Acting for (Non)Actors:Theatre for Social Change
Monday and Wednesday 9-11AM Spring 2002
Seaver Theatre
Professor Betty Bernhard
bbernhard@pomona.edu
Office ph.74378
213 Seaver Theatre
Department ph.621 8186
Office hours: M&W 2:45-4
or by appointment
(Right after class is often a good time)
Website for videos: CLICK HERE
Course Description: This acting class, based on the revolutionary theatrical
precepts of Augusto Boal’s "Theatre of the Oppressed", explores
acting as an essential social art, a tool for social change, a channel for personal
transformation, and a means of artistic liberation. It explores the connection
between the performer’s life (marked by gender, ethnicity, age, and nationality)
and the larger community. Readings and intensive exercises in the nature and
function of performance. Original group-constructed performed final project.
PAC 6
Required Texts
1. Jan Cohen-Cruz, Radical Street Performance: an International Anthology.
Routledge, 1998.
2. The Laramie Project, a play by Moises Kaufman.
3 Patsy Rodenburg, The Need for Words.
4 Sections of, Augusto Boal's Theatre for Social Change
Required Performances
1. Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus, Allen Studio, Free, 12:15-staged
reading.
2. Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler, February 14 Seaver Theatre 4, 7 and
10 PM Independent Student Project, Cost is $8 for students. Tickets on sale
now at Seaver Box Office 11-5.
3. Promenade, a musical by Maria Irene Fornes, U C Irvine campus, March
7, Thursday evening. $7 Gas mileage paid by Theatre Department for cars taking
4 people.
4. Slaves Island by Maravaux . Allen Studio Theatre, February 28-March
2, March 7 –9 at 8 PM and March 2 and 9 at 2 PM. Limited seats, advance
reservations required. Senior Acting Majors Project. Free preview night. Other
performances are $4.00
3 Macbeth, adapted to Kabuki form by Prof. Leonard Pronko. Very limited
seating. Reservations required. April 3-6 at 8 PM and April 6 and 7 at 2 PM.
(part of the "Theatre East and West" Conference) Tickets are under
$10.
Videos:
These are all on my web site: <http://pages.pomona.edu/~blb04747>
Passwords given out in class.
Anna Deveare Smith Fire in the Mirror
Anna Deveare Smith Guest Lecture at Pomona 1993
Luis Valdez and El Teatro Campesino
Augusto Boal Keynote Speech on Theatre for Social Change
Betty Bernhard, Women Theatre Activists of India
Betty Bernhard, Khedbrahma India Tribal Show
Bernhard/Wong, Letters to a Student Revolutionary
During the course of the semester you will be required to do short writing assignments,
make presentations, lead discussions, write play critiques, and carry out interviews.
Other pertinent events, assignments and readings will be required throughout
the semester. Instructor reserves right to change syllabus when necessary.
Attendance: Your goal is perfect attendance. More than two absences will adversely
effect your grade. This is a Theatre Department Policy for all courses. Please
bring note from Baxter, your doctor, or your Dean of Students if you have to
miss for urgent reasons. I appreciate knowing in advance whenever possible.
This is a performance class and as such is impossible to "make up".
Grade
Class Participation (attendance, discussion, exercises) 50%
Writing Assignments 20%
Class Final Project 30%
Week 1
Jan. 23 W Orientation
Week 2
Jan. 28 M
Jan 30 W Radical Street Performance
Section I Agit Prop:
Introduction by Cruz-Cohen
Chap 3 Edgar Snow (China)__Eric_______________
Chap.4. Safdar Hashmi (India)__Irma_____________
Chap 5 Suzanne Lacy & Leslie Labowitz ` (USA)__Katie____________
Chap 6 Alisa Solomon (USA)__Meredith______________
Week 3
Feb 4 M Rodenburg pp 3-33
1.pp.3-18" Connecting with Words"__Thomas_____________
2.pp. 18-35" Breakdown of Words"___Michelle____________
Feb 6 W Augusto Boal " Poetics of the Oppressed" handout
(Start reading this.)
Rodenburg The Need for Words:
1 'Cultural and Physical Barriers' pp. 36-61_Samir________
2.'Cultural and Physical Barriers' 61-85___Taylor__________
Video of Luis Valdez and El Theatre Campesino
1._Kent_______________2._Alexis________________
Feb 6,7,8 at 12:15 (W,TH,F) Seven Against Thebes (30 minutes) free
Allen Studio
Week 4
Feb 11 M Discuss Boal's Poetics of the Oppressed Handout
1.___________________2.________________
Bernhard's video "Women Theatre Activists of India" on website
Discuss Seven Against Thebes from Point of View of Boal article. Bring
one page paper to class on topic.
Feb 13 W
Video of Augusto Boal Conference Speech on website______________
Cohen-Cruz Section II Witness pp 65-116
"Greenpeace"_____________________________
"Mothers of Plaza de Mayo"_________________
"Mexican/US Border" and Church Ladies for
Choice"_____________________________
"Theatre in East Harlem & "Staging "Street/Streeting Stage"______________
"On the Line"_____________________
***Feb 14 Thursday Vagina Monologues performances at 4,7 and 10 Allen Studio.
$8 donation.
Week 5
Feb 18 M
Discuss Vagina Monologues from viewpoint of Boal's Theatre for Social
Change. Bring one page paper on this topic to class to turn in.
Rodenburg, Chapter 4 "Finding a Voice; pp. 87-96
1.________________2.________________
Feb 20 W Anna Deveare Smith video "Fires in the Mirror" on
website __1._____________________2.___________________
Handout on Smith's "Twilight" Assign
Discuss Laramie Project play.
Week 6
Feb 25 M Prof. Carol Davis guest speaker on her work with "Theatre for
Social Change in Nepal"
Cohen-Cruz, pp 220-229."Myong Health Camp"1,____________________
Feb 27 W Rodenburg "Voice Into Text" pp.96-122 using Twilight
& The Laramie Project
Feb 28 Free Preview of Slaves Island Allen Studio Theatre
Week 7
March 4 M
Cohen-Cruz, Section III Integration, pp 119-141
"Invisible Theatre" &" Zenophobia"___________
" Queer Nationality"________________________
Work on Laramie Project
March 6 W Rodenburg pp. 122-152
1.__________________2.__________________
Discuss Slaves Island from Viewpoint of Social Change theatre Everyone brings
one written page on the subject.
***March 7 Thursday NIGHT Field Trip to UC Irvine Promenade, a quirky musical
about riches and poverty.
Week 8
March 11 M Cohen-Cruz, Radical Street Theatre
Section III pp 160-163 Integration , cont.
"Living on the Street"______________________
"Taking Direct Action"____________________
Laramie Project
March 13 W
Cohen-Cruz Section IV Utopia pp. 167-207