This course will investigate the development of the theater as an architectural form in Italy from the fifteenth through the seventeenth centuries-from its beginnings in the residences of rulers and prelates to the flowering of the Italian public opera house in the seventeenth century. The development of scene design during the same period will also be considered. The material lends itself to interdisciplinary work, combining, for instance, art history with music, theater and/or social history. Evaluation will be based on class participation, an oral presentation and a final paper. Some reading knowledge of Italian is desirable, but not required. Enrollment limit: 15.