The Theatre in YOU
An Interactive, Digital Textbook.
First published by Great River Learning in 2017, The Theatre in YOU was an interactive digital text book intended for non-Theatre majors, yet also appropriate for majors as the text provides an excellent foundational understanding of the art form. The eleven chapters allow a professor adopting this text book the opportunity and flexibility within a traditional fifteen week semester to interject their own specific expertise, experiences and interests into the class.
The goal of this text is to discover a balance between foundational essentials and real world applications. It's my hope that using the textbook to it's fullest extent will allow the student to have a greater understanding regarding the process of creating theatre, gain an appreciation of the creative and performing artists working in the industry, and understand how the art form is relevant to the world in which we live.
More importantly, it's my hope that students will be able to use the knowledge they have gained in this class in their chosen profession and in their life. As Tony Wagner states in his book, Creating Innovators:
"Increasingly in this 21st century, what you know is far less important than
what you can do with what you know."
However, Wagner also notes: “Knowledge is also essential in order to innovate. You need foundational information to be able to discern what can and must be improved upon or changed.” This text provides a foundational knowledge of theatre in order that the student may begin to recognize how such knowledge may be relevant to them on a personal level. If you're a professor that believes in "students first", you might considering adopting this textbook for your class.
Real world examples from weddings to job interviews and athletics to politics form a basis of understanding in order that students may discover the relevancy of theatre in their lives. Eleven chapters provide a foundation with the opportunity for each professor to embrace numerous online teaching tools available on the internet. In todays world we can bring experts into our class with a click of a button and students will be able to do the same with access to video and audio clips within their text book from working professionals that prove it is possible to work and make a living in the theatre and entertainment industry.
Since retirement I have been updating the text although the text is no longer available from the publisher. However, if curious you are more than welcome to reach out to me at: swtaft57@gmail.com