What is theatre? For whom—and by whom—is it created and performed? What does it take to make theatre? What is the role of theatre in society and in various cultures? This course is an introduction to theatre as a unique art form. We will learn to read plays not only as pieces of literature, but also as scripts designed for performance. We will examine the roles of actors, directors, designers, playwrights, and producers; we will look back at moments in the theatrical past—and forward to new ways of thinking about performance.

In the spring of 2021, this course will be team-taught by Director of the Theatre Arts Program, Rosemary Malague, and Theatre Technical and Production Coordinator, Cat Johnson. We are excited to bring our own relationship as collaborators to the class, maximizing student contact via our synchronous sessions, and supplementing them with asynchronous sessions where we will view recordings of exemplary​ ​theatrical productions. In this unprecedented moment, we will also consider some of the ways in which theatre is being made in the midst of a global pandemic, examining an array of virtual performances.

Among the pieces we expect to engage with are Chekhov’s ​Uncle Vanya​ , with plans to view the Wilma Theater’s upcoming “Minor Character: Six Translations of Uncle Vanya ​ at the Same Time,” and American Theatre Wing’s docuseries “Working in Theatre.” Student projects will include the opportunity for creative work, and the class will feature several guest visits with professional theatre artists.