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Musicals: Performing “America” Spring 2011, T/Th 2-3:30 Location: WIN 2.112 TD357T; Unique #26544 Instructor: Dr. Michelle Dvoskin TA: Natashia Lindsey Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Office: WIN 2.304; (562) 232-5341 Office Hours: W 10-11 am (at Tex Expresso) Office Hours: Th 3:30 – 4:30 pm (& by appt.) Course Description For a genre often considered “uniquely American,” musicals have a lot of complicated, often conflicting ideas about just what “American” really means. From family to politics, from coming of age to history, this class will examine how musicals reflect – and construct – a range of American identities for their audiences. Focusing on several specific shows through a mix of reading, listening, watching, writing, discussing, and performing, we will address questions like: What does this show have to say about being “American”? How do issues of race, gender, sexuality, and class factor into its vision of America? How does this musical use the multiple languages of musical theatre – including music, lyrics, dialogue, dance and movement, and design – to tell its “American” story? And how might different production choices make for a different argument? You should leave this course with: A basic understanding of musical theatre as a genre and its role in 20th and 21st century U.S. culture. An increased understanding of how (and why) musicals from across the 20th and 21st centuries have created and reflected ideas about “America” and “American culture” The ability to analyze musicals as both written texts and embodied performances Awareness of the ways in which production elements contribute to a musical’s meanings, and an increased ability to use those elements in order to create your own arguments and analyses through musical performance Required Texts Course Reader (CR), available at Abel’s Copies, 715 W 23rd St, (512) 472-5353 The following texts are available via online retailers like Amazon & Barnes and Noble. A copy of each will also be held on reserve at the Fine Arts Library. Edwards, Sherman and Peter Stone. 1776: A Musical Play. New York: Viking Press, 1970. Sondheim, Stephen and John Weidman. Assassins. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 1991. Stew. Passing Strange: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical. New York: Applause, 2009. (optional unless you are performing) Larson, Jonathon. Rent: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical. New York: Applause, 2008. (Another version includes additional material regarding production history, etc.: Larson, Jonathon. Rent. New York: Rob Weisbach Books, 1997. Both are acceptable – get whichever version you would prefer.) General Course & University Policies Attendance Policy This is a seminar course; your attendance and active participation are required. Because emergencies occur, however, your first three absences will not affect your final grade. Each subsequent absence will result in the lowering of your final grade by one-third of a letter grade. For example, if you have four absences, an A- in the course would become a B+. Please note that there is no distinction here between excused and unexcused absences; except in extraordinary circumstances, ANY absence beyond the three permitted will lower your grade. Therefore, I encourage you to save your absences for occasions when you really need them – car trouble, illness, etc. If you arrive after 2:00pm and before 2:30pm, you will be marked as late (you will also be marked as late if you leave class early). Each lateness will count as one-third of an absence. In other words, if you are late three times, that will count as one absence. Students who arrive more than 30 minutes late or leave more than 30 minutes early may be counted as absent (although you should still make every effort to attend, both to engage with the material and because your participation grade can still benefit from your contributions). A Note on Religious Holy Days: By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence. Required Performance Attendance This class requires that you attend a performance of West Side Story at the Bass Concert Hall. We will attend as a class on Sunday, 4/3; further information on how to purchase tickets will be discussed in class. If for some reason you cannot attend with the group, you must make arrangements to attend the production on your own. Blackboard We will use the Blackboard program, an online website where you can read course announcements, check grades, chat with other students, and download lost syllabi or other course handouts. To access Blackboard: 1. Direct web browsers to http://courses.utexas.edu. Note: DO NOT type “www” before the address. 2. Use your EID and password to log in. 3. TD357T will be listed under “courses.” Click on “TD357T” to access the course site. See me or Natashia if difficulties arise in reaching or using Blackboard. You are responsible for class information posted on the announcements section of Blackboard – check it often! Use of E-mail for Official Correspondence to Students All students should become familiar with the University's official e-mail student notification policy. It is the student's responsibility to keep the University informed as to changes in his or her e-mail address. Students are expected to check e-mail on a frequent and regular basis in order to stay current with University-related communications, recognizing that certain communications may be time-critical. It is recommended that e-mail be checked daily, but at Musicals: Performing “America” Syllabus– Dvoskin; 2 a minimum, twice per week. The complete text of this policy and instructions for updating your e-mail address are available at http://www.utexas.edu/its/policies/emailnotify.html. Scholastic Integrity University of Texas Honor Code: The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community. Students who violate University rules on scholastic integrity are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. Please be advised that I take academic integrity extremely seriously, and expect you to do the same. If you ever have questions about whether or not something might be considered an act of scholastic dishonesty, please talk to me or Natashia immediately. Students with Disabilities Any student with a documented disability who requires academic accommodations should contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at (512) 471-6259 (voice) or 1-866- 329-3986 (video phone). Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL) If you are worried about someone who is acting differently, you may use the Behavior Concerns Advice Line to discuss by phone your concerns about another individual’s behavior. This service is provided through a partnership among the Office of the Dean of Students, the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). Call 512-232- 5050 or visit http://www.utexas.edu/safety/bcal. Emergency Evacuation Policy Occupants of buildings on the UT Austin campus are required to evacuate and assemble outside when a fire alarm is activated or an announcement is made. Please be aware of the following policies regarding evacuation: . Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of the classroom and the building. Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when you entered the building. If you require assistance to evacuate, inform me in writing during the first week of class. In the event of an evacuation, follow my instructions or those of class instructors. Do not re-enter a building unless you’re given instructions by the Austin Fire Department, the UT Austin Police Department, or the Fire Prevention Services office. Musicals: Performing “America” Syllabus– Dvoskin; 3 Grading Final grades will be calculated as follows: Assignment Points Percent Participation 150 15% Blackboard Posts (5@20 points each) 100 10% West Side Story Paper 100 10% Group Performance Project 150 15% Group Midterm Presentation 200 20% Final Project 300 30% TOTAL: 1000 100% Total Points Grade Total Points Grade 930-1000 A 770-799 C+ 900-929 A- 730-769 C 870-899 B+ 700-729 C- 830-869 B 600-699 D 800-829 B- 0-599 F Assignments Below are brief descriptions of the assignments for the course. Grading breakdowns and more complete instructions will be provided and discussed in class. Participation This class is a seminar, and your active, engaged participation is crucial to the success of the course as well as to your grade in it. Take notes on readings & viewings; bring questions and comments for us to consider; listen carefully to your classmates and engage with their ideas. I encourage you to check in with me and Natashia regarding your participation throughout the semester, either by coming to office hours or via email. If you find in-class discussions difficult or intimidating, please come see us early in the semester so we can strategize solutions for your concerns. Blackboard Posts Approximately one week before we begin each unit, I will post a brief prompt on Blackboard asking you to address a particular question or issue regarding the readings/viewings.

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