Theatre History and Honors Theatre History Online

Theatre History & Honors Theatre History Online

Important Information

Professor Suzanne Fagan

2025 Spring

CRN: 32188

Honors CRN: 32228

Class Meeting Time: all online

Office: PAC 142

Phone: 805-553-4847 (but email is better)

Email: sfagan@vcccd.edu

Office Hours: M-Th 12:30-1:30

Campus Police: 805.378.1455

Student Health Center 805-378-1413

Hello and welcome!

I am Suzanne Fagan and I will be your online Theatre History and Honors Theatre History.

For many of us online learning and theatre might be new. So, there might be a lot of questions along the way. feel free to ask me anything at any time. I love teaching online and I love theatre. I want you to enjoy them too. Answering questions is my job!

I will respond to emails within 24 hours, usually sooner, but I am slower on the weekends. If I do not respond to your message within 24 hours assume I did not get your email.

Let's have a great semester together!

Schedule an Appointment

Important Dates

Last day to drop with a refund: 1/24

Last day to drop without a "W": 2/2

Census date: 2/3

Last day to drop with a "W": 4/25

Last day of class: 5/16

Final Exam Week: 5/19-5/23

Tell me more about important dates by visiting the

Course Description

Prerequisites

If you are using this course as a prerequisite for another future course and you do not pass this course with a C or better, when grades are posted, you will be dropped from the course requiring this prerequisite class even though you may have been allowed to register in it pending successful completion of this course.

Who is Who in Art: Fine and Performing Division

Chair: Dr. Nathan Bowen

(805) 553-4682

nbowen@vcccd.edu

Office: MU 146

Dean: Dr. Elizabeth David

edavid@vcccd.edu

Office: AA 101

Admin. Assist. Victoria Collie

(805) 553-4746

mcdivision125@vcccd.edu

Office: AA 101

Division Hours: 8am - 5pm Monday - Thursday

8am - 12 noon Friday

After Hours

If you need to cancel / relocate an evening class, or you need assistance after hours, please contact the Evening Program Office in Fountain Hall after 6:30 PM at ext. 1406. Paul Mattson’s evening schedule is: Monday – Thursday, 5:00 – 10:00 PM, Saturdays, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Email Paul at PMattson@vcccd.edu

Student Learning Outcomes

observe theatrical performances in an informed and critical manner to analyze the historical, social and political relevance of the piece.

demonstrate an understanding of the history of theatre and its cultural, social and political influences from the Greeks to the twentieth century.

Honors Student Learning Outcomes

observe theatrical performances in an informed and critical manner to analyze the historical, social and political relevance of the piece.

demonstrate an understanding of the history of theatre and its cultural, social and political influences from the Greeks to the twentieth century.

utilize skills in dramatic criticism to illustrate a world view of classical and contemporary dramatic literature.

The Performing Arts Center at Moorpark College

Course Outline of Record

demonstrate an understanding of the history of theatre and its cultural, social and political influences from the Greeks to the twentieth century.
utilize skills in dramatic criticism to illustrate a world view of classical and contemporary dramatic literature
observe theatrical performances in an informed and critical manner to analyze the historical, social and
political relevance of the piece.

Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge Moorpark College occupies the unceded traditional land of the Chumash people who have stewarded it throughout generations. As we honor the Chumash people with gratitude, we commit to learning how we may be better stewards of this land we inhabit as well. We seek to build relationships with the Chumash community through academic pursuits, partnerships, historical recognitions and community service as these relationships are foundational for inclusive and equitable education and community engagement.

Various Student Support

Technical Support

Moorpark College has technical support for students studying online or using CANVAS in their classes!

Contact INFO:

Phone: 805-553-4188

Email:

mconlinestudentservices@vcccd.edu

Walk-in location: AA-101.

Walk-in / Call-in Hours TBA

Emails and calls during off hours will be returned within 1 regular business day.

OR CALL THE 24/7 CANVAS HELPLINE AT 844-602-6290.

Technical Requirements

For students to access the course site: go to my.vcccd.edu.

Click “My Courses.” Click on the link to the left entitled “Canvas Homepage.” Your user id is your Student ID number (a 9-digit number which begins with 9) if you have not personalized it yet.

Recommended: Mac /PC not more than 3 years old with current operating system and current browser (Firefox seems to function best).

AOL users: once you enter the Internet through AOL, please minimize (do not close) your AOL screen, and then open Firefox. AOL is not preferred.

Recommended Skills

Basic computer skills (use of word processor, email and file management), basic Internet skills (use of browser, searches, uploading and downloading files)

If you need a laptop or a Chromebook for class, or a better laptop or Chromebook let me know. The college is loaning them out for educational purposes. :)

Student Services Syllabus

Moorpark College offers an array of resources and activities to our students to insure long term success both professionally and academically. Tell me more about all of these Student Services.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Pictured above is the 2024 Spring musical with Trevor Alkazian as Sweeney Todd.

House with rainbow, text reads, be yourself.

SafeZone

The SAFEZONE training program was developed to support LGBTQ+ students, employees, and allies.

The SAFEZONE emblem not only signifies a pledge of commitment, but that the person displaying the placard has been trained

to support this unique population.

Equipment Lending

Any student who is currently enrolled at Moorpark College may request to borrow a laptop or hotspot for the semester. The library has two types of laptops: Dell or Chromebook.

Please refer to the Equipment Details section on our Equipment Lending Library Guide for more information about each equipment's capabilities. This is important information to help you decide which option is best for you to complete your coursework.

Student Health Center

The Moorpark Student Health Center provides mental health services for all enrolled students. As an enrolled student, you can receive up to 6 individual therapy sessions per semester, assistance in connecting with community mental health resources, and participate in any therapy groups that are being offered. In addition to these services, the Performing Arts Department has embedded mental health providers that offer open office hours, consultations and classroom presentations to assist you with your mental health needs. Please see the current embedded provider schedule posted on the door of room PA-141 or contact the Student Health Center directly to schedule a time to meet.

MC Honors Program

Students with a 3.25 High School G.P.A. or a College G.P.A. of 3.00 with 12 units of transferable college level courses, and who are highly motivated, and intrigued with academic challenge, are encouraged to join the Moorpark College Honors Program.

The program is for those students committed to academic excellence, and find it fun and exciting to be an active participant in the classroom. Membership in the Honors Program confers a number of advantages such as working more closely with faculty, engaging in novel research and learning activities in addition to honing team building and leadership skills. Moreover, any Moorpark College student may enroll in an Honors course. Students who successfully complete the Honors Program are formally recognized and eligible for special transfer and scholarship opportunities. Entrance to the program requires special admission. Tell me more about the Honors Program.

Learning Center

Students enrolled in this course are encouraged to use The Learning Center, The Math Center, and the Writing Center services to support their efforts in this class. The Learning Center, Math Center, and Writing Center, located in Library 322, will provide tutorial services and supplemental instruction based on course goals.

When using these services, students need to state their instructor’s name for tracking and reporting purposes. Students will also need to provide their student ID numbers when receiving tutorial services. For further information, call The Learning Center (805) 378-1556, the Math Center (805) 378-1556 or the Writing Center (805) 553-4850. You may make appointments on the Writing Center Webpage and tutors may also be available on a drop-in basis.

ACCESS

Accessibility Coordination Center and Educational Support Services (ACCESS) supports students with verified disabilities by determining and providing reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and support services.

Click the word ACCESS above to learn more about this program which assures all classes, activities and facilities are accessible to all qualified students.

Policies

Title IX/Sexual Misconduct Policy

Moorpark College is committed to creating a safe learning environment for all members of our community, providing an academic environment that respects the dignity of all individuals. Our campus shall be free from gender-based discrimination and violence. Our college does not tolerate sexual misconduct, which includes, but is not limited to sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and gender- based hate crimes.

If you (or someone you know) experience or witness sexual misconduct, you can report it to any employee. If you would like to discuss the matter with someone confidentially, you may visit the Student Health Center webpage to discuss the matter with one of our mental health providers. All other employees of the college are required to report allegations to our Title IX Coordinator, who will then reach out to provide resources, support, and information after receiving a report. Reported information will remain private. For more information regarding our Title IX procedures, reporting, or support measures, please visit the Sexual Misconduct/Title IX Information website.

Artificial Intelligence

"Academic honesty is defined broadly and simply as the performance of all academic work without cheating, lying, stealing, or receiving assistance from any other person or using any source of information not appropriately authorized or attributed." The College, the Theatre Arts Department, and the instructor take academic honesty very seriously as should you, the student. Academic Dishonesty of any type will not be tolerated.

All work in this class is required to be the original work of the student. Any use of AI Authorship tools including but not limited to ChatGPT, QuillBot, etc., will be considered a violation of this requirement and result in both a 0 for the assignment and automatic referral to the college’s disciplinary process.

Instructional Touch and Theatrical Intimacy Policy (performance classes)

The Performing Arts Department at Moorpark College is dedicated to integrating consent-based practices into all classroom and production environments. In all Performing Arts Department related activities, all participants are expected to abide by the Instructional Touch and Theatrical Intimacy Best Practices. All participants in Performing Arts activities are expected to communicate their boundaries, ask before they touch, and maintain a professional working environment. The full policy detailing the Best Practices is available on our class Canvas shell. If boundaries have been crossed, the instructor reserves the right to ask students not to attend class for a ‘cooling off period.’ Issues related to consent and boundaries that occur in the classroom will first be attempted to be resolved in the classroom but may result in written reports to the Behavioral Intervention Team and may be subject to Code of Conduct violations.

Smoking Policy

Moorpark College Smoking Policy: Moorpark College is 100% TOBACCO FREE – No smoking, vaping or chewing.

No tobacco is permitted on or in buildings, campus grounds or parking lots at all times.

Violators shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

AP 6800, BP 6810, AB 846.

Professional Behavior

Students are expected to comply with the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct well as conventional standards of behavior.

In this course, students will be encouraged to think critically about issues, to challenge assumptions, and to respectfully share experiences, thoughts, and opinions with others in the class. It is possible that you may not like or accept some of these ideas, but you are expected to show respect for others who hold opinions that differ from yours and work cooperatively. Failure to display professional and collegial behavior toward classmates will result in a lower grade on that assignment and possibly a BIT form referral.

Academic Dishonesty

Students are expected to know and follow the College’s regulations regarding academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism. Your work should reflect your ideas and words, and others’ work should be properly acknowledged. If the originality of a student’s work is questioned, it may be submitted to turnitin.com.

When academic honesty is in question, the following may occur: Instructors will report instances of plagiarism or cheating to the Dean of Student Learning by completing a BIT form. It is the policy of the Ventura County Community College District and Moorpark College that the instructor may dismiss a student involved in such dishonest behavior from class with a grade of “F.”

Grading and Assignments Descriptions

Twelfth Night at Moorpark College

The one time you will be expected to "meet" for this course, is to see Twelfth Night at the Performing Arts Center at Moorpark College.

You can purchase tickets at the website. You can also volunteer to usher and see the show for free the night you usher or attend the free matinee on March 19th at 10am. Email mcboxoffice@vcccd.edu if you would like to usher or secure a seat to the free matinee.

Play Critique/Midterm

Worth: 100 points

Directions:

1. Review the criteria, rubrics and directions.

2. You must see Twelfth Night at Moorpark College.

3. You must write a critique.

See the criteria and directions for a full description of the requirements for these critiques, which will be at least 1000 words.

Note: Late papers will not be accepted.

NO EXCUSES.

The shows are for mature audiences.

You must look over the directions carefully. It is required to have a thesis statement as well as a hook in your introduction paragraph. You then need to touch upon those elements again in your conclusion.

Always put titles in italics. If that is not available, then put in quotes or underline.

Proofread your papers.

Use spellcheck.

I am a stickler for correct grammar and spelling. With all of the papers, help can be found at the

The Learning Center (TLC)

Take advantage of all the services a college or university has to offer if you need help.

You are paying for it!

If you use TLC, they will give me a receipt. If I get a receipt from them regarding your work, I will automatically give you a letter grade higher than what I would have given you.

Do not plagiarize.

Do not lie.

I have had students attempt both.

Each time they have failed the assignment. They have also been reported to the Dean of Student Learning for academic dishonesty. You must follow the critique criteria by having a hook, a thesis statement, etc. Look over the critique criteria.

Syllabus Quiz

Contains: 10 Multiple choice and true and false questions pertaining to the syllabus.

Worth: 10 points

Note: The MANDATORY syllabus quiz is the first thing you should do in this course after you read the syllabus. If you do not take the mandatory syllabus by the deadline, you will be dropped from the class to allow waitlisted students into the class.

Welcome Discussion Board

Contains: One question asking you to simply introduce yourself and practice uploading files (in this case a picture or video or 2!).

Worth: 10 points

Note: This MANDATORY discussion board post is the 2nd thing you should do in this course after you take the syllabus quiz.

If you do not post by the deadline, you will be dropped from the class to allow waitlisted students into the class.

Final: Active Theatre History Project

Worth: 125 pts

This will be a 2 person project.

Partners will be assigned. If you have a partner you already want to work with in the class please have both partners email me.

Each partner group will also be assigned a Theatre History Era or Genre for them to work on together. All students will turn in:

A filled out form of the Theatre History Era and Genre Sheet
A script (2-3 pages) All students will receive the same scenario to base their short script off of.
An introduction to script (10 sentence minimum)

The task is to work as playwrights, devise a scene that follows a specific scenario, and then write it so that reflects the style of a particular theatre history era or genre, for example - a Greek Tragedy or a Restoratio Comedy or American Musical Theatre.

This will be turned in at the end of the year but may be turned in earlier. A more detailed description can be found in the canvas shell.

Consent, Participation and Instructional Touch Quiz

Worth: 10 pts

Contains: 10 questions worth a total of 10 pts

The 2nd module in this course is entitled Consent, Participation and Instructional Touch. This module was developed by arts faculty and staff as well as the Student Health Center to aid students in navigating these special components of these Arts, Media and Entertainment careers. You must take this quiz to participate in the class. By taking this quiz and reading the material in the module you are making yourself aware of our culture of consent and agreeing to our consent-based, anti-biased rules and culture.

Extra Credit

Extra-Credit is available.

If a student participates in on-campus productions extra credit will be given for appropriate written assignments.

You must contact the instructor first to get approval. Extra credit can also consist of you seeing another play and writing a critique on it similar to the ones that are mandatory for this class.

You can only do extra credit once and it is worth 50 points.

You must get your extra credit approved by the instructor first otherwise your extra credit will not be accepted.

Intermittently, extra credit will be offered throughout the course.

Other Assignments: TBA

This course will be a Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) and Open Educational Resource Course (OER). That means there will be no textbook or cost for taking this course.

With the ever evolving, changing and improving accessibility to high quality resources online, solidification of assignments is pending. Verification of sources, sites and information is ongoing and necessary to weed out misinformation.

Below you will find:

some the resources that will be used
the course objectives
the course content

Resources

Digital Theatre +

This is the world's leading digital platform for the arts. It is provided for free by the Moorpark College Library. To access Digital Theatre + follow the instructions in the Introduction Module on the page "Digital Theatre Plus and Other Online Viewing Services." Specific lectures and performances will be assigned for you to watch and assignments for those videos will be explained in the modules. Learn more about Digital Theatre +.

Crash Course Theatre

Crash Course provides high quality educational videos in a variety of subjects for free online on YouTube. Videos will have quizzes embedded in them. Videos are between 10 and 15 minutes. Learn more about Crash Course's series on Theatre.

Various videos such as TedEdTalks, videos provided by the National Theatre as well as others from reputable sources will also be used.

Course Objectives

demonstrate basic knowledge of the physical theatre, dramatic literature, and dramatic theory of the major periods of theatrical history, and theatre's relationship to other cultures and parts of society
discern the relationship of historical, artistic, social, and philosophical environments as they relate to major changes in the form and content of theatre and evaluate their impact on culture and society
utilize dramatic criticism from various sources to analyze exemplary pieces of diverse dramatic literature to explore the world view presented by the playwrights in each play
identify and differentiate between the characteristics of the major theatrical movements from the Greeks through the 17th century
compile evidence illustrating how the relationship between the audience and theatre artist has changed over time
demonstrate the ability to define basic terms of theatre history and dramatic criticism and apply these to analysis of a live production
name influential and diverse plays and playwrights from the Golden Age of Greek Drama to the 17th century
HONORS OBJECTIVES: synthesize the roles of three different theatre artists by analyzing elements of a play.
HONORS OBJECTIVES: evaluate how a classic play can be applied to multiple diverse areas of society today.
HONORS OBJECTIVES: analyze the contributions and cultural impact of key theatrical controversies/moments in theatre history through primary and secondary sources.

Course Content

10% The Origins of the Theatre as Ritual

The Ritual and Mythology of Ancient Egypt and Asia

25% Greek, Roman and Byzantine Drama

The Evolution of Theatrical Art from Ritual

10% Drama of the Middle Ages

Liturgical Drama and Morality Plays

10% The Restoration Theatre: Theatrical Traditions of Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century England

Analysis of texts

Development of the theatrical space

Cultural development of specific theatrical practices

15% Neo-classicism, 18th Century British Drama, and French Theatre

Analysis of texts

Development of the theatrical space

Cultural development of specific theatrical practices

20% The Italian Renaissance, Elizabethan Drama, and Early Humanism (including Shakespeare)

Analysis of texts

Development of the theatrical space

Cultural development of specific theatrical practices

10% World Drama

Exploration of theatre from around the globe both past, present and future

Honors Assignments Descriptions

Overview: For Honors Students

Honors students will have to write a critique where they compare and contrast 2 different productions of the same show. Many of these can be found on Drama Online Library (not Digital Theatre +). They are:

The Duchess of Malfi*
Frankenstein*
Hamlet*
Julius Caesar
King Lear
Love's Labour's Lost
Macbeth
A Midsummer Night's Dream*
Romeo and Juliet
The Taming of the Shrew
Twelfth Night - recommend as you will have to see a live production of this at the college

I have put an asterisk by my favorites/suggestions.

You will have to watch the first show during the first half of the course. The due date will be in the modules. You will then be required to watch the second production in the latter half of the semester. This is to ensure that you do not wait until the last minute to try and watch them both. Procrastination is not self-care.

Worth: 125 points

The directions are similar to the directions for the mandatory play critique/midterm. However, you will be comparing and contrasting what you see as the theme that is amplified in each production as that can differ, the technical aspects of each production as those can differ and the performances and acting styles as they can differ as well.

Upcoming Auditions & Extra Credit Opportunities

Note

I will give 10 extra credit points if you sign up and audition for the one acts. You do not have to accept the role, just sign up and audition. Why not? You're in a theatre class. This is the place, Moorpark Community College, to succeed big or fail big, just do it big!

Information about Rehearsals & Auditions

Auditions will be the 1/27, 1/28, 1/29
The main audition days are the first two days of auditions with callbacks on the last day of auditions.
If you are unable to make the first two days of auditions, feel free to come the last day of auditions.
If you can't make any of the audition days but would still like to be considered, please pick a side and email a self-tape to sfagan@vcccd.edu.
Sides (a small section of the script actors are given before an audition for either a play, film or television show) will be posted on this website closer to the dates of auditions.
Pick a side or two that interests you and bring it to the auditions.
There will be a sign in sheet at the auditions.
You do not have to stay for the whole duration of the audition time but you are free to stay and watch.
You do not have to come right when the audition starts.
If cast, you will enroll in the production class that is 3 units.
The show runs from Wednesday April 23rd - Saturday May 3rd.
Rehearsals will begin Monday, February 3rd
Rehearsals will be MTWTH 3:30-6
If you are a supporting character, you will not be called to all of those rehearsals but you are free to stay and watch

Note

I will give 10 extra credit points if you drop by the embedded mental health specialists in the Performing Arts Center by Friday, March 21st. For proof of your visit, you can ask Dr. Ruby or Megan or whichever specialist is in there at the time to email me your name.

Thankfully addressing our mental health is becoming more common. Some of you may have never met a therapist before and some of you may feel embarrassed or akward. We can keep this drop in confidential if you would like. Just ask me before or after class how to do so and I will talk with the specialists.

Disclaimer: The above is subject to change.

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