Performance exercises help students identify the theatrical context and theatrical forms and techniques used by these theaters. Subject investigates the musicality, movement styles, and structures of oratory central to African-American life. Examines the participatory, communal essence of black performance and how that performance functions as cultural inspiration, as political weaponry, as art, as religion, and as an entertaining social safety valve. Required readings, written essays, and mid-term writing project in addition to creation of short performance pieces. A semester's work may center on the theater of a particular culture such as Asia, Africa, Latin America, or particular theater forms such as feminist, Afro-American, Latino, and gay and lesbian.
Students study three texts from a range of periods and styles over the course of the semester.
The final project includes an analysis of a fourth text of the student's choosing from the point of view of one particular field of theater practice. Seminar pursues detailed study of a particular playtext or theme and is related to some planned production activity during the following Independent Activities Period. Participation in the IAP production is not required. Students experience Latin American collective creation methods through classroom exercises. Subject is a blend of academic study and theatrical play.