Study international theatre! As theatre is a way of knowing, this program will immerse the student in global culture and perspectives that can only be experienced through the art and practice of theatre.
Program Overview
European Theater Studies is a 1.5 week program during which students attend the Prague Quadrennial. The Prague Quadrennial strives to present performance design as an art form concerned with creation of active performance environments, that are far beyond merely decorative or beautiful, but emotionally charged, where design can become a quest, a question, an argument, a threat, a resolution, an agent of change, or a provocation. Performance design is a collaborative field where designers mix, fuse and blur the lines between multiple artistic disciplines to search for new approaches and new visions.
The Prague Quadrennial organizes an expansive program of international projects and activities between the main quadrennial events – performances, exhibitions, symposia, workshops, residencies, and educational initiatives serve as an international platform for exploring the practice, theory and education of contemporary performance design in the most encompassing terms.
Students will attend plays, participate in workshops and attend lectures/discussions at the Prague Quadrennial. When possible, plays will be selected that expose the students to a Euro-centric production style - typically more visual and nonlinear than American realist productions. Students will also attend workshops while in Prague and have opportunity to discuss theatre practice with local and international professional artists. Students will be encouraged to study the cultural aspects - architecture as well as civic style and artistic practices - of selected European countries. Attention will be given to the way theatre may be used to promote social change arising out of the needs of the given community. Emphasis will be placed on work to be found in major museums and galleries as well as the regular PQ events.
- Sponsoring Department: Communication
- Program Leader(s): TBD
- Term: TBD
- Program Dates: TBD
- Estimated Cost: $TBD (airfare not included)
- Prerequisites: None
- Eligibility: Open to both Wheaton and non-Wheaton students
- Highlights: Students will participate in workshops and seminars with theater professionals and students from all over the world and will view/study an exhibition of scenography submitted by the top theater artists in the world today. In the past students have created theater pieces with other international students under the tutelage of renowned international directors and practitioners.
Course Offering
Students will not earn academic credit in this program.
COMM 260: Theater Co-curricular (0 credit hours)
Students will study contemporary European and International theatre in production and practice. Selected playwrights, performance theory and styles will be studied in the class to be used as a basis for the evaluation of live performances at the Prague Quadrennial (PQ 19). This course gives students the opportunity to experience and discuss live theater in a culture outside of North America. European theatre experience is typically much more visual and physical in its storytelling, hence, it gives the students a much fuller and broader understanding of the possibilities of theatre production.
Program Fees
The estimated program fee includes tuition for two credit hours, lodging, breakfast (participants are responsible for all lunches and dinners), local group ground transportation, and planned excursions.
Additional Anticipated Expenses: Students will be responsible for international airfare, textbooks, daily lunches and dinners, and any personal expenses/souvenirs.
| Expense | Estimate |
|---|---|
| International airfare | $1,600.00 |
| Textbooks/Course materials | $100.00 |
| Meals | $300.00 |
| Personal expenses | $200.00 |
How to Apply
To apply, visit GoGlobal, Wheaton College's registration system for off-campus study and international travel, research, and internships.