Brigham Young University-Idaho

Department of Theatre and Dance

Introduction to Theatre
TA 115
Winter 2015
Instructor:
Email:

Brother Benjamin Trevor Hill

hillbe@byui.edu

Required Texts:

The Essential Theatre, 10th Edition, by Oscar G. Brockett and Robert J. Ball
(Bookstore)
Medea, by Euripides (Online)
A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare (Online)
A View From the Bridge, by Arthur Miller (Online)
3 Articles (Handouts)

Required Viewing:

Lamp At Midnight
February 18-21, 24-28 (Black Box Theatre)
Le Boheme
March 18, 20-21, 24-25, 27 (Drama Theatre)

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Theatre is a powerful art form that engages both the audience and performer in an immediate exchange of
emotion and ideas. The purpose of Introduction to Theatre is to increase students' understanding,
appreciation, and critical perceptions of this art form. To do so, students will actively participate in the
process of acting, directing, playwriting, designing and critiquing. They will also explore their own
definitions of art and determine concrete ways to contribute their talents. This is a hands-on, experiencebased course that will require preparation and willingness to work solo, in pairs, and in a group.
*

Please be aware that some of the plays and other materials in the text may contain adult themes
and language.

COURSE ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION:
Class Citizenship/Daily Preparation
True learners would never consider texting, surfing the net, playing video games, sleeping, or working on
unrelated material during class. They understand how these activities are at cross-purposes with becoming
an active learner. Please understand if these activities occur during class it will result in the day being
treated as an absence. Also please understand that covertly participating in these behaviors is still even
more offensive. And lastly please understand that if you are caught in any of these behaviors you will be
treated as a spy, and dismissed from class.
True learners would never turn in late work unless it was completely unavoidable. They understand an
excuse is something they offer in lieu of the real reason for not getting the assignment done.
True learners would never miss class unless it was absolutely necessary. BE HERE! Come to class prepared
to be a contributing partner in this class. You are expected to weigh in on the discussion and the ideas being
presented. True learning is not a spectator sport; articulate your ideas with power, passion, and persuasion.
Grading Break Down
Chapter study guides, 13@ 5 = 65
Handout response papers, 3@ 10 = 30
Play Reading Exam, 3@ 25 = 75
Show critique, 2@ 25 = 50
Personal Philosophy of Art Paper = 25
Midterm = 50
Group Presentation = 100
Breakdown
o Play response = 25
o Individual Components =45
o Group Component = 15
o Group Evaluation = 15

Final Exam = 100

Points Possible = 495
TA 115 Winter Semester 2014 Due Dates:
1-7 Chapter 11 285-292
1-9 Chapter 1
1-12 The Gospel Vision of the Arts (Handout)
1-14 Chapter 3
1-16 Personal Philosophy of Art paper
1-19 No Class (Martin Luther King Day)
1-21 Chapter 2
1-23 Chapter 4 (Sections)
Theatre of Ancient Greece
Theatre of Dionysus
The performers
Greek Comedy
Roman Theatrical Context
Revival of Drama in Medieval Period
Conventions of Medieval Theatre
The Wakefield Cycle
Comparing Greek, Roman and Medieval Theatre

61
64
66
75
77
83
87
89
96

1-26 What Violence in Literature Must Teach Us (Handout)

1-28 Medea Test
1-30 Chapter 9 (Sections)
Cultural Diversity
African American Theatre
Latino Theatre
Asian American Theatre
Native American Theatre
Contemporary Musical

223
224
229
233
236
251

2-2 Chapter 10 (Sections)

Theatre in Japan
Noh Theatre
Other Japanese Theatre
Theatre in China
Theatre in Africa

259
260
264
268
272

2-4 Chapter 5 (Sections)

Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre
The Theatre Experience in Renaissance
Commedia dellArte
The French Background
Elizabethan, Italian and French Traditions

101
111
115
123
131

2-6 A Midsummer Night's Dream Test

2-9 Chapters 6-7 (Sections)
Chapter 6
The Emergence of Romanticism
The advent of Realism
Realism and Naturalism
The Emergence of the Director
The Independent Theatre Movement
Stanislavsky and the Stanislavsky system
Chapter 7
Symbolism
Modernist Influence
Futurism, Dada, Expressionism
Epic Theatre
Theatre of Cruelty
Absurdist Drama

2-11 The Problem of Evil Fiction (Handout)

2-13 Preparation for Midterm
2-16 No Class (Presidents Day)
2- 18 A View from the Bridge Test

136
146
147
153
155
158
161
165
168
177
181
191

2-20 Midterm Evaluation

2-23 Chapter 12 The Playwright
2-25 Archetype Workshop (Alternate Classroom)
2-27 Chapter 13 - Directing
3-2 Lamp At Midnight paper/discussion
3-4 Chapter 14 - Acting
3-6 Acting Workshop (Alternate Classroom)
3-9 Final Project Overview
3-11 Chapters 15, 16, 17 (Sections) Elements of Design
Chapter 15
The scene Designers Skills
Basic Scene Elements
Assembling and Painting Scenery
Shifting Scenery Onstage
Set Decoration and Properties

365
370
374
377
380

Costume Designer Skills

Realizing the Designs
The Costume Designer & Actors
Makeup

389
392
394
395

Lighting Designers Skills

Organizing the Distribution of Light
The functions of Sound Design
Mixed-Media Productions

410
413
419
422

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

3-13 Assign Groups

3-16 Group Work
3-18 Group Work
3-20 Group Work
3-23 Group Work
3-25 Group Work
3-26 Presentation Day
3-30 Le Boheme paper/discussion
4-1 Presentation Day
4-3 Presentation Day
4-6 Presentation Day
4-8 Final Exam
*

The instructor reserves the right to change or modify the assignments as needed.