THEA 250: Theatre Appreciation

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2021
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 101.
District General Education: C1. Arts
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter, Pass/No Pass

Catalog Course Description

An introduction to methods of evaluating theatre in performance. Students will view and critique at least five plays per semester. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Analyze the playwright's intent in a given play and evaluate the degree to which a given production realizes that intent
  • Identify standards of effective design, acting and interpretation in a live production
  • Evaluate the social, political, cultural and historical import of a given play.
  • Identify standards of effective design, acting and interpretation
  • Connect the themes and imagery in a specific play to the cultural climate of its times

Major Course Content

  1. Historic and contemporary styles of production specific to the plays chosen for the semester.
    1. Greek tragedy/Comedy
    2. Commedia del'arte
    3. Farce
    4. Restoration comedy
    5. Shakespeare
    6. Realism
    7. Musical theatre
    8. Existentialism
  2. Background of plays and playwrights to be studied specific to the plays chosen for the semester.
    1. historical
    2. cultural
    3. political
    4. moral
    5. social
  3. Play analysis (Aristotle's Poetics - 6 parts of drama)
    1. plot
    2. character
    3. theme
    4. diction
    5. music
    6. spectacle
  4. Performance techniques
    1. Stanislavski
    2. Sanford Meisner
    3. Lee Strasberg
    4. Stella Adler
    5. Viola Spolin
    6. Bertolt Brecht
  5. Method of writing theatre criticism.
    1. objective
    2. subjective

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Pre-reading the play prior to discussion.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Several two to three page critical analyses of productions incorporating character believability, evaluation of director, design elements, historical and cultural significance and personal response are required.

Examples of Outside Assignments

All outside assignments are written - see below.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture