DRAM 202 Outline

THE KING'S UNIVERSITY

COURSE NUMBER:

DRAM 202

COURSE TITLE:

Introduction to Theater Art

NAME OF INSTRUCTOR:

Daniel vanHeyst, M. F. A.

CREDIT WEIGHT AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION:

credits 3 (hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 3)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course presents the origins and development of theater art and an introduction to theater aesthetics.

COURSE MATERIALS:

Theatre performances are selected for the class at local theatre companies. Students pay in advance for their tickets via a course lab fee administered by the Registry. Tickets are usually purchased by the instructor at student group rates, though some independence in purchasing tickets and getting to the theatres is also required for certain shows. See the schedule of course activities.
Recommended textbook: The Art of Theatre: A Concise Introduction, 2nd Edition, Downs, Wright, Ramsay: Wadsworth Cengage Learning
Some required reading for specific class sessions is distributed via Moodle.
A large selection of books and periodicals is placed on the Library Reserve shelf to help students locate publications to be used in completing book and journal review assignments.
Scripts for in-class study or production are selected by the instructor, and sometimes, by student teams.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Drama 202 uses lectures, demonstrations, and practical performance projects to introduce students to contemporary Canadian theatre practice. Students build on any previous drama training or experience, and integrate their individual skills and interests while working as a production team. Through topical study of theatre history, theatre disciplines, and contemporary theatre practice and through attendance at professional theatre productions, students become more discerning and appreciative audience members for live theatre. Students experience themselves as theatre workers by collaborating in performance projects in which they have opportunities to work as actors, technicians, and designers. A Christian approach toworking in theatre is modeled by the instructor and integrated into all topics and activities of the course.

MARK DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT:


Reading Reports (3)	15%
Play attendance with short written report	15%
History report	10%
Play and character analysis	10%
Contribution to final performance project	20%
Production journal	10%
Theatre career report	10%
Oral report	10%

	100%

COURSE OUTLINE:

Thurs. Jan. 4 Course introduction, personal theatre stories, what’s on in now in town, Introduce reading assignments
Tues. Jan. 9 Choose theatre career topics. Interview theatre artist guests.
Thurs. Jan. 11 Facility tours in Old Strathcona: Walterdale, Bus-barns, Theatre Network
Tues. Jan. 16 Present theatre careers.
Thurs. Jan. 18 read through all scenes and set history assignment/First reading report due
Tues. Jan. 23 workshop in script study and line learning strategies
Wed. Jan. 24 Attend 7:30m performance of Freud’s Last Session, N102 (free for students registered in IS, you must get ticket from IS info table--$10 for students not in IS)
Thurs. Jan. no class, IS conference
Tues. Jan. 30 first set of history presentations followed by small group rehearsal, Freud’s Last Session play report due.
Thurs. Feb. 1 second set of history presentations followed by small group rehearsal
Tuesday Feb. 6 workshop in character voice and movement
Thurs. Feb. 8 Tues. Feb. 13 scene rehearsals (first day of rehearsal, Outside Mullingar)
Thurs. Feb. 15 scene rehearsals Play and character analysis assignment due.
Reading Week Feb. 19-23
Tues. Feb. 27 Varscona Theatre facility tour and rehearsal hall visit
Thurs. Mar. 1 Scene rehearsals/Second reading report due
Tues. Mar 6 Attend dress rehearsal Outside Mullingar at Varscona Theatre time tba
Thurs. Mar. 8 Run-through rehearsal with set changes
Tues. Mar. 13 Set lighting and sound cues for all scenes Outside Mullingar play report due.
Thurs. Mar. 15 Cue to cue rehearsal
Tues. Mar. 20 Technical rehearsal
Thurs. Mar. 22 Dress rehearsal
Friday Mar. 23 Opening performance 7:30pm
Saturday Mar. 24 Closing performance 7:30pm
Tues. Mar. 27. Production journals due. The business of theatre in Canada: funding sources, professional organizations, governance models, etc. Web-search and report exercise. Introduce company research project and schedule individual consults.
Thursday Mar. 29: Company research individual consultations
March 30-April 2: Easter Weekend.
Tuesday April. 3: More individual company consultations The School for Scandal: Studio Theatre, the Timms Centre at University of Alberta 7:30pm
Thurs. April 5: First series of company reports
Tues. April 10: Second set of company reports School for Scandal play report due
Thursday April 12: The strategies of creative people. Style workshop in mime, mask, and puppets
Tues. April 14: Improvise and perform Bible stories in small groups using mime, mask, or puppetry. Final reading reports due.

Required texts, assignments, and grade distributions may vary from one offering of this course to the next. Please consult the course instructor for up to date details.