Fall 2009

ITL 348 • ITALIAN DRAMA WORKSHOP

Course Description

This course is taught in Italian. It is offered every other year. Through performing art skills, the course intends to reach three main goals: 1. Progress in the Italian language, 2. Improvement in the pronunciation and intonation, 3. Deeper understanding of the Italian culture. We will study works of Dario Fo and Franca Rame and analyze their cultural, social, and political background as well as their involvement in contemporary Italian society. We will then choose a few of their one-act plays and focus on them. The second part of the semester will be entirely devoted to the production of the chosen plays; students will memorize, rehearse, and stage them. There will be four formal evening performances of the play at the end of the semester. Students will be asked to attend some of the rehearsals in the first part of the semester and all of them in the second part of the semester.

ASSIGNMENTS: Analysis of works by Dario Fo and Franca Rame Memorization of one of the characters Group discussions in class One paper and oral reports Regular attendance during class time and most of the rehearsals is required

Grading Policy

40% Oral performance, progress, and memorization 20% Participation 20% Paper and oral presentation 20% Final performance

Texts

Mistero buffo, Dario Fo e Franca Rame (from Le commedie di Dario Fo, any edition or selection) Folder of photocopied material, required

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