Which play by Aristophanes will be performed? Choose from:

Select only a play we have read for CL223 (and leave The Wealth out of it—you'll understand why when you read it.)

Cast your vote on the Message board at eProject.com. State which play you would prefer to stage, and support your choice with a brief rationale (about one paragraph).

You must give a rationale. Unsupported choices are not acceptible, nor are "me too" messages, in which you simply agree with your peers.

Feel free disagree with other choices, and to lobby for your preference. Please do so in a message other than your initial vote.

The closing date for this discussion is midnight on 14 February. All votes must be cast before then. The chosen play will be the one with the most votes, and will be announced in class on 15 February.

Now that you have chosen the play, it is time to discuss the general approach you will take in producing it.

For example, will the play be a rereation of its original performance, with masks and ancient costumes? Will it be a modern piece, without the trappings of the Greek stage? Will your political references remain in the past? Will you invent new ones? How will you handle the choruses? Will they be spoken or sung? Will there be dancing?

These and other issues should be discussed on the Message board at eProject.com. State your feelings on the following points:

-- Staging: ancient or modern conventions
-- Setting: where and when
-- Choruses: how to handle them
-- Anything else relevant to this discussion

The purpose of this task is simply to get the discussion going in preparation for the first project meeting, on 24 February, when the format of the play will be decided once and for all. Nothing concrete will be decided until then.

Be sure to keep abreast of the discussion by checking the message board before the 24th. This task will end at midnight on 23 February.

Agenda:

• The approach / format, based on results of task 2
• Date, time, and location of final performance
• General distribution of duties
• Who will direct?
• Identification and scheduling of other tasks

The only role that needs to be filled at this stage is that of the director or directors.

For the other duties, it is important only to get a general sense of who wants to do what: writing, performing, and so on. I suggest that committees be established for the various aspects of production, all of which will report to the director(s).

To make sure that everyone is on the same virtual page, here is are two small items of business to be completed at eProject.com.

(1) Update your profile.

When you first logon to eProject, your name appears in the upper left corner of the main frame. Under your name there is an "Edit Profile" icon. Click this icon to open your information profile, which gives your peers access to information about yourself in the project Directory.

Fill in your profile with as much information as you desire. You MUST supply your phone number in the appropriate box, and you MUST briefly state in the "Notes" section the times that you are likely to be free during the week, including weekends.

(2) Download a document.

If you enter the "Staging Aristophanes" project, you will see the "Documents" icon on the left frame. Click this icon to enter the Documents page. On this page are two folders, one of which contains the script, the other of which contains the digests of the various discussion and meetings we have had thus far.

Download the MS Word document entitled Digest_of_Meeting_1.doc from the "Discussions and meetings" folder. Then print it out. Bring the print-out with you to class on Tuesday, 29 February, and show it to me for credit on this task.

Tip: Although the instructions for downloading are clear, you must be sure to save the document on the machine you are using. Then you can open it in Word and print.

Now that you have chosen the play and assigned roles and duties, it is time to discuss the general approach to be taken for the Chorus of the Lysistrata.

For example, will the Choruses simply speak/chant their songs? Will they sing them? Will you write new music and lyrics for the songs in the text? Who will play the music? Will there be dancing?

These and other issues should be discussed on the Message board at eProject.com. State your feelings on the following points:

-- Should the Chorus sing?
-- Should the Chorus dance?
-- Should there be music? If so, should the music be original or "borrowed"?
-- Who will play the music? Does anyone play an instrument, or know someone who does?

The purpose of this task is simply to get the discussion going in preparation for the second project meeting, on 7 March. Nothing concrete will be decided until then.

This task will end at midnight on 6 March.

Agenda (set by the directoral staff):

• Directors' report
• The Chorus: who and how
• Review of roles
• Assigning remaining speaking roles
• Discussion of phalloi
• Rehearsal schedules

Agenda:

• Progress report: Choruses (?)

Agenda:

• Open

Agenda:

• Rehearsal (?)

Agenda:

• Rehearsal (?)