This course will examine plays of American playwrights of the Twentieth Century through analysis of the text and in performance. A brief history of American Theatre in the Twentieth Century will also be studied. Playwrights to be studied will include Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Clifford Odets, Neil Simon, Edward Albee, Sam Shepherd, James Baldwin, Arthur Kopit, David Mamet et al. At the end of the course students will be expected to perform in a scene from one of the plays studied.

A practical and theoretical understanding of the development of 20th Century American Drama through workshops and performance.

On satisfying the requirements for this course, students should be able to

1. Articulate orally and in writing an understanding of key concepts and theatre practices in American drama since the 1940s
2. Identify and critically analyse these key concepts and practices
3. Carry out research to select and combine materials concerning the American theatrical landscape
4. Make appropriate performance methodology choices for performance of selected texts
5. Apply theoretical and factual data in performance.

One 2,000 word essay (25%), 2,000 word seminar paper (25%) and performance component (50%).

One 1-hour lecture, one 1-hour tutorial and one and 2 hour workshop per week. Lectures will be taped.

Plus at least 10 hours of rehearsal time during the course of the semester. 

One Drama course or with the permission of the Coordinator.

To Be Announced

Bigsby, C.W.E., Modern American Drama, Cambridge 2000