Theatre Backgrounds 1642–1900

Course Information

Description

What should be in an adaptation of a famous play? How did stage technology change the drama? What counts as meaningful participation? Is immersive theatre new? To engage these questions, this survey of theatre from 1642–1900 blends traditional scholarship with embodied learning and agile development. The course includes French Neoclassicism and Restoration comedy, Beijing Opera, Victorian spectacle and melodrama, Wild West shows, and vaudeville. Students will read key dramas, write dramaturgical analyses, and work in companies to create, stage, and critique short adaptations of each play. Students will also join a Special Interest Group based on course themes: Adaptation, Immersivity, Interactivity/Participation, Stage Technology, and Historical Context. Prerequisites: Completion of 29 units. This course is required for the Theatre BA.

Required Materials and Technologies

• –. Notebook, pen/pencil, several packs of Post-Its, a Sharpie

• –. G Suite (Google Drive, Sheets, Documents, etc.). Visit gsuite.google.com to set up

• –. Slack (desktop and mobile; both are free). To join, use your sfsu.edu email at https://join.slack.com/t/sfsu402spring2020/signup

• –. Laptop/tablet in class is strongly encouraged

Required Texts

Students do not need to purchase texts for this class. All readings are on iLearn, organized by week. Students may read any major edition of the assigned plays.

Student Learning Objectives

By the end of the semester, students will be able to:

1. 1. Identify key elements of milestones in 1642–1900 world theatre

2. 2. Identify, dramaturg, and/or create adaptations of these milestones

3. 3. Articulate the relationship between a play's dramaturgy and stagecraft innovations

4. 4. Critically engage questions of immersivity and interactivity in live production

5. 5. Formulate a critically engaged justification of their own production choices

6. 6. Apply principles of Agile project management to their own projects

7. 7. Demonstrate effective help-seeking and collaboration [End Page E-11]

Course Policies

Attendance

Punctual attendance is mandatory. Though illness or emergency may be excused, missing more than one class session will negatively impact a participation grade. Three or more absences may result in a failing grade. Please advise me in advance if other scheduling makes a timely arrival difficult or if extenuating circumstances arise that may cause an absence.

Regarding religious observances, the SFSU Bulletin states, "it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor, in writing, about such holidays during the first two weeks of the class each semester. If such holidays occur during the first two weeks of the semester, the student must notify the instructor, in writing, at least three days before the date that he/she will be absent."

Slack and Google Suite

Most communication outside of class will take place on sfsu402spring2020.slack.com. Be sure to turn notifications on. Company sprint logs and individual research logs are stored on Google Drive.

Electronic Devices

Please bring a laptop/tablet to every class. The library checks out laptops for up to 30 days.

Late Assignments and Extra Credit

Assignments accrue a 20% penalty for each hour late. Assignments are due on iLearn by the deadline, regardless of absence from class. No exceptions will be made for technical difficulties. This course does not have extra credit.

Assignments and Grades

1: Pre-course Checklist	3
2: Production Showcases (3 pts each)	18
3: Final Production	6
4: Discussion Questions (2 pts each)	12
5: Production History	6
6: Abstract Hunt (4 pts each)	8
7: World of the Playhouse	6
8: Guest Questions	2
9: Scene Justification (rough)	5
10: Scene Justification (final)	10
11: Program Note	5
12: Slam Poetry Course Recap	3
13: Course Reflection	3
Participation	13

Final grades are calculated out of 100 points. A=100–94; A-=93–90; B+=89–87; B=86–84; B-=83–80; C+=79–77; C=76–74; C-=73–70; D+=69–67; D=66–64; D-=63–60. 59 and below is a failing grade. [End Page E-12]

Class-related University Information

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is based on the honest and responsible pursuit of scholarly activity. Plagiarism violates academic integrity and can lead to student discipline. For information on using and documenting sources, see SFSU's Office of Student Conduct website...