Performing Arts   

Athens was the intellectual and artistic center of ancient Greece. A drama festival honoring the god Dionysus was held there every spring; ideas and values presented in those plays have profoundly influenced Western thought. We will read a selection of plays written by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes in their historical context, exploring their structure, themes and enduring significance. Prerequisites: Previous experience with the classics is helpful but not required. Required textbooks: The Complete Aeschylus, Volume I: The Oresteia, eds. Peter Burian and Alan Shapiro (2011), ISBN: 978-0199753635; Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles, trans. Peter Meineck and Paul Woodruff (2000), ISBN: 978-0872204928; Medea by Euripides, trans. Diane Svarlien (2008), ISBN: 978-0872209237; and Lysistrata by Aristophanes, trans. Sarah Ruden (2003), ISBN: 978-0872206038.

We will explore the important work of playwright Arthur Miller (1915-2005). After reading and discussing each play, we will watch its film adaptation, then compare and contrast them. Required textbooks (any edition, all by Arthur Miller): Death of a Salesman (1949), The Crucible (1953), A View from the Bridge (1955) and All My Sons (1947).

We will watch and discuss films featuring political crime and corruption, and compare them with their source material. Prerequisites: Participants must have a working email. Note: Films will be close-captioned. Recommended textbooks (any edition): All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren (1947); Absolute Power by David Baldacci (1996); Wag the Dog by Larry Beinhart (1993); and All the President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward (1974).

PBS broadcasts great foreign series during late hours, and finding them on its website is difficult. We will discover two of these award-winning shows: Astrid et Raphaëlle, a French thriller in which an autistic archivist and an impulsive inspector work together to solve crimes; and Velvet, a feel-good Spanish drama across social class in a late-1950s fashion house. We will discuss themes that develop over the series, their award nominations and uncover similar buried content.

We will work in small teams to create short films using our smartphones. We will cover each part of the filmmaking process including pre-production, production and post-production, and participate in collegial critiques of our fellow teams’ films. Prerequisites: Participants should be willing to work on projects as a team and dedicate some production time outside of class. Note: As this is a progressive, team-based course that builds on knowledge gained in each class, participants should only sign up if they can attend all classes. Materials: Smartphone (required), tripod and video-editing app (recommended); the instructor will provide more information to enrolled participants.

We will trace the development of Jewish comedy in the U.S. from its immigrant roots to contemporary stand-up and television. Through lecture, discussion and video clips, we will examine how humor reflects identity, assimilation and cultural tension, and how Jewish comedians helped define American comedy itself. Note: Participants may experience off-color language.

We will build on the fundamentals from previous improv courses or experience and learn to make strategic performance choices that elevate the overall production. We will master show structure by breaking down the mechanics of a flawless performance, develop host skills to lead the room with confidence and unlock advanced engagement techniques to create a memorable experience for the audience. Prerequisites: CFS’s Introduction to Improv or equivalent experience; contact the instructor with questions. Note: Participants will perform a short-form improv show at the Reuter Center on November 16.

Centuries after she lived, Jane Austen (1775-1817) still captures our imaginations. We will read one of her earliest works, Lady Susan, an epistolary novella, and her last novel, Persuasion; examine the arc of her writing life; view several films; and consider whether she was a conformist or subversive author. Note: The instructor will provide links to additional online materials. Required textbooks (both by Jane Austen; any edition): Lady Susan (circa 1794) and Persuasion (1817).

In the 1960s and 1970s, Joan Baez (born 1941) emerged as a powerful voice of conscience, celebrated both for her distinctive musical artistry and her unwavering commitment to social justice. She has described herself as a human being, pacifist and songwriter—in that order. We will explore her life, music and legacy; trace her influence as a performer, activist, visual artist and writer; and examine her enduring role in movements for human rights and peace. Note: Participants may choose to attend each week either in-person or online.

We will listen to some of the marvelous, shorter orchestral masterpieces conducted by the instructor over his career, hear about the composers and explore historical context. This course is great for participants who want a fun introduction to classical music with a peek behind the curtain of how orchestras and conductors do their job. This term, we will explore music that celebrates holidays from the second half of the year in addition to some famous musical orchestral stories. Note: Participants do not need to have taken part 1 of this course to enjoy part 2.

Most of us know what the Marx Brothers look and sound like without understanding their lives. We will learn more about Chico (1887-1961), Harpo (1888-1964), Groucho (1890-1977), Gummo (1892-1977) and Zeppo (1901-1979) Marx, considered by critics, scholars and fans to be among the greatest and most influential comedians of the 20th century. We will watch and discuss key films—including Animal Crackers (1930), Duck Soup (1933), Horse Feathers (1932) and Monkey Business (1931)—that reflect the evolution of the troupe.

We will learn to craft and perform original stand-up comedy in a fun, supportive environment. We will learn about writing jokes, storytelling, timing and stage presence. Through hands-on exercises and feedback, each of us will build confidence and develop a short set that will be performed live at the Reuter Center on November 14. Note: Participants may experience off-color language. Materials fee (payable to instructor): $20 for videographer.

We will listen to and talk about how various forms of music interact and lead to new innovations in popular music in the United States. Each week, we will focus on a specific musician to explore how music connects with and moves us. Prerequisites: Participants do not need to have taken part 1 of this course to enjoy part 2.

Have you ever wanted to be on stage and express your creativity, without the pressure of memorizing lines? Or do you have a vision of bringing a script to life through readers' theatre? We will explore fundamental acting, directing and theater principles, balancing the practical and theoretical through a variety of activities. Materials: Three-ring binder. Materials fee (payable to instructor): $5 for course materials.

Flash back with us to the early days of television! We will share stories and black-and-white memories—comedy, drama, music, variety, sports, kids, game shows and more—from the 1940s to 1950s. We will look behind the scenes at programs and stars including Lucille Ball, Roy Rogers, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Alfred Hitchcock, Kukla, Fran and Ollie, Amos and Andy and Groucho Marx to name a few. Notes: Participants do not need to have taken other courses in the series to enjoy this one. There are both an in-person and an online option for this course. Participants must choose only one option to attend; please ensure that you are registering for the option you prefer, as we may not be able to accommodate changes.

Flash back with us to the early days of television! We will share stories and black-and-white memories—comedy, drama, music, variety, sports, kids, game shows and more—from the 1940s to 1950s. We will look behind the scenes at programs and stars including Lucille Ball, Roy Rogers, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Alfred Hitchcock, Kukla, Fran and Ollie, Amos and Andy and Groucho Marx to name a few. Notes: Participants do not need to have taken other courses in the series to enjoy this one. There are both an in-person and an online option for this course. Participants must choose only one option to attend; please ensure that you are registering for the option you prefer, as we may not be able to accommodate changes.

In a four-year period in the 1940s, Ukrainian American producer Val Lewton (1904-1951) created a lasting body of small-scale, atmospheric short films on meager budgets. Not content to simply make quick and easy shockers, he created a less-is-more school of psychological filmmaking of uncannily beautiful and unsettling films. We will watch and discuss four of his best—Cat People (1942), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), The Curse of the Cat People (1944) and The Body Snatcher (1945)—all subtitled in English and in black and white.