THEA 249

Musical Theatre Performance

Catalog description: This course explores performance in musical theatre. Students will be given opportunities to create and express characters through musical pieces. Emphasis will be on developing the musical theatre character. 

Credit Hours: (3)

KENN WHEELER                 kwheeler@eou.edu

Office: Loso Hall 104B            Phone: 541-962-3318

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday:  11:00 – 12:00 P.M.

Time and place of course: Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 – 2:20 pm

Text: None

Materials: Notebook for taking notes.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Analyze and create a character analysis for a solo musical theatre piece.
• Express the character through the musical number.
• Examine and express specific relationship choices through a duet musical scene
• Comprehend the place of choral roles in the overall success of a musical piece.
• Identify roles that fit the actor/singer’s abilities and physical parameters.

Course requirements: Students are required to participate in classroom discussions and take notes on professor lectures. The students must also prepare assignments on various aspects of musical theatre performance. Students will perform soliloquies, duets and choral numbers from selected musicals. Students will prepare a list of ten roles in which they could expect to be cast, including justification for their expecting to be cast. Students will attend TWO Theatre Program productions THE CRUCIBLE and THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE and write a critical review of each show. Students will be expected to attend every class and points will be awarded for attendance.

Grading method:              Attendance                                                         200 pts.

                                          EOU Production Reviews                                  200 pts

                                          Stereotyping Research Project                         100 pts.

                                          Soliloquy Performance                                       100 pts.

                                          Duet Performance                                              100 pts.

                                          Group Performance                                            100 pts.

                                          Final Presentation                                               300 pts.

                                                                                                  TOTAL      1000 pts.

                                          95% - 100% = A

                                          91% - 94% = A-

                                          87% - 90% = B+

                                          83% - 86% = B

                                          79% - 82% = B-

                                          75% - 78% = C+

                                          71% - 74% = C

                                          67% - 70% = C-

                                          63% - 66% = D+

                                          60% - 62% = D

                                          Below 60% = F

Means of assessment: Students’ knowledge of musical theatre performance will be assessed by the following means:

• Creation and presentation of an effective solo piece for performance.
• Creation and participation in a musical theatre scene involving two characters.
• Participation in a choral musical number.
• Final performance of all prepared work.
• A Research projects listing ten characters from ten different musicals for which the student could expect to be cast. Each character listed will include reasons why the student could and would be cast in that particular role.

Course Calendar

Week One:                      Discuss Syllabus. Appreciation of the Musical Theatre Performance. Choosing a group number

Week Two:                      Preparing individual roles in a group number                

Week Three:                  . Performing a group number

Week Four:                    . Choosing a musical scene.

Week Five:                      Preparing a musical scene.

Week Six:                       Performing the musical scene Attend EOU Theatre Production THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

Week Seven:                  Choosing a soliloquy piece.

Week Eight:                   Preparing the soliloquy piece. Attend EOU Theatre Production THE CRUCIBLE

Week Nine:                    Performing the soliloquy piece

Week Ten:                     Prepare for FINAL

The FINAL:                  Tuesday, June 8, 1:00 – 3:00 PM

General Education Category and Outcomes:

1. Content Knowledge: Students will demonstrate the use of vocabulary, content and conceptual knowledge in a variety of disciplines. This will be demonstrated using outcome #1
2. Inquiry: The student will employ approaches to inquiry from a variety of disciplines. This will be demonstrated using outcome #1
3. Artistic Process and Creation: Students will demonstrate the ability to employ the creative process and display a conceptual understanding of their function. This will be demonstrated using outcome #2

Disclaimer: Class schedule/assignments may be altered during the course of the term as needed.

Attendance/Lateness Policy: Students are responsible for attending class every time that it is held. Absences will result in a loss of ten points. The only exception is mandatory university sponsored events and THEN, ONLY if I know in advance. Work due on a day that you miss will be accepted with a 10% deduction per each period it is late.

Statement of Academic Misconduct:

Eastern Oregon University places a high value upon the integrity of its student scholars. Any student found guilty of an act of academic misconduct (including but not limited to cheating, plagiarism or theft of an examination or supplies) may be subject to having his or her grade reduced in the course in question. It might also require your being placed on probation or suspended from the university, or being expelled from the university – or a combination of these. (Please see Section II of the 2002-2003 Student handbook and Planning Calendar: Campus Citizenship (Academic), p. 32ff: Campus Citizenship (Behavior), p41ff.)

Statement on Americans with Disabilities

If you have a documented disability or suspect that you have a learning problem and need reasonable accommodations, please contact Disability Services program in Loso Hall. Telephone: 962-3081.

Prepared by: Kenn Wheeler

Date: 03/22/2011