This summer, Columbia’s theater enthusiasts can trade in the bright bulbs of Broadway marquees for the City of Light.
For the first time, Columbia’s School of the Arts is offering a three-week course called “Contemporary French Theater and Performance” at Columbia’s campus at Reid Hall in Paris. The program, whose applications are due March 1, is open to graduates and undergraduates from Columbia and Barnard, and is part of a larger selection of summer courses available from SoA. The course aims to expose students to the production of the contemporary theater scene in Paris, and is the first SoA abroad course to grant credit to undergraduates.
Since the program is targeted at students already situated in one of the world’s best theater scenes, some may question the appeal of a program that pulls them away for the summer. Gideon Lester, a graduate theatre arts professor, designed the curriculum along with Yale Associate Professor Tom Sellar, and both teach the course.
Lester explained in an interview that the course should “appeal to anyone who’s really interested in an international perspective,” and said that the program welcomes students interested in international or European studies, alongside those focused on theatre studies. The aim of the program is to “introduce [students] to a really rich, and dynamic, and diverse theater culture, and France has one of the very best,” Lester said.
Designed to be broad-based, the program will expose students to new, classic, and international performances in theater and dance, situated in both large and small venues. The course includes three seminars that meet twice a week, along with nine to 12 field trips to theaters and performances. In addition to readings, trips, and discussions, students will also hear from critics, directors, choreographers, and administrators active in contemporary French theater. Though it is recommended for day-to-day use, knowledge of French language is not required to participate in the program.
Lester also said that the production of theater in France is vastly different from that in the United States. The French government puts one percent of its overall budget into cultural productions, and this financial support allows artists to spend more time creating pieces and to produce more experimental works, and also reduces ticket prices, making performances more accessible to the public. A major focus of the course will be investigation of the ways that French government support shapes the powerful theater scene, as well as consideration of the potential drawbacks of such support.
SoA’s international move in summer programming is a logical addition to its current collection of summer programs. Last year, 44 new summer arts courses were offered, drawing in 365 students. Most of this programming was centered in New York City, in addition to a few international, non-credit bearing ventures. In an interview, Alicia Stevens, the director of global programs at the School of the Arts, said, “That was our goal: Before we tackle the globe, let’s start with some innovative programming here in New York.” The addition of the theater program at Reid Hall marks SoA’s first abroad course that can be taken for undergraduate credit. Students receive three points upon completion of the course.
SoA developed the program in collaboration with the Office of Global Programming, which handles all undergraduate study abroad and helps plan specific international programs for Columbia’s different departments and schools. Stevens commented that “bringing our content to these existing structures” will be beneficial, as the study-abroad program at Reid Hall is well-established.
An information session on Wednesday brought out both undergraduate and graduate students from Columbia and Barnard. “I have never been to Paris before,” said Qing Zhang, a first-year graduate student in stage management, “and French contemporary theater is quite new to me. I’m excited to try new things.”
To apply, visit http://arts.columbia.edu/summer.
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