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I.  TITLE:   Honors Seminar in Theatre

Please note this syllabus may be updated and/or changed at the discretion of the instructor.

II.  CATALOG DESCRIPTION: The Honors Seminar in Theatre is a three-hour semester course designed to meet one portion of the Honors Program elective requirements in creative arts.  While its fundamental premise is an investigation of theatre, the eclectic nature of the discipline requires study of concomitant trends in the visual and auditory arts to understand the collaborative nature of theatrical production.  ONLY STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY’S HONORS PROGRAM ARE PERMITTED TO TAKE THIS COURSE.

III.  PURPOSE:   The purpose of the Honors Seminar in Theatre is to provide the student with experiences for:

1 - An understanding of the development of dramatic and theatrical activity.
2 - An understanding of past trends as prototypical activity of current practice.
3 - An understanding of the skills employed in viewing theatrical activity in a  critical fashion.
4 - An understanding of the physical techniques employed in performance.
5 - An understanding of the enculturation role theatre plays in a society.

IV.  COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The following objectives form the basis for structuring class activities (lecture, seminar, discussion), accomplishing the purpose of the course, and fulfilling the General Education Goals at Murray State in a dignified and sophisticated fashion.

A. The student demonstrates an understanding of the development of dramatic and theatrical activity by:

1) recognizing, identifying and describing, in both written and verbal formats, the elements of dramatic form.
2) recognizing the function of the individual artists who contribute to the constituents of theatrical production.
 

B. The student demonstrates an understanding of past trends as prototypical of current practice by:

1) responding to questions which require identification of individual stylistic and theoretic traits.
2) responding to questions which require demonstration of prototypical trends.

C. The student demonstrates an understanding of critical process by offering written and verbal critiques of performances and scripts.

D. The student demonstrates an understanding of physical performance techniques by engaging in performances where vocal and physical skills are employed.

E. The student demonstrates an understanding of social impact of theatre by offering written and verbal commentary relating its impact to play activity, game theory, and psychological release.

V.  INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

I. Create two scripts which observe the unities of time, place and action and are suitable for theatrical presentation.

A. As a member of a creative writing team.
B. As an individual writer.

II. Perform in a scripted scene.

III. Construct a theatrical mask which has the following characteristics:

A. It will cover the face and will remain in place while affixed to the head.
B. It will provide apertures for breathing, speaking, and seeing.
C. It will have "character makeup" which is accomplished by painting a design to reveal mood, emotion, or attitude.

Note: A commercial "Halloween" mask is not an acceptable substitute for an individually created mask.

IV. Perform as a member of a group in a scene from musical theatre literature.

A. Choose one song from the libretto.
B. Group stage and choreograph it.

V. Create an oral and written report on some thematic aspect of an historical or contemporary dramatic script detailing its relationship to the socio-economic, psychological, technical, literary trends in the society and culture of its time.  [Please see the attached sheet -- topics for development which lists possible selections.]

VI. Written critique of two theatrical productions listed below in field and clinical experiences.

VI.  FIELD AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCES:

Students will be expected to attend the current semester’s performances of the Murray State University Theatre.
 
Resources: Selected dramatic texts and in-house produced materials will provide the requisite resources for this course.

VII.  GRADING:  The grading scale is as follows:

90% of total possible points  =  A
80 - 89%    =  B
70 - 79%    =  C
60 - 69%    =  D
Below 60%    =  E

Recognizing that not all individuals are theatrically oriented or motivated, completion of the assigned projects in a dignified, sophisticated and committed manner will generally be sufficient effort to receive the maximum grade on projects.  Written materials are to be submitted on assigned dates and completed in an acceptable fashion.  All written projects are to be typed, double-spaced, spell-checked and constructed in acceptable grammatical usage.

VIII.  ATTENDANCE POLICY:  Attendance is required at all classes, seminars, and at the field experiences.  A student who is absent from more than three of the above will automatically receive a reduction in one letter grade.  Exceptions will be made for documented illness or documented activity in a legitimate academic/ departmental activity of the university.

Project Submission: The following dates have been established as the
Content Outline: See attached schedule.

Examinations: Written examinations will not be administered in this class.  Completion of projects will be sufficient to demonstrate competency levels.

"The Department of Theatre and Dance supports all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Murray State University policies including a prohibited discrimination and sexual harassment.  If you ever feel you are a victim of such violations, please inform your instructor or Mr. David Balthrop (FA110; telephone 4634) immediately."

IX.  ACADEMIC HONESTY:   The Undergraduate Bulletin states the following policy on academic honesty:  "Cheating, plagiarism, (submitting another person's material as one's own), or doing work for another person which will receive academic credit are all impermissible.  This includes the use of unauthorized books, notebooks, or other sources in order to secure or give help during an examination, the unauthorized copying of examinations, assignments, reports, or term papers, or the presentation of unacknowledged material as if it were the students's own work.  Disciplinary action may be taken beyond the academic discipline administered by the faculty member who teaches the course in which the cheating took place."  This policy will be enforced by the instructor reserving the right to invalidate any examination or other valuative measures if substantial evidenc exists that cheating or plagiarism has occurred.