Syllabus and course requirements
Contacts:
Debra Castillo (instructor, Teatrotaller advisor) <dac9@cornell.edu>
Website: http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/spanl301/
Texts: Teatrotaller Production Manual (complete text online at this website)
Text of this semester's play
For most of you, this course is unlike any other course you will take during your Cornell careers. It involves working in a group on a single large and complex production that will require your talents and commitment for it to be successful. The object of the course is to stage a chosen play from the Spanish, Latin American, or US Latino Spanglish traditions, with the highest possible production values given limited time and budget. In the course of the semester, we will meet to discuss the play as a literary text, and will then rapidly break up into production groups. The course may be taken for grade or S/U, for 1, 2, or 3 credits, depending on the level of commitment and responsibility: the credit is based on 50 hours--5 hours per week average over period of production--per credit. All students are expected to write a brief final paper at the end of the semester reflecting upon their experience with the production. For those who chose a grade option, grades will be based on quality of individual participation as well as on the quality of the whole production.
Please note that work schedules may be uneven, depending on the task. For some members of the group (for example--but not exclusively--lights, sound, makeup, costumes) there are two periods of intense work: (1) at the design stage and (2) during the final rehearsals and play production. Again: a reminder; you will need to plan the rest of your semester carefully as we will be counting on you during the final push.
All participants in the course should plan for a heavy work schedule during the week of the performance.
Guidelines for credit assignment:
3 credits: director, producer, actors with large roles
2 credits: committee heads (eg. set designer, publicity head, costume designer), actors with smaller roles
1 credit: light tech, sound tech, committee member, makeup, set construction, webpage upkeep
Production Calendar