TH 667 - Special Topics in Theatre Education

Course Description

"Examines such topics as theatre-in-education, puppetry, playwriting with and for youth, theatre education outreach, and the teaching of dance and movement. Subject matter varies each semester. May be repeated for credit."

Summer 2023 Topics:

Section 005 Theatre for Young Audiences / Theatre for the Very Young New Works Lab

This course will explore models for TYA/TVY new work development through theory to practice, from theatre for the very young to theatre for high school audiences. This interdisciplinary course will explore elements of devising, playwriting, directing, and design, in addition to learning about the growing field of new work development. We will study four companies' new work development models (Trusty Sidekick, Arts on the Horizon, Punchdrunk, and PigPen Theatre Company) and then use the models to develop new work projects within the course.

Section 006: Arts-Based Youth Activism

PLEASE NOTE: COURSE DATES (July 18 - August 17): Learn about arts-based youth activism through the lens of Central Square Theater's (CST) resident performance ensemble Youth Underground (YU). Each year, YU serves an ensemble of economically and culturally diverse Cambridge, Boston, & Greater Boston youth, ages 13-25, and provides opportunities for them to create and perform original theater that investigates social issues relevant to young people and our world. In this course, participants will learn about YU's history, philosophy, and techniques of investigative theater; design and practice curriculum; and develop their own proposal for a community-based, inclusive, youth-centered program. This course runs concurrently with YU's summer intensive, and some sessions will take place at Central Square Theater in Cambridge so that participants may observe the program. Other sessions will be held on Emerson College's Boston campus.