In this course, we will examine world dramatic and theatre history via select plays and production styles-with a twist. Our investigation will proceed from the familiar-the postmodern present-to less familiar works of the earliest historical periods. We tend to regard historic works with, at once, insufficient reverence (stepping-stones toward later advancements), and, at the same time, with excess reverence (stiff, near-untouchable `classics'). Moving from the modern period inversely `forward' to world antiquities, with major stops (eighteenth century through middle ages) in-between, we will explore historic forms deeply and freshly, in all their beauty, bizarrity, theoretical, complexity, and performance potential. A course for Theatre, English, and Literature scholars, playwrights, directors, actors, designers, techies-and for students who don't really like theatre, but wish they did. Format: lecture/seminar. Evaluation will be based on weekly responses, midterm and final papers, and a final project. Prerequisites: one 100-level course in Theatre, English, Comparative Literature or permission of instructor. Enrollment limit: 15 (expected: 15). Preference given to Theatre/English/Comparative Literature majors.