Theatre of the Streets - The People's Theatre

Instructor: Professor Jerome O. Hanson
                Department of Theatre Arts

In this Seminar, we will consider the origins of theatre and how in those origins people have found identity, purpose, beliefs, and hopes. It will be important for students to realize that before the modern theatres of the West and the elaborate temples and forums of Greece and Rome, theatre existed for the common people. Theatrical expression was found in various forms in the countryside and in the streets of the towns and cities. We will explore how the theatre evolved from myth, ritual, and ceremony and served a very specific religious and social function. Political and revolutionary forces also became instrumental in determining the importance and place of dramatic art in society. Our study will investigate how theatre continues in various regions of the world to be more than entertainment but constitutes a strong and forceful voice for the people-i.e., the oppressed and less fortunate peoples of the developing nations of the world. The concepts of liberation theology, the theatre of revolution, and popular theatre will be explored. Students in the course will then create their own "Theatre of the Streets Program." This production will find its foundation in social justice issues which will deal with the themes of the homeless, the abused, the persecuted and the disenfranchised peoples of the world and of our own country. Of major concern will be the subjugation of these people through environmental exploitation and government/corporate sponsored propaganda. The course will include visits by individual experts in the field-artists, writers, and directors from the local community, Baltimore, Washington, New York and overseas-and provide first-hand testimony as to how these various themes, problems, and situations should be addressed by the students and their plays. The course will conclude by taking the students' production into the streets and back to the people. This may include performances in Washington, Baltimore, and various local communities. There will also be a performance given for the College community.