Introduction to Theater & Performance Studies

3 units

Why is storytelling so important for understanding our world? Why do we act out our stories, and why does the ancient art of dramatic storytelling continue to capture our imaginations, even and especially now in a world of computer animation? This course begins with such questions to frame our understanding of dramatic form, the theatrical vocabulary we use to bring it to life on stage, and the implications it holds for our ability to understand ordinary performances in everyday life. Structurally, the course is organized into three units — script analysis, dramaturgical translation, and performance studies — each of which models a foundational skill set for understanding how meaning is made in performance. Topically, it incorporates a mainstage production in the PAD season to provide students with an experiential learning opportunity to engage live art and artists and to develop their powers of aesthetic appreciation and critical discernment.