Course Listings

• Theatre
• Musical Theatre

Theatre Course Listings

THEA 1005 Theatre Going (1)

Through play attendance, reading, and guest speakers students experience, observe, discuss, and assess as they explore what theatre means to them personally as well as the role this art form plays in their daily lives. Repeatable for credit as content changes.

THEA 1010 Conservatory I (8)

• Performance: Fundamental course in theatre skills: teaches acting and movement to develop sensitivity and concentration; voice and speech to develop the speaking voice; and stagecraft to investigate theatre structure and organization. Requires production work. Prerequisite: acceptance by audition.
• Stage Management: Introduces entering students to drafting, technical production, and staff management problems. Seminar studies theatre organization. Assigns production activities according to skills and utilizes them to support those activities reviewed in stage management seminar. Prerequisite: acceptance by interview.
• Design and Technical Areas: The department offers emphases in scene design, scene painting, costume design, lighting design, sound design, technical direction, costume construction, and wig and makeup design, which have individual programs for the four years of Conservatory study.

In the first year all areas of emphasis share the same curriculum, which aims to develop foundation skills in drafting, scenography, technical production, visual history, and text analysis. Portfolio review at the end of each semester. Prerequisite: acceptance by portfolio.

THEA 1020 Conservatory I (8)

Continues experiences described in THEA 1010. Prerequisite: THEA 1010.

THEA 1030 Acting for Non-majors I (2-3)

This is an introduction to naturalistic acting. Course includes basic awareness exercises, as well as theoretical and practical application of the Stanislavsky system.

THEA 1050 Theatre Appreciation (3)

The course examines how theatre art is created, from concept to curtain call. Students will be required to see several live theatre performances. Emphasis is placed on how theatre art involves audiences in the exploration of the themes of the human condition.

THEA 2010 Conservatory II (6-8)

• Performance: Continues basic scene study, characterization, movement, and neutral mask work. Voice and speech introduces phonetic language and continues to develop vocal instrument. Stresses importance of fundamental makeup. Prerequisite: THEA 1020.
• Stage Management: Continues THEA 1020, along with scenography, lighting design, and costume construction. Schedule designed in consultation with advisor. Prerequisite: THEA 1020.
• Design and Technical Production: Scene design, costume design, lighting design, sound design, scene painting, technical production, costume construction, wig and makeup design: Students begin first-level classes and production assignments in their areas of emphasis, with additional classes and production assignments according to individual program and development. Portfolio review each semester. Prerequisite: THEA 1020.

THEA 2020 Conservatory II (6-8)

Continues the previous semester for all areas of study. Auditions and portfolio reviews are scheduled. Prerequisite: THEA 2010.

THEA 2030 History of Theatre: Greeks to Elizabethan (3)

This course investigates the beginnings of western theatre in ancient Greece and traces its development through to the Elizabethan period. Through a combination of reading plays and history, lectures and hands-on projects this class will aim to engage and excite students about the beginnings of western theatre through to Shakespeare and the Elizabethan period. Through discussion and class presentations the course will begin to identify for the student areas of personal interest in the study of theatre history while exploring influences of previous theatrical periods on the theatre of our times.

THEA 2040 History of Theatre: Restoration to 1915 (3)

This course investigates western and world theatre from the Restoration of Charles II in England to the beginning of World War I. Through a combination of reading plays and history, lectures and hands-on projects, this class will aim to engage and excite students about the development of theatre from Restoration Comedy to formulation of modern realism. Through discussion and class presentations, the course will begin to identify for the student areas of personal interest in the study of theatre history while exploring influences of previous theatrical periods on the theatre of our times.

THEA 2050 History of Theatre: 1915 to Present (3)

This course investigates western and world theatre from the modern era to the contemporary moment. Through a combination of reading plays and history, lectures and hands-on projects this class will aim to engage and excite students about the development of theatre from “ism’s” early to mid-20th century to current theatre practice. Through discussion and class presentations the course will begin to identify for the student areas of personal interesting the study of theatre history while exploring influences of previous theatrical periods on the theatre of our times.

THEA 3010 Conservatory III (6-10)

Concentrates on specific needs in each area: acting, stage management, design, technical production, or management. Acting concentrates on major periods of acting styles, with advanced training in specific movement skills: combat, t'ai chi ch'uan, clowning, period dance. Also specific work with dialects and non-regional speech. Design and technical areas concentrate on emphasis in advanced-level classes and production assignments with continuing work in other areas. Students in Wig and Makeup Design will take classes in cosmetology leading to licensure.   Portfolio review each semester. Stage managers participate in seminars and the practical application of the studies in production. Prerequisites: THEA 2020 and approval of area faculty.

THEA 3020 Conservatory III (6-10)

Continues THEA 3010. Prerequisite: THEA 3010.

THEA 3030 Topics in Theatre (2-3)

THEA 3040 Topics in Theatre (2-3)

A series dealing with various topics in theatre: creative dramatics, museum studies, design applications, women in theatre, black/ethnic theatre, contemporary theatre, the elitist theatre, and a history of acting. The courses may be repeated once  for credit.

THEA 3050 Acting for Non-Majors II (3)

This course is a continuation of Acting for Non-Majors I. It will take the fundamentals learned in THEA 1030 and apply them to scene and monologue work from play scripts. Prerequisites: THEA 1030

THEA 3060 Theatre in the Elementary Classroom (3)

Students will learn to use the educational power of theatre as both an instructional and assessment tool by creating a multi-disciplinary theatre based on literature appropriate for 5th and 6th graders.

THEA 3070 Creative Dramatics: Social Issues (3)

This course will focus on researching current social issues that affect teens and adolescents. The class will then write, produce, and perform a social issues review at local high schools. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor

THEA 3710 Directing I (2)

Acquaints the student with the basic principles of directing. These principles of analysis, composition, movement, and picturization are discussed in class. The student then attempts to apply these principles by directing short scenes during the class. The class then discusses the scenes. The student director defends the choices made or concurs that another choice may have been more effective. Scenes are reworked in class. Prerequisites: CONS 2020 or acceptance into the directing program, or permission of the instructor.

THEA 3720 Directing II (2)

This course is a continuation of THEA 3710. The student continues to direct scenes and apply the basic principles. The final project is to direct a 10-minute scene and to go through the full directorial process. The best scenes are presented to the Conservatory. Prerequisite: THEA 3710.

THEA 4010 Conservatory IV (8-10)

Final year of the training sequence. Training in all areas will include advanced theatrical styles and performance needs, preparation for the audition and portfolio review process, performance, and production work suited to meet the needs of the student. Particular attention will be paid to preparation for the job market. Portfolio review each semester. Prerequisite: THEA 3020.

THEA 4020 Conservatory IV (6-10)

Continuation of THEA 4010. Prerequisite: THEA 4010.

THEA 4500 London Theatre (3)

Students will spend a minimum of two weeks in London, viewing at least 10 plays and visiting museums. They will keep detailed journals including substantial critiques of plays and productions. There will be a preparation period of discussions with a mentor to select plays and prepare for the experience, as well as discussions of the experience with the mentor on the students' return. Prerequisites: ENGL 1510 and ENGL 1520; THEA 2030 and THEA 2040.

THEA 4610 Reading Course (1-6)

Prerequisite: filing of the official form.

THEA 4710 Directing III (2)

Emphasizes learning by the student's directing a minimum of four one-act plays. It includes discussions on analysis, function of director as interpreter, organizer, teacher; problems of involved physical staging; and relationship to designers. Special emphasis is placed on creative interrelationship between the actor and director interpretation and acting out the play through improvisation. Student work in process will be videotaped from casting to performance and discussed in class. These will be performed for the Conservatory with no budget and modular furniture. Directors from the Repertory Theatre and Conservatory are guest lecturers. Prerequisite: THEA 3720.

THEA 4720 Directing IV (2)

This course is a continuation of THEA 4710. Prerequisite: THEA 4710.

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Musical Theatre Course Listings

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