Play Review Assignment
You are required to view two live theatrical performances during the current semester. This
assignment is a large portion of your grade because just as a play is better understood if read aloud,
theater is better understood if viewed from multiple perspectives (performer, technician, designer,
audience member). This is a chance for you to think critically about what we have learned in class,
and reflect on how you have seen it used in live theater.
The questions below will help you compose your thoughts into a formal review of each performance.
Use examples from the performance or from class to support your explanation of the following
questions.
Reviews should be turned in on Schoology one week prior to the end of the semester, but within two
weeks of viewing the production. In other words, you may turn either or both reviews in as soon as you
see the productions without waiting for the end of the semester.
WRITING REQUIREMENTS: MLA Format (see backside) & Rubric
WARNING: This review will not receive credit if the ticket stub OR program is not turned in as proof
of attendance. I also accept Parent Signature if program/ticket stub is not available
LEVELS I -5
1. Who? (Who was the playwright?)
What? (What was the name of the play?)
Where? (Where was the play/musical produced/performed?)
When? (When was the date and time of the performance you saw?)
2. Summarize the plot in one concise paragraph.
3. What significance did the level of acting have in the telling of this story?
4. What implications did the technical components (scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, props,
management, and special effects) have on the overall effectiveness of telling the story?
5. What significance did this production have on your understanding of class goals and objectives?
LEVELS 2 + ONLY
6. What implications did this production have on your own current practices regarding theatre?
Reflect on how this experience can improve your craft.
7. What was the moral of the story? Did the audience like it? Did it give you something to think about
after it was over? (What was your final pondering thought?)
Play Review Assignment
MLA General Guidelines
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Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). The
font size should be 12 pt.
Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a
space with a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3,
4, etc.).
Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends
that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.
Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks
Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of works,
i.e.; We viewed a production of, The Phantom of the Opera, at the Ellie Calkins
Opera House.
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In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor's name, the
course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.
Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in
quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital
letters. i.e. Play Review (rather than PLAY REVIEW)
Double space between the title and the first line of the text.
See example: