Theatre Course Offerings
THEA 100 : F/Introduction to the Theatre:
Consideration of the theatrical arts (playwriting, acting, direction, design) in relation to their contribution to the theatrical experience. Designed to develop discrimination and appreciation rather than proficiency in performance. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances will be required. Credits: 3
THEA 129 : Stagecraft:
Explores in depth the material introduced in THEA 130, providing the students with a solid working knowledge of theatrical processes and stagecraft procedures. Prerequisites/Corequisites: THEA 130 or permission of instructor Credits: 1
THEA 130 : F/Intro Technical Theatre:
An introductory, broad-based study of technical theatre involving reading and examination of varied plays, and focusing on problems in staging methods, theatre spaces, stagecraft, and stage lighting. Participation in productions is an integral part of the course. Credits: 0-3
THEA 140 : F/Play Analysis for Theatre:
From pages to possible stages: an analysis of the play to discover production and performance options inherent in the script. The play script will be looked at from the points of view of the various production collaborators: performers, designers, and audience. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances will be required. Credits: 3
THEA 199 : Directed Study:
Credits: 1-6
THEA 200 : F/The American Theatre:
A consideration of the significance and role of theatre in this country. Current problems, potentialities, and trends are compared and contrasted with earlier practices. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances will be required. Offered every spring Credits: 3
THEA 202 : F/Hist of Theatre to 17th Century:
A study of the development of theatre through the Renaissance. Attention is given primarily to the playhouse, the playwrights, the actors, the audience, and the critics, with the aim of providing perspective for the student's own theatrical experience. Offered every fall Credits: 3
THEA 203 : F/His of Theatre Since 17th Century:
A study of the development of theatre from the 17th century to the contemporary period. Attention is given primarily to the playhouse, the playwrights, the actors, the audience, and the critics, with the aim of providing perspective for the student's own theatrical experience. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances will be required. Offered every spring Credits: 3
THEA 204 : F/M/Asian Theatre Survey:
A study of the development of the major classical and modern performance traditions of Asia. Attention is given primarily to the playhouses, the playwrights, the actors, the audiences, and the critics, with the aim of providing perspective for the student's own theatrical experience. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances may be required. Offered every fall Credits: 3
THEA 221 : Acting I:
Techniques designed to free the actor, to promote active acting, and to introduce approaches to building characterizations. Workshop performance required. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances will be required. Prerequisites: THEA 100 or THEA 140 or permission of the instructor. Credits: 0-3
THEA 224 : Acting Techniques:
Practical exercises in vocal and/or physical techniques for actors designed to complement the acting curriculum in THEA 221, 320, 330, and 340. May be repeated for total of 4 credits. Credits: 1
THEA 225 : Production Stage Management:
The study of the techniques and equipment used in the coordination and operation of theatrical productions, including drama, musicals, opera, and dance. Students will consider and participate in projects dealing with rehearsal procedures, theatrical prompt scripts, technical and dress rehearsals, performances, theatrical equipment, and communication in a theatrical environment. Participation in productions is an integral part of the course. Prerequisites: THEA 140, THEA 130, or permission of the instructor. Offered fall, odd years Credits: 0-3
THEA 233 : Stage Make-up I:
The principles of theatrical make-up, from basic to stylized, to give the student a wide variety of experience and practice in the art of make-up. Participation in productions is an integral part of the course. Offered every spring Credits: 0-3
THEA 234 : F/History of Costume:
A historical survey of costumes from Greek to modern and their relationships to theatrical productions. Offered every fall Credits: 3
THEA 235 : Costume Construction:
The study, application, and execution of costume construction techniques. Participation in productions is an integral part of the course. Offered fall, odd years Credits: 0-3
THEA 236 : Scene Painting for the Theatre:
The historical development of stage design problems resolved with paint. Focuses on developing a vocabulary of painting skills through lecture, demonstration, and studio work. Participation in productions is an integral part of the course. Prerequisites: THEA 100 or THEA 140, THEA 130, and THEA 241, or permission of instructor. Offered spring, odd years Credits: 0-3
THEA 241 : Fundmtl of Design-Theatre:
An introduction to the art of design as one element of theatrical production. Emphasis is placed on the aesthetics and skills required for designing in the theatre. Participation in productions is an integral part of the course. Offered every fall Credits: 0-3
THEA 260 : Theatre Practicum:
A laboratory experience in areas of theatrical production: 1) costume, 2) make-up, 3) scenery, 4) lighting, 5) sound, 6) artistic management, 7) business/house management, 8) acting, 9) performance/portfolio review. [May be taken six times, not to exceed one semester hour of credit per semester. A maximum of two credits is allowed within a single area (except acting).] One hour of credit. NOTES: Theatre majors are required to complete four hours of THEA 260, two selected from the costume, make-up, scenery, lighting, sound, artistic management, and business/house management areas; one from the acting area, and one in performance/portfolio review. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credits: 1-3
THEA 270 : Video Production:
The course will introduce storyboarding, camera basics, executing a video shoot, input and output of video into computers, and nonlinear video editing using Adobe Premiere. Students will collaborate on short projects such as a commercial and music video. Prerequisites: THEA 140 or permission of instructor. Offered every spring Credits: 0-3
THEA 288 : Experimental:
Credits: 0-4
THEA 290 : F/London Theatre Seminar:
Provides an opportunity to experience a broad spectrum of the best in English theatre. The group will attend at least nine productions in small "fringe" theatre, the state-supported Royal Court, Royal Shakespeare, and Royal National Theatre, and the commercial West End. There will be tours of the Royal National Theatre complex and the Old Vic, and walking tours of Greenwich and the South Bank or East End, and a coach tour of central London, all led by certified guides. Students are expected to attend all of the above. There will be two orientation sessions prior to leaving for London and daily discussions in London. Students are also required to submit a journal critiquing productions. Note: course duration is two weeks may not be repeated for credit. Offered when demand is sufficient Credits: 0-3
THEA 299 : Directed Study:
Credits: 1-6
THEA 305 : Topics in Theatre History:
An in-depth study of a variety of specific topics in theatre history. Topics to be offered on a rotating basis include Greek Tragedy; Contemporary European Theatre, Feminist Theory and Theatre, Dance and Film; Beckett, Pinter, and Mamet; Political Theatre from Brecht to the Present; Holocaust Drama; Asian Puppetry. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances will be required. Prerequisites: THEA 202 and THEA 203 or permission of instructor. Offered every spring Credits: 3
THEA 310 : Playwriting:
Development of a working approach to the craft of playwriting that is both formal and personal; the writing of a one-act play. Prerequisites: THEA 140 or permission of instructor. Offered fall, odd years Credits: 3
THEA 311 : Directing I:
A study of basic elements of directing a play with practical experience in the direction of scenes and one-act plays in class and studio workshops. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances will be required. Prerequisites: 18 hours of theatre, including THEA 130, THEA 140 and THEA 221, or permission of the instructor. Offered every fall Credits: 0-3
THEA 320 : Acting II:
Approaches to building characterizations, interaction of actors, and concentration on the American approach to realistic acting. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances will be required. Prerequisites: THEA 140 and THEA 221 or permission of instructor. Offered every spring Credits: 0-3
THEA 321 : Directing II:
A study of script analysis and the theories and practices of contemporary play direction; direction of a workshop production. Prerequisites: THEA 311 and THEA 241, or permission of the instructor. Offered spring, odd years Credits: 0-3
THEA 330 : Acting III Contemp Styles:
Approaches to building characterizations, interactions of actors, and the development of scenes in performance, with concentration on contemporary styles other than realism such as Epic Theatre, Theatre of Cruelty, Absurdism, Performance Art, and Asian Styles. May be repeated once for credit under different subtitles. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances will be required. Prerequisites: THEA 221, THEA 320, or permission of instructor. Offered fall, even years Credits: 0-3
THEA 333 : Technical Direction:
A study of advanced staging and building techniques, in both theory and practice. Participation in productions is an integral part of the course. Prerequisites: THEA 130, THEA 140, and THEA 241. Offered fall, odd years Credits: 0-3
THEA 340 : Acting IV Period Styles:
This course trains actors in the performance of plays in period styles. The course will include one or more period styles such as: Greek, Elizabethan, Commedia dell'arte, Restoration comedy, early Modern drama. Coursework will be scenework, creation of characters, and short research projects. May be repeated once for credit. Attendance at on-campus theatrical performances will be required. Offered fall, odd years Credits: 0-3
THEA 342 : Scene Design I:
A study of scene design as an integral part of theatre production. Attention is given to the function of the designer, with special emphasis upon practical experience to develop skills and understanding of design theories and techniques. Prerequisites: THEA 130, THEA 140, and THEA 241, or permission of instructor. Offered spring, even years Credits: 0-3
THEA 343 : Scene Design II:
Advanced study in scene design in the contemporary theatre. Consideration is given to the limitations placed upon the designer by the various forms of contemporary theatres and the requirements of various periods and types of plays. Special emphasis is placed upon new materials available to the designer. Prerequisites: THEA 342 or permission of instructor. Offered spring, even years Credits: 0-3
THEA 344 : Stage Lighting Design I:
A study of the aesthetic, technical, and practical production aspects of stage lighting. Prerequisites: THEA 130, THEA 140, and THEA 241, or permission of instructor. Offered fall, even years Credits: 0-3
THEA 345 : Stage Lighting Design II:
Advanced study in the theory and technique of stage lighting. Consideration is given to the history of stage lighting and to the technical and practical problems presented by modern lighting equipment. Prerequisites: THEA 344 or permission of instructor. Offered spring, odd years Credits: 0-3
THEA 346 : Costume Design:
The translation of specific design problems into finished design renderings for the contemporary theatre. Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between the text of the play and the design concept. Prerequisites: THEA 140, THEA 241, or permission of instructor. Offered fall, even years Credits: 0-3
THEA 347 : Sound Design:
A study of the aesthetic, technical, and practical production aspects of stage sound. Prerequisites: THEA 130, THEA 140, and THEA 241 or permission of instructor. Offered spring, even years Credits: 0-3
THEA 390 : Theatre Seminar:
Designed to synthesize concepts of playwriting, acting, architecture, and design. Offered when demand is sufficient Credits: 3
THEA 393 : Honors Project in Theatre:
Independent study on a Theatrical project mutually agreed upon by the student and a mentor from the Theatre Faculty. Enrollment by invitation of the Theatre Faculty. To be eligible, students will normally have completed 75 semester hours with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average overall and a 3.5 grade point average in Theatre courses. Offered by individual arrangement Credits: 3
THEA 395 : Internship:
Credits: 1-15
THEA 399 : Directed Study:
Selected areas of study under the direct supervision of an assigned departmental faculty member. (1 to 6 semester hours.) Prerequisites: Permission of instructor. Offered by individual arrangement Credits: 1-6
THEA 499 : Directed Study:
Credits: 1-9
Information excerpted from the Undergraduate Bulletin