Research for Theatre

Catalog description

Through a series of hands-on projects, students will explore the various ways research supports and deepens the theatremaking process. As a group, the class will study three plays set during specific historical moments and students will complete three individual research projects related to these plays. In each project, students will assume the role of actors/directors, costume/scenic designers, or dramaturges and will engage with research strategies that will support the work of their chosen production role. Across the three projects, students will gain familiarity with 1) primary sources including personal narratives and letters; 2) archival research strategies; 3) visual research on art trends, fashion history, and architectural history; 4) historical acting theories and approaches, and 5) secondary sources on the sociopolitical context of the chosen periods.