Courses

In this seminar, we will read and view plays that tell new stories—some that took Broadway by storm and others that had only a brief life onstage. We will ask how a moment of unprecedented diversity in US playwriting responds to earlier eras of theater, what it suggests for the future, and what it leaves us still wanting. Can playwrights still experiment with new forms—and can audiences still be surprised or shocked by theater? How does the US history of settler colonialism, slavery, and changing immigration policies show up in playwriting today? Who is represented onstage, who is pulling the creative strings behind the scenes, and who is doing the work of getting the show on its feet every night? We will encounter some of the most innovative American playwrights and performers of the 21st century—including Suzan-Lori Parks, Annie Baker, Taylor Mac, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and Peggy Shaw—through play texts, videos of performances, and one class trip to see a new play together. This course is open to English and Theater majors, as well as non-majors with an interest in theater. Email Danielle at[email protected] with your name, year, major, and a brief paragraph about your favorite play to apply.