This course is an asynchronous introduction to the world of theatre, with a strong focus on issues of historical exclusion and how theatre, as an art form, can and must foster empathy and inclusivity. In the course, we will explore dramatic texts from a diverse selection of artists, study the roles of different theatre artists, and learn about basic theatre terminology, history, styles, and forms. As a student in this class, you will read, watch, and discuss play scripts, view live performances and respond to them, watch and take notes over lectures and video clips, study a textbook, complete creative projects using the kinds of skills theatre artists employ, and, throughout, consider the importance of this art form for your own life and the world around you. Ultimately, this course will help you to better appreciate, analyze, and respond to theatre by increasing your understanding of what goes into the making of it. And, as you grow in that understanding, we will collectively and continually consider theatre’s unique ability to address inequity and cultivate human connection. NOTE: We will not have any live class sessions for this course, online or in person - students will have deadlines to meet but will otherwise complete the work and respond to other students’ posts on their own timeline. However, while most of the performances that we will watch for the course will be available online, STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO FIND, PURCHASE TICKETS FOR, AND ATTEND AT LEAST ONE LIVE THEATRE PERFORMANCE IN THEIR LOCAL AREA AS A MANDATORY PART OF THE COURSE. This is a course about live theatre, so it is essential that, as part of the experience, students attend at least one live performance. Resources to help students find performances will be provided. There are no prerequisites for this course, and it is appropriate for first-year students.