Introduction to Theater and Performance Studies

This course takes the form of a "theatre history for theatre makers." Throughout the quarter, we'll explore a series of classic plays drawn from different historical periods and global theatre traditions, and covering a vibrant array of genres, characters, concerns, and aesthetic styles that continue to resonate in our present moment. Alongside this select overview of influential works from the theatrical past, we will read key examples of theatre theory. We will trace and experiment with concepts and techniques like catharsis, empathy, estrangement, and mimesis, while gaining a keener appreciation of key features of performance such as embodiment, spatiality, language, and mise-en-scene. This class actively integrates theory and practice. Through lectures, discussions, and practical workshops/activities, along with written exercises and viewings of live performance, this course will help you achieve a richer understanding of the performances you see and the performances you may wish to make.