Various classes, taught by TACIT Director Brian Brophy and occasional guest artists, are offered throughout the academic year. The current course offerings are listed here.
Theater Arts Production
PVA 40 abc
3 units (2-0-1): first, second, third terms
Instruction in all phases of theatrical production, culminating in multiple performances for the public with a hands-on, practical approach including stage combat, costume construction, scenic arts, lighting, sound, and mentorship with professional actors, designers, and directors. Material of academic value is drawn from 3,000 years of worldwide dramatic literature. Problem solving, collaborative team building with an understanding of dramatic structure is stressed.
Instructor: Brian Brophy
Storytelling for Scientists
PVA 41 abc
3 units (2-0-1): first, second, third terms
Across three terms students explore/write and perform new narratives for the ever-changing 21st century global landscape. 41a includes finding your stories. 41b builds complex social/scientific narratives, and practices citizen science and democracy in open forums. 41c concludes with long-form storytelling. All final classes culminate in original stories shared in front of a live audience.
These sessions are open to the Caltech/JPL community, to explore the stories that need to be told now: community as a creative act.
May be repeated for credit.
Instructor: Brian Brophy
Wednesdays, 7-8:30pm, Ramo
Improvisation for Scientists
PVA 42 abc
3 units (2-0-1): first, second, third terms
This class is taught sequentially over the academic year and begins with rudimentary improvisation and continues in the winter/spring with professional improvisation guidance, long form improvisation, musical improv, and advanced techniques with public performances.
Guest lecturer Kari Coleman teaches long form improvisation and how to perform original comedy sketches, with improvised takes on the original Twilight Zone series’s (1959-1964) famous style and themes, between reality and fantasy within a dreamlike state of mind.
Instructor: Kari Coleman
Wednesdays, 8:30-10pm, Ramo/Dabney
