Special Topics in Musical Theatre (350-0-24)

Topic

Hysteria, Pain, & Women in PASSION

Instructors

Karen Olivo

Meeting Info

Wirtz Center Cellar: Mon, Wed 3:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

This dramaturgy-rich seminar examines Stephen Sondheim's PASSION (1994) as a lens for exploring critical questions about gendered bodies, medical authority, beauty politics, and disability representation in musical theatre. Beginning with an exploration of our own positionality, power, and privilege, we will then investigate themes of hysteria, chronic illness, and feminine pain in 19th-century Italy and contemporary performance. Students will engage with theoretical frameworks including intersectionality, disability studies, feminist theory, and theatre historiography over the course of the term to not only learn how to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of a theatre text, but also how to utilize said theory to inform one's creative practice. The course culminates in student-generated dramaturgical commentary suitable for display in the lobby during the Winter workshop performances, thereby bridging scholarly inquiry and public engagement.

Registration Requirements

Permission Required

Class Materials (Required)

None/no cost

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: REASON: Pre-registration is not allowed for this class. Please try again during regular registration.
Add Consent: Instructor Consent Required