THEA 10000 - 02: INTRODUCTION TO THE THEATRE

Fall 2017
MWF 10:00 – 10:50
Classroom: Dillingham 008
 
Instructor: Dr. Chrystyna Dail         Office:  033 Dillingham      Email:   cdail@ithaca.edu 

Office Hours: The sign-up sheet for my office hours is posted outside of my office every Friday by 3:00
pm. If none of my office hours work with your schedule, email me with at least three available times in your
schedule and I will do my best to accommodate you.

Class Description:

Welcome! This course is an Introduction to the academic and professional field of Theatre Studies. Students
will consider scripts from a variety of dramaturgical and cultural perspectives and through different lenses in
order to become better aware of the areas of creative and scholarly exploration available to Theatre Studies
majors. The content (which is broken down into four sections) defines major components, historical
moments and conventions of theatre; explicates current professional options for Theatre Studies majors;
explores race and gender theory and their influence on theatre; and culminates in a student-created
performance. As theatre is a direct reflection of its cultural moment, this class encourages student discussion
regarding how theatre and performance intersect with culture and history.

My Values: 1
• I unconditionally reject every form of bigotry, discrimination, hateful rhetoric, and hateful action,
whether directed towards one’s race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national
origin, ability, citizenship, political views, socioeconomic status, veteran status, or immigration status.
• I endorse and value open, respectful discourse and the exchange of ideas from the widest variety of
intellectual, religious, class, cultural, and political perspectives.

• If you feel fear or oppression – or just need someone to listen to you– I am ready to help.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Recognize and explain—through class discussion, practical work, and writing assignments—the
forms, techniques, and processes used in theatre.

2. Analyze how performances/dramatic texts stimulate emotions, provoke thoughts, and guide
actions and/or beliefs.

3. Begin articulating the role of theatre in the construction of culture.

4. Begin working as a Theatre Studies cohort.

 
Required Textbooks, Plays, and Performance Attendance:
• Theatre & Race by Harvey Young (purchase)
• A Short Guide to Writing about Theatre by Marcia L. Ferguson (purchase)
• The Rising of the Moon by Lady Gregory (on Sakai)

1Excerpted and adapted from the MIT Values statement. Please see: http://www.mitvalues.org/

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 • Miss Julie by August Strindberg (on Sakai)
• Mies Julie by Yaël Farber (purchase)
• Lysistrata by Aristophanes (on Sakai)
• A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (on Sakai)
• Excerpts from HA by Dawn Akemi Saito and Freak by John Leguizamo (on Sakai)
• Tea by Velina Hasu Houston (purchase)
• Part Two/Dos of The Panza Monologues by Virginia Grise and Irma Mayorga; available online: http://
site.ebrary.com/lib/ithaca/detail.action?docID=10776469
• Purchase a ticket for and attend a performance of Angels in America in the Dillingham Center

 Class Rules:
• Arrive on time—or even better—early to class
• Turn off all cell phones, mp3 players, etc. prior to entering the classroom
• Show respect for your classmates and professor
• Do not pack up your belongings until class is over
• Bring an open mind, willingness to learn, and a sense of humor to every class
 
You will be graded on the following:
• Eight online quizzes (10 points each = 80 points)
• Two exams (100 points each = 200 pts)
• Production Response (50 points)
• Worldview Monologue (50 points)
• Group Performance (100 points)
• Final Dramaturgical Analysis Paper (70 points)
• Participation/Attendance (100 points)

Explanation of Assignments: 
► Reading: You MUST complete the reading assignments to succeed in this class! I will ask you questions
about the readings on quizzes and exams and you should be prepared to discuss them in class. Reading is due
for the day assigned.
 
► Quizzes: All quizzes take place online via Sakai. Online quizzes will be available after class on Fridays at
11:00 am and will remain open until 11:00 p.m. on Sundays. The quizzes utilize T/F, multiple choice,
matching, and fill in the blank questions and are based on anything discussed or shown in lectures, the
required performances, and reading assignments. Quizzes cannot be made up.
 
► Required Performance: Please purchase your ticket to the required performance (Angels in America) as soon
as possible.  Proper attendance at the performance includes arriving early, being a polite audience member,
and staying until the performance is completed. I will ask you questions on quizzes and exams about the plot,
performance techniques, and design of the play. Additionally, you have a major writing assignment based on
Angels in America.
 
► Exams: You will have two objective-based exams during the course of the semester. These exams include
T/F, short answer, matching, and multiple choice questions. The questions cover anything discussed or
shown in lectures as well as reading assignments. The first exam takes place on Friday, October 13th and the
second on Monday, November 13th.

► Production Response: Marcia L. Ferguson, in A Short Guide to Writing About Theatre, states the goals of a
production response are to demonstrate your understanding as well as to evaluate the quality of a specific
production. Using Ferguson’s prescribed methodology (highlighted in pages 67-79 of her book), you are
expected to construct a 3 to 4 page (typed, 12 pt Times New Roman font, double-spaced) production
response paper to Ithaca College’s production of Angels in America. Your production response should evaluate

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the acting, design, directing, space, audience, and idea of the production. This response is worth 50 points
and is due at the beginning of class on Friday, November 3rd.

►Worldview Monologue: A Worldview is the cognitive and affective lens through which people construe
their experiences and make sense of the world around them. This assignment asks you to think about the
ways in which your worldview was formed and write a two to four minute monologue (no longer than the
front and back of one page) explaining this formation. Imagine a stranger asking you, “How did you come to
think about the world in this way?” The monologue you craft is in response to the stranger’s question. Please
consider that this is a creative performance piece and not a reflective essay. Your Worldview Monologue
is due at the beginning of class on Monday, November 27th. Please bring two copies of your monologue to
class on that day, however DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON THE MONOLOGUE.

►Worldview Performance: The final three weeks of class will be spent developing and staging a brief (no
longer than 7 minutes) group performance based on your Worldview monologues. These original pieces will
be performed in front of the class on Friday, December 15th. 75 points of your final grade for the
performance will be based on my assessment of your group’s work and 25 points of your final grade will be
based on how your group member’s assess your participation in the assignment.

►Final Dramaturgical Analysis: Your final assignment for this course is a dramaturgical analysis of the
creation of your group’s Worldview Performance. You will hand the paper in to me at the beginning of our
final exam period on Wednesday, December 20th. This analytical and reflective essay (typed, 12 pt Times New
Roman font, double-spaced) should contain the following components:

1. A description of your group’s creative process. Explain how you developed the performance.

2. Articulate any patterns that emerged while you were creating the performance. What themes, ideas,
images, or moments continually surfaced while discussing your monologues and turning them into a
performance?

3. Reflect on what the journey of creation was like for you. Where did you feel the process succeeded
and where did it fail?

4. Consider the audience’s response to your performance. What did you expect the audience to take away
from your performance and what do you think was the final result?

► Participation: Theatre is an interactive art form based on live, immediate, and reciprocal experiences
between performer and audience. Therefore, participation is vital to your success. Participation means not
simply attendance; thoughtful, engaged, polite, and well-informed discussion is a requirement of each
student’s total grade. I will take attendance at each class meeting. You are allowed two unexcused absences
during the semester. Your attendance score will drop by ten points for each class missed after your initial two
unexcused absences. Additionally, three tardies counts as an absence, so please be on-time to class.

How to Contact Dr. Dail:

Your best method of contact is email, although please allow 24 hours for a response. I am here to help you
succeed if you are willing to put forth the effort. 

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CLASS BREAKDOWN:
 
SECTION 1: Creative and Professional Trajectories in Theatre Studies
 
Wednesday, August 30th
In Class:          Introduction to the class and each other
What is Theatre? What is Performance?
 
Friday, September 1st
In Class:           Reading a Play and the Playwright’s craft
Homework:       Read The Rising of the Moon by Lady Gregory on Sakai
 

Wednesday, September 6th

In Class:           Genres and Types/Discuss The Rising of the Moon

Friday, September 8th 

In Class:           Actors
Homework: Complete QUIZ 1 on Sakai by Sunday, September 10th at 11:00 p.m.
Read Miss Julie by August Strindberg on Sakai
 
Monday, September 11th
In Class: Showing Up and discuss Miss Julie

Wednesday, September 13th

In Class:           Directors and Designers
We will use Strindberg’s Miss Julie to discuss Directing and Designing

Friday, September 15th

In Class: Dramaturgs
Homework: Complete QUIZ 2 on Sakai by Sunday, September 17th at 11:00 p.m.
Read Mies Julie by Yaël Farber on Sakai

Monday, September 18th

In Class: Compare and contrast Strindberg’s Miss Julie and Farber’s Mies Julie

SECTION 2: Western Theatre History-A Mini Course

   Wednesday, September 20th

In Class: The Origins of Western Theatre: Ancient Greece
Homework:       Read Lysistrata by Aristophanes (164 – 187)

Friday, September 22nd

In Class:   Lysistrata Day! – Come prepared; both to discuss the play and to play
Homework: Complete QUIZ 3 on Sakai by Sunday, September 18th at 11:00 pm

Monday, September 25th

In Class:           Classical Tropes & New Interpretations/Adaptations of Classical Texts
Homework: Read Chapter 1 in A Short Guide to Writing About Theatre

Wednesday, September 27th

  In Class: Social and theatrical structure of Elizabethan Theatre

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Friday, September 29th
In Class: Constructing Realism

Homework: Complete QUIZ 4 on Sakai by Sunday, October 1st at 11:00 pm

Read A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry on Sakai

Monday, October 2nd

In Class:           Discuss A Raisin in the Sun and the Production Response assignment
Homework: Read Chapter 2 in A Short Guide to Writing About Theatre

Make sure you see a performance of Angels in America between October 3rd and October 13th

Wednesday, October 4th

In Class: Attack of the “Isms”

Friday, October 6th

In Class: Happenings, Performance Art and Solo Performance
http://dawnakemisaito.com/ha.html
Homework: Read excerpts from HA and Freak on Sakai
Complete QUIZ 5 on Sakai by Sunday, October 8th at 11:00 pm

Study Guide is posted, so begin studying for your exam

Monday, October 9th

In Class: Happenings, Performance Art and Solo Performance cont’d
Homework: Read Chapter 3 in A Short Guide to Writing About Theatre

Wednesday, October 11th

In Class: Review for Exam

Friday, October 13th

In Class:           EXAM 1

SECTION 3: Theory and Theatre: Gender, Sexuality, and Race

Monday, October 16th

In Class: Discuss IC production of Angels in America

Wednesday, October 18th

In Class:           Queer Theory

Complete QUIZ 6 on Sakai by Sunday, October 22nd at 11:00 pm

~Fall Break: October 19th – 22nd~

Monday, October 23rd

In Class: Queer Theatre
Homework: Revise your Production Response Essay

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Wednesday, October 25th
In Class:           Feminist Theatre

Homework: Read pages 1 – 17 in theatre & race by Harvey Young

Friday, October 27th

In Class: Black Theatre
Homework: Read pages 36-56 in theatre & race by Harvey Young
Complete QUIZ 7 on Sakai by Sunday, October 29th at 11:00 pm

Monday, October 30th

In Class:           Introduction to critical race theory and terminology
Homework:     Part Two/Dos of The Panza Monologues by Virginia Grise and Irma Mayorga; available online:
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ithaca/detail.action?docID=10776469
Complete the revisions of your Production Response Essay

Wednesday, November 1st

In Class:           Latinx Theatre

Friday, November 3rd

Assignment: Production Response Essay Due at the beginning of class
In Class: Discuss Two/Dos of The Panza Monologues by Virginia Grise and Irma Mayorga
Homework:      Read Tea by Velina Hasu Houston on Sakai
Complete QUIZ 8 on Sakai by Sunday, November 5th at 11:00 pm

Monday, November 6th

In Class: Asian American Theatre

Wednesday, November 8th

In Class: Discuss Tea by Velina Hasu Houston

Friday, November 10th

In Class: Review for Exam 2

Monday, November 13th

In Class: EXAM 2

SECTION 4: PRAXIS

Wednesday, November 15th

In Class: Discuss Worldview Monologue and Performance

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Friday, November 17th

In Class: Dr. Dail is at a conference - No Official Class Meeting – work on your Worldview

Monologues

Homework: Complete your Worldview Monologue over the break

~ Nov. 18th – Nov. 26th: Have a happy and relaxing Thanksgiving Break ~

Monday, November 27th

Assignment: Worldview Monologue due at the beginning of class – Bring 2 copies to class, but

Do not put your name on your monologue!

In Class: Share your Worldview Monologues with your small groups and begin discussion

Wednesday, November 29th

In Class: Start writing your script based on the Worldview Monologues in your group

Friday, December 1st

In Class: Exercises for script development/Discuss Dramaturgical Analysis Paper

Homework: Read pages 81 – 93 in A Short Guide to Writing About Theatre

Monday, December 4th

In Class:           Continue developing Worldview Performance
Homework: Meet with your group for 6 to 8 hours outside of class this week

Wednesday, December 6th

In Class:           Continue developing Worldview Performance/Sign-up for Friday group meeting with Dr.
Dail
Homework: Meet with your group for 6 to 8 hours outside of class this week

Friday, December 8th

In Class: Group Meetings with Dr. Dail and individual group rehearsals
Homework: Meet with your group for 6 to 8 hours outside of class this week
Complete your final Worldview Performance script

Monday, December 11th

Assignment: Turn in your final Worldview Performance Script at the beginning of class
In Class: Rehearse!

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Wednesday, December 13th
In Class: Discuss Dramaturgical Analysis paper/Final in-class rehearsals

Friday, December 15th

In Class: Worldview Performances

Final Exam:
We will celebrate the semester with breakfast and hold a post-mortem regarding the Worldview Performances
during our regularly scheduled final exam period, which is 8:30 – 10:00 am on Wednesday, December 20th.
Students are required to turn in their Dramaturgical Analysis paper at the beginning of this session.

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES (due on or before December 8th):

- Attend a performance of either Wonderful Town or In the Red and Brown Water and turn in a Review
Response of the production. See pages 61-79 of Ferguson’s A Short Guide to Writing About Theatre for
proper Review Response techniques. (15 points)
- Provide a copy of a published play by a U.S. based playwright that contains a witch as a main
character and that I do not yet have a copy of in my records. The spreadsheet is available on Sakai.
(25 points)

IMPORTANT ITHACA COLLEGE POLICIES

ITHACA COLLEGE ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students at Ithaca College are expected to attend all classes, and they are responsible for work missed during
any absence from class. At the beginning of each semester, instructors must provide the students in their
courses with written guidelines regarding possible grading penalties for failure to attend class. Students should
notify their instructors as soon as possible of any anticipated absences. Written documentation that indicates
the reason for being absent may be required. These guidelines may vary from course to course but are subject
to the following restrictions:
1. In accordance with New York State law, students who miss class due to their religious beliefs shall be
excused from class or examinations on that day. The faculty member is responsible for providing the
student with an equivalent opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirement that
the student may have missed. It is suggested that students notify their course instructors at least one
week before any anticipated absence so that proper arrangements may be made to make up any
missed work or examination. Any such work is to be completed within a reasonable time frame, as
determined by the faculty member.
2. Any student, who missed class due to a verifiable family or individual health emergency, or to a
required appearance in a court of law, shall be excused. The student or a family member/legal
guardian may report the absence to the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life, (340 Egbert Hall
or via email at studentabsence@ithaca.edu or by phone at 607-274-3374) which will notify the
student’s dean’s office, as well as residential life if the student lives on campus. The dean’s office will
disseminate the information to the appropriate faculty. Follow-up by the student with his or her
professors is imperative. Students may need to consider a leave of absence, medical leave of absence,
selected course withdrawals, and so on, if they have missed a significant portion of class work.
A student may be excused for participation in College-authorized co-curricular and extracurricular activities,
if, in the instructor's judgment, this does not impair the specific student's or the other students' ability to
succeed in the course.
For all absences except those due to religious beliefs, the course instructor has the right to determine if the
number of absences has been excessive in view of the nature of the class that was missed and the stated
attendance policy. Depending on the individual situation, this can result in the student’s being removed from
or failing the course.

SHARE:

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At Ithaca College, we believe that every individual has the right to be treated with respect and dignity and we
support the creation and maintenance of a safe and positive living and learning environment. SHARE (Sexual
Harassment and Assault Response & Education) was created to educate Ithaca College members regarding
issues of sexual violence through awareness and prevention. Students who experience sexual violence
(including dating violence, stalking and sexual assault), sexual harassment, or discrimination based on gender
or sexual identity) are encouraged to report their experience to the Title IX Coordinator to explore formal
and informal reporting options, and explore the support and resources available.  
For more information on Ithaca College's Sexual Misconduct policy, please see Volume II of the policy
manual: /policies/vol2/2_1/
For information on the student conduct process related to sexual misconduct violations, please see Volume
VII of the policy manual: /policies/vol7/general/070102/
ITHACA COLLEGE DIVERSITY STATEMENT:    
Ithaca College values diversity because it enriches our community and the myriad experiences that
characterize an Ithaca College education.  Diversity encompasses multiple dimensions, including but not
limited to race, culture, nationality, ethnicity, religion, ideas, beliefs, geographic origin, class, sexual orientation,
gender, gender identity and expression, disability, and age.  We are dedicated to addressing current and past
injustices and promoting excellence and equity.  Ithaca College continually strives to build an inclusive and
welcoming community of individuals with diverse talents and skills from a multitude of backgrounds who are
committed to civility, mutual respect, social justice, and the free and open exchange of ideas.  We commit
ourselves to change, growth, and action that embrace diversity as an integral part of the educational
experience and of the community we create.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH:

Diminished mental health (stress, depression, untreated mental illness) can interfere with optimal academic
performance.  There are many potential sources of personal difficulties. Academic studies, family, friends,
poor health and difficult romantic relationships can contribute to personal difficulties – and impaired
academic performance.
Through the office of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), cost-free support can be obtained
when personal difficulties threaten your well-being. If you need to consult with a mental health professional, contact
CAPS and ask to speak with the Counselor on Call, 607-274-3136.
Getting help is a smart and healthy thing to do… for yourself and for your loved ones.



SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act,
reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified students with documented disabilities. Students
seeking accommodations must register with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and provide appropriate
documentation to SAS before any accommodations can be provided.  Please note that accommodations are
not retroactive so timely contact with Student Accessibility Services is encouraged.  SAS is located in 100
Rothschild Place. Please contact their office with any questions or concerns at 607-274-1005 or
sas@ithaca.edu.  
ACADEMIC ADVISING CENTER:
As a complement to a student’s faculty advisor(s), the professional academic advisors in the Academic
Advising Center are available to help students discuss the outcomes of academic decisions, explore academic
choices and alternatives and to examine the consequences of changing a major or adding a minor. Advisors
can also provide appropriate referrals to other campus offices and resources. Students (first year through
senior) from any major can make an appointment to meet with a professional academic advisor by calling

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607-274-1001 or emailing advisingcenter@ithaca.edu. Students can also meet with an advisor during drop-in
hours (no appointment needed) between 9:00 and 4:00 Monday through Friday. The Academic Advising
Center is located at 130A Rothschild Place (next to the Park School of Communication). Office hours are
Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional information on the AAC as well as useful
links to advising information and campus resources is available on our web site at www.ithaca.edu/advising.
 

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