TH130 INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE Course Syllabus - Jason Burgess

Term
Fall 2026
Section
M3
Course Delivery
ln person­[FTF]
Class Program
Credits 4.00
A survey of theatre for the general student. Includes an examination of the origins of theatre, directing, acting, forms of drama, structure and texture of drama, physical theatres, theatre history, and theatrical styles. Provides the student an opportunity to be exposed to many aspects of theatrical production.

Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details

Meeting Days:
M/W/F
Meeting Times:
11:30am-12:30pm
Location:
Boyd Cultural Arts Center, Room 119

Contact Information

Instructor:
Jason Burgess
Instructor Email:
jason.burgess@wilmington.edu
Office Location:
Boyd 129
Phone Number
937-481-2343
Office Hours:
Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:30pm to 4pm. Also available by appointment if requested in advance.
Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course…
1. The student will be able to analyze elements, forms, and styles of theatre.
2. The student will be able to explain roles of theatre personnel.
3. The student will be able to analyze rolls of theatre personnel viewing several theatrical productions.

Course Materials

Textbook 
Name: Theatre: The Lively Art
Edition: 2024 Release
ISBN: 1266302794
Author: Goldfarb, Alvin, et al.
Publisher: McGraw Hill

Instructor's Course Objectives

Through readings, writing assignments, videos, oral presentations, and research, students will learn the elements, forms, and styles of theatre. Through experiential learning, students will explore the roles of theatre personnel as well as observe and analyze those roles through witnessing several theatrical productions during the semester.

Upon successful completion of this course, each student will be able to…

  • Demonstrate an appreciation for theater as an art form
  • Demonstrate understanding of basic terminology and concepts relating to the practical art of making theatre.
  • Distinguish characteristics of theater that differentiate theatrical events from other art forms.
  • Define and recognize the major dramatic genres.
  • Describe dramatic play structure and the playwright’s task.
  • Describe the functions of the various theater personnel: actors, directors, designers, playwrights, producers, etc.
  • Recognize and evaluate the individual contributions of the actors, director, and designers of a live theatre production.
  • Discuss, analyze, and participate in the theater as a reader and an audience member.
  • Describe how technology has evolved and affects theatre production today.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of and discuss how theater reflects and shapes cultures.
Course Schedule

Tentative Schedule

Subject to change during the semester. Adequate notice of changes will be given.

WEEK 1

 

Syllabus, Expectations, Theatre is Everywhere, What is Theatre?
WEEK 2

Art, Music, Theatre Activity

Types of Art & theatre connections

WEEK 3
Parts of a Theatre, Theatre spaces
WEEK 4
Read and discuss Rabbit Hole
WEEK 5
Rabbit Hole Final activity, Review for Test, Test #1
WEEK 6
Costume Design and Activities
WEEK 7
Prop Design and Activities
WEEK 8
Makeup, Wigs, and Masks and Activities
WEEK 9
Lighting Design and Activities
WEEK 10
Sound Design and Activities
WEEK 11
REVIEW ACTIVITIES FOR TEST #2 and Test #2, Theatre Hierarchy
WEEK 12
Watch and Discuss August Wilson’s Fences.
WEEK 13
Scene design and activities
WEEK 14
Acting/Auditions and Thanksgiving Break
WEEK 15
Broadway Musicals and its history, acting and auditions
WEEK 16
Musical on Film
EXAM
12/14/2610:15am to 12:15pm
Course Assignments
Assessment (Tentative)Points
Interest Questions

10

Pre-Assessment

EC

Audience Etiquette Assignment

10

RH Small Group Discussion

10

Test #1

40

Costume Inspiration Board

10

Costume Designs

20

Prop Designs

20

Performance Critique

75

Bruise/Scar Makeup Special FX

20

Gobo/Gel Designs

20

Lighting Designs

15

Group Sound Effects Project

10

Foley Scavenger Hunt

15

Test #2

35

Fences Discussion Responses

10

Scene Design Project

10

Broadway Musicals Online Quiz

10

Headshot Discussion Responses

10

FINAL EXAM

100

Semester Attendance/Promptness

50

TOTAL POINTS

500

Course Final Exam
12/14/2026 10:15am to 12:15pm
Evaluation of Work

The grading scale will be as follows:

A: 94.5-100

A-: 90.5-94.4

B+: 87.5-90.4

B: 84.5-87.4

B-: 80.5-84.4

C+: 77.5-80.4

C: 74.5-77.4

C-: 70.5-74.4

D+: 67.5-70.4

D: 64.5-60.5

F: < 60.5

Instructor Course Policies

Instructor's Course Attendance Policy

Attendance Policies & Guidelines:

See the current Student Handbook for the college’s Attendance Policy, especially as it pertains to excused absences.

The interactive and collaborative nature of theatre extends into this classroom. Therefore, promptness, attendance, and active participation are expected. Zoom is only to be substituted for class attendance for extreme medical situations (like quarantine) and should be discussed with the instructor beforehand.

Unexcused Absences and Tardiness to Class will be recorded in Blackboard. The attendance grade will be factored into the Overall Grade at 10%.

The College accepts these four categories of excused absences:

  1. Activities in which the student serves as an official representative of the College (e.g., musical performances, athletic contests, field trips).
  2. Personal illness, with documentation by the College nurse or a physician, if possible.
  3. Family or personal emergencies.
  4. When severe weather makes travel to campus dangerous.

Beyond the categories listed above, each student will be allowed 2 personal days that may be taken at any time. Please try your best not to use them on days of assessments or when you must present. Personal days will not count against the attendance grade. Students should notify the instructor in advance by email of intent to use a personal day. Otherwise, it will be counted as an absence.

If you miss a class, you should use your resources to get caught up: Blackboard, the textbook, notes from a classmate, or meet with me during office hours. Please do not assume I can catch you up on a 60-minute class in an email reply or a brief conversation before/after class.

Instructor's Academic Integrity Policy

Plagiarism is defined as the representation of another’s words, ideas, concepts, research or creative production without proper attribution whether intentional or unintentional. It is the student’s responsibility to be informed about what constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism can occur in the submission of one’s own work or in work submitted by a group.

Examples of plagiarism include the following:

  • The submission of a paper not one’s own, including turning in a paper that has been purchased from a commercial research firm or obtained from the internet
  • Copying word for word information without quotation marks
  • Paraphrasing information (that is, the use of one’s own words with only minor changes to the original)
  • Use of information not considered general knowledge without proper citation
  • Listing of misleading or false sources on a reference page
  • The use of a paper or project for one course that was previously submitted for another course, either at Wilmington or at any other institution

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense and carries serious academic consequences. Violations will be recorded by the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Main Campus and Vice President of External Programs at the Cincinnati Branch Campus.

When an instructor discovers plagiarism, the instructor will first consult with the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs if a main campus student, or the Vice President for External Programs if a branch campus student, in order to determine if the student is a first-time offender. For first offenses, the instructor has the ability to determine the penalty for the offense. Students with academic integrity violations may not be eligible for academic awards and honors (i.e., Academic Honors, Dean’s List/Merit List, Green Key Honor Society, Quaker Impact Award, and other Honorary Societies). For a second offense or more, the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Main Campus or the Vice President for External Programs for students at the branch campus, will report the offense to the academic standards and appeal committee and gather evidence for a hearing with the student. It is possible that the student will receive a substantial reduction in grade for the course or will fail the course. Multiple instances could even lead to suspension or expulsion from Wilmington College.

There are many university, college and private websites students may consult about how to avoid plagiarism. Sites with particularly helpful suggestions can be found at:

Institutional and Program-Level Policies

Final Exam Schedule
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.

Undergraduate:  FA26 Final Exam Schedule    

 

Out-of-class Work Expectation

A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week.

Instructional Course Delivery                                                                                                            

Definition of Courses

Academic Integrity Policy

The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions.

Academic Integrity Policy

Class Attendance Policy                              

Institutional Class Attendance Policy