GERMAN 304 A: Contemporary German Play

This course provides the unique opportunity for students to fully engage with a work of German literature by reading it, discussing it, and most importantly – performing it! This Spring quarter, we will perform “Die neuen Leiden des jungen W.” by Ulrich Plenzdorf. This play/novel takes place amidst the East German youth culture of Berlin in the 1970s, while, at the same time, drawing parallels both to Goethe’s “Die Leiden des jungen Werther” and Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”.

Students will gain greater fluency and accuracy in German through pronunciation and vocabulary exercises, while improvisation exercises and acting games will enhance spontaneity and flexibility in the language.

Students will be involved in every aspect of the production as actors, assistant directors, costume designers, stage designers, prop builders, lighting technicians, video technicians, sound engineers etc. Any expertise in these areas will prove useful but is not at all required. Please note that previous acting experience is also not required. 

For the first 2-3 weeks of the quarter, students will read and discuss the play, which will be accompanied by short written assignments. The remainder of the quarter will be devoted to staging and rehearsals. The course will culminate in two performances on June 4^th and 5^th.

Regular attendance, memorization of lines, and, if needed, extra rehearsals at the end of quarter are required. The course will be conducted in German.

Prerequisite: German 203 or permission of instructor.

This will be a truly rewarding experience that will help improve your German and your collaboration skills in a fun and constructive environment!