Production Responses

Guidelines Extra Credit Production Responses (5 points each)

You have the opportunity to earn extra credit if you see a live theatre production beyond the three

required productions for this course. We will accept up to two extra credit production responses for a

maximum of 10 points. Musical theatre and opera DO fulfill this requirement. Dance, stand-up

comedy, circus, concerts, film, and magic shows DO NOT fulfill this requirement.

A list of production companies in and around the Columbus area is provided separately. Please check

their websites for their current offerings. Feel free also to search out other productions that interest

you. If you are in doubt about whether a particular show will count toward extra credit, or you not in

the Columbus area, confirm your choice with your Group Instructor.

For each show, you must save your ticket* stub. Sign your name across the front of the ticket in pen.

Then, take a photograph or scan it and upload the image file to Carmen along with your response

paper. DO NOT email your proof of attendance to your Group Instructor! Without proof of

attendance properly uploaded to Carmen, you will not receive full credit for this assignment.

*In the event that your show does not provide a ticket, sign and use the show’s program as proof of

attendance.

Keep your program. We recommend that you keep your program from the show so that you can

properly reference artists’ names in your paper. Failure properly to credit artists can result in a loss of

points. Often the program will contain a note from the director or dramaturg, information that you

might find helpful on this assignment.

Extra Credit is DUE by 11:59 PM on July 27, 2018.

 Upload the image of your ticket stub AND your production response paper in Word or PDF format only to Carmen. We reserve the right to refuse late or emailed papers.

NOTE: This is an individual, not a collaborative assignment. The paper you turn in should be your

own work. In this course, we use Turnitin originality check on all written work.

Guidelines—Read Carefully! I. Content

Write a 550-600 word narrative about your experience of the theatrical event. Refer to the first-

person narratives that begin each section of out textbook The Art of the Now as a model for yours (for

example: Ch. 1.1 “Bali: An Ancient Living Performance”; “Ch. 2.1 “The Olympics as a Theatrical

Event”; Ch. 3.1 “Immersed in the World of Sleep No More”; Ch. 4.1 “Titus Andronicus at the Globe:

A Groundling’s Perspective”; Ch. 5.1 “WWE Monday Night Raw”; Ch. 6.1 “In a Panic”).

At the bottom of your paper include the word count in parenthesis (word count: 524).

Your narrative must include the following (in no particular order):

 A discussion of your experience of the theatrical event.

 A description of the performance space

 A brief description of the world of the play and the story (do NOT summarize the plot)

 A discussion of one of the production’s design elements (scenery, costumes, props lighting, sound, or media) including how this element contributed to the world of the play and created

meaning.

 A discussion of the effectiveness of the playwright frame by these three questions: What is the playwright trying to do? How well has he or she done it? And is it worth doing? (Based

on the critic’s rubric from Goethe).

II. Format

 Papers must follow MLA formatting and style o typed, double-spaced, New Times Roman 12 point font, 1 inch margins.

 Your name and date appear on the upper left-hand corner of the first page only. Also double- spaced.

 Give your paper a creative title.

 Always italicize play titles.

 When talking about a production, use the past tense. (The production has already taken place.)

 You should name each artist whose work you are discussing. For instance, if you choose to talk about the show’s scenic design, then be sure to introduce the scenic designer by giving

his/her full name. For subsequent references, use the designer’s last name only.

 This is a scholarly paper. Use a formal voice and formal language. Avoid slang and the overuse of contractions. Writing should be polished—your grade for mechanics includes

correct grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation, and formatting.

 Proofread! Your writing should be free of typos, misspellings, and other mistakes.

 If you use any sources, be sure to include a citation. This applies to the director or dramaturg’s program note. Here is the general format for citing a show’s program:

Program Notes. Name of Play by Playwright. Producing Company. Location. Date

you saw the show.

 You do NOT have to cite the program to include actor or designer’s names in your paper.

III. Other Tips

Be honest! You do not have to express any particular opinion just to try to please your instructor. But

remember, you must support your ideas using specific examples and thoughtful analysis about the

production. It is not enough just to have an opinion, positive or negative. You must clearly articulate

the significance of your interpretation in the greater context of how the production makes meaning on

the stage.

IV. Grading Rubric 5 points (Content=3; Mechanics =2)

CONTENT 3 2 1 0

Excels in responding to the assignment.

Argument is clear, supported with critical

thinking and original ideas. Displays a unique critical voice.

Responds appropriately

to the assignment.

Argument is clear but lacks depth of thought

and original ideas.

Writing generally

holds reader’s attention.

Does not fully respond

to the assignment.

Argument is confusing or weak and lacks

support. Displays a

generic critical voice.

Does not respond

appropriately to the

assignment or ideas are underdeveloped.

Argument is

confusing, unfocused, and lacks support

Critical voice is

unclear

MECHANICS 2 1 0 Mechanics This paper is written in

formal language, consistently uses strong and

varied sentence structure,

and employs precise and unambiguous wording and

coherent and logical

organization. The writing demonstrates clear

enthusiasm for the topic.

All sentences are complete and grammatical. Paper has

been spell-checked and

proofread, and has no punctuation or formatting

errors.

Response has several of

the following problems: informal tone; weak

sentence structure;

ambiguous wording; organization difficult to

follow; unenthusiastic

tone; grammatical, spelling, punctuation,

formatting errors.

Response had all of the

following problems: informal tone; weak

sentence structure;

ambiguous wording; organization difficult to

follow; unenthusiastic

tone; grammatical, spelling, punctuation,

formatting errors.