SF 1161 The Playwright and the Stage
Syllabus, Fall 2023
Professor: Richard W. Chambers
Office: Sawyer 1228
Office Hours: M 9:00-10:45;
Email: rchambers@suffolk.edu
Website: www.richardchambers.net
Time: M/W 2:00-3:15
Room: Sawyer 133
Phone: 617-305-1722 (Better to email me.)
Prerequisites: None Credit Hours: 4
Mode: In Person
Course Description:
This writing and script analysis intensive course will explore plays across a range of styles. We will study the scripts of several new plays by Boston Playwrights and will have visits and readings by those playwrights. Other activities may include conversations with theatre professionals, such as producers, directors, actors, designers, and critics, in order to lift the script off the page and provide a living experience of theatre.
Class Structure:
You will read the texts of several plays, experience some of them either audibly or as a video production, discuss them in class and write papers focusing on various aspects of text analysis.
There are classes centered around mentoring, as well: Time management, study skills, offices and services at Suffolk University, and your integration to college level work. An advisor will visit from the University Undergraduate Advising Center (UUAC) prior to registration.
We will have several guest speakers visit our class—mostly professional playwrights based in Boston. You should make a special effort to be in class and on time for those occasions (“in class” also means synchronous on-line). There will be opportunities to ask questions of the guests. (If you are viewing these visits asynchronously, you will, unfortunately, not be able to engage in the discussions, but the visits will be recorded for later viewing by everyone.) Our guests are taking time out their schedules to visit with us and you should make every effort to be on time for those occasions. You should take notes and use them as research for your papers.
This is a seminar class, so it is based on your pre-preparation of the material and class will be mostly used for discussion, questions, and clarifications of material. You need to come to class prepared and ready to participate with your homework completed and some questions or observations prepared.
This course, like all First-year Seminars, is writing intensive by design. Each assignment will require that you submit a draft and a rewrite. You will write approximately 24 finished pages for submission this semester.
All course dates and times are set for the EDT/EST time zone. The course week begins on a Sunday, and the day ends at 11:59 PM (EDT/EST).
Class Schedule
Week 9/6 W
Class:
Class overview/ The format of the course.
Syllabus, assignments, field trip, class web site, Canvas.
Using Email for communication
Discuss writing in general, and formal papers specifically.
How to read a play
Talk about going to see Mr. Parent at the Boston Playwright's Theatre
Home:
Answer questions on Student Information Sheet handout
Week 2
9/11 M
Due:
Student Information Sheet handout
Class:
The difference between theatre and drama, stage, and script.
The Elements of Theatrical Production: dramatic structure, character, language, style/genre, environment, imagery, theme, audience.
Home:
Read three reviews of same play (provided), take notes on the elements of theatrical production they discuss and decide on three common topics to compare across the plays.
Watch: KP's Theatre Class - Stage Terms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un85gA0S1wc
Review: Stage nomenclature http://www.ia470.com/primer/theatres.htm
9/13 W Guest Speaker: Please be on time!
Due:
Reviews read, videos watched.
Class:
The Stage!
Discuss Review Analysis Paper
Counseling, Health, and Wellness Student Health Portal: https://www.suffolk.edu/student-life/health-wellness
University Services -services" https://www.suffolk.edu/student-life/student-services
Home:
Review Analysis Paper
Study for stage terminology quiz.
Read Handout #2
Week 3
9/18 M
Class:
Review Analysis Paper
Theatre nomenclature quiz
Talk about your first full week of college!
Calendars, schedules, lists, and organizing your time.
The Production Response Paper read
Home:
Read Response Paper assignment
9/20 W Guest Speaker: Please be on time!
Due:
The Production Response Paper assignment read: Questions.
Class:
Guest Speaker: Director Pascal Florestal, Visiting Artist in Residence.
Home:
Listen to Dream Boston plays THE ORCHARD and WONDERLAND. Link to plays: https://www.huntingtontheatre.org/plays-and-events/digital-events/dream-boston/
Week 4
9/25 M
Due:
Dream Boston plays listened to.
Class:
Discuss Dream Boston Plays. (Possible Guest Speakers.)
Home:
Write a Production Response Paper about the two Dream Boston Plays: THE ORCHARD and WONDERLAND
Watch In Zoom by Bill Irwin https://www.theoldglobe.org/in-zoom-thursday/
9/27 W
Due:
In Zoom by Bill Irwin Watched
Class:
Discuss : In Zoom by Bill Irwin: how is it different from and similar to the Dream Boston plays?
Discuss: The Historical Context paper
Home:
Read Representation and How to Get It by Joyce Van Dyke
10/2 M
Due:
Representation and How to Get It by Joyce Van Dyke read.
Class:
Discuss Representation and How to Get It by Joyce Van Dyke
Talk about going to Mr. Parent at the Boston Playwright's Theatre
Home:
Playscript Research Paper for Representation and How to Get It by Joyce Van Dyke
10/4 W Guest Speaker: Joyce Van Dyke. Please be on time!
Due:
Playscript Research Paper for Representation and How to Get It by Joyce Van Dyke
Class:
Discuss Representation and How to Get It script with playwright Joyce van Dyke.
Home:
Advising Info Paper: Email with the name, office location, email, and phone # of your dept. advisor. Email to me with title “Advising Info Paper”. Put your name in the body text at the end.
Week 6
10/9 M Fall Beak—No Class
10/10 T
Meet at outbound Greenline Station at Park Street. We will take the B line outbound to Babcock Street.
See Mr. Parent at the Boston Playwright's Theatre
This is a Pay What You Can performance, so each student should pay what they are able to pay for their ticket, from $0 to $10.
10/11 W
In Class:
The Production Response Paper
Evening:
See Mr. Parent at Boston Playwright's Theatre.
Home:
Write Production Response Paper for Mr. Parent
Saturday Oct. 14th Makeup Day (if needed)
Week 7
10/16 M
Due:
Production Response Paper for Mr. Parent
Class:
Proof-reading your work
Academic Integrity Policy http://www.suffolk.edu/studenthandbook/19863.php
Discuss The World of the Play Paper for Representation and How to Get It
Home:
Review Academic Integrity Policy
Find out who your academic advisor is.
The World of the Play Paper for Representation and How to Get It
10/18 W
Due:
The World of the Play Paper for Representation and How to Get It
Class:
Discuss the difference between the Historical Context and The World of the Play
Overview: Advising, selecting courses, registration, etc.
Homework:
Work out a rough schedule for next semester of classes you would like to take. Identify which are required major/ minor, Gen. Ed. req., electives, alternates. Should include activities you would like to join or participate in.
Read script for The Art of Burning Take notes about what you don't understand, what you have a strong mental picture of, what you disagree with, what you think about the characters, etc.
Week 8
10/23 M (Advising Period Begins)
Due:
Rough schedule for next semester.
Class:
Talk about class schedules. Questions.
Talk about The Art of Burning script. How do you imagine it on stage?
Discuss Objectives, Super Objectives, Actions, and Obstacles
Home:
Review script for The Art of Burning
10/25 W Guest Speaker: Please be on time!
Due:
The Art of Burning read.
Class:
Guest Speaker, Kate Snodgrass
Home:
Write World of the Play Paper for The Art of Burning
Friday, October 30: Last day to drop a Fall Course w/o a grade of “F”
Week 9
10/30 M
Due:
World of the Play Paper for The Art of Burning
Class:
Discuss World of the Play Paper for The Art of Burning Read excepts aloud in class.
Home:
Read The Smuggler
11/1 W
Due:
The Smuggler read
Class:
Discuss The Smuggler in class.
Home:
Research elements in the smuggler.
Write Draft World of the Play paper for The Smuggler
Week 10
11/6 M
In Class: Guest Speaker: Please be on time! ?????
Guest speaker, playwright Ronan Noone, reads portions of his play The Smuggler, discusses its development and history, and answers questions around story, character, and the biz.
Home:
Finish World of the Play paper for The Smuggler
Week 11
11/8 W
Due:
World of the Play Paper for The Smuggler.
In Class:
Discuss World of the Play Paper for The Smuggler
The Character Analysis
Home:
Write Begin draft of one character for the Character Analysis for The Smuggler.
11/10 F Veteran's Day: No ClassWeek 12
11/13 M
Due:
Draft of one character for the Character Analysis paper for The Smuggler
In Class:
Discuss draft of one character for the Character Analysis paper or The Smuggler
Home:
Write Draft of two more main characters from The Smuggler for the Character Analysis paper
11/15 W
Due:
Draft of three main characters for the Character Analysis paper for The Smuggler
In Class:
Discuss progress on Character Analysis paper for The Smuggler
Home:
Write Final Character Analysis paper for The Smuggler
Week 13
11/20 M
Due:
Final Character Analysis paper for The Smuggler
In Class:
Discuss Final Character Analysis paper for The Smuggler
Home:
Review assignment sheet on class web site or Canvas for the The Characters Start Talking Paper and take notes (with time stamps from the video!). Watch the interview on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSlVSYoqQAs
11/22 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY School Closed
Week 14
11/27 M
Due:
Youtube The Characters Start Talking Interviews watched
Class:
Discuss The Characters Start Talking Paper and your approaches to writing.
Home:
Write Draft of The Characters Start Talking Paper. See assignment sheet on class website.
11/29 W
Due:
Draft of The Characters Start Talking Paper
Class:
Motifs, Themes, Symbols, Metaphors, and Imagery
Home:
Write Final The Characters Start Talking Paper
12/4 M
Due:
The Characters Start Talking Paper
Class:
Discuss The Characters Start Talking Paper
12/6 W
Discuss Final Exam: Tuesday, December 18, 11:00 - 1:30
All late and rewritten work due!