THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA

DRAMA DEPT.
DR 101, section 02: Introduction to Theatre
Fall 2013
Undergraduate Syllabus
3 Credit Hours
Required of Drama, Music Concentrators, and Drama SubConcentrators
Classroom: Hartke 200
Class Time: MWF 12:40-1:30
Instructor contact information:
Ms. Melissa Flaim
Office location: 207 Hartke
Phone: x6467 202-314-6369
Email: melissa.flaim@gmail.com flaim@cua.edu
Office Hours: MWF 10:30-12:30 and by appointment
Teaching Assistant contact information
Mr. Orion Jones
Office location: 209 Hartke
Phone: x5370 773-951-5050
Email: 76joneso@cardinalmail.cua.edu
Office Hours: Thursday 5-6pm and by appointment
Course Description:
An introduction to the nature of theatre as a performing art. Students
study selected plays from the perspectives of actors and directors, and the
strategies of playwrights to develop the ability to imagine the play in
performance and to appreciate the range of theatre's possibilities.
Instructional Methods: Lecture/Discussion
Required Texts:
Trifles
Susan Glaspell
In the Forest, She Grew Fangs
Stephen Spotswood
The Shape of Things
Neil LaButte
Next to Normal
Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey
August: Osage County
Tracy Letts
In the Blood
Suzan Lori-Parks
How I Learned to Drive
Paula Vogel
Clybourne Park
Bruce Norris
A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansbury

Beneathas Place

Kwame KweiArmah

Course Goals:
To introduce the student to the dramatic arts and investigate how the
components of those arts are utilized to enhance the theatrical experience.
Course Requirements:
Attendance/participation in class. Completion of all class assignments
including attendance and reaction papers to productions as noted.
Reaction papers:
The student is required to read assigned play scripts and to attend a
variety of university and professional productions. Throughout the semester
the student will submit reaction papers on assigned readings or productions.
The papers should be 2 pages in length (double space, New Times Roman,
12 point font, 1 inch borders) and use the Chicago Manual of Style. The
papers are formal writings and graded on spelling, grammar, and structure
as well as content. Content of the individual papers will be discussed as they
are assigned. The student is also required to submit two reaction papers on
outside, professional productions following the above format.
Expectations and policies:
Academic honesty:
Academic honesty is expected of all CUA students. Faculty are required
to initiate the imposition of sanctions when they find violations of academic
honesty, such as plagiarism, improper use of a students own work, cheating,
and fabrication. The following sanctions are presented in the University
procedures related to Student Academic Dishonesty
(http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrityprocedures.cfm): The
presumed sanction for undergraduate students for academic dishonesty will
be failure for the course. There may
be circumstances, however, where, perhaps because of an undergraduate
students past record, a more serious sanction, such as suspension or
expulsion, would be appropriate. In the context of graduate studies, the
expectations for academic honesty are greater, and therefore the presumed
sanction for dishonesty is likely to be more severe, e.g., expulsion. ...In the
more unusual case, mitigating circumstances may exist that would warrant a
lesser sanction than the presumed sanction. Please review the complete
texts of the University policy and procedures regarding Student Academic
Dishonesty, including requirements for appeals, at
http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrity.cfm and
http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrity.cfm.
Attendance Policy:
The class relies heavily on class participation and in class discussion
and therefore requires student attendance. Each student is allowed two
absences through the semester to be used for illness or other emergencies.
The final grade will be reduced by one letter grade for each additional

absence. Two late arrivals for class are equivalent to one absence. Four
total absences are grounds for failing the course. The class begins at
12:40 and the student is expected to be present and prepared for class at
that time. The student is required to have completed all homework
assignments before the beginning of the class when it is due. Students are
responsible for completing the homework assignment for missed classes
before returning to subsequent classes. It is recommended that the student
plan to arrive in the classroom five minutes prior to the beginning of class.
The class meets until 1:30. The student should not
begin to prepare to leave class until it is over. Food, drink, and cell phones
are not allowed while class is in session.
Accommodations for students with disabilities:
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a
disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss specific needs. Please contact
Disability Support Services (at 202-19- 5211, room 207 Pryzbyla Center) to coordinate
reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. To read about the services
and policies, please visit the website: http://disabilitysupport.cua.edu.
Assessment:
Mid term examination 25%
Final examination 25%
Class participation 25%
Reaction papers 25%
University grades:
The University grading system is available for undergraduates at:
http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad//gradesfull.cfm#II.
Reports of grades in courses are available at the end of each term on:
http://cardinalstation.cua.edu.
Writing resources:
The Writing Center is an excellent resource for any student here at
CUA. The Writing Center is committed to supporting the writing needs of
students at all stages of the writing process. The Writing Center offers:
Advice from trained consultants
Techniques for invention, arrangement, and style
Assistance for student writers of all levels and
Reference material such as dictionaries, thesauri, and citation formats for
APA, MLA, and Chicago style guides.

If, at any point in the semester, you feel like you are struggling to draft,
revise or properly reference sources in a writing assignment, make an
appointment at http://english.cua.edu/wc. The Writing Center is located in
111 OBoyle Hall. Instructors may also refer you to the Writing Center for

further assistance with any assignment or writing skill. It always helps to

have an extra pair of eyes, so dont be surprised if I ask you to visit the
Center at some point.

Syllabus
Aug. 26 Introduction/ Syllabus
28 What is Theatre
30 Trifles discussion
The Script
Sept. 2 Labor Day, NO CLASS
4 Literary Style
6 Style Exercise
9 Adaptation
11 In the Forest, She Grew Fangs with Stephen
13 Action
16 Six Word Plays Writing
18 Six Word Plays Performance
20 Next to Normal Discussion
The Director
23 The Director (Jones & Velasco)
25 Directing the Scene (Jones & Velasco)
27 The Shape of Things discussion
The Performance Space
30 Elements of the performance space (TD)
Oct. 2 In The Blood discussion
4 Midterm Review
7 Mid Term Examination
9 Performance Space Exercise (all)
11 Performance Space Exercise (all)
14 Columbus Day NO CLASS
15 Dramaturg?? (PT)
16 The Physical Plant (TD) Hartke
18 How I Learned to Drive discussion
21 Concept and Aesthetics (TD)
23 Aesthetic Exercise, beautiful/ugly (TD)
The Designer
25 The Set Designer (TD)
28 The Light Designer (TD)
30 The Sound Designer (Gregg Martin)
Nov. 1 The Costume Designer (Gail Beach)
4 August: Osage County discussion
The Performer
6 Acting Methodologies, Stanislavsky (MF)
Callan
8 Acting Methodologies, Voice (MF)
11 Acting Methodologies, Acting (MH)
13 Dream Play designers (all)
15 In the Forest, She Grew Fangs
18 Discussion of A DREAM PLAY

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20 Intro Three plays (all)

Hartke
22 FILM: A Raisin in the Sun
Hartke
25 FILM A Raisin in the Sun
Hartke
27 Thanksgiving recess
29 Thanksgiving recess
Dec. 2 Discussion of A Raisin in the Sun
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4 Discussion of Clybourne Park
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6 Discussion of Beneathas Place (Jessica Dukes)
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13 FINAL EXAM 10:15 am-12:15 pm (Friday)
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