Introduction to Theatre
Spring 2016
Course:
THE 125, Introduction to Theatre
(20255) A
11:00-11:50 MWF, Aven 109
(21030) B
9:25-10:40 TR, Aven 109
Professor:
Phyllis W. Seawright, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Office: Aven 110A, 925-3453
E-mail address: seawrigh@mc.edu
Office Hours: MWF 9:30-11:00
MW 1:30-3:00
TR
11:00-3:00
(other times by appointment only)
Faculty Web Page: lots of good stuff permanently posted there!
Required Material:
1. Wilson, Edwin, and Alvin Goldfarb. Theatre: The Lively Art. 8th ed. New York:
McGraw-Hill, 2012. ISBN 978-0-07-351420-8
2. Notebook with pockets
3. Ticket money ($7) and ONE night set aside for attending the REQUIRED play this
semester. If your budget is too tight for $7, I will need ushers and food servers at every
show. You would still get to see the whole show.
4. Additional readings as required for essays, projects, or other assignments. For your
play analyses, you will use play scripts in print from the library or within reach; NO
DOWNLOADING off the internet, please. It’s unreliable. The ONLY time you might
need internet resources is with special reports I assign, and to view plays on our Theater
Database. Otherwise, using internet resources for your play analyses constitutes
PLAGIARISM.
Philosophy: As Christians living in a fallen world, we desire to create order out of
chaos. Our view of art is shaped by that overall goal. The theatre has always been a
place for responding to the world's troubles or joys by shaping an art form all its own.
Yet the theatre reflects life to an extent, sending a message about the condition of life as
the playwright or the director sees it. We will examine the theatre from a Christian
perspective and try to define our ideal theatre.
Our Lord Jesus Christ would have us prepare ourselves for the theatrical
marketplace. When he sent out his disciples to spread the Gospel, he told them, "I am
sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as
innocent as doves (Matt. 10:16, NIV). Or as Paul explains it in I Cor. 14:20, "In regard to
evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults." We have dreams and goals for our art; we
must be careful how and to whom we offer our gifts. But we approach this art form with
humility; we are, after all, “jars of clay” (II. Cor. 4:7).
Accordingly, by the end of the semester you will
1. participate in a variety of theatre experiences,
2. be able to, through analysis, identify the different genres offered,
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3. have an appreciation of how theatre enriches our lives, and
4. exercise discernment in what we view.
Rationale: This course explores performance and theatre primarily as an art form but
also as a means of communication experienced on a daily basis. This course will provide
you with the basic knowledge of theatrical conventions, theatre history and actual
experience that is necessary to participate in the enjoyment of the art form. It will also
teach you to recognize and identify dramatic elements in theatre.
Course Objectives: The primary objectives of this course are:
1.
to give you a working vocabulary of the conventions of theatre.
2.
to give you a greater knowledge of theatre history.
3.
to give you practical experience in the theatre.
4.
to give you practice in writing on the collegiate level.
5.
to review general principles of theatre etiquette.
Evaluation: You will be evaluated on the following assignments:
Test
20%
Play Analyses (4)
40%
Play Attendance
10% (Attendance at my show, Twelfth Night.)
Original Monologue 10% (Performed in class)
Broadway Research 10% (final project)
Daily Grades &
Professionalism
10% (see below for details)
100%
Grading Scale:
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = below 60
exceptional
above average
average
below average
failing
Play Analyses:
You will have several written projects due in this class. I will give you specific
guidelines for format and grading. I will grade your written projects on style as well as
content. YOU MUST NOT USE outside sources for this writing (see academic integrity
statement below). You must use proper grammar; I taught English too long to overlook
glaring errors. Most of our play analyses will be written in class. If you miss an in-class
writing test for an excused absence, we will try to reschedule it within ONE week.
Otherwise, the makeup will take place ON EXAM DAY. If you miss a scheduled
makeup day, you will get a zero on that assignment. For other written assignments, you
must TYPE them or you will receive a lower grade. I DO NOT ACCEPT PAPERS VIA
EMAIL. Late work will be penalized 10 points for EVERY CLASS DAY that it is late.
Each paper should have your name, class and the name of the assignment in the upper
left-hand corner of the first page. Papers should be stapled together; no folders, please.
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To encourage originality and to combat plagiarism, the college now subscribes to
Turnitin.com, a website that collects all papers and highlights passages which have been
improperly used or not documented. I will give you one week following each due date
to access this program and upload your paper. Beyond that, I will not accept the
paper, and you will earn a 0. We will discuss more specifics in class.
Play Attendance and live Play Analysis
(20% OF TOTAL SEMESTER GRADE):
You will notice that 20% of your grade depends upon your attending this semester’s
LIVE FACULTY-DIRECTED play and then writing an analysis of it. No excuses for
missing the play are acceptable. If you are an actor or a crew member, you will have to
make sure that you see the whole play in a final rehearsal. To prove that you attended the
play, you must have your program signed by ME after the show, and turn it in with
your play analysis. Here are the details of the event:
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, directed by Phyllis W. Seawright
The 2015-2016 Mississippi College Shakespeare Festival production
Jennings Hall Courtyard (or Alumni Gym if inclement weather)
Thursday, March 31, 2016, 10:00 a.m. school matinee
Friday, April 1, 2016, 10:00 a.m. school matinee
Friday, April 1, 2016, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 3, 2016, 2:30 p.m.
If you fall in love, will you lose your identity or find out who you really are?
Shakespeare presents the question through his trademark comic mayhem. We present the
play in our own Globe Theater, the romantic courtyard of Jennings Hall.
Tickets: $7 for students, $10 for adults. Groups of 20 or more are $4 each. One
chaperone is free for every 10 students in youth groups; bus driver is free. (Ticket price
includes refreshments at intermission.) For more information contact Phyllis W.
Seawright at 601.925.3453 or seawrigh@mc.edu .
Daily Grades & Professional Conduct (10% of the total grade):
This class is a combination of lectures, discussions, informal and formal
presentations, and an optional practicum. The practicum can give you experience in
stage management or performance in this semester’s major production by the Mississippi
College Tribal Players. In addition, as a member of this class, you may sign up for house
management duties (i.e., ushering, concessions) during the play’s run. Both the
practicum and the one-night duties are voluntary and will earn different levels of credit.
The required class activities encompass a variety of performance options.
For one assignment in this category, you will perform a monologue or a scene (from a
published work). And there will be other random readings and skits we do as a class.
Pop-quizzes will be drawn from reading assignments or previous notes. (There is
no make-up for a daily quiz.) Occasional in-class writings will also count in this category.
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Professional Conduct: I regret that I find it necessary to add this punitive
category in print. For each of the following infractions, I will deduct 10 points:
Failure to notify me in advance of illness or school-related absence when an assignment,
a test, or a performance is imminent
Tardiness
Having a cell phone visible (includes any telephone earpieces also)
Text messaging
Earphones with any portable music device
Talking out of turn
Nail-clipping
Eating
Sleeping
Using a laptop without my permission
These penalty points may not be made up through the extra credit policy. This one
category can ruin a good overall average. If any of these behaviors become habitual,
you will have to drop the course altogether.
Make-up Policy: Students with unexcused absences cannot make up tests or in-class
writings. Pop-quizzes and daily grades cannot be made up for either excused or
unexcused absences.
EXTRA CREDIT:
I will offer up to 10 points extra credit for attending campus lectures, music
performances, student drama productions, etc. You will need to have the event program
initialed by a faculty member in attendance, AND you will need to write a paragraph
describing the event. These extra credit opportunities will be worth 2 points each, to be
applied to a test or a play analysis grade. Working as a cast or crew member in a
production also earns extra credit at a higher level, depending on your commitment. In
addition, you may attend a production at another college in our area or at one of our local
community theatres, or one presented by a touring company at a major theater. For these
off-campus shows, you can earn 5 points for turning in your ticket stub, program, and a
1-page review of the show.
Class Attendance: This is a real-time, physical class, not an on-line class. I follow the
attendance policies in the college catalog. Missing class penalizes you in many ways:
late grades, zero daily grades, etc. Twelve absences in an MWF class or eight absences
in a TR class result in failure. I count three tardies as one absence. After the fifth
MWF absence or third TR absence, every absence deducts 2 points OFF your
semester average. If you need to drop the class, be aware that according to the
administration, “Tuition refund cannot be made on dropped classes after the first
week of classes.”
Academic Integrity: Why would you cheat yourself of a true theatrical and educational
experience? There is no substitute for honest work. DO NOT USE OUTSIDE
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SOURCES to write your play analyses. You are fully capable of reading and
understanding a play; I want to know what YOU think, not what some literary critic
thinks. Please follow the policies as outlined in the current Mississippi College
Undergraduate Catalog and University Policy 2.19, or I will be forced to penalize you
far beyond what either one of us wishes.
Courtesy and Class Etiquette: AS A COURTESY TO ME AND TO THE OTHER
STUDENTS, PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES AND BEEPERS DURING
CLASS. If you have a sick relative and are expecting a call, please switch your phone or
beeper to the silent mode and sit near the door. DO NOT MAKE APPOINTMENTS
(advisor, doctor, work, other campus activities) that conflict with class time. You will be
counted absent if you leave class early or arrive late because of such an appointment.
Online Learning Component: In addition to traditional classroom-based learning, this
class uses the course management system MCMoodle to facilitate learning online. You
have access to MCMoodle by virtue of your enrollment in this course. MCMoodle can
be accessed at http://moodle.mc.edu. Your assigned MC email address and password
serve as your login information. You are expected to be able to navigate MC Moodle and
complete any activities assigned through MCMoodle by the instructor. Tutorials on how
to navigate MC Moodle are available on the MCMoodle home page and on the
department’s website. You may also contact your instructor for help.
Other Policies:
A. If you are a student athlete, please give me advance notice for preparing your grade and
attendance reports. If anybody needs special accommodations for taking tests, please tell
me well in advance of the test date. I discourage a student from taking an incomplete
grade in an introductory-level class. IF YOU ARE A GRADUATING SENIOR, you
are not automatically exempt from my final exam. It is my prerogative to decide
that. Please consult the current MC undergraduate catalog, and then talk to me.
B. Early Alert System
Mississippi College has adopted the practice of finding students early in the
semester who may be exhibiting behaviors that could ultimately have a negative
impact on their academic progress. These behaviors are often called “red flag”
behaviors and include, but are not limited to, excessive absences, poor test
grades, and lack of class participation or evidence of non-engagement.
Identifying these behaviors early gives the instructor the opportunity to raise the
“red flag” on behalf of a particular student so that the student can take the
appropriate action to redirect his/her progress. The system alerts the student,
the student’s advisor, and the Office of Student Success.
These messages are intended to help a student recognize an area of concern
and to encourage him/her to make some choices to improve the situation. When
a student receives an Early Alert message, the student should quickly make an
appointment to talk with his/her professor about the situation. Also, students can
make full use of the Office of Student Success to set academic goals and
connect to campus resources.
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C. Students with Disabilities
In order for a student to receive disability accommodations under Section 504 of
the Americans with Disabilities Act, he or she must schedule an individual
meeting with the Director of Student Counseling Services immediately upon
recognition of their disability (if their disability is known they must come in
before the semester begins or make an appointment immediately upon receipt
of their syllabi for the new semester). The student must bring with them written
documentation from a medical physician and/or licensed clinician that verifies
their disability. If the student has received prior accommodations, they must bring
written documentation of those accommodations (example Individualized
Education Plan from the school system). Documentation must be current (within
3 years).
The student must meet with SCS face-to face and also attend two (2) additional
follow up meetings (one mid semester before or after midterm examinations and
the last one at the end of the semester). Please note that the student may also
schedule additional meetings as needed for support through SCS as they work
with their professor throughout the semester. Note: Students must come in each
semester to complete their Individualized Accommodation Plan (example: MC
student completes fall semester IAP plan and even if student is a continuing
student for the spring semester they must come in again to complete their spring
semester IAP plan).
Student Counseling Services is located on the 4th floor of Alumni Hall) or they
may be contacted via email at mbryant@mc.edu . You may also reach them by
phone at 601-925-7790. Dr. Morgan Bryant is director of MC Student
Counseling Services.
DISCLAIMER: I reserve the right to modify these policies and syllabus as the need
arises. Daily assignments will be handed out in class.
SYLLABUS (tentative): More detailed assignments will be given in class.
Week 1, Jan. 11-15, 2016:
Meet & Greet.
Scan and take notes on Chapters 1 & 2.
TBA: Excursion Day:
During class, we’ll meet in Aven 109 first, then go to the Speed Library and locate the
stacks in the basement where you can find plays for your monologues (on your own
time). Then, we’ll go to the Gore Art Gallery and find a piece of sculpture or other visual
art for you to write about (see following instructions):
Here’s what to write for me after you have chosen one (1) of the pieces:
In your own handwriting, describe the setting of the work of art as you approach it. What
is your first impression? What draws you into it? What emotional effect does it have on
you? What would you tell somebody else about it? Please turn this paragraph in by
the end of class.
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***Besides the textbook readings, you may read some of your plays in hard copy (found
in the basement stacks of the library next door or in the reserved materials section) for
your play analyses. (Writing Guidelines are in a separate handout.) Look up a
playwright using MICAL, or browse through the following areas:
Call Number & Genre
808.2 Anthologies of Drama, etc.
812 American Drama
820 British plays mixed with criticism, poetry, prose
822 British drama
832 German drama
842 French drama
852 Italian drama
862 Spanish drama
872 Roman drama
882 Greek drama
892 World drama (Middle Eastern, Asian, African)
Week 2, Jan. 18-22:
[Monday is the MLK holiday.]
MTW: Chapters 3 & 4
More excursions TBA this week. Have your MC account username and password
with you. We will go to the library for a tutorial on using MICAL and our databases.
Week 3, Jan. 25-29
Chapter 5 on Acting
Chapter 6 on Directing
Chapter 14, Modern Theatre (selected pages)
Chapter 15, Today’s Diverse Global Theatre (ditto)
Modern Realism & Domestic Drama:
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry.
Week 4, Feb. 1-5:
More Raisin, then take an in-class writing test on it, combination objective and short
essay. (open notes)
Week 5, Feb. 8-12:
MTW:
Chapter 7, Theater spaces, indoors and outdoors.
Chapters 8 & 9: Spectacle: props, costumes, lighting.
Greek Drama:
Continue Ch. 3 & 4, begin Ch. 10 and Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex) by Sophocles.
For Oedipus, you’ll do a monologue from it FIRST, then we’ll watch it in class, and
then we’ll write about it in class. (combo objective & short essay)
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TR:
***Here’s what you’ll need to do for this first monologue performance:
DAILY GRADE: You perform a monologue from Oedipus Rex, chosen from any
translation, any role. You must do the following:
a. bring a HARD COPY of the monologue,
b. present it with your best reading, and
c. perform it using the best of your abilities. Costume is optional AND extra credit.
d. Include the bibliographic citation of your source at the bottom of your HARD
COPY. You will not be allowed to perform unless you satisfy this requirement.
Week 6, Feb. 15-19:
MT: Finish Oedipus monologues.
WRF: Begin watching Oedipus the King/Oedipus Rex.
Week 7, Feb. 22-26:
MTW: Finish watching Oedipus.
RF: Write about it, with a short test combining objective & short answer questions.
(open notes)
Week 8, Feb. 29-Mar. 4:
Medieval Drama:
More of Chapter 10: the Quem Quaeritis, Everyman. We’ll read these in class, and then
you’ll write an original monologue based on Everyman and perform it. (separate handout
for this monologue, worth 10%.)
[SPRING BREAK IS MARCH 7-11]
Week 9, March 14-19:
MTW: Finish reading Everyman.
RF: Perform your Original Monologues!
Week 10, March 21-25:
Review for the mid-term.
Take the mid-term.
Renaissance Drama:
Scan Chapter 12, focusing on Italian and English styles.
Week 11, March 28-April 1: My SHOW is this week!!!
[Monday is our Easter holiday.]
TW: Shakespeare and Metadrama: Ch. 12 and more!
RF: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, directed by Phyllis W. Seawright
The 2015-2016 Mississippi College Shakespeare Festival production
Jennings Hall Courtyard (or Alumni Gym if inclement weather)
Thursday, March 31, 2016, 10:00 a.m. school matinee
Friday, April 1, 2016, 10:00 a.m. school matinee
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Friday, April 1, 2016, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 2, 2016, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 3, 2016, 2:30 p.m.
If you fall in love, will you lose your identity or find out who you really are?
Shakespeare presents the question through his trademark comic mayhem. We present the
play in our own Globe Theater, the romantic courtyard of Jennings Hall.
Tickets: $7 for students, $10 for adults. Groups of 20 or more are $4 each. One
chaperone is free for every 10 students in youth groups; bus driver is free. (Ticket price
includes refreshments at intermission.) For more information contact Phyllis W.
Seawright at 601.925.3453 or seawrigh@mc.edu .
Week 12, April 4-8:
De-brief on my play. Write the play analysis in-class. You must have your program with
you or you will receive a zero (0) for this assignment.
Begin The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.
Week 13, April 11-15:
Finish The Taming of the Shrew. Write about it in-class.
***Spring One-Acts are this weekend, April 14 & 15, tentatively. Shows TBA. Extra
credit!
Week 14, April 18-22
MTW:
Musical Theater, clips & notes. Be able to identify a book musical, a concept musical,
and a juke-box musical.
Asian drama, clips & notes.
RF:
Begin Broadway Theater Reports.
Week 15, April 25-27
Finish Broadway Theater Reports.
Thursday, April 28, is the campus-wide study day before exams.
Friday, April 29, exams begin per the posted exam schedule.
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