Theatre 100 - Fall 2018, GEC IV

MWF 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Section 04, Room TAD 124

Instructor: Caleb S. Garner

Office: TAD Graduate Design Office (TAD 109), Theatre & Dance Building
Office Hours: W/F 10AM-11AM, or by appointment;
Schedule appointments at https://doodle.com/calebsgarner
Email: caleb.garner@usm.edu
_______________________________________________________________________
GOALS/PURPOSE:
The purpose of this course is to provide the fundamental tools for an understanding and
informed appreciation for the aesthetic philosophies, structures, procedures, concepts, and
conventions of Theatre. The class will explore dramatic structure, theatrical production, design,
performance, direction, collaborative process, and cultural context.

UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, THE STUDENT SHOULD BE ABLE

TO DEMONSTRATE:
● Ability to locate, prepare for, attend, and communicate an informed response to theatre
productions and the aesthetic values associated with the art form.

● Understanding of theatre and its vital nature within cultures and of theatre’s relationship
to contemporary issues and concerns.

● Ability to identify the characteristics of major theatrical styles and genres.

● Understanding of the basic elements, principles, and functions of design in theatre and a
broad knowledge of scenic, lighting, costume, and sound designers’ process.

● Comprehension of and experiences in the artistic process of the actor and the director.

● Appreciation of the collaborative process of theatre.

● GEC Outcomes

REQUIRED TECHNOLOGY and Texts:

You are not required to purchase a textbook. This course will use Canvas for all submissions of
assignments, and links for online sources for reading or viewing. All correspondence will happen
either through Canvas, USM E- mail, or both.
For help accessing Canvas visit: https://www.usm.edu/canvas/student- support

REQUIRED PRODUCTIONS:
Students are required to see one performance of each production this semester. See itinerary
for opening dates for three required productions. Further information will be distributed in class
and/or posted on Canvas.

TICKETS FOR REQUIRED PRODUCTIONS:

Your course fee for Theatre 100 includes the cost of tickets for your attendance at Southern
Miss Theatre productions. To collect your ticket for a single show, present your ID card and
student number (in person only) at the Theatre Box Office located in the lobby of the Theatre &
Dance Building. You will get a ticket for the date you select. Tickets are NOT REFUNDABLE
and NOT EXCHANGEABLE for another show on a different date. Please note that the
University Ticket Office at the Ferlise Center will not be able to process your Theatre 100
requests for tickets. To pick up THE 100 tickets, go to the Theatre Box Office (TAD lobby).
Please book your tickets at least two weeks in advance of the show to ensure seat availability.
The Box Office cannot accommodate students who are unable to secure last minute tickets.
Some plays in the season may contain adult situations or adult language. If a student requires a
substitution for an assignment, they can make arrangements with the instructor during the first
two weeks of class.

CLASSROOM DECORUM:
Theatre requires communication and collaboration. To work toward this, students may not use
computers, cell phones, recording devices, or electronic equipment during class lecture and
discussion. Some participation and Creative Project work may use personal devices at the
discretion of the instructor. Use of cell phones, sleeping, and distracting or disrespectful
behavior will result in loss of participation points. Please be respectful with the instructor and
your peers while in the class. (See Participation Points Deductions below) If a student is in an
emergency on-call situation, they must discuss it with the instructor prior to class. The instructor
may approve beverages in closed bottles or solid travel containers with lids - if the student
assumes responsibility for cleaning the space after the class session is over.

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS:
All students will write a critique on each of the required productions. Papers should be no less
than 750 words (no more than 900) using standard typeface/font, double-spaced, and with 1”
margins. In class/on Canvas/via email, you will get specific written instructions for each paper
including a checklist and rubric link. Terms from reading assignments and class will shape the
framework of the assignments. Students will submit papers through Turn It In via the Canvas
webpage. The instructor WILL NOT accept papers after the due date.

HOMEWORK EXPERIENCES:
Brief, free, online assignments and classroom experiences will replace traditional textbook
resources. The work will be creative, stimulating, and often interactive. Links will be posted on
Canvas and on email. Assessment of homework completion will include activities in class, small
group work, and discussion. These are separate points from participation.

COMPREHENSIVE CREATIVE PROJECT:

Students will engage in a collaborative presentation that utilizes many aspects of the creative
process for theatre. Student grades are based on final presentation of the creative project that
demonstrates understanding of the choices involved in making theatre and peer assessment of
the collaborative contributions.

PARTICIPATION:
Theatre is a collaborative art form. Use this class to learn open-minded listening, respectful but
spirited discussion, shared collaboration, and observable engagement.
You will need these tools in every major field. Ask questions. Articulate your ideas. Come to
class prepared so that your participation is informed and meaningful. Weekly participation
assignments and activates will be used to assess each student’s level of participation.
Participation is worth 1/5 of your total grade.

Participation does not have to be loud or flamboyant. A quiet student will get full points for
listening well, contributing an occasional answer to a question or a perceptive question, working
well in small group tasks, and contributing significantly to the creative project work.

You can PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY in class by:

● Constructively contributing to group discussions and lectures
● Reliably completing class assignments to be prepared for the day’s work or discussion.
● Actively listening when the instructor or fellow students are presenting or discussing
material and looking at the person talking.
● Cooperatively working with members of the class within small group settings, and being
a positive contributor to that group.
● Positively demonstrating an open attitude when presented with the chance to question,
exchange, or discuss ideas and topics covered within the material.

These are skills needed for nearly every profession. It will be beneficial to any student to
harness and refine these qualities.
The instructor will keep a weekly record of students who have participated actively.
Students will earn 10pts for each week that they fully participate. This will add up to 100pts
maximum. Some weeks may not include any participation opportunities due to testing, holiday,
etc. At least 11 weeks will have clear participation opportunities so that even a student who is
absent for two classes can still reach the max points.

PARTICIPATION POINTS DEDUCTIONS:

Point deductions from the final grade for behavior that disrupts class or that disrespects the
learning environment include:
● For mild incidences of poor participation will have a deduction of 5pts (e.g. texting,
talking during presentation, or student’s response).
● Serious or repeated offences will have a maximum deduction of 10pts (e.g.
ridiculing another student, refusing to work in small group assignments, 2nd time
texting, etc.).

ATTENDANCE:
● Each student can miss three class periods for any reason. After these unexcused
absences are exhausted, your grade will drop by one letter grade per additional
unexcused absence. The Instructor may cancel class via Canvas and email for
dangerous weather.
● To have an absence excused you must provide documentation for hospitalization, death
in the family member, court, military, or university sanctioned activities cleared at least a
week in advance. Additional excused absences are at the discretion of the instructor.
● Clinic notes are only required for quarantine of contagious illnesses that keep the
student out of class beyond the allotment. If you may have a contagious illnesses such
as the flu DO NOT ENTER the TAD. Send an Email to your instructor and go directly to
the clinic.
● Remember that participation points that you miss during unexcused absences may not
be made up (other than by doing extra credit).
 ● If an extended excused absence period makes attendance for a production impossible,
the student may work out a substitute with the instructor in advance.

TARDIES AND EARLY DEPARTURES:

Arriving late and leaving early is disruptive to the class. Late arrivals and early departures will be
counted as ½ of an absence. If you are tardy to class, it is your responsibility to inform the
instructor after class that you arrived. DON’T FAIL THIS CLASS DUE TO ABSENCES. It should
be easy to earn a decent grade. If you are getting sick, go to the Health Center and get proper
attention.
If you arrive more than 5 minutes early, please wait in the main Lobby rather than in the
hallways.

THEATRE ATTENDANCE:
Appropriate adult behavior is required in the theatres to receive credit. Arrive on time or early,
sign in and out, stay alert and attentive, do not use a phone, light, text, or talk/disrupt the
performance, and stay through Performance until the curtain call is completed. The House
Managers for the productions will report any issues.

EXTRA CREDIT:
● Further exposure to theatrical/aesthetic forms and professional theatre experiences will
enhance the student’s learning.
● Students can earn a maximum of 30 extra credit points throughout the semester by
attending extra-credit events presented or supported by Southern Miss Theatre.
● For professional theatre viewing, attend the National Theatre Live series and behave
appropriately in the venue. The instructor or a designated supervisor will mark you in and
out at the theatre. 10pts extra credit are available per NT Live event, but you must
purchase a ticket. Your instructor may quiz you to verify attendance.
● Additional offerings may be made during the semester. The same opportunities will be
available to ALL THE 100 sections.
● Your instructor will post FREE extra-credit events - each with 5pts extra-credit available.

WRITING CENTER:
The Writing Center for The University of Southern Mississippi is located on the first floor of the
Cook Library on the Hattiesburg campus. We encourage students to use this resource when
constructing their critiques in response to the shows they will be viewing throughout the
semester. Students will earn at least a C on each paper for visiting the writing center in
accordance with the rubric. You must bring:

1. The paper assignment information

2. Your notes
3. A full outline
4. Your fully completed first draft.

Have the writing center staff complete and send a report to the instructor that confirms you
brought these pre-writing pieces and that you made progress on your writing.

ASSIGNMENTS:
 Active Participation 100-pts 20%

3 Critiques (Averaged) 100-pts 20%

Attendance at 3 major Productions

Homework Assignments 100-pts 20%

Comprehensive Creative Project 200-pts 20%

Total: 500-pts 100%

Grading Values:
450-500 pts A 90-100%

400-449 pts B 80-89%

350-399 pts C 70-79%

300-349 pts D 60-69%

Under 300 pts F 0-59%

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University of Southern Mississippi Policies and Resources

ADA:
If a student has a disability that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and
requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations
(ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may
include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can
contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies.

Address:
The University of Southern Mississippi Office for Disability Accommodations 118
College Drive # 8586
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001

Voice Telephone: (601) 266-5024 or (228) 214-3232, Fax: (601) 266-6035

Individuals with hearing impairments can contact ODA using the

Mississippi Relay Service at 1-800-582-2233 (TTY) or email Suzy Hebert at
Suzanne.Hebert@usm.edu.

ACADEMIC HONESTY:
All students at the University of Southern Mississippi are expected to demonstrate the highest
levels of academic integrity in all that they do. Forms of academic dishonesty include (but are
not limited to):

● Cheating (including copying from others’ work)

● Plagiarism (representing another person’s words or ideas as your own; failure to

properly cite the source of your information, argument, or concepts)

● Falsification of documents

● Disclosure of test or other assignment content to another student

● Submission of the same paper or other assignment to more than one class without the
explicit approval of all faculty members’ involved

● Unauthorized academic collaboration with others

● Conspiracy to engage in academic misconduct

Engaging in any of these behaviors or supporting others who do so will result in academic
penalties and/or other sanctions. If a faculty member determines that a student has violated our
Academic Integrity Policy, sanctions ranging from resubmission of work to course failure may
occur, including the possibility of receiving a grade of “XF” for the course, which will be on the
student’s transcript with the notation “Failure due to academic misconduct.” For more details,
please see the University’s Academic Integrity Policy: https://www.usm.edu/institutional-
policies/policy-acaf-pro-012 Note that repeated acts of academic misconduct will lead to
expulsion from the University.

Time-Management/Course Workload:

Students are expected to invest time outside of class in learning the material for this course.
The expectation of the University of Southern Mississippi is that each week students should
spend approximately 2-3 hours outside of class for every hour in class working on reading,
assignments, studying, and other work for the course. We realize that most students work and
have family or other obligations. Time management is thus critical for student success. All
students should assess their personal circumstances and talk with their advisors about the
appropriate number of credit hours to take each term, keeping in mind that 30 credit hours each
year are needed to graduate in four
years. Resources for academic support can be found at http://www.usm.edu/success

Mental Well-Being:

Southern Miss recognizes that students sometimes experience challenges that make learning
difficult. If you find that life stressors such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems,
difficulty concentrating, alcohol/drug problems, or other stressful experiences are interfering with
your academic or personal success, consider contacting Student Counseling Services on
campus at 601.266.4829. More information is also available at http://www.usm.edu/student-
counseling- services. All students are eligible for free, confidential individual or group counseling
services.

In the event of emergency, please call 911 or contact the counselor on call at

601.606.HELP (4357).

Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting:

As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create and maintain a safe learning

environment on our campus. I also have a mandatory reporting responsibility related to my role
as a faculty member. I am required to share information regarding sexual misconduct or
information about a crime that may have occurred on USM’s campus with certain University
officials responsible for the investigation and remediation of sexual misconduct. The information
will remain private and will only be shared with those officials necessary to resolve the matter. If
you would like to speak in confidence, resources available to students include Confidential
Advisors with the Shafer Center for Crisis Intervention, the Counseling Center, Student Health
Services, and Clergy. More information on these resources and University Policies is available
at https:// www.usm.edu/sexual-misconduct.
 CALENDAR FOR THE 100 Subject to Change!
FALL 2018
This calendar is SUBJECT TO CHANGE and more than likely will change throughout the semester as
the course evolves. This is designed to give a basic outline of items discussed. As things change
based on shows and other events, we will adjust and make the class beneficial to the events at that
time. I will update you as we progress through the semester.

Day Date Subject Out of Class Assignments

Wed 8/29 Intro to Course
Fri 8/31 Tour TAD (Theatre and Dance
Building)
Mon 9/3 Labor Day – NO CLASS
Wed 9/5 Theatre Spaces
Fri 9/7 Audience Relationship
Mon 9/10 Playwrights NT LIVE Presents The
Curious Incident of the Dog
in the Nighttime @ 7:30PM,
Tatum Theatre. (10 pts
Extra Credit available)
Wed 9/12 Playwrights continued, Variations on
Play Structures and Genres
Fri 9/14 Playwrights Continued
Mon 9/17 Aristotle’s Poetics *Make appointment with
the Writing Center between
9/28 and 10/3 if you may
need assistance with the
first paper!!
Wed 9/19 Elements and Principles of Design
Fri 9/21 Theatre Design
Mon 9/24 Theatre Design Continued
Wed 9/26 Discuss First Paper
Fri 9/28 Paper Workshop!
Rubric Discussed, Outlines, etc.
END OF INTERIM GRADE MATERIAL
Mon 10/2 Acting Remember to pick up
ticket for Night of the
Iguana!!!!
Wed 10/3 Acting Continued
Fri 10/5 Acting Continued
Mon 10/8 TBA/Workday
Wed 10/10 TBA/Workday
Fri 10/12 NO CLASS – FALL BREAK
Mon 10/15 Directing and Producing Production #1: The Night
of the Iguana by
Tennessee Williams.
HARTWIG THEATRE:
• October 18th & 20th @
7:30PM
• Matinee October 21st
at 2:00 PM
• 21st Pre-Performance
Talk 1:00 PM, Woods
 Theatre (FREE, 5
points extra credit
available)
• October 23rd and 24th
@ 7:30PM
Wed 10/17 Directing and Producing
Fri 10/19 Directing and Producing
Mon 10/22 Musical Theatre: History
Wed 10/24 Musical Theatre: Types of Musicals
Fri 10/26 Musical Theatre: Cabaret Reminder to pick up tickets
to Cabaret
Mon 10/29 Discuss The Night of the Iguana Paper #2 on Acting in The
Night of the Iguana due by
start of class via Turn It In
/Canvas
Wed 10/31 HALLOWEEN
Prepare for Cabaret

Fri 11/2 Contemporary Theatre, Venue,

Trends, etc.
Mon 11/5 • Introduction to Comprehensive Production #2: Cabaret
Creative Project music by John Kander,
• Discussion about CP content, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and
process, and grading book by Joe Masteroff.
• Assign Groups and Fairy Tale for TATUM THEATRE:
each group to adapt, write, • November 8th - 11th @
produce, and perform 7:30PM
• November 10th and
11th @ 2:00PM
• PreShow Talk on 10 th
at 1:00 PM, Woods
Theatre (FREE, 5
points extra credit
available)
Wed 11/7 Group Starts Devising Script
(Concept, Dramatic Structure,
Space/Audience)
Fri 11/9 Group Assignments
Mon 11/12 • Discuss Cabaret Production #3 (Check in
• Finish Script (Aristotle’s Poetics, 6 and out of theatre, no
Elements) paper due): EMERGING
ARTIST SERIES
HARTWIG THEATRE:
• November 13th16th @
7:30PM
Wed 11/14 Groups Rehearsal Day (Development
of Characters, Design, Direction)
Fri 11/16 Group Rehearsal Day
Mon 11/19 Groups Rehearsal Day – on its feet
and off book
Wed 11/21 THANKSGIVING BREAK – NO
CLASS
Fri 11/23 THANKSGIVING BREAK – NO
CLASS
Mon 11/26 Groups Rehearsal Day
Wed 11/28 Groups Rehearsal Day
Fri 11/30 Groups Rehearsal Day
Thurs 12/6 FINAL: Comprehensive Creative Project Presentations, Self and
8:00AM Peer Assessment