Rebecca Wolf

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.

In our daily lives, we are affected by the spaces that we create and that others define for us. In the theater, scene designers shape theatrical space through time for a particular purpose. This course introduces students to the art of scene design for theater with an emphasis on the creative process and the role that scene design plays in supporting and shaping a dramatic narrative. The course is organized around a series of scene design projects for a variety of scripted plays. During these projects, students work through the process of analyzing a script, researching the material, developing a design approach and communicating the design through drawings, drafting, models and oral presentations. This counts toward the elements of theater art requirement for the major. Prerequisite: DRAM 111.

Light is essential to life and influences us continuously, often in subconscious ways. Therefore, light is a powerful but enigmatic medium for art. This course introduces students to the art of lighting design for theater and dance with an emphasis on the creative process and the role that lighting can play in supporting and shaping a performance. Students gain hands-on experience with lighting equipment in our theater spaces, completing short exercises and lighting designs for scripted theater scenes. Students also assist with the design of a piece for the department’s dance concert, working collaboratively with a choreographer. Throughout the semester, students practice developing, communicating and assessing design ideas through written assignments, research, CAD drafting, oral presentations and peer critiques. This counts toward the elements of theater art requirement for the major. Prerequisite: DRAM 111.

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.