HONR 238A:
Backstage in the Nation's Capital: The Washington D.C. Theater Experience
Tuesdays, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM, Woods Hall 1127
OR
Wednesday Evenings, Starting as early as 6:00 PM, Local Theatres
In order to take this class you must be available at both these times
INSTRUCTOR:
EMAIL:
PHONE:
OFFICE:
OFFICE HOURS:
ONLINE:
Dr. Korey Rothman, Department of Theatre
krothman@umd.edu
301-452-1749 (for emergencies only)
2824 Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
Wednesday 5:00 – 5:45 PM and by appointment
www.elms.umd
NAME, PHONE NUMBER, AND EMAIL OF ANOTHER PERSON IN THE CLASS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Everyone knows that Washington, D.C. is the seat of our nation’s government,
but many are surprised to learn the nation's capital is also one of the country's cultural capitals. With more than
fifty professional theatre companies performing rich and varied repertoires, Washington and the surrounding
area comprise the second largest theatre market in the United States. Additionally, the area abounds with
successful theatre professionals--from world-renowned actors, designers, and playwrights to the people who
guide a theatre's artistic vision, to the advocates and policy makers who shape arts funding in the country. This
vibrant and thriving community makes the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area an ideal laboratory for students
to learn about theatre—how it is made, its relevance to contemporary audiences, and its position in the culture of
DC and America.
In this course, students will attend several live performances and events in a variety of area theatres. The class
will also meet with the theatre professionals involved in the productions they see and in the decision making
process for local theatres. Although the focus of the course is on DC theatre broadly, students will closely study
two local theatres through two lenses. Roundhouse Theatre Company (http://www.roundhousetheatre.org), one
of the area's largest and most respected theatres, will allow students access to the production process. And a
close analysis of Arena Stage (www.arenastage.org), one of the nation’s first regional theatres, will allow
students to explore the “decision making process” and consider how theatre tries to respond to the needs of DC
and national culture. The semester will culminate in a class trip to New York to attend a Broadway show.
REQUIRED READINGS: Because this class deals with current issues in DC theatre, it is difficult to
anticipate a set of readings in advance. Thus, readings will be assigned weekly and posted to the course
blackboard site. (The total reading will not exceed fifteen pages per week.) In addition to assigned readings,
you will read every article related to theatre in The Washington Post’s Wednesday and Sunday editions.
Articles should be read by class time on the following Tuesday or Wednesday. You can access the post online
at http://www.washingtonpost.com/. Some articles may require you to complete a free sign up.
REQUIRED LOCAL PLAY ATTENDANCE:
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Roundhouse Theatre
Circle Mirror Transformation Studio Theatre
King Arthur
Synetic Theatre
Ameriville
Roundhouse Theatre
Oklahoma!
Arena Stage
roundhousetheatre.org
studiotheatre.org
synetictheater.org
roundhousetheatre.org
arenastage.org
1
REQUIRED TRIP TO NEW YORK: On December 4 we will take an all-day trip to New York to see a
Broadway production. We will choose the show as a class. More details on this trip will be provided later in the
semester.
RECOMMENDED WEB PAGES WITH GOOD COVERAGE OF DC THEATRE:
DC Theatre Scene
http://dctheatrescene.com/
Showbiz Radio
http://www.showbizradio.net/
Culture Capital
http://culturecapital.com/
Ticketplace
http://www.cultural-alliance.org/tickets/today.html
The Helen Hayes Awards
http://www.helenhayes.org/
Playbill
http://playbill.com/
Broadway World (regional)
http://dc.broadwayworld.com/regionalindex.php
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT SOME OF THE REQUIRED PLAYS AND READING MAY CONTAIN
MATURE CONTENT, EXPLICIT LANGUAGE, DIFFICULT THEMES, AND NUDITY. THEY MAY
BE OFFENSIVE TO SOME.
COST: In lieu of paying for textbooks (there are none required) you are required to submit a check for $100
made out to “University of Maryland, College Park” no later than September 14. This is to cover the costs of all
theatre tickets, including the tickets and transportation to the Broadway production. Obviously $100 does not
cover the total ticket cost in the course; Honors has generously agreed to match funds to supplement the total
cost of the tickets.
Travel to the Theatre: All assigned plays and field trips are metro accessible. We will travel as a
class from campus to the location. You are responsible for your own travel expense.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance: As this is a seminar style class with multiple theatre viewings, fieldtrips and guest speakers,
regular attendance is crucial. Thus, attendance is mandatory for all classes and theatre performances. If
you miss an evening in the theatre or a field trip due to an excused absence (religious holidays, death in the
family, or medical emergencies for which a note from a physician indicating that you were unable to attend class
must be submitted) your participation grade will not be penalized. However, you are required to make up
anything you miss on your own time and at your own expense and coordination.
Weekly Schedule: Each week we will meet EITHER on Tuesday from 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM (in the
classroom or in a location in DC or MD) OR on a Wednesday evening in a local theatre. You will
know in advance which weeks we will meet in the classroom and which weeks we will meet in the
theatre – and you must plan accordingly. Additionally, we will meet one Saturday for the class trip to
New York.
Because of the nature of this course the calendar is very tentative. Please be flexible.
Participation: You should come to all class prepared to offer thoughtful and respectful comments about the
material. You should also engage in thoughtful discussions with the guest speakers. And you must
demonstrate superior etiquette with our guest speakers and in the theaters. Poor etiquette WILL NOT be
tolerated. If you are use a cell phone (for any reason), eat in the theatre, talk at inappropriate times, or
otherwise disrupt a performance or guest speaker, you will be asked to leave the class or theatre, and you will
receive zero participation points for that day’s class.
Quizzes: Throughout the semester there will be five pop quizzes. Quizzes may cover assigned readings
(including the weekly Washington Post articles), plays, class lectures, guest lectures, and discussions. At times,
in-class quizzes may be replaced with short out-of-class writing assignments. The lowest quiz grade will be
dropped. Quizzes cannot be made up, except in the case of an excused absence (see above). If you miss a quiz
because of an unexcused absence, you may count it as your dropped quiz. Note that a quiz can occur on a
Tuesday or a Wednesday.
2
Online Discussion: You will be required to join an online discussion forum for the class. Each week you are
required to post an approximately 50-word response to a question or idea posed online. In addition to posting,
you are required to comment at least twice on your classmates’ posts. You should post and comment no later
than midnight on Mondays. Your posts can include images and links. These posts are meant to encourage an
ongoing discussion – even when we do not have the opportunity to meet in the classroom. Therefore, spirited
discussion and, even, disagreement is encourage; disrespectful communication is forbidden. Posts and
responses will be graded on the quality of thought, analysis, and synthesis of ideas presented as class, as well as
the clarity of their content – meaning, that although their tone can be familiar and posts can (and should) be
written in first person, all posts and responses must be clearly written and proofread. These posts and responses
will be graded three random times during the semester.
Arena Stage Analysis Paper: You will write a three-page research paper and critical analysis on Arena Stage
and the role it plays in DC and American theatre. A detailed description of this assignment will be available on
Blackboard. Due November 23.
Final Project: You will work in a group of four students create a proposal for a new DC theatre company and
“pitch” the company to the class. This assignment will include a preliminary class presentation and annotated
bibliography, an oral presentation, a research component, and a three-page process paper. A detailed description
of this assignment will be available on Blackboard. Preliminary material due November 9. Final Project due
Dec 16.
EXTRA CREDIT: There are a myriad of extra credit opportunities in the class, and you can earn a maximum
of thirty extra credit points through any combination of the options listed below. Extra credit will be added to
the total cumulative grade. You can turn in the extra credit any time in the semester, but all extra credit is due
by December 7.
 Attending Local Theatre: You can earn up to fifteen points by attending a production at any
professional local theatre we are not visiting as a class and writing a two page analysis of the goals of
the theatre and the ways the theatre fits into the culture of DC. Any theatre listed on this web page
would be acceptable http://www.lowt.org/. Check the theatre’s web page for details on location, shows,
and costs. Most theatres have student tickets. Submit your ticket stub with your paper.
 Attending an Open House: Several theatres have open houses to introduce their fall seasons, and you
can earn up to fifteen points by attending an open house we are not visiting as a class and writing a two
page analysis of the theatre's goals and methods of attracting audiences. Two suggested open houses are
the Kennedy Center Open House on September 11 (http://www.kennedycenter.org/programs/festivals/10-11/openhouse/) and the Fall Arts Preview at the Shakespeare Theatre’s
Sidney Harman Hall on September 11
(http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/plays/details.aspx?id=274&source=l). Both events are free.
Submit the event program with your paper.
 Attending a Tour: You can earn up to fifteen points by attending the free tour about the history of DC
theatre and writing a two-page analysis of what you learned about the topic. Two suggested tours are
“Ah Wilderness! The Theatre History of Washington” on the weekend of September 25
(http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/things-do-see/walkingtown-dc.) and a tour of Ford’s Theatre
(http://www.fordstheatre.org/). Both tours are free.
 Interviewing a Theatre Professional: You can earn up to fifteen points by contacting a theatre
professional who we are not meeting as a class and conducting an interview with him or her regarding
the role he or she sees the theatre playing the DC community. You can summarize the findings of your
interview in a two-page analysis.
 Discretionary: Extra credit points may also be distributed at my discretion for extraordinary
contributions to class.
 Other: I am open to other extra credit options; please see me if you have an idea not listed in the
syllabus.
3
GRADING: Your grade, based on a 500-point scale, will be determined as follows:
Participation
Quizzes
Online Discussion
Arena Theatre Anal.
Final Project
50 pts.
80 pts. (20 each)
120 pts. (30 each)
100 pts.
150 pts
500-450=A
449-400=B
399=350=C
349-300=D
299 and lower =F
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
Format and Editing: All assignments turned in to me must be typewritten in 12 point Times New Roman font,
double-spaced with 1-inch margins. All assignment, including online posts, should be carefully proofread and
free of errors. Please consult the “Guide to Common Writing Errors” available on Blackboard. (There is no
excuse for making any of the mistakes listed on this sheet.) In both the assignments you turn into me and the
online posts you will be graded on both the content of your ideas and the clarity and accuracy of your writing, so
I strongly suggest you visit the Writing Center on campus (http://www.english.umd.edu/writingcenter) before
turning in your papers.
Citations: All information used in your papers must be fully and accurately cited. Failure to cite your sources
correctly may result in disciplinary action by the university. You may use any formal citation method you
prefer, as long as your citations are correct and consistent. For suggested reference manuals you may refer to A
Writer's Reference by Diana Hacker, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers by Joseph Gibaldi (these
both use MLA style), A Manual for Writers by Kate Turabian or The Chicago Manual of Style (these both use
Chicago style). If you have concerns about your understanding of proper citations, please see me or visit the
Writing Center.
Late Papers: All written work must be submitted at the beginning of class. For every hour that a paper is late, I
will deduct 5% of the grade. Unless you make other arrangements, papers are due to me in hard copy only. If
you turn a paper in to my mailbox in 2810 Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, please have office personnel
time/date stamp it. Otherwise, I will consider the time I pick it up the time you turned it in.
Academic Integrity: The University has a Code of Academic Integrity, available on the web at
www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInto/Departments/jpo/code_acinteg.html. The code prohibits cheating on exams,
plagiarizing papers or portions of papers, submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without
authorization, buying papers, submitting fraudulent documents, forging signatures, and using unauthorized study
aids. This class abides by this code.
Challenges: If you wish to challenge a grade, you must present the graded assignment and one paragraph explaining
why the grade should be changed (including any supporting evidence) to me no later than one week after the grade is
received. After one week, appeals will not be considered.
A NOTE ABOUT EMAIL: Email correspondence with an instructor is a form of professional communication.
Any emails to me should include an appropriate salutation, closer, and your name. You should write in
complete sentences and use capital letters and punctuation. Chat abbreviations are not appropriate. Emails that
do not follow these guidelines will not receive a response. Also, please note that I often do not check email on
the weekends, and plan your correspondence accordingly.
Please consult Blackboard for a handout on University and Honors College policies on Academic
Accommodations, Religious Observances, Academic integrity, and CourseEvalUM.
4