2008 Woodie Awards
Theater Theory Course Debuts
by Fatima Sesay
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
The Journalism, Communications, and Theatre Department is offering a new three-credit course in theatre called "Theatre Theory." The course focuses on classical and modern theories of theatre from Aristotle to the present, with some emphasis on twentieth-century contributions.
"Students are learning how to clarify ideas about theatre, how to write manifestos, and articulate ideas about theatre," explained Claudia Case, the instructor of the course.
Theatre Theory is held on Mondays and Wednesdays in the Speech and Theatre Building, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The course is only offered during the fall semesters and students must have taken its prerequisite, "Play Analysis." Six students are currently taking the course.
Sophomore Sheena Wellington explained that the class has already completed Philip Barry's "The Philadelphia Story," Euripides's "Medea," and Zeam's "Nakamitsu." They are now reading William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Case wants her students to concentrate on the rules that these authors demonstrate with regard to good play-writing.
Beside discussing how theatre practitioners define the art, Case teaches students what theatre is and what it should look like. Students are introduced to readings by acclaimed playwrights and theorists.
According to Case, The JCT department has not been able to provide a class like this for almost a decade because there is a shortage of adeptly certified lecturers in this field. Case is the only professor who has a background in theatre theory at Lehman, and she has been teaching in the Theatre Department for two years.
"There is some overlap between theatre theory and literary theory, and some of the professors in the English department have a background in literary theory," explained Case.
In addition to theatre theory, Case also has a background in literature, and theatre history. She graduated with a doctorate from the Yale School of Drama, where she studied Dramaturgy. She has worked as a dramaturg at the Yale Repertory Theatre; the 78th Street Theatre Lab; and the Prospect Theater Company.
"Students are learning how to clarify ideas about theatre, how to write manifestos, and articulate ideas about theatre," explained Claudia Case, the instructor of the course.
Theatre Theory is held on Mondays and Wednesdays in the Speech and Theatre Building, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The course is only offered during the fall semesters and students must have taken its prerequisite, "Play Analysis." Six students are currently taking the course.
Sophomore Sheena Wellington explained that the class has already completed Philip Barry's "The Philadelphia Story," Euripides's "Medea," and Zeam's "Nakamitsu." They are now reading William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Case wants her students to concentrate on the rules that these authors demonstrate with regard to good play-writing.
Beside discussing how theatre practitioners define the art, Case teaches students what theatre is and what it should look like. Students are introduced to readings by acclaimed playwrights and theorists.
According to Case, The JCT department has not been able to provide a class like this for almost a decade because there is a shortage of adeptly certified lecturers in this field. Case is the only professor who has a background in theatre theory at Lehman, and she has been teaching in the Theatre Department for two years.
"There is some overlap between theatre theory and literary theory, and some of the professors in the English department have a background in literary theory," explained Case.
In addition to theatre theory, Case also has a background in literature, and theatre history. She graduated with a doctorate from the Yale School of Drama, where she studied Dramaturgy. She has worked as a dramaturg at the Yale Repertory Theatre; the 78th Street Theatre Lab; and the Prospect Theater Company.
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Fatima S
posted 10/07/08 @ 1:47 PM EST
yayy my first article @ Lehman
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