Anton Dudley

The work of this course involves the realization in the theater of the efforts of an important playwright, as expressed in the text for a particular play. Problems in textual analysis, historical research and the creation of a production lead, by way of independent and cooperative activity involving acting, design and special problems, to public performance before an audience. Note: Students who, in the judgment of the instructional and directorial staff, have made significant creative contributions to the effectiveness of the production will have an audit indicated on their academic record.

This course examines how theater differs from other arts and how various theatrical artists bring a play to life. Through a series of creative assignments, we explore what a play is and how it's structured. Assignments consist of a series of playwriting projects and one acting project, which students perform while collaborating with their classmates. Students read at least five plays and a series of essays about the theory and practice of he theater. Each student writes, directs and presents a final short play and takes a final exam. Any student with an interest in the theater will find this a challenging course, regardless of previous experience. Because this course is an introduction to the vocabulary of the theater, it is a prerequisite to most other courses in the department. This counts toward the drama and film majors. No prerequisite. Offered every year.

This course surveys the history of Western dramatic literature from 1700 through the 1980s. The emphasis is on critical reading for a theatrical understanding of these seminal texts. This course consists of lecture, discussion sessions and critical-writing assignments. This course is required for the major. Prerequisite: DRAM 111.

Students study the evolution of lyric writing for the American Musical Theatre from "Show Boat" to contemporary Broadway shows. Students analyze song lyrics as literature, with emphasis on song form and style, as well as rhyme, meter and scansion, and develop their own lyrics for original musical theatre songs. Students study mythic structure and place their original lyrics within outlines for original full-length musicals, culminating in the completion of a musical theatre song cycle. This counts toward the elements of theater art requirement for the major. Prerequisite: DRAM 111 or ENGL 200, 201, 205, 218 or MUSC 102, 122, 124 or 322. Offered every other year.

This course examines the work of the director, starting with the visual aspects of storytelling and moving into the analysis of plays and how to make them legible on stage. Work includes directed scenes, exercises, written assignments, readings, discussion and lectures. This counts toward the elements of theater art requirement for the major. Prerequisite: DRAM 111. Generally offered every year.

This course focuses on the collaboration between directors and actors in the creation of live theater from dramatic texts. Students enroll in the course as either a director (DRAM 362A) or an actor (DRAM 362B), collaborating on scenes and excerpts from a broad range of texts including both realist and non-realist plays, verse plays and new works. We emphasize the role of collaboration and the creation of shared vocabularies and rehearsal processes, and consider other key relationships such as those with designers and playwrights. Work includes rehearsed projects, written assignments and reading. This counts toward the elements requirement for the major and an elective for the film major. Prerequisite: DRAM 261. Generally offered every other year.

This course focuses on the collaboration between directors and actors in the creation of live theater from dramatic texts. Students enroll in the course as either a director (DRAM 362A) or an actor (DRAM 362B), collaborating on scenes and excerpts from a broad range of texts including both realist and non-realist plays, verse plays and new works. We emphasize the role of collaboration and the creation of shared vocabularies and rehearsal processes, and consider other key relationships such as those with designers and playwrights. Work includes rehearsed projects, written assignments and reading. This counts toward the elements of theatre art requirement for the major and an elective for the film major. Prerequisite: DRAM 111. Generally offered every other year.

Individual study in drama is reserved for students exploring a topic not regularly offered in the department's curriculum. Typically, the course carries 0.5 unit of credit. To enroll in an individual study, a student must identify a member of the department willing to direct the project and, in consultation with him or her, write a proposal. The department chair must approve the proposal. The one- to two-page proposal should include a preliminary bibliography and/or set of specific problems, goals and tasks for the course; outline a schedule of reading and/or writing assignments or creative undertakings, and describe the methods of assessment (e.g., a journal to be submitted for evaluation weekly; a one-act play due at semester's end, with drafts due at given intervals; and so on). The student also should briefly describe prior coursework that qualifies him or her for this independent project. At a minimum, the department expects the student to meet regularly with the instructor one hour per week and to submit an amount of work equivalent to that required in 300-level dance and drama courses. Students are urged to begin discussion of their proposed individual study the semester before they hope to enroll, so that they can devise a proposal and seek departmental approval before the deadline.