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:


Final grades may be affected by class attendance and participation

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 


Easter Weekend                                                                                                March 25 - 28
Analysis of Equus due Tuesday March 29th

Unit 2 – March 22 – April 7th                                                                        pp. 57-181
            The Groundplan
            Composition/Picturization
            Intensification
            Synthesis
            Oral Tools


Test Unit #2 Friday, April 8th 

Unit 3 – April 11 – 15                                                                                     pp. 185-264
            The Design Conference
            Stage Choices
            Options
            The Design Process


            Style                                                                                                            (tba)

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 

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