Collaboration in Theatrical Production

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Course Goals:

1. Develop a deeper understanding of collaboration as a foundational theatrical practice.

2. Examine multiple models of theatre collaboration, including hierarchical, collective, devised, ensemble, and culturally situated approaches.

3. Develop communication strategies that support productive interdisciplinary artistic relationships.

4. Practice giving and receiving feedback through structured collaborative processes, including the Liz Lerman Critical Response Process.

5. Reflect critically on their own identities and responsibilities as theatre collaborators.

6. Develop personal philosophies and practices that support ethical, inclusive, and effective collaboration.

7. Utilize a play script to demonstrate effective analyzing, scoring, sketching, and musical scoring techniques.

Student Learning Outcomes:

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

1. Analyze historical, contemporary, and culturally specific models of theatrical collaboration.

2. Demonstrate effective communication strategies across theatrical disciplines and professional roles.

3. Apply collaborative methodologies through experiential artistic practice, including feedback processes, ensemble activities, and creative laboratories involving work on a play script as a collaborative unit.

4. Evaluate the relationship between artistic process, authorship, leadership, and shared responsibility.

5. Develop strategies for professional collaboration within diverse theatrical environments.

6. Reflect critically on personal growth, collaborative identity, and evolving professional practice.

Course Objectives:

1. Investigate how theatre artists from different disciplines communicate and create together.

2. Examine how assumptions about authority, expertise, and authorship influence collaborative environments.

3. Explore ensemble-based approaches to creation.

4. Engage with collaborative practices from national and international theatre contexts.

5. Develop skills in artistic feedback, facilitation, negotiation, and reflection.

6. Create and maintain an individual and collective archive documenting collaborative learning.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Class Participation (5 pts x 40 class meetings)	200 points / 20%
Pecha Kucha Assignment	120 points / 12%
Analysis Papers (4 x 75 pts)	300 points / 30%
Reflection Journals	80 points / 8%
Written Work Total	500 points / 50%
First Third of Semester	100 points / 10%
Second Third of Semester	100 points / 10%
Third Third of Semester	100 points / 10%
Collaborative Archive Total	300 points / 30%
TOTAL	1,000 points / 100%

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
940-1000 points	A
900-939 points	A-
875-899 points	B+
826-874 points	B
800-825 points	B-
775-799 points	C+
726-774 points	C
700-725 points	C-
675-699 points	D+
626-674 points	D
600-625 points	D-
0-599 points	F

Attendance/Participation:

Because this is a graduate-level seminar, all students are expected to attend every class. There are no excused or unexcused absences.

After three (3) absences, the final grade will be lowered by one-half letter grade for each subsequent absence.

4 absences = 1/2 letter grade reduction.

5 absences = 1 full letter grade reduction.

6 absences = 1 1/2 letter grade reduction.

Additional absences continue this pattern.

Students are expected to arrive on time, prepared, and ready to participate actively in collaborative activities, discussions, analysis, contributions to the Collaborative Archive, and all course assignments.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

No course materials are required.