Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Dramaturgy (Face-to-Face)

THEA 3733-01

Course: THEA 3733-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: TA
CRN: 12019

Course Description

This course teaches students the basics of dramaturgy through examining production and literary requirements needed to develop a production casebook. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): THEA 1713 or ENGL 2400 or THEA 1303 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Irelan, Scott R, Anne Fletcher, and Julie F. Dubiner. The Process of Dramaturgy: A Handbook. Newburyport, MA: Focus Publishing/R. Pullins, Co, 2010.

Learning Outcomes

  • Creative and Critical Thinking: Each student, in the role of a dramaturg, will utilize research, play texts, and theories of theatre and performance to interpret, conceptualize, and inform the practice of theatre (from multiple perspectives: designers, technicians, actors, directors, etc.)
  • Inquiry and Analysis: Students will develop a variety of methodologies for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating multiple forms of theatrical information. Including, theoretical perspectives; historical and literary information; and social, political, and cultural contexts.
  • Communication: Students will write and speak clearly about dramaturgy in order to effectively communicate ideas and information that will enhance the production of theatre art.
  • Information Literacy: Students will identify and define key ideas, concepts, definitions, and practices connected to dramaturgy.

Course Requirements

Pts | Activities | Alignment with Outcomes & Assessment
200 | Participation and Social Contract:All students will participate actively in the community of this course—by that, I mean that each student will read the assigned material before class begins, contribute to class discussion in ways that are constructive to your fellow colleagues, and demonstrate openly your learning process with the material. This will be a challenging course, and therefore it necessitates a positive attitude from the whole class community. The traditional method of earning these points is showing up to class and participating in activities/discussions. If, for whatever reason, you need a different way to get these points, please talk with me (email or office hours works great)!You get 4 free absences that you can use at your discretion. Additionally, absences (or if you'd simply not like to use your freebies) can be excused for any number of reasons including isolating due to Covid Exposure or a Covid Positive Test. For excused absences I will provide an assignment or additional work at my discretion. DO NOT come to class sick. There is no reason to do so. I will absolutely work with you to make up missed material. •    Each absence after 4 will result in a 33.333 point deduction in your attendance and participation grade. If you negate your total attendance and participation grade your grade will continue to decline by 1/3 of a letter grade as per the TAD Student Handbook. •    3 tardies = 1 absence (leaving class early for any reason counts as a tardy).No student missing 25% of classes can receive a passing grade.Finally, please note that this class may move to a synchronous remote experience at any point for any number of reasons surrounding COVID-19.  | Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be measured through classroom participation, preparedness, and demonstrated knowledge via specific discussion questions. Students will receive critical feedback from peers and faculty.
100 |  #1 Manifestos – A short presentation on a student’s individual “idea of theatre” based in an understanding of Dramaturgy.  | Learning outcomes 3 and 4 will be measured. The groups are expected to become fluent on their article’s argument and definitions and communicate those definitions to the class.
100 |  #2 Casebook – A research project encompassing the social, political, literary, theatrical, and autobiographical context surrounding a play. This is a group project. | Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 4 will be measured via the quality of the Packet. In particular, the information should be creatively presented and students must critically examine sources to determine what to include.
200 | #3 – Short Assignments:There will be 8 short assignments throughout the semester. Each will be worth 25 points. | learning outcomes 2 and 4 will be measured throughout the 8 short assignments, which are designed to reinforce the skills learned throughout the semester. Student’s will demonstrate information literacy while also utilizing appropriate dramaturgical techniques to engage in inquiry and analysis.
100 | #4 Applying Theory – a short analytical essay of a play with a chosen theory. | Learning outcomes 2 and 3 will be measured through the analysis of a play utilizing a specific theoretical methodology. The successful student will apply specific analytical techniques, communicate clearly, and creatively assess a play text.
100 | #5 New Play – A group project resulting in the creation of an original performance of ~10 minutes | All learning outcomes will be assessed via the group’s ability to utilize dramaturgical tools to create a short, unique piece of theatre.
200 | #6 Dramaturgical Plan – A project that encompasses all aspects of dramaturgy to explain an approach to a selected play.  | All learning outcomes will be measured. Students will communicate clearly in written form, recall, identify, and define key analytical techniques. Apply field specific terminology. Think creatively and critically.
  |   |  

Course Outline

Week 1  - Introduction to the Class and initial Discussion of Dramaturgy

Week 2 - Continued discussion of Dramaturgy specifically relating it to a play, scholarship on the purpose of Dramaturgy, and a lecture on Dramaturgy’s Origins. 

Week 3  -  Research Methods are explored and group work is assigned for a short presentation. 

Week 4  - Complete Manifesto assignment and introduce Production Dramaturgy

Week 5  - Dramaturgical acts are discussed and we begging to dive into the pre-production process of dramaturgy. 

Week 6  - Workshop and individual meetings with faculty on the Contextual information section of the Casebook assignment. 

Week 7  - Workshop and individual meetings with faculty on the Playwright  and Academic Literary, Cultural Criticism section of the Casebook assignment. 

Week 8   - Casebook Presentations. And begin a discussion of Theory’s use in Theatre. 

Week 9 ( - Discuss Brechtian Theory and Artuadian Theory as it relates to Theatre. 

Week 10 - Guest Artists will attend class to discuss devised theatre. Plays connected to Artaud’s theory will be read and discussed. Performance Theory will be introduced. 

Week 11 - Gender and Feminist Theory will be introduced and applied to a play. We will also investigate the script analysis method of Backwards and Forwards. 

Week 12 - Guest artist on New Play Development followed by a discussion of Documentary Theatre and Devising. 

Week 13  - Adaptation and New Play Dramaturgy will be discussed. 

Week 14  - Student’s will rehearse and complete their New Plays.

Week 15  - New Plays will be performed. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Assignment due dates will be listed on canvas as well as below. All assignments should be typed unless otherwise specified by the instructor. Late work may be penalized 10% per day (not class period) that they are late. In general, I do not penalize late work so long as I receive it before I am grading the assignment for the class. This of course, is a nebulous thing, and I do it to acknowledge that if I haven’t started grading the assingments by the time you turn it in, that it is arbitrary to penalize the work. With all of this said, I do provide, at minimum, one extension on any assignment per semester to each student. Simply send me an email before the assignment is due to ask, however, please be aware that when I grant an extension I cannot guarantee when I will be able to provide feedback on the assignment in any specific timeframe. This is largely because I grade a great many things in all my courses and cannot stop grading materials turned in on time in other classes to grade an assignment that has been granted an extension. 

Attendance Policy

All students will participate actively in the community of this course—by that, I mean that each student will read the assigned material before class begins, contribute to class discussion in ways that are constructive to your fellow colleagues, and demonstrate openly your learning process with the material. This will be a challenging course, and therefore it necessitates a positive attitude from the whole class community. The traditional method of earning these points is showing up to class and participating in activities/discussions. If, for whatever reason, you need a different way to get these points, please talk with me (email or office hours works great)!

You get 4 free absences that you can use at your discretion. Additionally, absences (or if you'd simply not like to use your freebies) can be excused for any number of reasons (contact instructor). For excused absences I will provide an assignment or additional work at my discretion. 

•    Each absence after 4 will result in a 33.333 point deduction in your attendance and participation grade. If you negate your total attendance and participation grade your grade will continue to decline by 1/3 of a letter grade as per the TAD Student Handbook. 

•    3 tardies = 1 absence (leaving class early for any reason counts as a tardy).

No student missing 25% of classes can receive a passing grade.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.