatness, spelling,
grammar, and punctuation. Your own ideas must be expressed. Plagiarism of any kind will
result in a failing grade.
Late critiques will have grade points deducted. There are NO exceptions and NO excuses will
be accepted. Critiques may be turned in early to me or to the Theatre Office, NH 110.
One extra credit critique will be allowed.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Chapters from the text will be assigned to be discussed in class. Please keep up with the reading.
QUIZZES:
(4) quizzes will be given during the semester. On the day of discussion after seeing the show, a
short one-page quiz that might include true/false, short answer, and multiple choice questions
from the production will occur at the beginning of class. NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES WILL BE
GIVEN.
MID-TERMS AND FINAL EXAM:
(1) mid-term and (1) final exam will cover concepts and terms discussed in class and from the
text. NO MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN.
GRADING:
Class attendance and participation
4 quizzes (worth 5% each)
1 critique
Mid-term
Final
TOTAL
10 %
20%
15 %
25 %
30 %
100 %
Final grades will be determined by a percentile. Grades will be assigned as follows:
A
AB+
B
100-93
92-90
89-87
86-83
BC+
C
C-
82-80
79-77
76-73
72-70
D+
D
DF
69-67
66-63
62-60
59-0
TH 310 - THEATRE IN PERFORMANCE #11350
Spring 2013 - Tuesdays/Thursdays 1230-145pm
Professor Doug Kaback
DATE
22-Jan
24-Jan
29-Jan
31-Jan
5-Feb
7-Feb
12-Feb
14-Feb
19-Feb
21-Feb
26-Feb
28-Feb
5-Mar
7-Mar
12-Mar
14-Mar
19-Mar
21-Mar
26-Mar
28-Mar
2-Apr
4-Apr
9-Apr
11-Apr
16-Apr
18-Apr
23-Apr
25-Apr
30-Apr
2-May
7-May
9-May
ACTIVITY
Introduction to Course
Interaction, Denotative/Connotative Symbols
Function of Theatre Art, Conventions
Acting
The Elements of a Play
Shakespeare and Elizabethan Theatre
The Audience and the Critical response
No class - see ROMEO & JULIET
Discuss Romeo & Juliet
No class - see GRAPES OF WRATH
Discuss Grapes of Wrath
The Director and the Company
The Playwright
Social Context and Style
Greek Theatre
Exam review
ASSIGNMENT (reading prior to next class)
Intro., Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 7
Chapter 4
Chaps. 3, 5
Chaps. 11, 12
MID-TERM EXAM
The Designers
Musical Theatre
No class - see RAGTIME
Discuss Ragtime
Ibsen and Social Realism
No class - Spring Break
No class - Spring Break
Meet Allan Rich
Political Theatre - Teatro Campesino
Boal and Theatre of the Oppressed
No class - see professional play TBD
Discuss professional play
No class - see BOOK OF LIZ
Discuss Book of Liz
Review for Final Exam
Chapter 10
FINAL EXAM - May 16th 1245-245
Chaps. 6, 9
Critique of GRAPES OF WRATH Due
Chapter 8
Chaps. 3, 5 review
Review Hansen - Chapters 1-9, 11,12 & notes
Read Allan Rich
Finish Allan Rich
Read Las Dos Caras (email - pdf)
Chap. 13
Extra Credit Critique due
Review text and notes (cumulative)