May-June 2027
In this summer academic program, students will study the experiences of people past & present and how experiences can be intentionally crafted to inspire, educate, entertain, and shape our sense of place, identity, and engagement.
Courses
City life and theatre at the turn of the 17th century
General Education: Intercultural Literacy (ICL) and Historical Studies (HS)
This course will explore what it was like to live in London at the turn of the 17th century, seeing it through the eyes of Shakespeare's acting troupe. Prior to departure, we will also study the same period in Florence, Italy through the eyes of a commedia dell'arte troupe in order to compare the two cultural contexts.
This course will explore how a variety of human experiences are intentionally crafted, using examples found in contemporary London. In visits to museums, historic sites, theatrical performances, street performances, sporting events, walking tours, and other cultural events, we will examine how storytelling, spatial composition, and audience response can shape our sense of place, identity, and engagement.
All students are required to register for both courses.
For Theatre Arts majors on a program of study prior to 2026-2027, THR 3731 can be substituted for your THR 3730 major requirement upon request.
Itinerary Highlights
Details will be finalized spring 2027
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Tour Hampton Court Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London
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See world-class theatre productions
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See famous artworks at world-class museums
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Hold and read documents written in the 16th and 17th centuries at the National Archives
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Reimagine the England of Shakespeare and Elizabeth I at historic sites and the reconstructed Globe Theatre
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Cheer for a British team at a sporting event
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Take a guided walking tour through a lesser-known London neighborhood
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Explore the many sides of this great, cosmopolitan city
Faculty
Professor of Theatre
Paulette Marty
Paulette's teaching specialties at Appalachian State are theatre history, play analysis, directing, dramaturgy and intimacy choreography. She also teaches interdisciplinary seminars in the Honors College. Paulette's research specialties include contemporary stage directors, Elizabethan theatre and spectacle, and consent-based practice and she serves as an intimacy choreographer, dramaturg and director on departmental productions.
Professor of Theatre
John Marty
At Appalachian State, John teaches design as well as general-education and basic theory courses. He specializes in lighting design and has designed lighting, sound, or scenery for dozens of productions at ASU. Professional design credits include work for Ensemble Stage, Barter Theatre, Temple Theatre, The Chautauqua Conservatory Theatre Company, Blowing Rock Stage Company, and others.
"One of the major shifts in mindset I've had from this experience has been the way I perceive and appreciate historical sites and museums. With the visualization exercises and exploration of places associated with actual people from past periods, I experienced history differently. By thinking of these places from their perspectives, I was able to really process what people went through."
Cost
$ TBD (finalized cost coming soon)
Includes lodging, ground transportation in the UK, entrance to historic sites, tickets to performances, guided tours, travel insurance, breakfasts, two group dinners, course materials, and application fee. Additional costs not included in the above fee: airfare, passport and UK Electronic Travel Authorization fee (about $30), meals not listed above, spending money, and six semester hours of tuition at Appalachian State University.
Your free time and food don't have to be expensive! There's a staggering array of things to see and do in London, including free world-class museums, beautiful public parks, and inexpensive walking tours on a wide range of topics. There are also small grocers all over the city that offer quality sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls at very reasonable prices.
Apply
Preliminary application is due November 1, 2026.
Click here to apply!