Topics: each since 1990

• Playwriting (10/3) -
• Design (Oct. 5) -
• Directing (Oct. 10) -
• Performance (Oct. 12) -

Questions:

• Who are the major players (most influential, most promising, most forward-looking) today?
• Where do they come from? What cultural background do they represent?
• What are the trends or themes that seem to be emerging in the newer work?
• Who are the audiences and what is the critical response?

Intention should be to provide the basis for a discussion, and lead the class discussion in an effort to arrive at a collective assessment by the class. The focus of the class effort will be to develop a perspective on the theatre of tomorrow. The group will provide appropriate readings of limited length at the prior class period so that the class will be prepared for the discussion. (I will arrange for enough copies). The group may spend a few minutes giving a brief overview that might not be fully developed in the reading, and offer some of its own perspectives.

You may develop your major paper based upon the research and discussion by your group, and any additional research you find appropriate. The paper should not embrace the entire topic, but an aspect which you find of particular interest.

Evaluation will be based upon the preparation and quality of the group presentation and discussion. At some point you will be asked to provide a brief assessment of the collaborative effort of the group, your contribution, and that of the other members.

Approaches to Research

There will be a session for orientation to library resources and indexes. Many internet research sources can be found at:

• http://www.bridgew.edu/depts/maxwell/library.htm (follow links to indexes, etc.)
• http://webhost.bridgew.edu/adirks/ald/indxald.htm (focus on right column)
• http://www.bridgew.edu/DEPTS/Spchthcd/BSCT&D/links.htm (needs updating

Literature search process:

1. Determine topic and list keywords
2. Determine appropriate indexes
3. Acquire materials

Suggestions for this project:

• Primarily, sources will be magazines, journals, and newspapers. Essays in Sunday editions of the New York Times and other major papers may be of particular value.
• Limit to publication since 1990.
• Look for locally held materials first, then what may be acquired in full text.
• Web sites of theatres and organizations may have good references.