Introduction to Theatre
THTR 1009, Fall 2009
Hellems 252
Office Hours: Tuesdays: 10:45-12:15 & by appt.
Janine Ann Kehlenbach
T/R 12:30-1:45
janine.kehlenbach@colorado.edu
Office: THTR 336
FINAL EXAM: DECEMBER 2009, date and time TBA
Course Objective:
Through classroom lectures, group discussion, textbook/play readings, theatre attendance and
videos we will examine the following:
THEATRE AS: History, Practice, Litature, Controversy, Entertainment
BIG QUESTION: How can I become a more informed and critical theater participant?
a. What is my job as a spectator and audience member?
b. What is theatre and how does it work? (play writing, acting, directing, designing)
c. How did theatre begin and how has it changed over time?
d. How do I approach a play when I read or see one?
Required Textbooks:
The Theatre Experience, by Edwin Wilson (11th edition)
List of Required Plays
August: Osage County by Tracy Letts
Antigone by Sophocles
Othello by William Shakespeare
Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello
Blood Wedding by Federico García Lorca
The Post Office by RabindranthTagore (not in Book Store – will be on CU Connect or
online at www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/rt/po.htm)
Top Dog/Underdog by Suzan Lori Parks
Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz
Grades:
University of Colorado Grading Scale:
A = 95-100
A- = 90 - 94
B+ = 87-89
B = 83 - 86
B- = 80-82
C+ = 77-79
C = 73-76
C- = 70-72
D+ = 67 -69
D = 63 - 66
D- = 60-62
F = 0 - 59
A - exceeded expectations, B - completed assignment well, C - completed assignment, D - did
not complete assignment
Classroom/Theatre Attendance Policies:
Office hours: discuss material, assignments and grades
Theatre/Class attendance:
 Remember that, like a theatre audience, it is inappropriate to text, sleep, distract
others, talk, or check email while in class. You will be asked to put your phone
away if you are using it during class; after one time, you will be asked to leave the
room.
 Do not exit and enter the classroom to take or make a phone call.
 If you are using a computer to take notes, you are required to sit in the first 3 rows
of the lecture hall.
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If you are seriously ill and need to miss a class, you must bring a note from the
doctor and we will discuss the possibilities for make-up work.
There are no make-up quizzes. If you miss a quiz, you will not be able to make it
up. Typically, there are no make up exams.
Papers are due in HARD COPY (no electronic copies allowed) at the
BEGINNING of the class on the due date listed in the calendar.
If a paper is late: you will lose 5 points if it is handed after the class on the day
that it is due; you will lose 10 points if it is a day late and 20 points if it is two
days late. After two days, under no circumstances, will papers be accepted.
I do not post class lecture notes on the internet.
You should also bring the textbook with the day's reading as I will certainly refer
to it in my lecture.
Finally, I will expect you to engage with me in a thoughtful discussion of the
readings or points raised in lecture.
Shows: http://www.colorado.edu/Theatre/Dance Pick up your tickets with an I. D. for
the shows at the Theatre Box Office in the basement of the University Theatre building.
The cost of these tickets is included in your course fee. Box Office hours and
information: http://www.colorado.edu/TheatreDance/productions/boxOffice.html
SHOWS ARE MANDATORY – NO EXCEPTIONS – ALL 3
Performances usually run: Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The two Main Stage
plays run two weekends and usually add two extra shows: Wed. pm, Sun. Matinee
The Blind
The Visit
The Philistines
September 17-20 - LOFT
October 1-3, 7-11 – UNIVERSITY THEATRE
November 5-7, 11-15 – UNIVERSITY THEATRE
**Tickets will go on sale on August 31, 2009. The box office is located in the basement of the
Theatre and Dance building.
**LOFTS TICKETS SELL OUT FAST. If you do not see the required Loft show, you will lose
those points.
**There are three extra credit opportunities:
a. Workshop productions - see one and write a paper; Dates and Times TBA
15 pts
b. A Dance performance – write a brief commentary
10 pts
c. Halloween Dreams – Runs Fridays and Saturdays (at 7:30) and Sundays at 2:00 pm
during entire the month of October at Vintage Theatre in Denver. The website is
www.vintagetheatre.com. The address is 2119 E. 17th Ave., Denver, CO 80206; (303)
839-1361 OR Why We Have a Body – Runs in October at the Dairy Center in Boulder.
The website is www.squareproducttheatre.org. Remember that you must present a ticket
stub and program for an outside performance.
20 pts
**I highly encourage to expand your theatre experience by taking in dance performances and
outside theatre performances.
Assignments:
10 Unannounced quizzes
3 Papers written on required productions
3 Non cumulative Exams
Final Exam - Cumulative
10 points each/ 100 pts
75 points/analysis/225 pts
80 points each/240 pts
150 points
Total points
Point Tracking Sheet:
Quiz 1 _________
Quiz 3 __________
Quiz 5 __________
Quiz 7 __________
Quiz 9 __________
715 points
Quiz 2_________
Quiz 4 _________
Quiz 6 _________
Quiz 8 _________
Quiz 10 _________
Exam 1__________
Exam 2 __________
Exam 3 __________
Paper 1 _________
Paper 2 _________
Paper 3 _________
Final Exam ___________
Paper Requirements
 The papers are due Monday following the closing weekend of the Main
Stage/Loft plays in the Department.
 A TICKET STUB STAPLED TO YOUR PAPER is required if you want the
points.
 2 pages, MLA standard, 12 FONT, TIMES NEW ROMAN, DOUBLE SPACE
 There will be specific guidelines for each paper
 Headings on Paper:
o Top Left Corner (single space)
Name
Professor’s Name/Course Title
 Give your paper a name and center it. Please remember that the name of your paper
is NOT the title of the play
Exams and quizzes will cover all reading material and material covered in class. In-class exams
will be taken on Scantron sheets, i.e. ones where you use a #2 pencil to color in the correct
"bubble." I will provide the Scantron sheets but it is your responsibility to bring a sufficient
number of sharp #2 pencils with erasers. I may also ask fill-in-the-blank and one sentence ID
questions; in such a case, I will provide a separate sheet of paper.
If you have a Learning Disability
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from
Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Services
determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard
322, and www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices
Absences Due to Religious Observance
Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that student notify their instructor in
advance of potential absences due to religious observance. Students are also required to make up
any work missed. Faculty are required to make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all
students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments
or required attendance. See full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html
Classroom Behavior
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning
environment. Students who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to
discipline. Faculty have the professional responsibility to treat all students with understanding,
dignity and respect, to guide classroom discussion and to set reasonable limits on the manner in
which they and their students express opinions. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are
especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race,
culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender variance, and nationalities. See polices at
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at
http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code
Honor Code
“On my honor, as a University of Colorado at Boulder student, I have
neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this work.”
All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering
to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include:
cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening
behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council
(honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic
integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and nonacademic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion).
Other information on the Honor Code can be found at
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at
http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/
Sexual Harassment:
The University of Colorado Policy on Sexual Harassment applies to all students, staff and
faculty. Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual attention. It can involve intimidation, threats,
coercion, or promises or create an environment that is hostile or offensive. Harassment may
occur between members of the same or opposite gender and between any combination of
members in the campus community: students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Harassment can
occur anywhere on campus, including the classroom, the workplace, or a residence hall. Any
student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been sexually harassed should contact the
Office of Sexual Harassment (OSH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-
492-5550. Information about the OSH and the campus resources available to assist individuals
who believe they have been sexually harassed can be obtained at:
http://www.colorado.edu/sexualharassment/
I will keep exams / papers / projects which have not been picked up for 45 days from the end of
this semester.
Controversial Subject Matter: We will be reading/seeing/discussing plays that deal with
controversial subjects (e.g. pedophilia and pornography) and occasionally employ offensive
language. If you are not prepared to engage such material, you should not take this class.
Dates and Assignments: You are responsible for reading the plays and chapters assigned.
They are due on the date that they appear below.
Week 1: August 24-28 – UNIT 1
T: Introduction; Syllabus; What’s Theatre? My job as theatre spectator – part 1
R: What’s in a play?
Due: Experience- CH 9, pg. 167-174 – up until “Essentials of Dramatic Structure”
Week 2: August 31- September 4
T: Dramatic Structure; What are we writing today?
Due: Experience –CH 9, pg. 174-185
R: Due: Acts 1 and 2 August: Osage County
Week 3: September 7-11 - UNIT 2
T: Due: Finish August: Osage County, Experience CH 10, pg 187-190
R: Due: Experience CH 5 – Stage Spaces and how will they effect my experience?
Week 4: September 14-18
*** The Blind - September 17-September 20 in the Loft Theatre -REQUIRED SHOW
T: Due: Experience CH 3 – My job as spectator – part 2
R: Due: Antigone
Week 5: September 21-25
T: Due: Paper # 1 - on The Blind; Experience CH 10, pg 187-190
R: EXAM #1 over Units 1 & 2
Week 6: September 28-October 2 – UNIT 3
*** The Visit –opens this week - October 1-3 – REQUIRED SHOW
T: Due: Experience CHAPTERS 12 and 13 – Tragedy, Comedy and Tragicomedy
R: Due: Othello – Acts 1 and II
Week 7: October 5-9- UNITS 3 & 4
***The Visit – closes this week – October 7-11 – REQUIRED SHOW
T: Due: Finish Othello (Acts 3, 4, 5)
R: Due: Experience CH 14 – Design: Scenery
Week 8: October 12-16
T: Due: Paper #2 – on The Visit; CH 15 – Design: Costumes
R: Due: Experience CH 16 – Design: Lighting and Sound
Week 9: October 19-23
T: Due: Six Characters in Search of an Author
R: EXAM #2, Units 3 & 4
Week10: October 26-30 – Unit 5
T: Due: Experience CHAPTERS 6 & 7 (CH 6 - all, CH 7 – required: 114-122, but entire chapter
recommended) – ACTING!!!
R: Due: Experience CH 11 – Characters in the plays we read and see; What is a stock character?
Week 11: November 2-6
***The Philistines – opens this week –November 5-7 REQUIRED SHOW
T: Due: Experience CH 10, pg 197-103 – Dramatic forms
R: Due: Blood Wedding
Week 12: November 9-13 – UNIT 6
**The Philistines – closes this week – November 11-15 – REQUIRED SHOW
T: Due: Experience CH 17 – What happens at the global level?
R: Due: The Post Office
Week 13: November 16-20
T: Due: Paper #3 on The Philistines
R: EXAM # 3 - Units 5 & 6
Week 14: November 30- December 4 – UNIT 7
T: Due: Experience CH 18 – The Musical!
R: Due: Experience CH 19 – What’s going on here and now?
Week 15: December 7-11
T: Due: Top Dog/Underdog
R: Due: Anna in the Tropics
Week 16 – FINAL EXAMS WEEK
Final Exam: Cumulative
SYLLABUS CONTRACT
A syllabus is a form of contract between the instructor and the student. It establishes enforceable
expectations for both parties.
It is important that I know that you have read this contract and that you agree to abide by its
terms.
For that purpose (and to assist me in maintaining the class register) I ask that you sign the
statement below and return it to me.
If you do not return the signed syllabus contract, I will assume that you have not been attending
class and may drop you from the class.
Name: ____________________________________________________
Date:______________________________________________________
Instructor: Janine Ann Kehlenbach