T/D 106: Performance I: Library Session Activities

Background: For this class you'll be looking for American plays written from 1930 to the present (or 1980 to the present, depending on your course section). To find plays in our book collection, you can search by keyword, title, or author, in the Library Catalog (use this Library Catalog link or the Catalog Search Box on the Library website or on this guide). American literature is shelved in the PS section on the main floor of the library.

Directions: You and your partner will be assigned a specific book.

1. With your partner, search for your assigned book in the Library Catalog (use this Library Catalog link or the Catalog Search Box on the Library website or on this guide)
2. Write down (or take a picture of) the call number (it will start with PS...)
3. Go into the stacks and pull the book from the shelf
4. Bring the book back to the classroom

Background: Drama Online includes nearly 2,000 play texts, from ancient drama and Shakespeare to contemporary plays. For T/D 106, you will want to limit your search to American play texts.

Instructions:

1. Go to Drama Online
   1. Select Advanced Search
   2. Leave the main search box empty
   3. From the list of Content Types, select "Playtext"
   4. Press Search
   5. From the Genres and Forms section, go to "Theatre around the world," then select "American Drama" (hint: you may have to click "More" to see this option)
   6. You should now see a list of ~140 plays.
2. Select a play from the results list that looks intriguing. 
   1. Click the title and see what type of information it provides about the play, such as the Character Grid for statistics by words and speeches by character or the Play Summary.
   2. Locate the full playtext.

Background: The Department of Theatre and Dance subscribes to this digital library of scripts by living writers. After this library session, contact your instructor or departmental administrative assistant Kristi Borowy (507-933-7353) to request access.

Instructions: Go to New Play Exchange (the librarian will give you the login information during the library session)

1. Click "Search"
2. Click "Scripts"
3. Use the options under "Filter Scripts" to refine your search
   1. Example: Limit by Writer Location (US)
   2. Example: Limit by "Script Info" (length of script, full scripts available for download, and more)
   3. Example: Characters
4. Select a play from the results list that looks intriguing
   1. Click the title and see what type of information it provides about the play
   2. Locate the full script