Theatre as Storytelling: Black Theatre and Performance Practice

Catalog description

Theatre as Storytelling: Black Theatre and Performance Practice examines how people of the Black Atlantic have shaped their culture through theatrical storytelling. In this course, we will explore who tells the stories, how they do it, and why they matter. Ultimately, the question is: How do we represent? Understanding that Black Atlantic, or African diaspora performance practice, includes song, dance, and storytelling, students will be introduced to the work of influential writers, dancers, choreographers, composers, directors, and actors who have reflected on Black identity and the social, cultural, political, and historical factors shaping their stories. We will watch, read, discuss, and create using a range of dramatic texts, manifestos, live theatre, video, music, dance, and spoken word. Guest artists and field trips will also be part of the coursework. The course will culminate in a final project presentation, which could take the form of a short performance, a proposal for a festival or theatrical season, or a dramaturgical packet for a revival or adaptation.