Syllabus for THA 310/Directing
Dr. Jay Oney
294-2128, jay.oney@furman.edu
Course meets: M, T, R, F
Office Hours – 11 am –12 pm daily, or by appointment
Attendance is mandatory.
Texts: Play Directing: Analysis, Communication and Style, Francis Hodge, 6th ed
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 2 Actors: eds Dixon, Wegener, & Petruska
30 Ten-Minute Plays for 3 Actors: eds Dixon, Wegener, & Petruska
Equus, Peter Shaffer
Other supplemental readings may be assigned
Scope of the Course: This course is designed to introduce you to the basic fundamentals of directing plays for the stage. We will carefully examine play structure and analysis, communication with actors and designers, the rehearsal process, and performance.
Assignments: You will direct a ten-minute play and a thirty-minute one-act play. There will be tests over content in the text and daily assignments. The value of each assignment is listed below:
1. 2 tests over Units I & II 30%
2. Daily Assignments as assigned
Script analysis for Equus 10%
Cast and direct a 10 minute play 20%
Prompt Script
Analysis
Rehearsal Schedule
Ground plan
Blocking
Rehearsal Notes/Journal
Cast and direct a 30-40 minute Play 40%
Prompt Script
Analysis
Rehearsal Schedule
Ground plan
Blocking
Rehearsal Notes/Journal
N.B. Any changes to class policies, schedules, or requirements will be announced in class.
Pluses and minuses may be awarded on final grades.
Early in the course, any student with a documented disability needing academic accommodations should contact Donna Taylor (294-2322), Furman’s Disability Services Coordinator. All discussions will remain confidential.
THA 31 Course Schedule
PART I – THEORY AND ANALYSIS
Hodge
Unit 1 – March 07 – 18 pp. 1-56
Why the director?
What is a play?
Given circumstances and dialogue
Dramatic action and characters
Idea, Tempo, Mood
Play Analysis
Test Unit #1 Monday, Monday March 21st
Unit 2 – March 22 – April 7th pp. 57-181
The Groundplan
Composition/Picturization
Intensification
Synthesis
Oral Tools
Unit 3 – April 11 – 15 pp. 185-264
The Design Conference
Stage Choices
Options
The Design Process
PART II – PRACTICE
April 18- May 1 Rehearsal Forum
Auditions for 10-minutes – tba
April 30/May 1 (Sat/Sun) – Performances of 10 minute plays
Written work on 10-minute play due Tuesday May 3rd
Monday May 1st – Friday May 20th Rehearsal Forum
Auditions for One-Acts – tba
One-Act Performances – TBA (tentative dates are May 23 – 25).
Written work on Final Project due Monday May 30th