OVERVIEW

The course gives students the basic instruments to navigate the institutional aspects, economic context, cultural policies and management practices that characterise live performances (with particular reference to dramatic theatre and musicals).

Previous knowledge: although it is not obligatory, students are advised to have taken History of theatre and performance before doing this course.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objective of the course is to make students aware of the main institutional, economic-financial and organisational dynamics that have characterised the production and distribution of live performance over the centuries. Moreover, it aims to broaden consideration of the contemporary theatre situation and highlight the dynamic balance that characterises theatrical companies today, hovering between the will to stay faithful to a rich tradition of customs, knowledge and consolidated professionalism and the need to redefine their operation in order to live up to the ongoing processes of institutional and management changes and the demanding challenges of competing for financing. 

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

- Capacity to read theatrical phenomena in economic-organisational perspectives;

- Knowledge of the main production and distributional arrangements;

- Understanding the issues of economic sustainability of theatre companies;

- Basic knowledge of public and private sector fund-raising strategies.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures with slides and video projections. Some lectures in the third module will take place at the Tosse Theatre and will involve the artistic director of the theatre and the rest of the staff.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Programme for students taking the course for 6 cfu

The first two modules will sketch the main outlines of the history of the organisation and economics of theatre (drama and musical) from the birth of modern theatre (that is from the mid 16th century) until the second half of the 20th century. The analysis will focus on the Italian dimension but there will also be comparative perspectives and reference to the European context in terms of international relations and exchanges that are deeply-rooted in theatre.

Programme for students taking the course for 9 cfu

The third module will be carried out in collaboration with the Luzzati Foundation - Teatro della Tosse and will experiment an original interaction between cultural planning and academic teaching which will directly involve students. A set of lectures in which the artistic director, Amedeo Romeo, will be a guest, visits to the theatre, meetings with staff and other activities, will enable students to come to grips with a concrete case in which the issue of economic sustainability (in close synergy with the artistic-technical aspects) of a theatrical company from the point of view of long-term (duration in time of the organism), medium-term (season) or short-term duration (each single performance) will feature.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LIVIA CAVAGLIERI (President)

ROBERTO CUPPONE

LUCA MALAVASI

LESSONS

Class schedule

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF LIVE PERFORMANCES

EXAMS

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Oral exam 6 CFU:

- 1 question on each of the areas of study listed in the three points of the bibliography

Oral exam 9 CFU:

- 1 question on each of the areas of study listed in the three points of the bibliography

- 2 questions on the bibliography of the 3rd module.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Optional activities that supplement the course include the following workshops (for further information see the individual pages of the course section):

• Creation of a cultural company workshop
• Analysis of theatrical performance: from the text to the stage
• Analysis of the dramaturgical, scenographic and directorial components of the theatre
• Analysis of the musical components of the theatrical opera