THEA 4310

Theatrical Shakespeare

An examination of a play or plays by Shakespeare as expressly theatrical entities, the raw material of vivid and compelling contemporary staging. Students learn the particular skill sets actors need in preparing to perform Shakespeare, beginning by studying iambic pentameter, rhyme, antithesis, image clusters, and other features of the Shakespearean text, combining analysis with practical techniques for incorporation and delivery. Practices demanded by the plays are studied, which grow out of their original performance conditions but focus on playing in the present, developing a sense of character, spatial relationships, and visualization. Also explored are macro directorial concerns about viable readings and how to present them in the theatre. Students combine rigorous critical thinking with active rehearsal room practices in order to develop both a firm understanding of what Shakespeare on stage is and a range of abilities that facilitate effective actor choices.

Units: 3.0