Office of International Programs

Program Dates: July 19, 2023 - August 4, 2023

In these courses, students will explore the perspectives of people who live(d) very different lives than their  own. We will read several plays about historical figures and contemporary British people, then study those  people through a variety of methods, including: theatre techniques designed to build empathy, visits to  historical sites, visits to sites important to contemporary subcultures, and archival research. Each student will  complete a significant independent research project about some aspect of the historical or contemporary  cultures we study. We will stay in Edinburgh and London, two ancient cities that are also multicultural  cosmopolitan centers. We will also spend a short time in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. There will be a pre -departure retreat during the day on May 12, course meetings on Zoom on weekdays from July 6-18, and final  assignments due post-travel on August 11. 

Locations

Recognised as the capital of Scotland since at least the 15th century, Edinburgh is the seat of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament and the highest courts in Scotland. The city's Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British monarchy in Scotland. The city has long been a centre of education, particularly in the fields of medicine, Scottish law, literature, philosophy, the sciences, and engineering. It is the second-largest financial centre in the United Kingdom, and the city's historical and cultural attractions have made it the UK's second-most visited tourist destination attracting 4.9 million visits, including 2.4 million from overseas in 2018. Time Out magazine rated Edinburgh the best city in the world in 2022. 

London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just over 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for two millennia. The City of London, its ancient core and financial centre, was founded by the Romans as Londinium and retains boundaries close to its medieval ones. As one of the world's major global cities, London exerts a strong influence on its arts, entertainment, fashion, commerce and finance, education, health care, media, science and technology, tourism, and transport and communications. (Source: Wikipedia)

Academics

All program participants will be enrolled in the courses below.

If you have taken one or more of the courses below, or need a similar but different course to meet major or minor requirements, you may seek permission to take a substitute or "special course." Approval for such exceptions is at the discretion of the faculty leader(s), department chairs, and the college dean, and require the University's special course form. Please contact the program leader before you begin your application.

Faculty Leaders

Dr. Paulette Marty
Professor
Department of Theatre and Dance
martypjw@appstate.edu

Biography

Dr. Marty joined the Department of Theatre and Dance in 2004. Her teaching specialties are theatre history, play analysis, dramaturgy, directing, and cross-disciplinary topics. Paulette's research specialties include contemporary stage directors, Elizabethan theatre and spectacle, and the performance of folklore.  She has published in various theatre journals and periodicals, is the author of Contemporary Women Stage Directors:  Conversations on Craft (Methuen Drama, 2019) and serves as a production dramaturg and director on departmental productions.  

Dr. Marty’s play about art collectors Etta and Claribel Cone had a staged reading by In/Visible Theatre in fall 2019 in conjunction with the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum’s exhibit “Modern Visions, Modern Art:  The Cone Sisters in North Carolina.”

Mr. John Marty
Professor
Department of Theatre and Dance
martyjt@appstate.edu

Biography
John Marty has taught at Appalachian since 2005.  Prior to his arrival at ASU, he taught at Millikin University in central Illinois.  At Appalachian, he teaches design as well as general-education and basic theory courses.  He specializes in lighting design and has designed lighting, sound, or scenery for over 50 productions at ASU.  Professional design credits include work for Ensemble Stage, Barter Theatre, Temple Theatre, The Chautauqua Conservatory Theatre Company, and the Blowing Rock Stage Company.

Program Cost: $5,352

Program cost includes airfare, meals, lodging, in-country transportation. 

Please note that non-billable costs are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc. Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted. Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. 

Appalachian reserves the right to cancel or alter the program format or to change costs in case of conditions beyond the university's control.  Further details about Appalachian's withdrawal/cancellation policy can be found at this link.

Application Process

1. In order to apply for this program, you will need to contact one of the program leaders and provide your Banner ID and email address. Program leaders may request additional information or a meeting to discuss the details of the program and your interest.
2. When permission to apply for the program is granted, you will receive an email from the Office of International Education and Development with a link to the application and further instructions.
3. Your application will be considered complete when you have submitted it and paid the $300 deposit fee. The fee cannot be paid until it appears on your student account. Please note that it may take 2–3 business days for it to post to your account. You will receive an email with Instructions for paying the deposit fee. Instructions can also be found in the application.