Course Description
An introduction to the history, theories, and practice of community-based theatre. Hallmark troupes and artists, and techniques of theatre for social change. Involves outreach in the community, critical reflection, and the creation our own community-based performance.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will do additional reading in the academic
fields of community-based theatre and performance ethnography.
They will also be asked to give a longer historical
presentation and lead class discussion that day. They will
complete an additional final project: a paper for Ph.D.
students, and a design, animation, performance, or other
relevant project for M.F.A.s.
Athena Title
Community-Based Theatre
Non-Traditional Format
Course includes a service-learning project during the semester that either employs skills or knowledge learned in the course or teaches new skills or knowledge related to course objectives. Students will be involved in the planning and implementation of the project(s) and may spend time outside of the classroom. Students will be engaged in the service-learning component for approximately 25-50% of overall instructional time.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
* To become familiar with the field of community-based theatre and performance (the hallmark troupes as well as the ongoing discussions and debates) *To learn and practice techniques to use theatre for social change in the community *To find precise language to evaluate democratic, humanist, radical, anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-heterosexist performances *To bridge the "theory-practice divide": to use theory from class to inform our theatre practice, and to use our practice to test the theories we read *To collaboratively create a community-based performance
Topical Outline
1. Introduction: The Community-Based Theatre Classroom - What is theatre for social change? - Service-learning and fieldwork in the classroom - Begin outreach with community partner 2. History - Augusto Boal - Bertolt Brecht - Federal Theatre Project - Living Theatre - Cornerstone Theater - Bread and Puppet Theatre - Urban Bush Women - The Medea Project 3. Community-Based Theatre on College Campuses (and Schools) - Some examples - Begin creation of our piece 4. Outreach, Ethnography, and Ethics - Dwight Conquergood - Jan Cohen-Cruz - Critical reflections - Creation/rehearsal of the performance
Syllabus