Theatre (THEA)

College of Fine Arts

(GE) = Approved General Education Course
(WR) = Approved Writing Reinforcement Course

101 Freshman Applied Theatre I, 1 credit hour
Introduction to practicum production opportunities designed for first-semester theatre majors. Students will be assigned to different production areas by faculty supervisors in support of the theatre season. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

102 Voice Lessons, 1 credit hour
Singing vocal instruction on an individual basis. Prerequisite: By audition.

120 Introduction to Theatre, 3 credit hours (GE)
Survey of drama and the art and craft of theatre practice.

121 Acting for Non-Majors, 3 credit hours
An introduction to the craft of the actor. Open to non-theatre majors only. Limited enrollment.

201 Freshman Applied Theatre II, 1 credit hour
Further exploration of practicum production opportunities designed for beginning theatre majors. Students will be assigned to one major production area by faculty supervisors in support of the theatre season. Prerequisites: THEA 101 and consent of instructor.

212 Musicianship for Actors/Singers, 3 credit hours
Skill development in basic piano and musical sight-reading for singer/actors.

213 Acting I, 3 credit hours
Introduction to acting techniques and characterization methods, with an emphasis on stage movement and vocal work in application to limited text.

215 Dance, 3 credit hours
This course will train students in a variety of dance styles and can be repeated every semester.

217 Costume Construction, 3 credit hours
Application of construction methods and techniques in the creation of stageworthy costumes.

250 Stagecraft I, 3 credit hours
Principles, techniques, and materials used in scenic construction and painting.

270 Directing I, 3 credit hours
Principles and practice of directing for the stage, including play analysis, pre-production, casting, problem solving, and rehearsal techniques. Prerequisite: THEA 213.

300 Play Analysis, Theory and Criticism, 3 credit hours (WR)
Analyzing and researching a play text for production. Prerequisites: THEA 120, ENG 101 and 102.

Applied Theatre
Practicum opportunities within a specific area of theatrical production. Assignments allow the students to go beyond previous class work and must be arranged individually with a theatre faculty member in the area of interest. Prerequisites: Introductory-level course in the appropriate area, THEA 101 and 201. A student may receive 6 credit hours in Applied Theatre.

301 Applied Theatre—Makeup, 1 credit hour

302 Applied Theatre—Lighting, 1 credit hour

303 Applied Theatre—Costumes, 1 credit hour

304 Applied Theatre—Management, 1 credit hour

305 Applied Theatre—Acting, 1 credit hour

306 Applied Theatre—Stage Management, 1 credit hour

307 Applied Theatre—Scenery, 1 credit hour

308 Applied Theatre—Directing, 1 credit hour

309 Applied Theatre—Sound, 1 credit hour

310 Applied Theatre—Props, 1 credit hour

312 Audition Techniques, 3 credit hours
This course prepares the student for the competitive audition process. Emphasis on selection of materials, preparation and text analysis, appropriate pre-audition, audition and post-audition behavior, and safe practices. Prerequisite: THEA 213.

313 Acting II, 3 credit hours
Continuation of the principles explored in Acting I, with a greater emphasis on scene work, text, and character development. Prerequisite: THEA 213.

315 Acting Workshop, 3 credit hours
Students will explore selected plays with the faculty instructor and Directing II students.

317 Costume Crafts, 3 credit hours
Advanced construction techniques focusing on millinery, mask making, and fabric manipulation. Prerequisite: THEA 217.

318 Costume Design I, 3 credit hours
Introduction to the process of rendering costumes for period and contemporary plays.

320 Oral Interpretation, 3 credit hours
Developing performance skills for all genres of literature in alternative performance venues.

340 Voice I, 3 credit hours
A study of the vocal mechanism with techniques taught in specific training approaches such as Linklater, Lessac, etc., which will improve projection, breath control, and articulation through awareness of personal obstacles. Prerequisite: THEA 213.

350 Stagecraft II, 3 credit hours
Continuation of Stagecraft I, with emphasis on rigging, welding, and advanced construction and painting techniques. Prerequisite: THEA 250 or consent of instructor.

355 Stage Lighting, 3 credit hours
Equipment, principles, and techniques of modern stage lighting. Prerequisite: THEA 120 or consent of instructor.

360 Scene Design I, 3 credit hours
Introduction to the elements of scene design for contemporary and period plays. Prerequisite: THEA 120 and 250 or consent of instructor.

361 Musical-Theatre Styles I, 3 credit hours
Introduction to musical-theatre performance techniques, including song interpretation, auditioning, and staging songs in context of scenes from American musical plays. Prerequisite: THEA 340.

370 Directing II, 3 credit hours
To develop further hands-on directing skills beyond the introductory level. This course will emphasize interaction with actors in the directing process, which will result in the performance of scenes. The course will go beyond the two-person scenes, and will include material that allows the student to: engage a variety of styles and forms, clearly interpret and visually conceptualize a text, increase their ability to communicate with and coach actors effectively, begin to develop a constructive rapport and open lines of communication with designers and technicians, and define an individual directorial voice and style. Prerequisite: THEA 270.

371 Playwriting I, 3 credit hours (WR)
Study of dramaturgy to enlarge the new dramatist’s understanding of factors involved in play construction. Includes discussion, directed readings, and practice writing. Prerequisites: ENG 101 and 102 and THEA 120.

380 Stage Movement I, 3 credit hours
Basic principles of movement for the stage, including beginning stage combat. Prerequisite: THEA 213.

382 Mask Work, 3 credit hours
Students will explore character and ensemble through the use of neutral and character mask. Prerequisite: THEA 380.

390 Stage Makeup, 3 credit hours
Principles and practice of stage makeup.

400 Stage Combat, 3 credit hours
A study of techniques for unarmed combat for the stage; the basics of slaps, punches, falls, throws, and rolls. Prerequisite: THEA 380.

401 Acting for the Camera, 3 credit hours
Auditioning and performing on camera with a variety of material. Prerequisite: THEA 213.

402 Acting for the Camera II, 3 credit hours
Students will shoot and edit short films on location.

404 Theatre and Arts Management, 3 credit hours
Economics and practices of theatre and performing-arts management, including audience analysis and market surveys.

409 Period Décor, 3 credit hours
Dramatic styles, with an emphasis on production techniques of the major periods of theatre history, including period furniture and architecture. Prerequisite: THEA 250 or consent of instructor.

413 Acting III, 3 credit hours
Intensive study of approaches to Shakespearean text. Prerequisites: THEA 213 and 313.

414 Seminar: Career Preparation, 3 credit hours
Practical experience in the art of marketing oneself for the profession. This course is required for all B.F.A. candidates.

417 Costume History, 3 credit hours (WR)
A survey of period clothing and its application as stage costumes. Prerequisite: THEA 120 or consent of instructor.

418 Costume Design II, 3 credit hours (WR)
Advanced study of costume design, focusing on period plays and musicals. Prerequisite: THEA 318 or consent of instructor.

419 Costume Construction II, 3 credit hours
Advanced construction methods and techniques for period costumes. Prerequisites: THEA 120 and 217.

422 Musical Theatre History/Literature, 3 credit hours
This course will explore the development of the American musical. Representative musicals from various periods will be studied. Prerequisite: THEA 361.

423 Theatre History I, 3 credit hours
Overview of the development of world theatre history and drama from antiquity to the 17th century.

424 Theatre History II, 3 credit hours
Overview of the development of world theatre history and drama from the 17th century to the present.

425 Directing Theory/History, 3 credit hours
Study of significant stage and film directors and their theories for the stage. Prerequisite: THEA 370.

440 Voice II: Diction and Dialects, 3 credit hours
A study of the systematic approach to the articulation of American English and the learning of dialects. Prerequisite: THEA 340.

450 Special Theatre Seminar, 3 credit hours
Special offerings on a theatre topic not covered in the curriculum. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.

452 High-School Theatre Teaching Methods, 3 credit hours
Directed study of theory and methods of teaching theatre in the secondary school. Prerequisites: ED 412 and 450 and THEA 451. Limited to 15 students.

455 Light Design, 3 credit hours
Introduction to the elements of light design for the stage. Prerequisite: THEA 355 or consent of instructor.

457 Theatrical Computer Aided Drafting, 3 credit hours
Introduction to the techniques and standards used in drafting theatrical scenery. Drawing by hand and CAD (Vectorworks Program) will be taught. Prerequisite: THEA 250 or consent of instructor.

460 Scene Design II, 3 credit hours
Advanced study of scene design for multi-set plays and musicals. Emphasis on drafting and rendering. Prerequisite: THEA 360 and 457 or consent of instructor.

461 Costume Construction III, 3 credit hours
Further exploration of challenges involved in the construction of period garments. Prerequisite: THEA 217 and 419.

462 Musical Theatre Styles II, 3 credit hours
Song interpretation and musical audition techniques, including in-depth integration of songs and scenes from American musical plays in a lab environment. The course culminates in a public performance/showcase of the students’ work. Prerequisites: THEA 213 and 361.

463 Musical Theatre Styles III, 3 credit hours
Provides opportunities for advanced musical theatre students to explore a particular musical style in a lab environment. Prerequisites: THEA 361 and 462.

465 Senior Project, 3 credit hours
Required of students seeking the B.F.A. Projects in acting, directing, design, management, etc. are completed under supervision of faculty. Prerequisite: Consent of Theatre faculty.

470 Directing III, 3 credit hours
Intensive study of directing styles from various periods and theatrical movements. Prerequisites: THEA 313 and 370.

471 Playwriting II, 3 credit hours (WR)
Continuation of THEA 371, with emphasis on adaptations and/or full-length plays. Prerequisite: THEA 371 or consent of instructor.

475 Internship, 1–6 credit hours
Practical experience in a professional environment. Applications and requirements are available in departmental office. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours on a pass/fail basis. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

480 Stage Movement II, 3 credit hours
Continuation of THEA 380, with a greater emphasis on the physical movement and dynamics of text work and character development. Prerequisite: THEA 213 and 380.

491 Directed Study, 3 credit hours
Independent, guided study in a specialized area of interest. Faculty adviser must approve research topic the semester prior to registration.