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Open Educational Resources (OER)

Below are a list of OER, RRCC library materials (eBooks, journal articles, etc.), and third-party* content for each course in OER Grant VI.  To access the linked library resources below, you will need to be logged into the RRCC library. If you have any issues accessing the library, please contact holly.stevens@rrcc.edu or the library staff at library@rrcc.edu

Theatre ZTC Resources by Course

THE 1004: Basic Costume/Apparel Const 

 

Open Resources 

General

Title Description
Theatrical Worlds (textbook) gives insight into the people and processes that create theatre; historical topics include Shakespeare, American musicals, and world theatre. #introductiontotheatre, #theatricalproduction, #acting, #directing, #setdesign, #costumedesign, #lightingdesign, #shakespeare, #americanmusical, #worldtheatre
Teaching Apparel Production (textbook) broken into units/chapters that focus on essentials for constructing garments and teaching others how to construct apparel and apparel-related products. #sewing, #sewingmachines, #apparelconstruction
Introduction to Apparel Production Workbook (textbook) covers important concepts and techniques in beginning apparel production. Includes graphics, videos, and projects. #sewingterminology, #fabrics, #sewingmaterials, #patterns, #cutting, #marking, #threading, #sewingmachines
Adaptive Apparel Design (textbook) covers the adaptive apparel design process: research, sketching, developing a sample notebook, mood or inspiration board, pattern work, first sample, and the completed ensemble
History (Costume, Apparel Const.)
Title Description
Fashion History Timeline (website)  
Textiles and Fashion
Title Description
Victoria and Albert Museum,_Theatre & Performance Collection (website)* documents current practice and history in various areas of performing arts in the UK, including drama, dance, opera, circus, puppetry, comedy, musical theatre, costume, set design, pantomime, popular music, etc.
Costume Institute (Metropolitan Museum of Art) houses a collection of more than 35k+ costumes and accessories, representing five continents and seven centuries of fashionable dress, regional costumes, and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present
Motley Collection of Theatre & Costume Design comprises over 5000+ items from productions in England and the United States, including costume and set designs, sketches, notes, photographs, prop lists, storyboards, and fabric swatches
Cornell Fashion and Textile Online Collection: Arts & Design includes 9,000+ items of apparel dating from the eighteenth century to the present; includes collections of ethnographic textiles and costumes
Patterns
Title Description
Tilly and the Buttons (website) includes How to Combine Pattern Sizes, How to Select Your Sewing Pattern Size 
Sewing/ Basic Construction
Title Description
Sewing: Canvas Commons open courseware in the Canvas Commons; each course has resources that can be reused and adapted. 

Library Resources

General/Misc.
History (Costume, Apparel Const.)
  • McLean, Adrienne L. Costume, Makeup, and Hair. E-book, Rutgers University Press, 2016.: each chapter explores a different era in film history, illustrating how costume, makeup, and hair styling have adapted to technological advancements and changing cultural norms.

Textiles and Fashion
Patterns
Sewing/ Basic Construction

THE 1008: Theatre Script Analysis

 

Open Resources (OER)

General

Title Description
Theater & Film (LibreText) from LibreText, includes: Intro to Technical Theatre; Technical Theatre Practicum; Actors and the Art of Performance; Theatre Appreciation; Playwriting; Directing; Devising; Improv Recipe Book; Exploring Movie Construction and Production; Moving Pictures - An Introduction to Cinema; Video Production Handbook; Telling Stories to Save the World
Folger Shakespeare Library Collection (website) a large Shakespeare collection resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world; and Folgerpedia, the Folger Shakespeare Library's encyclopedia of articles addressing each topic as it relates to the Folger and the Folger collection.
Theatrical Worlds (textbook) gives insight into the people and processes that create theatre; historical topics include Shakespeare, American musicals, and world theatre. #introductiontotheatre, #theatricalproduction, #acting, #directing, #setdesign, #costumedesign, #lightingdesign, #shakespeare, #americanmusical, #worldtheatre
Reading/Interpreting Theatre scripts
Title Description
Theatrical Scripts (2020, journal article) analyzes the role of theatrical scripts and their relation to the literary work and the theatrical performance. Introduction; Contemporary debate on the relation of interpretation: An example; The role of the script in theories of theatre; Argument from modality; Possible challenges; Script Unreconstructibility; Literary work re-constructibility; Implementation of the script / literary work distinction
Reading and Responding to Drama (LibreText) provides guidance on how to effectively read and understand drama or plays
How to Read a Play (chapter)  discusses how drama and theatrical performances create their own unique reality through the use of conventions and audience participation
Plays: HathiTrust (repository): provides tips on how to read and understand drama or plays; click on "Full View" or "Multiple Views" to access plays in the public domain.
Play production analysis
Title Description
How to Review a Play (Google doc) editable OER
Analyzing Dramatic Texts in Literary Genres (textbook): focuses on analyzing dramatic texts by examining three key components: the spoken dialogue from the script, the physical staging and acting choices, and the underlying subtext conveyed through performance

Library Resources

General
Reading/Interpreting Theatre scripts
Play production analysis

THE 1011: Acting I

 

Open Resources (OER)

General/History

Title Description
Theatrical Worlds (Part Two, Section 2: Acting) from LibreText, includes: Intro to Technical Theatre; Technical Theatre Practicum; Actors and the Art of Performance; Theatre Appreciation; Playwriting; Directing; Devising; Improv Recipe Book; Exploring Movie Construction and Production; Moving Pictures - An Introduction to Cinema; Video Production Handbook; Telling Stories to Save the World
Folger Shakespeare Library Collection (website) a large Shakespeare collection resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world; and  Folgerpedia, the Folger Shakespeare Library's encyclopedia of articles addressing each topic as it relates to the Folger and the Folger collection.
History of Theatre: Middle Ages in 7B supplemental resource used in college-level Theatre Appreciation course
Digital Resources - Theater (website) materials from the Library of Congress including digital collections, online exhibitions, recorded lectures and interviews with scholars and performers, filmed theatrical performances, and published articles and blog posts
Storytelling on Screen: An Online Playback Theatre Archive (textbook) a guidebook explaining key concepts and adaptation to online performances; for various theatre courses. 
Acting
Title Description
Actor Tools for Public Speakers (chapter) includes topics on Banishing Negative Thoughts, Encouraging Positivity, Releasing Physical Tension, Freeing Voice and Speech, Finding Focus and Commitment, and Enhancing Confidence
Actorama (website) search monologues from movies, plays, television and books according to gender, source material, type (dramatic, comic, serio-comic), main action/emotions explored, period, genre or specific keywords (e.g. title or author)
Public Speaking as Performance Subtitle: Practicing Public Speaking in the Theatre & Performance Classroom (textbook) covers acting tools, audience analysis, and delivery methods as well as strategies for enhance presentations and making effective use of language
Free Monologues for Women, Men, and Non-Binary Performers (website) “for use in the classroom, during rehearsals, as acting exercises, for auditions, and in directing and playwriting lessons” 
Exercise Warm-Ups & Improv
Title Description
ImprovWiki (website) exercise ideas for theatre warm-ups 
Improvisation Recipe Book (website) improv "recipes" and games 
Speech Accent Archive (website) from George Mason University, a large set of speech accents from various language backgrounds

Library Resources

General/History
Acting
Exercise Warm-Ups & Improv

THE 1016: Technical Theatre

 

Open Resources (OER)

General

Title Description
An Introduction to Technical Theatre (LibreText) provides a comprehensive overview of technical theatre, including terminology and general practices and draws on the author’s experience in both the theatre and the classroom; intended as a resource for both secondary and post-secondary theatre courses
Chapter 9: Technical Theater in Exploring the Arts This chapter focuses on the essential tasks and skills required in technical theater, emphasizing the importance of script breakdowns, set design, lighting, properties, and costumes in creating a seamless production and highlights the collaborative nature of these roles and the critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills necessary for success.
Technical Theatre Practicum covers jobs in technical theatre, performance etiquette, actor scene breakdown, scenery, stage properties, stage lighting, costume, sound, blocking notation, production reports, and cueing scripts
Theatrical Worlds (textbook) gives insight into the people and processes that create theatre; historical topics include Shakespeare, American musicals, and world theatre. #introductiontotheatre, #theatricalproduction, #acting, #directing, #setdesign, #costumedesign, #lightingdesign, #shakespeare, #americanmusical, #worldtheatre

Scene Design and Construction

Title Description
The Set Team in #TheatreAppreciation details the evolution of scene design from ancient Greek and Roman theatre to the modern era and explains the critical role scenery plays in storytelling and how contemporary scene designers use various technologies and collaborate with a team of specialists to bring theatrical worlds to life, from initial sketches to the final production.
MIT Open CourseWare: Theatrical Design  open resources from MIT courses to include readings, assignments, syllabi, videos, and more. Contact the RRCC OER Assistant if you have trouble locating the OER within the pages. 

Sound/Lighting Design & Implementation
Title Description
Lighting Archive a website dedicated to preserving and providing access to original lighting documents from historical theatrical productions and influential lighting designers
Theatre Lighting Before Electricity covers the intricacies of dealing with stage lighting before the advent of electricity. Ranging from ancient Greek times to 1882.
Library Resources

 

General
Scene Design and Construction

Sound/Lighting Design & Implementation

THE 1026: Auditioning Musical Theater

 

Open Resources (OER)

General

Title Description
So You Think You Know Dance?(textbook) provides an introduction to dance (including musical theatre), covering its history, styles, elements, and role in various cultures and societies; designed for students taking dance appreciation courses or anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of dance. 

Meet the Dance Makers: Profiles of Creativity, Innovation, & Tradition (textbook)

features interviews with global choreographers, producers, and performers.
International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP) a digital library of public domain musical scores and recordings.
Musical Theatre in #TheatreAppreciation provides an overview of the history and evolution of musical theatre
Auditioning & Audition Psychology
Title Description
Audition Packet for Musicals (repository) a pre-made template that the author has used and adapted for various musical theater productions from elementary through high school levels. It contains materials to help organize auditions for musicals, such as audition forms, character breakdowns, and other related documents.
Audition Insider: Advice from Casting Directors* (video playlist) hosted by Backstage; videos with audition advice from theatre casting directors
The Psychology of Auditioning* provides useful insights and strategies for actors to mentally prepare for auditions

Library Resources

Auditioning & Audition Psychology
Performance & Critical Analysis

THE 1052: Production Stage Management I 

 

Open Resources (OER)

General

Title Description
#TheatreAppreciation provides an overview of various aspects of theatre, including theatrical spaces, theatre history, musical theatre, including the importance of set design.
Video Production Handbook (LibreText) offers insights into the entire video production process including development, pre-production, production, and post-production, divided into 16 chapters.
Drama Arts Toolkit (videos) a collection of educational resources focused on the study and appreciation of theater arts, hosted on the PBS LearningMedia platform; includes videos exploring the history and elements of theater, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at theater production.
Stage Manager Roles & Responsibilities
Title Description
MIT Stage Management Manual a stage management manual for co-curricular theater productions at MIT, detailing the stage manager's role in coordinating all technical aspects from pre-production to performances and serving as the central communication hub. It emphasizes the importance of research, planning, organization, running rehearsals, and overseeing performances, and includes various organizational tools like forms, checklists, and sample reports.
Stage Manager (website)* an AACT resource that describes the role of stage managers in theatre productions and outlines their responsibilities including scheduling and running rehearsals, coordinating with designers and crew, recording blocking and technical cues, and maintaining production integrity during performances.

Library Resources

General

Stage Manager Roles & Responsibilities

THE 2000: Paint/Draw/Rende/Model Techs

 

Open Resources (OER)

General/Theatrical Design
Title Description
An Introduction to Technical Theatre with Practicum (textbooks) provides a comprehensive overview of technical theatre, including terminology and general practices, and draws on the author’s experience in both the theatre and the classroom; practicum covers  jobs in technical theatre, performance etiquette, actor scene breakdown, scenery, stage properties, stage lighting, costume, sound, blocking notation, production reports, and cueing scripts; includes Scene Painting and Color Theory
Theatre Lighting Before Electricity (textbook) provides a comprehensive history of early-stage lighting techniques before the advent of electricity
Grand Illusion: The Art of Theatrical Design (website)  Library of Congress; historical showcases of theatrical design from Baroque to Broadway with collections documenting various theater genres, including ballet, modern dance, opera, musical theater, dramatic theater, and vaudeville.
Scenic & Costume Paint/Sketch Techniques
Title Description
Gouache Painting* (videos) video playlist covering Gouache painting techniques by Dinotopia creator, James Gurney
How To Use India Ink (video)* instructor-led video demonstrates various techniques and tools for working with India ink
Portfolios
Title Description
Theatrical Design and Technical Theatre Portfolio* (video playlist) for building a theatrical design and technical theatre portfolio; includes: Basics, Tips and Tricks, Presenting the Portfolio, Setting up the Portfolio Walkthru, The Resume, and Digital Portfolios
Technical Theatre Portfolio Preparation (presentation) PowerPoint on preparation for a tech design portfolio. To make a copy, click "File>Make Copy"

Library Resources

General/Theatrical Design
Portfolios

THE 2002: Intermed Costume Construction 

See also: THE 1004 Basic Costume/Apparel Const 

Open Resources (OER)

Title Description
La Couturière Parisienne (repository) information, original pictures, patterns, and tutorials related to historical clothing and costumes.
Library Resources

THE 2015: Playwriting 

 

Open Resources (OER)

General
Title Description
#TheatreAppreciation (textbook) for introductory level lecture classes such as Theatre Appreciation and Introduction to Theatre. It provides insight about the art and craft of theatre, a brief exploration of theatre history, and discussion about the styles and forms of theatre along with an overview of professions in the field.
OER Commons: Playwriting (repository) an OER Commons resource containing a string of Playwiritng resources 
Digital Resources - Theater (website) materials from the Library of Congress including digital collections, online exhibitions, recorded lectures and interviews with scholars and performers, filmed theatrical performances, and published articles and blog posts
Introduction to Theatre (repository) an OER Commons resource containing lecture notes, internet links and vocabulary lists for a core curriculum Introduction to Theatre college level course.
Dramatic Literature & Play Elements
Title Description
Key Components of a Dramatic Text – Surface and Subtext explores key components of a dramatic text, including the dramatis personae which assists in identifying characters, the division of plays into acts and scenes, and the significance of stage directions and themes.
What Is Genre and How Is It Determined? – Exploring Movie Construction and Production discusses different genres of movies/stories such as farce, satire, crime, spy, adventure, science fiction, horror, and drama. It provides examples and explanations for each genre.
Storytelling on Screen: An Online Playback Theatre Archive and Guidebook (textbook) a collection of recordings of online Playback Theatre performances that provide insights into storytelling techniques and performance practices
Play Scripts
Title Description
Plays on Project Gutenberg (website) includes Shakespeare, Alighieri, Shaw, Tolstoy, The Atlantic Book of Modern Plays by Gordon Bottomley, and more
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (website) created by MIT alumni and contains electronic copies of the works of William Shakespeare.
Library Resources
General
Dramatic Literature & Play Elements
Play Scripts

THE 2021: Set Design for Film & Theatre  

 

Open Resources (OER)

General/Set Design

Title Description
#TheatreAppreciation (textbook) provides an overview of various aspects of theatre, including theatrical spaces, theatre history, musical theatre, and the importance of set design in bringing the world of a musical to life on stage
Drama Arts Toolkit (videos) a collection of educational resources focused on the study and appreciation of theater arts, hosted on the PBS LearningMedia platform; includes videos exploring the history and elements of theater, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at theater production.
Exploring Movie Construction & Production (textbook) covers key aspects of film construction and production, covering theme, genre, narrative structure, directing style, cinematography, and terminology.
Design Theory & Color Theory
Title Description
The Use of Color in Theater and Film (journal article) examines how colors are used in theater and film and how they are used differently on stage and in movies, including why they're chosen and what they mean; also explores how different people see colors and why directors make choices about colors.
Colour Theory: Understanding and Working with Colour (textbook) covers various aspects of color theory, including its history, scientific principles, and practical applications in creative and scientific fields.
Mise en Scène Part 1: Setting, Design, Staging in Close-Ups: An Introduction to Film covers the concept of mise-en-scène, the arrangement and design of everything that appears in the framed scene on a film or television set.
Scene Painting and Color Theory (LibreText)  explores essential techniques and concepts related to scene painting and the application of color theory in theatrical settings
Design Drafting
Title Description
All About Drafting (videos)* includes: Drafting 101: What is Scale?; Drafting 101: Using a Scale Ruler; How to Set Up Drafting Plate (with Title Block); Units of Measure in Theatrical Building (in the US); Reading Build Plans and Making Cut Lists; Standard Drafting Symbols for Groundplans; Drafting a Set Groundplan

Library Resources

General/Set Design

Design Theory & Color Theory
Design Drafting

THE 2026: Theatre Sound Op and Dsgn I 

 

Open Resources (OER)

General

Title Description
An Introduction to Technical Theatre (LibreText) provides a comprehensive overview of technical theatre, including terminology, general practices, sound design, and sound equipment guidance.
Sound in Technical Theatre Practicum (LibreText) provides an overview of the role of sound in theatre productions including types of sound in theatre, creating sound effects, the sound design process, and basic sound equipment.
Sound Design
Title Description
What I Do: Nick Hernandez, Sound Designer (video) a sound designer describes his process for creating the sound design and composing original music for the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences' production of "Long Way Down" based on the book by Jason Reynolds.
Sound Design In Contemporary Theatre: 6 Essential Steps For Successful Implementation* outlines the six essential steps for implementing effective sound design in theatre: 1) Understanding the script and concept, 2) Research and collaboration, 3) Conceptualization and experimentation, 4) Technical implementation, 5) Rehearsals and refinement, and 6) Performance and maintenance.
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Software
Title Description

Audio Production Course Manual

offers guidance on properly using microphones and PA equipment to mix a live audio event, operate Pro Tools or other related recording software/hardware to produce a small audio project, and differentiate between audio formats. Also covers acoustic room treatments and recording budgets.
What is a DAW? Your Guide to Digital Audio Workstations* provides an overview of Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and their applications in sound/music production


Library Resources

General

Sound Design

DAN 1025: Dance Appreciation 

 

Open Resources (OER)

General/Misc.

Title Description
Exploring the Arts: A Brief Introduction to Art, Theatre, Music, and Dance (textbook) includes Intro to Dance, Elements of Dance, and Dance History and Styles
Dancers and Choreographers (website) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website about the occupations of dancers and choreographers.
Dance Appreciation videos from PBS Media

 

Definition and Elements of Dance
Title Description
So You Think You Know Dance?(textbook) provides an introduction to dance, covering its history, styles, elements, and role in various cultures and societies; designed for students taking dance appreciation courses or anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of dance.

Exploring the Arts: Elements of Dance 

provides an overview of the key elements of dance - body, energy, space, and time (B.E.S.T) and explains how these elements are building blocks that help identify, describe, analyze, and discuss dance as an artistic practice.
Soft Skills in Dance (guidebook) a digital guidebook created by the Empowering Dance 2 project aimed to help dance artists, choreographers, and teachers recognize and communicate the soft skills inherently developed through participatory dance practices.
Genres 
Title Description

Video Watchlist: Hip Hop Evolution

a resource in Canvas Commons that provides an overview of Hip Hop Dancing's evolution, both in freestyle (a.k.a. improvised) solo expressions, and as choreographed, group works. Elements of African Traditional Dances, street dancing in America; Breakdancing, Locking, Popping, Femme Style, Whacking, Heels, K-pop, etc. contribute to competitive and performance forms.
Playford’s Dancing Master a comprehensive online resource dedicated to John Playford's "The Dancing Master", a seminal collection of English country dances published between 1651 and 1728. 
TedTalk Videos: Dance a collection of TED Talks on the topic of dance including those from various cultures and genres

Language and Critique of Dance
Title Description
Responding to Dance* (website) provides guidance on how to critically respond to and critique a dance performance.

Glossary Dance Terms in So You Think You Know Dance?

various dance glossary terms

Library Resources

General/Misc.

Genres

Language and Critique of Dance