Overview
In this unit you will study the evolution of theatre for stage, screen and musicals from the late nineteenth century to the present day. You will examine the role of prominent performers and creatives in the development of these styles. You will share your learnings through innovative presentations as well as written assessments. You will also contextualise these developments within the important technological, social and political movements of this period.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students who have completed THTR12123 Theatre Studies 1: Music Theatre History cannot enrol in this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student evaluations
Change assessment 1 and the use of 'Feedback Fruits'
Design and implement a new assessment 1 task to avoid the use of Feedback Fruits which has not been user friendly.
- Identify the stylistic characteristics of theatre forms for stage, screen and musicals from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Explain the influence of prominent performers and creatives in the development of theatre for stage, screen and musicals from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Describe the social, political and technological events that shaped theatre for stage, screen and musicals from the late nineteenth century to the present day.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Annotated bibliography - 25% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 35% | |||
| 3 - Presentation - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1 - Annotated bibliography - 25% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 35% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Presentation - 40% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
s.rozekrans@cqu.edu.au
l.lorenza@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Introduction to the unit and assessment
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
19th century stage and screen
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Vaudeville and revue: stage and screen
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Birth of the Broadway musical
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
From silent to 'talkies' and beyond
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
The golden era of musicals: stage and screen
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Popular culture meets the musical
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
Spectacle and the stage
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
The animation phenomenon
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
Theatre innovators and mainstream theatre
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
The future of theatre: stage, screen and musicals
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Presentation
Length: 5 minutes
Select a prominent creative practitioner from stage, screen or musical theatre from the list below and create a presentation (5 minutes in length) about their contribution to the development of popular (mainstream) theatre during the 20th century.
Choose one of the following practitioners for your presentation:
- Busby Berkeley
- Nancye Hayes
- Bert Williams
- Susan Stroman
- Florenz Ziegfeld Jnr
- Gladys Moncrieff
- Agnes de Mille
- Harold Prince
- Cameron Macintosh
- Buster Keaton
- Bob Fosse
- Phyllida Lloyd
- Julie Taymor
- Jerome Robbins
- Paul Robeson
The aim of your pre-recorded audiovisual presentation is to educate your audience about this person, highlighting their significance to their field within the entertainment industry.
In this presentation you must:
- Identify the time period in which they came to prominence
- What they did and how they came to be recognised
- The social, political and technological events that shaped their contribution to the entertainment industry
- The significance of their work which connects to why and how they are recognised or remembered today
Task format:
- Link to your final presentation in Youtube (unlisted site) of 5 minutes. This link will be shared with other members in the class.
- You will be required to watch presentations from other class members and provide a peer assessment for these presentations.
- Submit a Word document of your presentation with in-text citations and reference list.
- The Reference List is to be in APA style, 7th edition. You should have a minimum of 5 academic references for this assignment.
- Do NOT cite from Wikipedia or other websites that do not have an acknowledged author.
- Include in your reference list all recordings used, Youtube sources, as well as books, academic journal articles, and articles from Oxford Music Online and/or JSTOR and/or AusLit Online Library
- All images and video clips must be included in the reference list.
Format for your presentation:
- This is to be a pre-recorded presentation of 5 minutes in length.
- Include your name and student number in the opening credits of the recording.
- Include a final credits screen which includes a list of references.
- You must use a PowerPoint presentation and speak over the PowerPoint slides with your face visible in the final presentation.
- You may include up to 3 short video clips to illustrate your argument. Each clip should be no longer than 30 seconds in length.
- Be creative!
AI Assessment Scale: Level 2 - You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Please note: The 72-Hour grace period does NOT apply to the Presentation assessment as it requires the use of Feedback Fruits which does not allow late submissions.
Week 5 Friday (10 Apr 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
PART A Presentation due 10 April 2026. PART B Peer Reviews due 17 April 2026.
Week 8 Friday (8 May 2026)
Results and feedback will be on Moodle.
- Clear introduction and conclusion (5%)
- Accuracy of information and depth of treatment of the topic (15%)
- Ability to communicate clearly and logically through audio-visual media (25%)
- Appropriate and clear visual material included in the presentation (25%)
- Correct use of APA style for the references listed in the final credits and the separate hard copy reference list (10%)
- Peer assessment (20%)
- Explain the influence of prominent performers and creatives in the development of theatre for stage, screen and musicals from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Describe the social, political and technological events that shaped theatre for stage, screen and musicals from the late nineteenth century to the present day.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
2 Annotated bibliography
Length: 1200 – 1500 words
The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.
After selecting one of the analysis topics for Assessment 3, prepare an annotated bibliography on your chosen topic.
Your annotated bibliography must comprise 9 different sources.
- Three books (these can be hard copy, online books or e-books)
- Three articles from Oxford Music Online and/or JSTOR and/or AusLit (these databases can be accessed through the CQUniversity library)
- Three academic journal articles (these can be accessed through the CQUniversity library)
AI Assessment Scale: Level 2 - You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Please note: The 72-Hour grace period applies to the Annotated Bibliography assessment. If you need longer than 72 hours, you'll still need to use the normal Assessment Extension System process.
Week 8 Friday (8 May 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit via Moodle.
Week 10 Friday (22 May 2026)
Results and feedback will be available via Moodle.
- Correct number and type of annotations (10%)
- Correct presentation of each reference in APA style, 7th edition (20%)
- Appropriate length of each annotation (10%)
- Appropriate depth for each annotation (60%)
- Identify the stylistic characteristics of theatre forms for stage, screen and musicals from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
3 Written Assessment
Length: 1500 - 2000 words
*The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.
Choose one of the topics provided on Moodle and complete an analysis assignment using the guidelines provided.
Assessment format:
- Use 12 point Times New Roman font for the body of the assignment.
- Double spacing throughout with indent for each new paragraph.
- You may use sub-headings if you wish to organise your assignment. These may be in a different colour or different size font.
- Include in-text references (citations) throughout the assignment.
- Include your name and student number in the header of the document
- Include page numbers in the footer of the document
- Include a Reference List at the end of the assignment in APA style, 7th edition.
AI Assessment Scale: Level 2 - You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Please note: The 72-Hour grace period applies to the Analysis Assignment. If you need longer than 72 hours, you'll still need to use the normal Assessment Extension System process.
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit via Moodle.
Vacation/Exam Week Friday (19 June 2026)
Results via Moodle.
- Clear introduction and conclusion (10%)
- Appropriate choice of analysis Youtube clips (10%)
- Detailed analysis of each of the Youtube clips chosen (30%)
- Synthesis of the analysis to provide a clear and logical argument to address the overall topic (25%)
- Correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and clear lay-out (10%)
- Correct use of APA 7th edition style for the in-text referencing and reference list (15%)
- Identify the stylistic characteristics of theatre forms for stage, screen and musicals from the late nineteenth century to the present day
- Describe the social, political and technological events that shaped theatre for stage, screen and musicals from the late nineteenth century to the present day.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
