Faculty Contact Information:
At present, the best way to contact me is via emailing mfay@faculty.ed.umuc.edu. Please remember that I am also an English teacher, so use standard academic writing. Please don't send emails with emoticons, "U" for "you" or "2" for "to," etc.
I will have more information for you on office hours and other methods of contacting me in class.
|
|
Course Materials:
|
Cameron, Kenneth M. and Patti Gillespie. The Enjoyment of Theatre. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson,2004.
|
|
Course Description:
|
(Formerly HUMN 110.) An introduction to the people of the theatre: actors, directors, designers, and backstage personnel. Topics include the core and characteristics of a script, theatrical forms and styles, and theatre history. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HUMN 110 or THET 110.
|
|
Course Goals/Objectives:
Students will demonstrate understanding of each of the following content areas through oral presentations and class discussions or online conference participation, through written work and examinations*:
* The world of the theatre including the people, plays, history, traditions, conventions, language, skills, opportunities, and social effects of the art and craft.
* The interrelation of theatre with the other arts and with the culture it grows out of.
* The dynamics of producing a live stage production.
Students will demonstrate proficiency in each of the following skills:
* Critical appreciation of theatrical performances.
* A practical vocabulary for discussing theatrical performance on its own as well as against other media.
* Research into shows, discounts and reviews for productions in the area, where appropriate.
* Development of written and possibly oral communication of ideas.
* Use of academic research methods and resources.
|
|
Course Introduction:
This class presents an insider’s look at dramatic arts; this view includes live scripted plays, improvisation and comedy, movies, and television. We’ll meet the various people involved in productions, including writers, directors, actors, designers, and more.
We’ll have lectures, readings, discussions, papers, and performances.
Since attending live shows seems like an unlikely option, we will use films more than a normal section of this class might.
|
|
Grading Information and Criteria:
You should know that my most commonly awarded grade is an A; my second most common is an F. 100-91 = A 90-81 = B 80-71 = C 70-61 = D 60 and under = F.
Class participation 30%
Presentations 15% each for a total of 60%
Quizzes 5 % each for a total of 10%
Cheating of any kind, including plagiarism, can lead to a failing grade, expulsion from UMUC, and a military hearing. See http://www.umuc.edu/policy/.
|
|
Other Information:
Additional sources:
Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is available online at
http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/midsummer/full.html
I will provide copies of other plays for reading, although it is probably easiest if I email them to you and have you print them out of loan you the disk.
|
|
Project Descriptions:
Presentation 1 This is a report on an actor whom you feel is either an example of the best of the craft or the worst (yet who continues to have a career for no explicable reason). If an oral report, you should choose to show some short clips to support your argument.
Written reports should be approximately 5 pages and show good skills in academic writing; oral reports should be approximately 10 minutes and show evidence of having been prepared. In either case, the arguments should be clear and supported with many examples and criteria.
Presentation 2 This is a speech or scene from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Some attempt at costuming and props is encouraged, although it is recognized that you may have to be creative in finding such. While you do not need to be memorized, you should have clearly prepared and worked together as a group. If for some reason you cannot attend meeting 7, you will most likely need to do solo work.
Presentation 3 This is a discussion of a movie which you consider to be very good. You will examine it from many perspectives, including acting, writing, directing, music, scenery, costumes, and more. You will need to choose your movie from a list which will be provided. This paper will be approximately 5 pages and show good skills in academic writing; the arguments should be clear and supported with many examples and criteria.
Presentation 4 Option 1: Adapt and perform a work originally not written for group performance.
Option 2: Practice and perform improvisational comedy games.
Option 3: Prepare a short presentation on a technical aspect of performing arts. This could include a designer, cinematographer, editor, composer, etc. You may choose to show some short clips to support your argument. The arguments should be clear and supported with many examples and criteria.
|
|
Academic Policies:
Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines.
See the UMUC policies at the following URL:
http://www.umuc.edu/policy/
|
|
Course Schedule:
I do not yet have the textbook, so I cannot give exact page numbers. We will not be likely to read the whole of each chapter assigned. Selections will be given in class. Titles in quotation marks are plays—some short—which must be read in entirety.
The syllabus is subject to change.
MEETING 1 Intro to class, intro to theatre, fast history, some improv
MEETING 2 Scripts, plots, genres, CHAPTERS 3 & 7, “Art of the playwright”
MEETING 3 Types of theatres, audiences, other dramatic arts, CHAPTERS 4 & 6
MEETING 4 Actors, building an actor, CHAPTER 8, “Actorus Malorus,” Presentations 1
MEETING 5 More history, CHAPTER 11, “Lysistrata” or “Antigone”
MEETING 6 Shakespeare, Quiz 1, CHAPTER 14, “Midsummer Night’s Dream”
MEETING 7 Rehearsal time
MEETING 8 Performances, Presentations 2
MEETING 9 Designers, directors, and more, CHAPTER 9, 10
MEETING 10 More history, CHAPTER 17, 18, “Sad Lament...,”
MEETING 11 Movies, mostly
MEETING 12 Presentations 3
MEETING 13 Adapting for dramatic arts, Quiz 2
MEETING 14 Using theatre in real life
MEETING 15 Presentations 4
|
|
Faculty Bio:
Mitchell Bucky Fay is a veteran of over 200 productions. He is the founder and former director of Cromulent Shakespeare Company and Sounds Like Fish improvisational/comedy theatre. He has run summer educational theatre programs and has taught theatre classes at several universities. He works as a writer, director, actor, designer, props guy, costumer, and just about everything else in theatre.
He is pleased and honored to serve those who serve.
|
|
