Rider University
History of American Theatre
Syllabus
Course Number: THE-306-TA
Semester: Spring 2011
Course Schedule: Alt. Tues. 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Ken Kaissar
Location: Fine Arts Room 261
Office hours: By appointment
E-mail: kkaissar@rider.edu
Course Objective:
To develop an understanding of the development of American Theatre from the
Revolutionary War to the present day. We will explore the various functions that
theatre played in society as well as the variety of forms it took over the last 250 years.
We will examine why certain theatrical forms were popular during different periods
throughout this history, using theatre as a way of understanding the evolution of
American society.
Texts:
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J. Ellen Gainor, Stanton B. Garner. Norton Anthology of Drama, Vol 2: 19th Century to
the Present. 2009 W.W. Norton & Company Inc.
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Lorraine Hansberry. A Raisin in the Sun. Vintage.
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Tracy Letts. August: Osage County. TCG
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Trav S.D. No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book that Made Vaudeville Famous.
Faber and Faber Inc. 2005
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Thorton Wilder. Our Town. Samuel French Inc.
Reading Requirements:
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Selections from Dunlap, William. A History of American Theatre From It’s Origins to
1832, University of Illinois Press 2005
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S.D. Trav. No Applause Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous.
Faber and Faber Inc. 2005
Plays:
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The Contrast, Royall Tyler
Long Days Journey Into Night, Eugene O’Neill
Our Town, Thorton Wilder
Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams
Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller
A Raisin in the Sun, Loraine Hansberry
Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet
Fences by August Wilson
August: Osage County by Tracy Letts
Course Requirements:
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To attend class and participate in discussions. Your attendance grade will be lowered for
each class that you miss. I will evaluate your participation based on your willingness to
share your opinions about the plays we read. Theatre is a dialogue between the
performers and the audience and as such, I expect that you will share your reactions to
each play in class just as you would by laughing, applauding or booing at any theatre
performance that you attend. Your opinions are more important to this class than your
presentation of accurate information. Present your opinions boldly.
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To complete all reading assignments, and take a 10-question quiz about each play. The
questions are designed to make sure you read the plays. They will cover plot points and
obvious details. No trick questions. If you read the play carefully, you will achieve a
high score.
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To write one five-page paper. Topics will be suggested. You can also suggest your own
topic and submit to instructor for approval.
Grading:
33%
33%
33%
attendance and participation
play quiz score
five-page paper
Course Schedule
Day
Date
Agenda
Assignment
Tues. 1/25
Colonial America
Revolutionary War
Attitudes Toward Theatre
Religion and Theatre
Morality Plays
The Contrast Discussion
Melodrama
Slavery and Race
Octoroon
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Minstrelsy
Read Selections from Dunlap
Read No Applause, pp. 1 - 158
Tues. 2/8
Dunlap Discussion
Read Long Day’s
Theatre Marketing
Read Our Town
P.T. Barnum
Circus Era
Saloon Performers
Railroads and Industrial Revolution
Vaudeville
Vaudeville Video
Flo Ziegfeld
Revues and Follies
The Book Musical
Burlesque
Talkies
Showboat
Tues
2/22
Long Day’s Quiz
Long Day’s Discussion
Eugene O’Neill
Our Town Quiz
Our Town Discussion
Thorton Wilder
Read Streetcar
Tues
3/8
Streetcar Quiz
Streetcar Discussion
Tennessee Williams
Read Salesman
Salesman Quiz
Salesman Discussion
Arthur Miller
Read Raisin
Read Glengarry
Tues. 3/22
Tues
4/5
Paper Topics Due****
Raisin Quiz
Raisin Discussion
Lorraine Hansberry
Glengarry Quiz
Glengarry Discussion
David Mamet
Tues. 4/12
Read Fences
Read August: Osage County
Fences Quiz
Fences Discussion
August Wilson
Tues. 4/26
August Quiz
August Discussion
Tracy Letts
Closing Thoughts
Tues. 5/3
Paper Due
Paper, Paper, Paper
Possible Paper Topics
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Pick any American play that is not included on this syllabus and analyze its influences.
Where did it come from? Why was it popular? Reference the styles and discussions
covered in class to explain how your play came to be.
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Research an American Theatre Event or figure that we didn’t cover in class. Present a
discussion of their accomplishments or historical significance. Explain why the person or
event was successful or important at that particular moment in theatre history.
Possible Topics:
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Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Astor Place Riots
Chicago World’s Fair
The Cradle Will Rock and the Federal Theatre Project
Gypsy Rose Lee
David Merrick
Joseph Papp
Charles Ludlam
Richard Foreman
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Attend a play. Give a brief description of the play, including style, themes, and devices
used. Analyze where the play fits in the history of American Theatre. What works might
have influenced that playwright. Reference class discussions and information presented
throughout the course. You must receive approval from me about the play that you plan
to attend. I reserve the right to veto any selections that will not make for a worthwhile
paper.
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Suggest your own topic. You must present it to me for approval. Topics that did not
receive prior approval will not be accepted.