Introduction to Theatre What is theatre? For whom—and by whom—is
it created and performed? What does it take to “make theatre”?
What is the role of theatre in society and in our culture(s)?
This course is an introduction to theatre as a unique art form.
We will learn to read plays as scripts designed for performance.
This summer, live viewing of productions will be a special
feature of the course, as our class schedule will facilitate
group visits to Philadelphia theatres. Among the pieces we will
read, see, and study are Neil LaBute’s Reasons to be Pretty at
the Philadelphia Theatre Company; Athol Fugard’s The Island at
the Lantern Theatre Company; and Tony Kushner’s Angels in
America: Millennium Approaches at the Philadelphia Theatre
Company. We will examine the roles of actor, director, designer,
and playwright; we will look back at moments in the theatrical
past—and forward to new ways of thinking about performance.