University of Minnesota Duluth

TH 3201 STAGE DIRECTION
fall semester 2002
 
Associate Professor William E. Payne
Department of Theatre
144 Marshall Performing Arts Center
(218) 726-8597
<wpayne@d.umn.edu>

Office Hours

By Appointment

Class Meeting Time & Place

M.P.A.C. 21 Section 001: Monday,Wednesday,Friday 1:00-2:15 p.m.

M.P.A.C. 49 Section 002: Tuesday, Thursday 1:00-2:50 p.m.

Required Textbooks

The Director's Voice: Interviews by Arthur Bartow
A Director Prepares: 7 Essays on Art and Theatre by Anne Bogart
Four Plays by Eugene O'Neill
Humana Festival 2001: The Collected Plays
Edited by Tanya Palmer & Amy Wegener

Course Objectives

1. To develop a portfolio of materials leading to the interpretation and direction of a contemporary play.
2. To gain practical experience in the craft of directing vicariously through lecture/demonstrations and immediately through classroom exercises.
3. To read, analyze and interpret a variety of contemporary and classical American plays culminating in 3-5 page Theme/Interpretation papers.
4. To discuss the connection between the historical development of society, the arts and the role of the director in theatre.

 

Course Requirements

In order to successfully complete this course the student must:
1. Attend class regularly and participate in the discussion/activities of the day.
2. Complete five scheduled quizzes concerning the assigned play readings from The Director's Voice , a collection of interviews with well known professional directors
3. Write five 3-5 page Theme /Interpretation papers based on the assigned play readings.
4. Present preliminary staging for the Portfolio - Final Scene Presentation.
5. Complete and present a production portfolio for a contemporary play of the students choice. The portfolio will include all of the following sections:

1) A 6-10 page Theme/Interpretation paper, short sections concerning 2) Designs, 3) Scheduling, 4) Auditions/Casting, 5) Research,6) a Final Portfolio Presentation lasting 15 minutes and7) a Final Scene Presentation lasting no more than 10 minutes.

PLAGIARISM STATEMENT
 Plagiarizing from another text is not allowed under any circumstances. Any student caught plagiarizing will automatically receive a zero on the assignment and their final grade will be dropped one full letter grade.
NOTE
 Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might effect their ability to perform in this class are encouraged to inform the instructor at the start of the quarter. Adaptation of methods, materials or testing may be made as required to provide equitable participation.

 

POINTS BREAKDOWN GRADING SCALE

Points Breakdown
Attendance/Participation 10 pts
5 T/I papers x12 60 pts
5 Quizzes x 10 50 pts
Staging Presentation 30 pts
Production Portfolio
T/I 50 pts
Design 15 pts
Scheduling 15 pts
Auditions/Casting/Working With Actors 15 pts
Research 15 pts
Final Port. Pres. 20 pts
Final Scene Pres. 20 pts
TOTAL - Portfolio 150 pts
TOTAL - Class 300 pts
Grading Scale
A 91% 273 pts
A- 88% 264 pts
B+ 85% 255 pts
B 82% 246 pts
B- 79% 237 pts
C+ 76% 228 pts
C 73% 219 pts
C- 70% 210 pts
D+ 67% 201 pts

D

 64% 192
F   191 and below

Late T/I papers will be accepted for one week after they are due. Each 24 hour period missed accrues a loss of 1 point. No papers will be accepted for credit more than 7 days late.
ATTENDANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS CLASS. AFTER FOUR OR FIVE (4 or 5) ABSENCES, THE STUDENTS FINAL GRADE WILL BE DROPPED ONE THIRD (1/3) OF A GRADE FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT ABSENCE.

 

 

COURSE CALENDAR

week#1

9-4 First Meeting: distribute syllabus, discuss assignments/ ASSIGNMENT: Read Quake by Melanie Marnich , The Hairy Ape by Eugene O_Neill, and Preface, Memory, Violence, Eroticism from A Director Prepares/ Start looking for Final Project play!
9-6 No Class - Professor out of town - Read!!!

week#2

9-9 No Class - Professor out of town - Read!!!
9-11 Discuss syllabus, and class assignments
9-13 Discuss Analysis & Interpretation: The Role of the Director,T/I Papers/ ASSIGNMENT: Write Practice T/I paper on The Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill

week #3

9-16 Discuss Analysis & Interpretation/: Quake by Melanie Marnich/ Discuss Theme/Interpretation Papers
9-18 Discuss Research
9-20 Discuss A Director Prepares Preface, Memory, Violence, Eroticism/ ASSIGNMENT: Read T.D.V. - Falls, Hirsch, Serban

week #4

9-23 Discuss Research
9-25 Discuss The Hairy Ape by Eugene O_Neill Practice Paper due/ ASSIGNMENT: Read Play #1 Wonderful World by Richard Dresser
9-27 Discuss T.D.V. - Falls, Hirsch, Serban QUIZ #1/ Final Project Play Selections Due

week #5

9-30 Discuss Auditions
10-2 Discuss Auditions/ASSIGNMENT: Read T.D.V. - Clarke, Foreman, Richards
10-4 Discuss Play #1 , Wonderful World by Richard Dresser Paper #1 Due

week #6

10-7 Discuss Working With Actors
10-9 Discuss Working With Actors/ ASSIGNMENT: Read Play #2 Anna Christie by Eugene O_Neill
10-11 Discuss T.D.V. - Clarke, Foreman, Richards QUIZ #2

week #7

10-14 Discuss The Design Process
10-16 Discuss The Design Process/ ASSIGNMENT: Read T.D.V. - Akalaitas, Mosher, Sellars
10-18 Discuss Play #2 Anna Christie by Eugene O_Neill Paper #2 Due

week #8

10-21 Discuss Scheduling
10-23 Discuss Scheduing/ ASSIGNMENT: Read Play #3 Chad Curtiss, Lost Again by Arthur Kopit
10-25 Discuss T.D.V. - Akalaitas, Mosher, Sellars QUIZ #3

week #9

10-28 Staging Workshop
10-30 Staging Workshop/ ASSIGNMENT: Read T.D.V. - Davidson, Prince, Woodruff
11-1 Discuss Play #3 Chad Curtiss, Lost Again by Arthur Kopit Paper #3 Du/ ASSIGNMENT: Read Play #4 The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill

week #10

11-4 Staging Workshop
11-6 Discuss T.D.V. - Davidson, Prince, Woodruff QUIZ #4
11-8 Staging Presentations (3)

week #11

11-11 Staging Presentations (3)
11-13 Discuss Play #4 The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill/ Paper #4 Due/ ASSIGNMENT: Read T.D.V. - Fichlander, MacAnuff, Wright
11-15 Staging Presentations (3)/ ASSIGNMENT: Read Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage by Jane Martin

week #12

11-18 Staging Presentations (3)
11-20 Discuss T.D.V. - Fichlander, MacAnuff, Wright QUIZ #5
11-22 Discuss Integration/Tech Week

week #13

11-25 Discuss A Director Prepares - Terror, Stereotype, Embarassment, Resistance
11-27 Discuss Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage by Jane Martin Paper #5 Due
11-29 No Class - Thanksgiving Holiday

week #14

12-2 Discuss Career Paths for Directors
12-4 Discuss Final Scene Presentations
12-6 Portfolio Presentations (3)/ Portfolios Due 12-9-02 by 4:00 p.m.

week #15

12-9 Portfolio Presentations (3)
12-11 Portfolio Presentations (3)
12-13 Portfolio Presentations (3)

Finals Week - Final Scene Presentations t.b.a.