THTR 24: READERS THEATRE
Foothill College Course Outline of Record
| Heading | Value |
|---|---|
| Effective Term: | Summer 2021 |
| Units: | 4 |
| Hours: | 3 lecture, 3 laboratory per week (72 total per quarter) |
| Advisory: | Not open to students with credit in COMM 24 or DRAM 24. |
| Degree & Credit Status: | Degree-Applicable Credit Course |
| Foothill GE: | Non-GE |
| Transferable: | CSU/UC |
| Grade Type: | Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass) |
| Repeatability: | Not Repeatable |
| Formerly: | DRAM 24 |
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students, through personal involvement, gain experiential knowledge of the many processes necessary for preparing and performing a staged dramatic reading from theatre or literature -auditioning and casting, rehearsal process, performance standards, and post production assessment.
- Through critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork practices , students challenge, synthesize and develop skills pertaining to the designated assignment in performing a live or streamed theatrical performance towards familiarizing themselves with the industry structures and experiences performance.
Description
Preparation and performance of individual and group readings from various types of literature, especially play scripts, employing a range of vocal skills, and presented in a dramatic context.
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
- Select, prepare, deliver and critique monologue, dialogue, and choral readings from various types and genres of literature, with increasing levels of sophistication.
- Apply a variety of fundamental vocal techniques to literature selected.
- Identify and synthesize a selection of literary materials into a coherent, unified dramatic presentation.
- Distinguish and demonstrate processes of transforming non-dramatic materials into a dramatic context.
- Recognize and differentiate between the forms of oral interpretation, readers theatre and "acted" oral work.
- Value dramatic literature from historically rich and diverse multi-ethic and multi-cultural sources.
- Recognize the interdisciplinary nature of readers theatre, combining literature of many genres, music, and humanities.
Course Content
- Exposure to various samples of readers theatre
- Conscious attention to multi-cultural sources of literature
- Lecture presentations regarding form and style of readers theatre processes
- Minimum of four dramatic readings each quarter
- Participation in rehearsal and performance of a readers theatre production composed around an organizing principle:
- One author's works
- A particular literary genre, e.g., poetry, drama, narrative
- A single major work
- Thematic organization
- Literature exploring a specific cultural or ethnic source
- Fundamental vocal exercises
- Articulation
- Projection
- Expressive skills
- Sight reading
Lab Content
- Cooperative rehearsal of class assignments and projects.
- Individual and partner exploration and self-analysis of concepts and exercises introduced in class.
Special Facilities and/or Equipment
1. Reading stands, room with theatre-style seating for performance.
2. For online instruction, regular weekly internet access for online content.
2. For online instruction, regular weekly internet access for online content.
Method(s) of Evaluation
Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:
Graded class reading assignments
Written assembly and analysis of literary materials
Final group reading project
Method(s) of Instruction
Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:
Lecture
Discussion
Cooperative learning exercises
Oral presentations
Laboratory
Demonstration
Representative Text(s) and Other Materials
Kleinau, Marion L., and Janet Larsen McHughes. Theatres for Literature. 2003.
Yordon, Judy. Experimental Theatre: Creating and Staging Texts. 2001.
Although these texts are older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, they remain seminal texts in this area of study.
Literature and play scripts selected to assure exposure to the best classical and contemporary material
Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments
- Selected play scripts and appropriate background reading as assigned by the instructor each quarter. The play scripts chosen each term will not repeat within a minimum of five years. Additional texts are chosen based on the specific performance projects.
Discipline(s)
Theater Arts