PERFA 135: Bay Area Theatre
Spring 2012
Course Description:
Bay Area Theatre offers students an in-depth study of how plays convey meaning in performance. Student study the elements of performance (acting, directing, set/lights/costume) as well as the context of performance (theatre theory, economic components, social and political elements, physical theatre types, genres of plays, audience and marketing, etc.) to better understand what makes an individual production “work.” Students attend 10 live performances in various venues, from top professional companies like ACT and Berkeley Rep or touring professional productions to community theatre (Town Hall in Lafayette) and our own SMC spring production.
This course focuses heavily on a critical thinking approach to the experience of seeing theatre. Students will become deeply familiar with the essential elements of form in good theatre productions while seeing them employed in different ways by different theatre organizations.
Course Learning Outcomes:
After completing this course, students will be able to:
1) Identify the essential components of a live theatre production;
2) Employ appropriate technical and theoretical terms to analyze live theatre productions;
3) Discuss similarities and differences in production techniques and values by comparing different theatre-viewing experiences during the course;
4) Offer verbally and in writing a coherent and comprehensive analysis of how specific theatre elements (acting, directing, lighting, stage design, etc.) contribute to the overall artistic and thematic impact of a live theatre production;
5) Explore the historical and cultural contexts in which a particular production is situated;
6) Build a personal, life-long approach for understanding and appreciating live theatre over time.
Core Curriculum Learning Outcome: Artistic Analysis
1. (Artistic Analysis) Analyze and interpret the form and meaning of works of art by applying discipline-based critical vocabulary and theory to explore the work's significance within appropriate contexts (e.g., historical, cultural, aesthetic)
Course Requirements:
Daily attendance in class and active participation in discussions
Attendance at all out-of-class theatre events identified in the calendar below
A minimum of twenty pages of writing on productions attended
Midterm and final exam
Grading:
Midterm20%
Final exam20%
Attendance and participation:20%
Written production analyses: 40%
Course texts:
Cohen, Theatre: Brief Version, 8th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2008
Handouts or postings to E-Res
Course Calendar: (posted on Moodle)
February 13 - February 19
Mon. (2/13) "Performance" theory [E-res article--all three files]
Weds. (2/15) "Myth and story-telling" as a basis for theatre [Th: 187-197]
Fri. (2/17) "What to look for" at this weekend's show [Th: 307-317]
Sat. (2/18) “Body Awareness” 8 p.m. Aurora Theatre (Berkeley)
**possible meeting with actor after the show(90 mins.)
February 20 - February 26
M (2/20) Discuss “BA” [Notes #1 due]
W (2/22) [Th: Designers and Technicians, pp. 133-161]
F (2/24) [Th: Designers and Technicians, pp. 161-185]
**Meet in LeFevre Theatre at 11:30
[Paper due if you are writing on this play]
Sat. (2/25) “Little Brother” 8 p.m. Custom-Made Theatre (SF)
February 27 - March 4
M (2/27) Discuss “LB” [Notes #2 due]
W (2/29) [Th: The Actor, pp. 75-95]
F (3/2) “Bingo” handout
[Paper due if you are writing on "LB"]
Sat. (3/3) “Scorched” 8 p.m. American Conservator Theatre (SF)
**possible meeting with actor after the show
March 5 - March 11
M (3/5) Discuss “Scorched” [Notes #3 due]
W (3/7) No class
F (3/9) No class
[Paper due if you are writing on "Scorched"]
Sun. (3/11) at 2 p.m. {Optional} “Distracted” Town Hall Theatre (Lafayette)
March 12 - March 18
M (3/12) [Th: The Director, pp. 97-131]
W (3/14) Lecture on Stoppard and Russian Revolutionaries
F (3/16) Review for midterm [3/21]
Sat. (3/17) “Utopia” 8 p.m. Ashby Theatre (Berkeley)
- Stoppard--Utopia Keynote (Apple) version file
- Stoppard--Utopia PowerPoint version Powerpoint presentation
Midterm study questions Forum
March 19 - March 25
M (3/19) Discuss “Utopia” [Notes due]
W (3/21) MIDTERM!
F (3/23) Lecture on abstract art
[Paper due if you are writing on "Utopia"]
Sun. (3/25) at 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. [Your choice]
"Red" at Berkeley Rep
March 26 - April 1
M (3/26) Discuss “Red” [Notes due]
W (3/28) [Th: 199-206]
F (3/30) Meet in LeFevre Theatre
[Paper due if you are writing on "Red"]
April 2 - April 8
EASTER VACATION--No classes this week
April 9 - April 15
MON. (4/9) No class [Easter Break]
WEDS. (4/11) CLASS Resumes
Othello (bring play to class, be prepared to discuss)
F (4/13) More discussion of O; view scenes
Sat. (4/14) at 8 p.m. "Othello" at Marin Theatre Company
April 16 - April 22
M (3/19) Discuss “Othello” [Notes due]
W (3/21) The Imaginary Invalid due (bring script to class)
F (3/23) Moliere's theatre
[Paper due if you are writing on "Othello"]
Weds. through Sat. (4/18-21) at 8 p.m. and Sun. (4/22) at 2 p.m. in LeFevre TheatreSMC Production of The Imaginary Invalid
- Moliere and Commedia--Keynote version file
Moliere and Commedia--Powerpoint version Powerpoint presentation
April 23 - April 29
M (4/23) Discuss “Imaginary Invalid” [Notes due]
W (4/25) Discuss “Imaginary Invalid” with Director Reid Davis
F (4/27) [Th: 243-259]
[Paper due if you are writing on "Imaginary Invalid"]
Thurs. (4/26) at 8 p.m. OR Sun. (4/29) at 2:15 p.m.
"Spring Awakening" at Walnut Creek Rep
April 30 - May 6
M (4/30) Discuss “Spring Awakening” [Notes due]
W (5/2) [Th: 217-241]
F (5/4) Discussion of "the economics of theatre"
[Guest lecture by Liam Callister]
[Paper due if you are writing on "Spring Awakening"]
- Modern Theatre--Keynote version file
Modern Theatre--PowerPoint version Powerpoint presentation
May 7 - May 13
M (5/7) [Th: 261-305]
W (5/9) Lecture on Beckett
Weds. (5/9) at 8 p.m. "Endgame" & "Play" at ACT
F (5/11) Review for final exam
- Theatre Today--Keynote version file
Theatre today--Powerpoint version Powerpoint presentation
May 14 - May 20
FINAL EXAM: WEDS. 11:30-1:30