COM 216W - Theatre History

Credits: 3
Instructional Contact Hours: 3

Introduces the student to the various historical areas of the theatre, from the ancient Greeks to the present. Emphasizes the development of the physical theatre, representative playwrights, and the development of actor and the director.

Prerequisite(s): High School GPA of 2.5 or higher OR completion of any ENG course with grade of “C” or higher
Corequisite(s): None
Lecture Hours: 45 Lab Hours: 0
Meets MTA Requirement: Humanities
Pass/NoCredit: Yes

Outcomes and Objectives

Demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of theatre beginning with the ancient Greeks through the modern playwrights.
1. Identify the characteristics of the following historical periods of theatre history: Greek and Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, 1660-1875, Modern, Contemporary, Ethnic.
2. Read and analyze representative plays from selected historical periods.
Demonstrate an understanding of the differences and growth of the physical structures used for presenting plays from the ancient Greeks through the present time.
1. Identify the physical characteristics of the Greek and Roman theatre.
2. Describe the Medieval theatre staging areas.
3. Describe the development of Renaissance theatre.
4. Describe the development of the Globe theatre.
5. Describe the growth of the stage from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
6. Describe the different types of staging areas in use in modern day theatre.
Demonstrate an understanding of representative playwrights for the historical periods studied.
1. Describe tragedy using a representative historical play.
2. Describe comedy using a representative play.
3. Analyze the importance of the growth of realism by studying a representative play.
4. Look critically at the Theatre of Social Problems by studying a representative play.
5. Discuss the growth of Modern Theatre by studying a representative play.
Demonstrate an understanding of the historical emergence of the director and how this relates to modern theatre.
1. Explain the function of the director within each historical period studied.
2. Identify the historical period that an actual director emerged with that title.
Demonstrate an understanding of the historical roles of actors from the Ancient Greeks through modern theatre.
1. Describe the use of actors and actresses in the representative plays selected for study.
2. Describe the differences and similarities in the evolution of acting styles throughout the historical period studied.
Demonstrate the learning of concepts through writing.
1. Analyze course content in written form.
2. Explain the subject matter in a coherent writing style.