Category: Drama and Theatre

10 Total sources: 6 internet sources, 4 non-internet sources
No Plagiarism
MLA Format
Times New Roman Font – 12pt
Topic: Martin McDonagh’s love for stage violence and how it fits his style of writing. Pick a scene or two from each play that makes a choice about staging and violence.
Use this Introduction:
In the world of contemporary theater, there are few playwrights who can wield the power of a pen that is as sharp and swift as Martin McDonagh. Acclaimed for his darkly comedic yet profoundly unsettling portrayals of violence, McDonagh’s works serve as compelling reflections of the human mind, societal norms, and the typical fork in the road of moral uncertainty. Through plays like The Pillowman, a writer of short stories that depict child murders who finds himself being interrogated by detectives due to recent child murders and A Behanding in Spokane, a man who has been searching for his left hand for twenty seven years who comes across a couple that claims to have it, McDonagh skillfully navigates the deafening territory  of human nature, inviting audiences to confront uncomfortable truths with a potent blend of graphic imagery and biting humor.
Also how Martin McDonagh is staging his violence or stage violence made an impact on the world of theatre.

This is comparative FOOD film analysis essay. Focus on family and food.
Need to have some analysis about specific sequence and scenes in the films. 
Family Dynamics: Both films use meals as pivotal scenes that highlight family tensions, secrets, and bonds. Compare how food serves as a symbol of unity and discord within families.
Cultural Identity: Analyze how food is used to explore cultural identity and generational clashes within families of different backgrounds (African-American in “Soul Food” and Chinese-American in “The Farewell”).
Conflict and Resolution: Explore how major conflicts in both films are centered around family gatherings and how food plays a role in resolving these conflicts.

Instructions are uploaded
Each student is required to view one production and write a 2-3 page (500 -750 words)  response, paying particular attention to the representation of the body and violence. You will not be required to see a live performance. A list of live and filmed options is provided below. Students will see the transformation from the page to the stage and reflect on this experience by writing a review.
pick one flim 
Invisible Women
Written by Pamela Russell
Here is a link to the taped performance:
Invisible Women
(Running time 1hr 5 min)
Presented by the John Lion New Plays Festival
After years of stealing wallets from wealthy men, slip-and-fall lawsuits, credit card fraud and all-around grifting, two septuagenarians decide to up their game by volunteering at a local homeless shelter. Posing as kind old ladies with hearts of gold, they befriend a few down-on-their-luck homeless men and appear willing to do anything to help them get back on their feet. But things get a little less charitable and a lot more sinister when the men start turning up dead!
Filmed Professional Productions
A Woman in Waiting
Written by Yael Farber and Thembi Mtshali-Jones
Directed and Created by Yael Farber
Farber Foundry Company
A semi-autobiographical one-woman show about Thembi Mtshali-Jones and her life growing up in apartheid South Africa.
Here is a link to the taped performance:
A Woman in WaitingLinks to an external site.
(Running time: 1 hr, 13 min)
* For full screen, click on the farthest bottom right button
Step 2: Questions to Consider:
You can focus on the questions that interest you the most, but you should address the question(s) from each section.
Description: describe the production (what you saw and heard)
Include basic details: titles, director, major performers
Describe the audience and the performance venue, if shown
Describe the acting or performance style and performances that stood out to you
Describe the world of the piece (sets, lighting, costumes, etc.)
Describe staging conventions (example: do performers acknowledge the spectators?)
Interpretation: interpret the production (you can refer to programs and other sources to support your interpretation)
What was it about to you? (Do not include a plot synopsis. You can assume your reader is familiar with the play.)
Does the performance relate to any of the styles or plays we have discussed at in class? If so, how?
How is the theme of violence represented? (ie graphically, or subtly, onstage or offstage?)
What do you think were the artists’ intentions through their depiction of violence? 
Evaluation: evaluate what you saw within the context of what you think they were attempting
Was the intention worthwhile?
How effectively did it fulfill what you believe was the intention?
How did the spectators respond? 
Would you recommend the production? Why or why not?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
*Step 3: Remember to organize your response into paragraph form and pay attention to spelling and grammar!

After reading this entire module,  watch and comment on  three  rough cuts of your classmates  Final Projects that were uploaded last module.   Constructive respectful compliments, comments/suggestions  as they work on their revised, final cut. At least 100 words each
It’s recommended to say something positive about the film first then offer any respectfully  worded, constructive suggestions.

Instructions
Write a review of one of the plays on film offered on “The List” below. You need to offer a critical perspective of the acting, directing, and design taking advantage of the theatrical language you have learned in this course. It also should give us basic information about the film/play and share general observations from the perspective of an audience member.
Your critique must include:
Develop a strong HEADLINE for your review. Throughout the piece find ways of tying back into the premise of your headline (ex. New Play by John Smith a Frightening Masterpiece). Obviously the writer of this headline will emphasize why they thought the production was so scary and why they think the writing is worthy of the term masterpiece.
Paragraphs covering each of these 5 elements: 
The Basic Information
Name of film, where it is available, how long it ran, and a short (couple of sentences) synopsis.
The Acting/Singing
A couple of performances positive or negative (+ or -) which stood out in your mind. Name the performers. Provide relevant background on them.
The Direction
Did the director stage the peice effectively? Was the story and the narrative clear? Present a couple of examples (+ or -). Name the director. Provide relevant background on this person.
The Design
Did the production design, music choices suit the film, the period, and the production. A couple of strong examples (+ or -). Who was on the production team? What have they designed before?
Your Overall Reaction
Was this a thumbs up or thumbs down? Was it a great film, too long, too short, could you understand it, (+ or -), etc??
Writing that makes it evident that you DEFINITELY SAW THIS FILM. Avoid speaking in generalities or attempting to load up the paper with synopsis or other materials readily available online. Read the articles provided on criticism, critical writing, and reviews in major publication (NY Times) as a way of understanding this form. 
A clear critical POINT-OF-VIEW.  Again, read the articles provided on criticism, critical writing, and reviews in major publication (NY Times) as a way of understanding this form. 
Utilize the theatrical language you have learned in this course. Talk about the 5 elements using the vocabulary presented in learning activities in this course.
Reviews must be 100% your original writing. Do not quote or paraphrase and source. Reviews will be checked for plagiarism and ANY sequence of words (longer than 12 words) that matches any source or previous student review will result in an automatic zero and referral to the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Reviews must be posted online as a Google+, YouTube, Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon, or other online review platform.
A screen-shot of your posted review must be submitted with your text in this assignment area (NOT A LINK TO THE REVIEW).20 points (of 100) will be deducted if there is not proof you have posted an online review. Please allow processing time for some websites or take a screenshot of your submission page BEFORE you hit submit.
This review must be a minimum of 700 words. Remember papers that reflect minimum writing effort get average grades.
Important Note About Authorship:
One feature common to many pieces written by or with the assistance of AI are sentences that run-on, contain mixed participles, confused noun/pronoun combinations, and other grammar that is best described as “gobbledygook.” I simply won’t grade papers that contain multiple sentences like this. The entire paper will be returned to you ungraded. You will have an opportunity to proof-read the paper, and return it free of these mistakes. I will not remind you to do this. If you do not return the paper in corrected form as soon as possible, you will receive a zero for this assignment and potentially fail the course.

Theater Arts Play Report
This essay is expected to be 3-5 page analytical paper in MLA format (double spaced). 
Written on the live play – crazy for you
Introduction:
Begin with a statement that draws in the reader, (commonly known as a ) (Examples: A quote of dramatic dialogue or an impressive technical effect.) 
Report is not a plot synopsis of the play, but an analytical paper that reports your observations on a specific production.
Be sure to cite the venue of theatrical performance, the name and author of the play and the date you attended it in your introduction.
If you are using other sources in addition to the performance, be sure to include a works cited page. This is a measure to prevent accidental plagiarism. 
Thesis Statement: Your intro should include a thesis. A thesis is an encompassing statement that identifies the main idea of your paper, usually outlining the 3-4 main points to be discussed.   The thesis statement should tie together the major ideas you have put forth in your introduction and is usually placed at the end of the introduction paragraph.        
Body Paragraphs:
Essay should contain three to four (depending on the number of points outlined in your thesis statement) body paragraphs each outlining one main point.
Each point should have two to four sub-points with evidence / specific examples from the performance that support your idea/point. These are your observations on specific elements of the production and are the most important part in making an essay yours.  They are the “why” behind your essay.
You don’t have to like a production or its elements, but you must be able to articulate “why” something did or did not work for you.
Below is a possible example of the Body of a paper with the following thesis statement: “’Dracula’ was a highly entertaining production that explored the central idea of man’s eternal struggle with his passions through the use of elaborate technical enhancements (costumes, scenery, lights, sounds, etc) and dynamic performances.”
Body Paragraph 1: Your first body paragraph should be about the central ideas of the performance. 
Why was the play written? What was the author’s motivation for writing the play?
What are the themes of the play? (not the plot!) 
How does the author and director use imagery in the writing and on stage and what kind of symbolism is used to convey a message to the audience?
Body Paragraph 2: Your second paragraph should cover the technical aspects of the play. 
Include lighting, scene design, costuming, makeup, and/or any other technical aspects of the play.
Much is communicated in a play using technical aspects; analyze what technical aspects the director/designers and the various technical departments used and more importantly why you believe they used these techniques and if they worked, or not, to enhance or otherwise take away from the production.
Body Paragraph 3: In your third body paragraph you should analyze the performances of the actors. 
Consider the acting, the blocking, monologues, and any other specific performance related examples.
Give very specific examples and be sure to explain what exactly the actors did to catch your eye (vocal variety, physical intensity, emotional range, etc).
This paragraph runs the highest risk of being “plot” driven instead of analytical of the acting so be sure to stay focused on the what specifically made a good or non-effective performance and not the “what happened next”.
Conclusion:
Your conclusion should both revisit and wrap up your essay.
Your thesis should be restated along with each of your main
Use different wording to avoid sounding repetitive.
Close your paragraph with a statement that offers a point to your whole essay, possibly referring back to your “hook.”
Reminders:
The complete essay will contain:
A clear thesis statement clearly expressed
Developed (Substantial) paragraphs
Topic sentences and Transitions for each body paragraph
Specific observations from the play for each point
Analysis and Synthesis of each observation being made
A conclusion that unifies the essay

Theater Arts Play Report
This essay is expected to be 3-5 page analytical paper in MLA format (double spaced). 
Introduction:
Begin with a statement that draws in the reader, (commonly known as a ) (Examples: A quote of dramatic dialogue or an impressive technical effect.) 
Report is not a plot synopsis of the play, but an analytical paper that reports your observations on a specific production.
Be sure to cite the venue of theatrical performance, the name and author of the play and the date you attended it in your introduction.
If you are using other sources in addition to the performance, be sure to include a works cited page. This is a measure to prevent accidental plagiarism. 
Thesis Statement: Your intro should include a thesis. A thesis is an encompassing statement that identifies the main idea of your paper, usually outlining the 3-4 main points to be discussed.   The thesis statement should tie together the major ideas you have put forth in your introduction and is usually placed at the end of the introduction paragraph.        
Body Paragraphs:
Essay should contain three to four (depending on the number of points outlined in your thesis statement) body paragraphs each outlining one main point.
Each point should have two to four sub-points with evidence / specific examples from the performance that support your idea/point. These are your observations on specific elements of the production and are the most important part in making an essay yours.  They are the “why” behind your essay.
You don’t have to like a production or its elements, but you must be able to articulate “why” something did or did not work for you.
Below is a possible example of the Body of a paper with the following thesis statement: “’Dracula’ was a highly entertaining production that explored the central idea of man’s eternal struggle with his passions through the use of elaborate technical enhancements (costumes, scenery, lights, sounds, etc) and dynamic performances.”
Body Paragraph 1: Your first body paragraph should be about the central ideas of the performance. 
Why was the play written? What was the author’s motivation for writing the play?
What are the themes of the play? (not the plot!) 
How does the author and director use imagery in the writing and on stage and what kind of symbolism is used to convey a message to the audience?
Body Paragraph 2: Your second paragraph should cover the technical aspects of the play. 
Include lighting, scene design, costuming, makeup, and/or any other technical aspects of the play.
Much is communicated in a play using technical aspects; analyze what technical aspects the director/designers and the various technical departments used and more importantly why you believe they used these techniques and if they worked, or not, to enhance or otherwise take away from the production.
Body Paragraph 3: In your third body paragraph you should analyze the performances of the actors. 
Consider the acting, the blocking, monologues, and any other specific performance related examples.
Give very specific examples and be sure to explain what exactly the actors did to catch your eye (vocal variety, physical intensity, emotional range, etc).
This paragraph runs the highest risk of being “plot” driven instead of analytical of the acting so be sure to stay focused on the what specifically made a good or non-effective performance and not the “what happened next”.
Conclusion:
Your conclusion should both revisit and wrap up your essay.
Your thesis should be restated along with each of your main
Use different wording to avoid sounding repetitive.
Close your paragraph with a statement that offers a point to your whole essay, possibly referring back to your “hook.”
Reminders:
The complete essay will contain:
A clear thesis statement clearly expressed
Developed (Substantial) paragraphs
Topic sentences and Transitions for each body paragraph
Specific observations from the play for each point
Analysis and Synthesis of each observation being made
A conclusion that unifies the essay

Hi! So attached is my courses’ syllabus along with a link to the description of the plays that was assigned to watch (The Tempest, Friends, and Men on Boats). I will be submitted a different order for all three but the instructions for all is the same. It would be really helpful if you could do the paper on “The Tempest”The plays were in person and I was unable to attend. But the objective is to basically analyze the each play on 1-2 pages (more instructions on the actual paper is attached. You will have to research the play to complete the analysis and get details from it. The is the link to the plays and its descriptions: 

Our discussion this week will be about Northrop Frye’s archetypal theories as expressed in the two Frye essays included in your Study Folder. Frye’s theories are some of the most exciting and insightful in the whole history of criticism, so I am sure you will find them engaging, even mind-blowing.  Now, the notion of the universal unconscious as expressed by Karl Jung and Joseph Campbell runs counter to Christian thought, so you should not let yourself get caught up too much in the archetypal theory espoused by Frye, whose theories align with those of Jung. However, this same theory led Frye to postulate the relationship of genre to itself, which is where our interest should be focused. Frye suggests that the four basic genres—comedy, romance, tragedy, and satire/irony—correspond to the four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter. What’s more, he places these “seasons” of genre on a circular table that allows for all possible genre types, which he would suggest are nothing more than an infinite blending of these four basic dramatic forms.  
YOUR PROMPT: Based on your readings and the provided graph, what are your thoughts about Frye’s insightful attempt to explain the relationship of dramatic genre? Can you see and agree with his ideas? Or do you think he simply missed the mark? Where on this circle might you place your favorite plays? (Few plays would be fully tragic or ironic, so they must fall on the circle between two of these points.) Also, if there is a circular movement around Frye’s circle—moving from tragedy to comedy to romance to irony—then would there also be possible movement up and down the spokes of the wheel toward the center point? If so, if this even makes sense, what elements of the drama might be amplified by such a move? What kind of genres lie in this direction? An even more profound question might be, what lies at the center of the wheel? If this were a graph in mathematics, we would be moving up and down the X (or Y) axis, and the X and the Y are generally stand-ins for other values. And since he compares his wheel to the cycles of nature, what might this suggest about the center of the wheel and what lies on its spokes? (There is no right or wrong answer to this. Your professor is unsure of what we might find by exploring such a paradigm, but he hopes there is something there to discover.)
You may jump into this conversation at any point. Feel free to chase a new line of thought based on the reading. Choose what speaks most strongly to you and get started.  
Remember, we are looking to build a scholarly framework in which to position our opinions and choices.  You should incorporate source material (assigned or otherwise) into your posts as much as possible and always include a Works Cited list at the bottom of your post. Please make sure your posts conform to MLA format. You should post one initial post (200-300 words)