TPS 1107 - Arts in Society: Theatre
A GENERAL EDUCATION COURSE
Spring 2005: MW 9:30-10:45 am
Wilson Building 130 (The Stillwell Theater)
CLASS WEBSITE: www.kennesaw.edu/theatre/ (then click on Arts in Society)
Contact Information:
Department of Theatre and Performance Studies Office telephone: 770-499-3123
Department Secretary e-mail: Emilie Helms (ehelms@kennesaw.edu)
Professors:
Freddie Ashley
Office Box: Between WB 233 and 232
Office hours: By appointment
Telephone: 404-733-4674
freddie.ashley@woodruffcenter.org
Karen Robinson (Course Coordinator)
Office: WB 233
Office hours: By appointment
Telephone: 770-420-4446
krobins1@kennesaw.edu
GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The General Education Program at KSU has four general student learning outcomes. During the
course of the program, students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the General Education areas: Humanities, Fine
Arts, Science, Mathematics, Technology, Social Science, and the Essential Skills.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in communication.
3. Demonstrate skills in inquiry, critical thinking, and problem solving through scholarly and/or
creative activity across the general education disciplines.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of ethics, diversity, and a global perspective.
TPS 1107 contributes in some measure to each of these four outcomes.
Course Description:
Arts in Society: Theatre studies the value of the arts as vital forces in the lives of human beings,
with particular focus on the arts of theatre and performance. Through a variety of aesthetic
experiences, students examine elements of theatre, performance, music and visual arts and
investigate the ways in which they reflect our experiences, express and arouse emotion, foster
community and deepen our understanding of humanity.
Course Objectives:
1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of what distinguishes theatre from other human endeavors.
2. Identify and apply key concepts used in the analysis and creation of theatre and performance.
3. Discuss ways in which theatre interacts with, and is often inseparable from history, geography,
literature, music, visual arts, the sciences and everyday life.
4. Experience and evaluate a range of theatre, performance, music and visual art from different
times and cultures.
5. Analyze and write responses to theatre, music, and visual art events.
6. Practice the collaborative process of creating theatre, through the creation and
performance of an original theatre event.
1
Team Teaching:
One of the distinctive aspects of Theatre 1107 is the team teaching format of the course. This
gives us the opportunity to expose you to a wide array of perspectives and areas of expertise
throughout the semester.
The two professors listed on the first page will be leading class sessions and evaluating student
work, and both professors are available to you. Only one professor (TBA) will keep records of
your assignments, grades and participation in the class, so if you have an administrative question
or concern (for example, about absences), please consult him or her. We will also have a variety
of guest lecturers throughout the term.
CLASS REQUIREMENTS
I. REQUIRED TEXT (available at the KSU bookstore):
 Wilson, August, The Piano Lesson.
 E-BOOK: you will purchase this with a credit card ONLINE. You may download it and
print it, or read it on your computer screen. PURCHASING INSTRUCTIONS will be
forthcoming.

Tickets to LIVE PERFORMANCES. In this class you will be required to purchase tickets
to SEVERAL events. Think of these as additional 'textbooks' for the class. See details
below.
II. REQUIRED TICKETS FOR THEATRE EVENTS:
1. Tickets for a performance at the Winter Storytelling Festival, produced by the Southern
Order of Storytellers. This festival takes place Friday-Sunday, January 28-30, 2005 at the
KSU Center (on the other side of I75, just past the Cracker Barrel). You may choose the
Friday (8:00 pm), OR the Saturday (7:30 pm) evening performance, OR the Saturday or
Sunday daytime performances. Children are welcome. Tickets will cost $10.00 for KSU
students. (This is an ADVANCE ticket price.) You will be able to purchase tickets at the KSU
Box Office (on the first floor of the Joe Mack Wilson building). We will let you know when
those go on sale.
You can also purchase them at the door but the evening performances may SELL OUT, so
purchase those in advance. Tickets will cost more at the door.
2. Tickets for Theatre in the Square’s production of The Piano Lesson by August Wilson.
These range in cost from $11.00 (which is the student rate on Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Thursday nights at 8:00 pm) to $32.00. To get the student rate, you must purchase your
ticket with a valid student I.D. between 7 and 8 PM on the evening of the T, W, or TH
performance you wish to attend. The theatre recommends that you call the box office the
afternoon of the performance you wish to attend to make certain there are tickets available.
The phone number is 770-422-8369. Other performances take place on Friday and Saturday
nights at 8:00 pm, and on Sundays at 2:30 and 7:00 pm, BUT THOSE PRICES WILL
RANGE FROM $25.00 (Friday and Sunday) to $32.00 (Saturday). The show opens on
March 16th; you must see a performance by Wednesday, April 13th in order to submit
your written resport on time.
For more information, the website address is www.theatreinthesquare.com.
The theatre is off the square in downtown Marietta, and is only a
15-20 minute drive from the KSU campus. We will post directions on our class website.
2
3. Tickets for Kennesaw State University's productions of the operas Gianni Schicchi and The
Old Maid and the Thief that will be performed April 19-24, 2005 on campus in the Stillwell
Theatre. Tickets cost $10.00. You must show your I.D. to acquire this student ticket
price.
In general, you must reserve tickets in advance; be aware that your seat for any show or
event is not guaranteed until you have a ticket in hand. Information about KSU events is
available at the box office: (770) 423-6650, or online at www.kennesaw/edu/arts.
KSU Box Office hours are:
M-Th: 10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Friday: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
One hour before show time (7:00 pm on week nights and 2:00 pm on Sundays when there are
matinee performances)
III. PERFORMANCE ATTENDANCE AND WRITTEN REPORTS:
A. THEATRE and PERFORMANCE:
This course requires THREE VISITS to the live theatre events listed above.
Attendance at performances: Students arriving late, leaving early or not attending at all
will not receive attendance credit. For all performance events, you must submit your ticket
stub and program along with your reports.
If you are absolutely unable to attend one of these theatre events, you must secure your instructor
of record’s approval before attending the event you intend to substitute. Substitutions will be
approved only for professional theatre events, and you may only substitute another theatre event
once during the semester.

After attending these theatrical events you are required to complete a WRITTEN REPORT
which asks you to critique various aspects of the productions. These report forms will be
made available on the class website. We will specify which report must be filled out for each
event.
Make sure you follow all of the instructions for submitting and completing the CORRECT
forms which are outlined on the website. Points will be deducted if you do not. We will
discuss these forms with you in greater detail at a later date.
B. IN-CLASS MUSIC and VISUAL ART exercises:
The Music Event--a dynamic performance presented by the Atlanta Percussion Trio--will take
place in the Stillwell Theater during class time on February 28, and March 1, 2005. If you do
not attend one of those days, you forfeit 5 points. (There will be a brief questionnaire you will
turn in to your professor.)
The Visual Art class will also include an exercise, the completion of which is worth 5 points.
These written music and visual art exercises will not be accepted outside of their respective class
sessions.
Given that this class is INTERDISCIPLINARY in its inclusion of
theatre/performance, music and visual art, we encourage you to explore
3
the "EVENTS CALENDARS" for the many campus music and visual
art options on the COLLEGE OF THE ARTS website:
www.kennesaw.edu/arts/
IV. QUIZZES:
Evaluations for this course include THREE QUIZZES that are worth 25 points each. They are
objective (multiple choice/ true or false) in format and cover materials from class. Therefore it is
extremely important that you attend regularly and take good notes. Study guides of vocabulary
and concepts will be posted on the class website one week before each quiz. The dates for these
quizzes are indicated on the daily schedule. There will be no make-up quizzes given without
documentation of illness or family emergencies. You must notify us about these either
before, or ON THE DAY OF THE QUIZ. We will not issue make-up quizzes if you wait
several days to communicate about your excused absence to your professor.
V. GROUP PROJECT: THE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE:
Each student is required to participate in a group project where you will create a five-minute
theatre piece utilizing the concepts of performance and theatre we have studied throughout the
semester. Each member does not have to perform, but his/her contribution must be specifically
indicated in a program that is submitted as part of the project portfolio.
These projects will be presented during the final examination period. They are worth 60 points.
This project is described in detail on the class website. We will discuss it at a later date.
VI. ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Class attendance is expected at each class meeting for the full class period. We give you the gift
of 20 attendance points towards your grade total. TWO points will be deducted for each
unexcused absence, and TEN points for each unexcused absence on GROUP PROJECT
days. Excused absences are granted for DOCUMENTED medical and family emergencies.
You must inform your professor of these before, during or immediately following the class
session by phone or e-mail. Your professor will not grant excused absences if you wait
several days to communicate with him/her.
 GRADING:
Points summary:
Winter Storytelling Festival
The Piano Lesson Report
Gianni Schicchi / The Old Maid and the Thief Report
In-Class Art Analysis
In-Class Music Questionnaire
Quizzes (25 points each)
Group Project
Attendance
Total
20 points
30 points
50 points
5 points
5 points
75 points
60 points
20_____
265 points
Final grade breakdown for points earned:
A = 265 - 239
B = 238 - 212
C = 211 - 185
D = 184 - 158
F = 157 and below
4
If you have any specific needs which require academic accommodation please speak to
your professor after class, and contact Carol Pope at the Student Development Center at
423-6443.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Please come and introduce yourselves to us as early as
possible in the semester.
EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES:
You may receive extra credit for:
--Volunteering to USHER for certain KSU arts events held in the Stillwell Theatre. (You will
earn 10 points each time you usher.) You must sign up IN ADVANCE with the box office.
--Working in other capacities on theatre productions at KSU; (Speak to a professor if you are
interested; you will earn 10 points for two hours of work, 20 for four hours.)
--Attending one or more of KSU's various theatre events that are not required for this course:
The Birthday Party (February 15-20), OR Roland's Song (March 22-27) and
submitting an extra credit critique form* one week after you attend the performance.
*POSTED on the CLASS WEBSITE. (15 points)
--Attending a TALK BACK with the director and actors after a Friday night performance of a
KSU theatre event and incorporating something you learned into your report. (10 points)
--Attending an additional professional theatre, dance, or classical/jazz music performance in the
metro Atlanta area and submitting an extra credit critique form* one
week after you attend the performance. *POSTED on the CLASS WEBSITE. (15 points)
You can earn up to a maximum of 20 extra credit points towards your overall grade.
Academic Integrity:
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the Student Code of Conduct as published in the
Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the
University’s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating,
unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentations/falsification of University records
or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials,
malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student
identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the
established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an “ informal”
resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure,
which may subject a student to the Code of conduct’s minimum one semester suspension
requirement.
The instructors of this course specify that all graded work in this class except the group
project is to be completed by the individual student, not worked upon collaboratively by
more than one student.
5
Class Conduct and Etiquette:
We ask that you be courteous to your professors and your fellow students at all times. Please be
punctual, refrain from talking during lectures, remain in class for the entire session, and turn off
(or to silent operations) all cell phones and beepers during class.
In this class there will be no discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, gender,
age, or sexual orientation.
We look forward to a stimulating and productive semester!
*****
MW 9:30-10:45 am Class Schedule:
* NOTE: All readings should be completed prior to the class meeting for which they are assigned.
DATE
Monday, 1/10
CONTENT
ASSIGNMENT DUE*
INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
Wednesday, 1/12
VALUING THE ARTS
(Staff)
Monday, 1/17
NO CLASS: MLK. Jr. HOLIDAY
STUDENTS SHOULD PLAN WHICH date/time THEY WILL ATTEND THE WINTER
STORYTELLING FESTIVAL (January 28-30, 2005), and purchase tickets at the KSU Box
Office (across the hall from this classroom).
Wednesday, 1/19
WHAT IS THEATRE/PERFORMANCE?
(Staff)
Monday, 1/24
THE ART OF STORYTELLING
(Guest-speaker: Professor Kirk)
Wednesday, 1/26
VARIETIES OF THEATRE:
THE CONTEMPORARY
THEATRE SCENE
(Staff)
Reading from E-Book:
Wilson-Goldfarb:
Theatre: The Lively Art
Chapter 16:
Contemporary Trends
(At the end of your e-book selections)
January 28-30: Attend one session at The Winter Storytelling Festival, either Friday night,
Saturday night, Saturday or Sunday during the day.
Monday, 1/31
POST-PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION: Storytelling
and
FORM GROUPS
10 points deducted for unexcused absences.
6
Wednesday, 2/2
VARIETIES OF THEATRE:
THE CONTEMPORARY THEATRE SCENE
(Professor Ashley)
Monday, 2/7
WORLD THEATRE
(Professor Robinson)
Wednesday, 2/9
WORLD THEATRE
(Professor Robinson)
NOTE: Storytelling WRITTEN REPORTS DUE. SUBMIT TYPED
PAPERS WITH TICKET STUBS AND PROGRAM IN A POCKET FOLDER NO LATER
THAN THE END OF CLASS. Late penalty is 5 points.
Monday, 2/14
QUIZ #1 and
Group Project Orientation
10 points deducted for unexcused absences.
Wednesday, 2/16
PLAYWRITING
(Professor Ashley)
Monday, 2/21
PLAYWRITING
(Guest: Professor Baldwin)
Wednesday, 2/23
GROUP PROJECT WORK
10 points deducted for unexcused absences.
Reading from E-Book:
Arnold. The Creative
Spirit: Ch. 12. The
Elements of Drama
NOTE: LATE Storytelling Reports are accepted on Wednesday, 2/23 ONLY.
Monday, 2/28
ATLANTA PERCUSSION TRIO
Questionnaire due at
end of class.
Wednesday, 3/2
DANCE
(Guest)
NOTE: March 4th is the last day to withdraw from the course without academic penalty.
MARCH 5 - 11
SPRING BREAK
NOTE: Plan when you will attend a performance of The Piano Lesson at Theatre in the
Square within the next month.
Monday, 3/14
ACTING AND PERFORMING
(Staff)
Wednesday, 3/16
ACTING AND PERFORMING
(Staff)
3/16 - 4/12 Attend a performance of THE PIANO LESSON at Theatre in the Square. Those
needing to substitute other theatrical productions should arrange to attend alternate choice
no later than this week. You must obtain approval from your professor.
7
Monday, 3/21
PREVIEW for The Piano Lesson
Wednesday, 3/23
QUIZ #2
and
DIRECTING
(Professor Robinson)
Read:
The Piano Lesson
Read: E-Book
Arnold. The
Creative Spirit:
Ch. 5: The Director
Monday, 3/28
DIRECTING
(Professor Robinson)
ROUGH DRAFTS OF GROUP PROJECT SCRIPTS ARE DUE.
Wednesday, 3/30
EXPERIENCING VISUAL ART
(Guest from Visual Arts)
Exercise due at end of
class.
Monday, 4/4
DESIGNING FOR THE THEATRE:
Theatrical Space and Scenic Design
(Staff)
Wednesday 4/6
DESIGNING FOR THE THEATRE:
Costumes, Lighting and Sound
(Professor Jamie Bullins)
Monday 4/11
POST-PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION:
The Piano Lesson
AND
GROUP PROJECT WORK
10 points deducted for unexcused absences.
Wednesday, 4/13
GROUP PROJECT WORK
10 points deducted for unexcused absences.
Read: E-Book
Arnold. The
Creative Spirit:
Ch. 6: The Designers
NOTE: Written Reports on The Piano Lesson are due no later than the end of the class
period. Late penalty is 10 points.
Monday, 4/18
PREVIEW for Gianni Schicchi and
The Old Maid and the Thief
NOTE: Attend a performance of Gianni Schicchi /The Old Maid and the Thief this week:.
Performances are 4/19-4/24.
Wednesday, 4/20
ARTS IN SOCIETY
(Staff)
COURSE EVALUATIONS
TIME for GROUPS TO MEET
8
Monday, 4/25
QUIZ #3
POST-PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION for Gianni Schicchi
and
CLASS TIME FOR GROUP PROJECTS
10 points deducted for unexcused absences.
Wednesday, 4/27
FINAL CLASS MEETING
CLASS TIME FOR GROUP PROJECTS
10 points deducted for unexcused absences.
4/27: NOTE! Gianni Schicchi / The Old Maid and the Thief Reports DUE no later than the
end of class session. Late date for The Piano Lesson Reports. NO REPORTS
ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE.
FINAL EXAM:
May 2, 2005: 9:30-11:30 AM. PRESENTATION OF GROUP PROJECTS.
PORTFOLIOS DUE. Attendance is mandatory.
9