RUSSIAN THROUGH THEATER (RUSS 309/609)
1-4 credits;
Тue & Thu: 4:00 – 5:20 p.m.
123 Global Scholars Hall
Julia Nemirovskaya (nemro@uoregon.edu)
This course is open to all students interested in Russian culture. It’s cross-listed with the Theater Arts Department. Prior experience in Russian is not required. You may choose to volunteer or add the course without credits.
Russian Through Theater allows students to sing, dance, choreograph, design and create costumes and makeup, compose, work on PR, and even contribute to writing and directing a real show. Community members and GTFs join students in the play.
The play is bilingual. For every scene in Russian, live synopsis in English is provided on stage in the form of parallel scenes or English-speaking characters. Crew and actors in English scenes don’t need to know Russian, but there will be parts for all levels of Russian proficiency (101 to native).
Class has an informal and warm atmosphere that gives students freedom and allows them to explore their creativity; in warm-up games and rehearsals, students do things like dancing, exercise, and puppeteering. There will be mini-lectures on theater basics and Russian culture in some practices.
Grading is based on attendance and participation. The final production (a full-scale play on a real stage) counts as a final exam.
This year’s play is based on the popular Russian folk tale, Tsarevna-Lyagushka, or “Frog Princess.”