Assignment:

See one professional production at an established venue, preferably in Boston, and write a paper outlining your response to the productions. Your ability to communicate in clear, concise writing is as important as your attentive, considered perceptions of each production. The nature of the assignment requires that the content of each response paper is purposely left somewhat open. However, you should describe and analyze the design aspects, how they helped to create a compelling production, how they affected your understanding of the script, and how well they were integrated with each other. Use the following guidelines to help you shape your own compelling ideas about the productions.

I suggest you take notes (discretely) during the production, perhaps right on the program. It is useful to do a "brain dump" into your computer right when you get home so you can preserve fresh memories and reactions to the production to use later when you write the paper.

Paper:

-   Three to four pages, double spaced, one-inch margins, twelve point font, MLA header, page numbers, stapled in the upper left corner, appropriate research and/ or citations as needed.

-   Save ticket and/ or program and attach to paper.

-   Due dates are specified in the syllabus.

-   Use appropriate terminology to describe the event.

-   Discuss the production/ dramaturgical aspects of the show, eg:

Some things to consider:

1.   Were the artists all "working on the same show"?

2.   Did one aspect of the production design stand out from the others (set, costumes, lighting, or sound)? Was this appropriate?

3.   Did the directorial approach and design style employed support or detract from what you understand to be the playwright's intentions?

4.   Was color, line, composition, scale, etc. employed in an interesting way? How was this done?

5.   Did the design and technology of the production contribute or detract from a satisfying experience?

THETR 151:

Production Response