Undergraduate Course Listing
Theatre Courses Open to All University Students (THEA)
The following classes are open to all students. Please note: There are no performance opportunities for nonmajors.
1380. Dramatic Arts: Mirror of the Age. Introduction to theatre emphasizing the role of the audience in the experience of performance. Semiotic and communications models are used to explore the dynamic interaction and changing relationship between performance audience and society. Theatre-going experiences are discussed and analyzed.
2319. Fashion: History and Culture. How and why does what we wear tell us who we are? A study of clothing: its role in and reflection of various historical cultures, including the relationship between fashion, art, architecture, and the decorative arts of selected time periods. For majors and nonmajors.
2321. Spectacle of Performance. Ever wonder how they do that? Spectacle is part of our life and culture. Students will learn to deconstruct spectacle and analyze its influence upon themselves and society at large. Go backstage to experience firsthand how effects are achieved. Students will be required to attend performances in a wide range of “live” venues and discuss what they observe, enabling them to view performance on a critical level. For majors and nonmajors.
3311. The Art of Acting. Basic work in acting, voice, and movement for the nonmajor. Relaxation, concentration, imagination, and the actor’s exploration and use of the social world.
3313. Introduction to Design for the Theatre. An analytical study of stage design, including an introduction to the basic history, principles, and languages of stage design. The course will include text analysis, elements and principles of design, and critical discussion of current
theatre productions. For majors and nonmajors.
3314. Lighting Design: Theatre, Film and Television. An introduction to the practice of lighting design. Students will be required to study techniques, complete projects and make presentations in the discipline.
3316. Scene Design: Theatre, Film and Television. An introduction to the practice of scenic design. Students will be required to study techniques, complete projects, and make presentations in the discipline.
3318. Costume Design: Theatre, Film, and Television. An introduction to the practice of costume design. Students will be required to study techniques, complete projects and make presentations in the discipline.
3381, 3382. Theatre and Drama History I and II. An examination of key moments in the history of Western theatre. Particular attention is given to selected dramatic texts and their social and cultural contexts, and to the dynamic interaction and changing relationship between performance, audience and society as this is influenced by the advent of actors, playwrights, designers and directors, and by changes in theatre architecture and the social definition of space.
4373. Creative Dramatics. Creative problem-solving using the medium of improvisational theatre. Develops spontaneity and a sense of humor. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
4381, 4382, 4383, 4384. Studies in Theatre, Drama, and Performance. An examination of selected topics in theatre, drama, and performance. Texts, topics, and critical approaches vary.
Courses For Theatre Majors (THEA)
2101, 2201, 2301, 3101, 3201, 3301, 4101, 4201, 4301, 5301. Directed Study. Independent work with theatre faculty on a specific topic chosen by the student.
1303, 1304. Dramatic Arts Today. An introduction to theatre and performance for entering theatre majors. Considers basic artistic concepts, disciplines and vocabulary common to this program, providing an elementary foundation in theatre with an emphasis on acting.
2011, 2012. Production. Rehearsal and performance in a Division of Theatre production. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
2140. Lighting Running/Construction Crew. Practical application of skills and knowledge studied in THEA 2240 to the mounting and running of a theatrical production; involves either serving on the running crew of a Division production or completing 65 hours of work mounting a production. Theatre majors should complete this course by the end of the junior year. Departmental approval required for nonmajors. Must be taken concurrently with or subsequent to completion of THEA 2240.
2141. Scenery Running/Construction Crew. Practical application of skills and knowledge studied in THEA 2241 to the mounting and running of a theatrical production; involves either serving on the running crew of a Division production or completing 65 hours of work mounting a production. Theatre majors should complete this course by the end of the junior year. Departmental approval required for nonmajors. Must be taken concurrently with or subsequent to completion of THEA 2241.
2142. Costume Running/Construction Crew. Practical application of skills and knowledge studied in THEA 2242 to the mounting and running of a theatrical production; involves either serving on the running crew of a Division production or completing 65 hours of work mounting a production. Theatre majors should complete this course by the end of the junior year. Departmental approval required for nonmajors. Must be taken concurrently with or subsequent to completion of THEA 2242.
2240. Lighting Practicum. An introduction to the backstage crafts of theatrical lighting intended to give the student a broad understanding of the basic principles and technical procedures used in the design of lighting. Fifty-hour lab required. Departmental approval required for nonmajors.
2241. Scenery Practicum. An introduction to the backstage crafts of theatrical scenery intended to give the student a broad understanding of the basic principles and technical procedures used in the design of scenery. Fifty-hour lab required. Departmental approval required for nonmajors.
2242. Costume Practicum. An introduction to the backstage crafts of theatrical costume intended to give the student a broad understanding of the basic principles and technical procedures used in the design of costumes. Fifty-hour lab required. Departmental approval required for nonmajors.
2263. Stage Makeup. Instruction in basic makeup, wig and hair styling, and beard building.
2303. Acting I. Exploration of the actor’s imagination and the nature of acting, embracing training concepts of ease, honesty, sense memory, and concentration.
2304. Acting II. Beginning script work, in which the actor learns to analyze a scene for its events and to particularize these events in a series of expressive action tasks. Sophomore course. Prerequisite: THEA 2303.
2305, 2306. Voice for the Stage I and II. Connecting text/sound impulses to acting challenges, an introduction to breath and volume support, and vocal exercises.
2307. Movement I. Teaches students to individuate internal energies of the body; to use these energies to move the body to create precise statuary mime for the stage; and to begin to synthesize physical listening skills for ensemble acting. Skills taught include juggling, Hatha yoga, corporal mime, illusionistic pantomime, Tai Chi Ch’uan and the improvising of mime pieces.
2308. Movement for the Stage II. Increases students’ physical listening skills and practices these in unarmed stage combat. Skills taught include T’ui Sh’uo, Chi Sao, foil fencing (left and right), French sabre, Kung-fu animals and conventions of unarmed stage combat. Prerequisite: THEA 2307.
2322. Text Analysis. Teaches skills necessary to read a play as an actor, director, playwright, designer, and student of drama. Explores key styles and genres of dramatic literature.
2324. Improvisation. Exercise of actor spontaneity and intuition through theatre games and improvisation.
2361. Introduction to Stage Management. An exploration of the methods and techniques of theatrical stage management, including preproduction planning, scheduling and conducting rehearsals and performances. Assignments are both theoretical and practical. Permission of instructor required for nonmajors and first-year students.
3011, 3012. Production. Rehearsal and performance in a Division of Theatre production. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
3205, 3206. Voice for the Stage III and IV. Experiences and exercises designed to free and develop the voice of the actor, explorations of speech sounds, text work. Alleviating physical barriers to sound production, beginning to discover a full vocal range of 2-3 octaves. Prerequisites: THEA 2305, 2306.
3207. Movement III. Teaches extension of energy and physical listening skills. Skills taught include quarterstaff, rapier and dagger, court sword and broad sword. Prerequisite: THEA 2308.
3208. Movement IV. Allows the student to process personal experience into the movement and sound of a character. Skills taught include clowning, LeCoq figures and neutral mask. Prerequisite: THEA 3207.
3219. Musical Theatre Acting and Performance. The basics of acting in musical theatre: script analysis, blocking, character development, and scene study. Includes introduction to musical theatre movement and audition techniques. Students will culminate this course with a series of performed musical scenes. Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
3303. Acting III. A synthesis of first- and second-year work to the end of an individual system by which actors approach the presentation of characters through their ability to present themselves effectively. Prerequisite: THEA 2304.
3304. Acting IV. Continuation and extension of THEA 3303, consisting of special projects in characterization studies. Prerequisite: THEA 3303.
3331. Playwriting I. Creative exploration in the development of performance scripts with emphasis on structural vocabularies of story, plot, character development and dramatic action.
3332. Playwriting II. Intermediate techniques of playwriting with emphasis on developing individual style and voice; writing one-act plays. Prerequisite: THEA 3331.
3341. Directing I: An introduction to the practices and methods of directing. Includes study in the work of major directorial innovators. Directing projects required.
3342. Directing II. An intermediate-level course extending the work of THEA 3341. Final projects include the staging of a one-act play. Prerequisite: THEA 3341.
3361, 3362. Stage Management I. Fuller explanation of the methods and techniques of theatrical stage management. Prerequisite: THEA 2361.
4011, 4012. Production. Rehearsal and performance in a Division of Theatre production. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
4105. Voice for the Stage V. A continuation of the voice curriculum to further enrich the actor’s technique and address any outstanding issues in the work. The vocal workout keeps the actor in tune with his/her instrument while preparing to enter the profession. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
4106. Voice for the Stage VI. A continuation of the voice curriculum including the study of the
International Phonetic Alphabet and dialect/accent work and the addition of specific skills for a variety of media. Cold reading skills, studio time and use of microphones and commercial work for radio and television spots are addressed. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
4204. Acting for the Camera. An intensive approach to acting for film and television. Students will work with actual scripts and copy.
4207. Movement V. An exploration of historical movement and dance including selected dances, movements and manners of the 16th through the 20th centuries, focusing on the embodiment of the style of those periods. Emphasis is placed on the dress, movement and manners of the Renaissance and Classic Baroque periods. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
4208. Movement VI. Physical self-study explored through mask work including Neutral Mask, the masks of the commedia dell’arte, Character Mask, and European Clown. The exploration begins with finding a physical neutral, moves through the playing of the stock masked commedia characters and their counterparts in plays by Shakespeare and Moliere, and culminates with finding one’s own personal clown. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
4303, 4304. Acting V and VI. An actor’s approach to classic texts through scene study, monologues and lecture/demonstration. Emphasis is on Shakespeare and his contemporaries.
4309. Business and Professional Aspects of the Theatre. A preparation for graduating actors that includes compiling résumés, photographs, use of cold readings, monologues and scene work with a variety of scripts for repertory or summer theatre casting.
4331. Playwriting III. Advanced work in the development of performance scripts for the stage with emphasis on full-length works. Prerequisite: THEA 3332.
4332. Playwriting IV. Advanced techniques of writing for the stage, including rehearsal and performance or produced theatrical event. Focuses on professional aspects of playwriting. Prerequisite: THEA 4331.
4341. Directing III. Advanced project studies in stage direction with emphasis on the interplay between director and other artistic collaborators (playwrights and/or designers). Prerequisite: THEA 3342.
4342. Directing IV. Advanced techniques in the interpretation of established dramatic literature and/or creation of original work for the stage. Emphasis on collaboration between director and playwright. This course is for the student seriously considering directing as a career. Time will be spent on exploring professional career choices for the young director. Prerequisite: THEA 4341.
4351. Historical Cultures Within Theatrical Design. Using the elements of design, the course will focus on the exploration of political, social, economic and artistic influences of various artistic cultures in history, and how the designer uses this information to create a theatrical production, film or opera. Junior/senior-level course.
4361, 4362. Stage Management II. Fuller explanation of the methods and techniques of theatrical stage management. Prerequisite: THEA 3361, 3362.
5398, 5399. Production Research and Development. Script analysis, background research, and performance design for the actor, designer, director and dramaturg.