An Introduction to Devising Original Theater

Catalog description

This course is designed to give the student/creator an introduction to devising skills and experience in the creative and collaborative act of making original theater. This course will focus on developing the skills of devising theater by studying and practicing The Viewpoints, Moment Work, Live Sound Action and other creative practices. Grounded in these approaches students will be guided by invitations to generate short (and then longer) moments of theater. We begin by focusing on the fundamental elements of theatrical performance and design including: Light, Sound (music, voice, other), Space (including site specific), Time (including rhythm, duration, repetition), Body, Text, Object, and Costume. While engaging with these fundamental elements of theater, we craft material by responding to various sources, we explore framing, layering and sequencing, and, we investigate the process of structural analysis and giving feedback. In a container of ensemble practice the course focuses on creative initiation, collaborative process, and the act of crafting theatrical work - both spontaneous and prepared. Over the course of the semester students will have the opportunity to take on different roles within the devising process (outside eye, performer, writer, designer) and they will explore making work based on a theme as well as the subject of audience engagement (relationship). Each week will consist of ensemble experiential practice, discussion of readings, specific improvisational and compositional investigations, and the sharing of prepared work. The class will culminate in an open sharing of work in progress. Prereq: THTR 100 and THTR 110 .