The Unusual

This class is called Theatre 101, but it is more accurately Life 101. I only took the class for gen ed purposes, and I thought it would just end up being a boring, easy A class. I was right about the easy A, but I also learned to think about college and life that go beyond a simple grade. While you could probably survive the course without going to half the classes, I found myself not wanting to miss any.

The second half of each class is theatre-related: history, important people, and techniques. This part didn’t appeal to me beyond the history, as I’m not a theatre guy. The first half of each class more than makes up for it. Professor Gross reflects on current events, and ties them into general statements that actually pertain to, and can be applied to, your life. She also shares personal anecdotes from her life that makes you see her as a living being rather than just another professor. It keeps you up-to-date on the world, while making you think about the world in relation to you.

The most entertaining aspect of the class is the (extra credit) homework. Whenever the Ring Theatre puts on a production, Professor Gross encourages you to go to the Student Tuesday nights, where you get in for free, get refreshments for free (if there’s an intermission), and watch a good performance. I had no interest in theatre performances when I went to the two offered during my semester, but I enjoyed both and plan to go to a couple more during the spring semester. Another homework assignment consists of watching a movie, usually the most artistic and popular movie released during the semester, such as Inception or Black Swan.