Introduction to Theatre and Drama Arts - A Free Course

Theatre 101 aims to answer several questions, the most important of which is, “what is the nature of the theatre experience?”

Why do people do theatre?
What do they hope to accomplish?
What is the relationship between the performers and the audience? How has the relationship between theatre and society developed throughout history from the early theatres of democratic Athens to the contemporary mega-musical?

The course looks at drama and theatre arts as art, literature, business, and entertainment, and it examines the creative processes of theatre — writing, design, directing, and acting — which move from idea to script to performance.

Because theatre, by its very nature, is interactive and interdisciplinary, this course encourages students to develop their own imaginations and to be open-minded in their responses to the theatre experience. It encourages considered, critical evaluation of difficult or challenging material and asks students to develop their capacity for interpretation, evaluation, and cultural understanding.

1 : Introduction

2 : Interview with Dr. Michael Maudin

3 : The Audience

4 : Theatre, Film, Television and Public Affairs

5 : Musical Theatre

6 : Development of the American Musical

7 : Golden Age of the American Musical

8 : Interview with Michael Brill

9 : The Play

10 : Structure of a Play

11 : Interview with Sandra Fenichel Asher

12 : Interview with Paula Caplan