Course 2012-2013 a.y.

Course Objectives

The main goal of the Workshop is to introduce the students to the performing arts sector with a specific focus on theatre, opera, and classical music. Audience arts appreciation, public policies in the arts, marketing management and fundraising of performing arts organizations and events are the main issues we investigate during the Course. Students are given the opportunity to visit some of the most important Italian arts organizations and to meet practitioner and experts in the field.

Course Content Summary

The workshop is divided in three parts:

Live performance appreciation (Prof. Silvia Bottiroli)

• What is a live performance? Theatre, opera, dance and their hybridization in the contemporary scene
• Reading the language of the live performance: text, dramaturgy, directing, acting and movement, space and set design, sound and music
• How to evaluate when a performance is good: method, tools and right questions
• Group discussion: watching a performance and processing a critical assessment
• Writing a performance critique

Field experiences in the performing art fields (Prof. Claudia Tacchino)

• Performing arts in Milan: Piccolo Teatro and Teatro alla Scala
• The case of Globe Theatre in London
• Voices from the field: meeting artists, managers, policy makers
• Making a career in the performing arts: useful tips

Performing arts and society (Prof. Alex Turrini)

• Types of theatres in Italy and Europe: an overview
• Commercial producing: Broadway
• Audience exposure to performing arts: main issues
• Managing theatres and opera houses
• Public and private funding for performing arts institutions
• Evaluating the impact of music festivals

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Performance critique: 30%

Written exam: 30%

Field project: 30%

Textbooks

 Attending students:

• S. BOTTIROLI, C. TACCHINO, A. TURRINI, Workshop in Performing Arts: Readings, Milano, EGEA, 2012

Non attending students 

• S. BOTTIROLI, C. TACCHINO, A. TURRINI, Workshop in Performing Arts: Readings, Milano, EGEA, 2012T.
• STEIN, BATHURST, R. J. (2008)  Performing Arts Management: A Handbook of Professional Practices, Allworth Press  

Prerequisites

This workshop is primarily addressed to ACME students. Other Italian and international students willing to attend the course as an elective should evidence strong interest/practical experiences (as professional/amateurial artists or as interns) in the performing art field.