CHINESE THEATER AND DRAMA

This course explores the world of Chinese theater: where a heroine is resurrected through the power of love, a filial son saves his mother from underworld torment, and stalwart workers fight for revolution. Examining texts in many genres/forms—from the 16th century romantic drama The Peony Pavilion to the 20th century revolutionary opera The Red Lantern—we investigate the versatility of Chinese drama to encompass politics, history, social movements, and human emotions. Connecting texts to stage practice, we explore gender fluidity in performance, theories of theater, “star culture,” and cross-cultural work (such as the reception of Shakespeare in China). This course address dramatic genres of zaju, chuanqi, and modern/contemporary drama; performance styles of Beijing (Peking) opera, Kun opera (Kunqu), and huaju (spoken drama); the legacies of specific actors (including the famous Mei Lanfang); and compares Chinese and “Western” ideas of theater (such as those put forth by Stanislavsky and Brecht). To the greatest extent possible, we will engage materially and physically with Chinese theater and drama history through archive visits, performance workshops, and by connecting with resources and performing communities locally in NYC.