Scene Study: Real Life Theater
Eugene Lang College Lib Arts: The Arts
CRN: 18111
Credits: 4
In today’s world, where truth is often contested, actors portraying real people face unique challenges. This advanced Scene Study course builds on students’ prior acting experience, focusing on the craft of portraying characters whose words, stories, and experiences are drawn from real life. Students will explore documentary, verbatim, and investigative theater techniques to bring authenticity and depth to their performances. Through the study of innovative storytelling methods—including witness accounts, legal transcripts, interviews, archival materials, and multimedia elements—students will engage with works by Emily Mann, Anna Deavere Smith, Moisés Kaufman, and Ping Chong (among others). They will also develop their own acting practice through physical training, improvisation, monologues, and in-depth scene study. The semester will culminate in final scene performances. This course fulfills a theater elective requirement for Lang Theater majors and minors.
College: Eugene Lang College Lib Arts (LC)
Department: The Arts (ART)
Campus: New York City (GV)
Course Format: Seminar (R)
Modality: In-Person
Max Enrollment: 16
Add/Drop Deadline: September 9, 2025 (Tuesday)
Online Withdrawal Deadline: November 17, 2025 (Monday)
Seats Available: Yes
Status: Open*
* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 10:34am EDT 3/15/2025