Academics

Theatre Major

Note: students who major in theatre have the opportunity to choose an emphasis in THEATRE ARTS or MUSIC THEATRE.

All theatre majors take the theatre core and are NOT required to have a minor. 

 

 

THEATRE CORE:

Required Major Courses:                                                                  Credit Hours = 32

                                                                  

 THR 242 Intro to Theatre  3
 THR 248 Production Lab I  1
 THR 336 Voice and Movement  3
 THR 340 Principles of Acting  3
 THR 342 Theatre History I to 1850  3
 THR 344 Stagecraft  3
 THR 347 Theatre History II since 1850  3
 THR 348 Production Lab II  1
 THR 380 Internship  3
 THR 400 Senior Seminar  3
 THR 441 Play Directing  3

 Total

 32
   
EMPHASIS IN THEATRE ARTS:   

Required Emphasis Courses: Theatre Core, plus the following: Credit Hours = 22

  
 THR 243 Dramatic Literature  3
 THR 346 Contemporary American Theatre  3
 THR 373 Playwriting   3
 THR 445 Advanced Acting  3
 THR 447 Advanced Directing  3
 THR 249 Theatre Practicum  3
   
Choose 4 Credit hours from the following:

 
 MUA X29 Applied Voice  2
 THR 245 Music Theatre Performance Workshop I  1
 KIN/DAN 181 Modern Dance I  1
 KIN/DAN 183 Jazz Dance I  1
 THR 345 Music Theatre Performance Workshop II  1
 KIN/DAN 185 Fundamentals of Ballet  1
 KIN/DAN 187 Fundamentals of Tap Dance  1

 Total

 22

TOTAL for BA emphasis in Theatre Arts 

54 
 
 EMPHASIS IN MUSIC THEATRE:

Required Emphasis Courses: Theatre Core, plus the following: Credit Hours = 28

 
 MUP-X01 or X11 Chancel Singers of Chorale  2
 MUS 113 Aural Perception I  1
 MUS 114 Aural Perception II  1
 MUS 117 Music Theory I  3
 MUS 118 Music Theory II  3
 MUA X29 Applied Voice (7 semesters)  7
 THR 245 Music Theatre Performance Workshop I  1
 KIN/DAN 181 Modern Dance I  1
 KIN/DAN 183 Jazz Dance I  1
 THR 345 Music Theatre Performance Workshop II  1
 KIN/DAN 185 Fundamentals of Ballet  1
 KIN/DAN 187 Fundamentals of Tap Dance  1
 KIN/DAN 182 Modern Dance II  1
 KIN/DAN 184 Jazz Dance II  1
 THR 445 Advanced Acting  3

 Total

  28

 TOTAL for BA emphasis in Music Theatre

  60

 

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

 

THR 242 Intro to Theatre     3/1
The exploration of what theatre is and how the various roles in preparation and participation of theatre synergies.  The course will introduce theatre history and literature with some participation in the areas of acting and stagecraft.  Emphasis will be placed on reading and attending plays.

 

THR 243 Dramatic Literature    3/3
Focuses on figures, periods, or movements in dramatic literature. Content includes modern American, Contemporary, and Experimental dramatic works and playwrights.  This course surveys twentieth-century American playwrights such as O'Neill, Hellman, Williams, Miller, and Inge, the development of experimental theater through figures such as Beckett, Ionesco, and Shepard and contemporary playwrights such as Mamet, Margulies and LaBute.

 

THR 248 Theatre Production Lab I   1/1
Evaluation of acting and crew work for all major productions.  

 

THR 336 Voice and Movement    3/4
An introduction to the fundamentals of voice and movement for the actor with emphasis on freeing the natural voice and developing awareness of the voice and body as creative, expressive instruments. An overview of basic dance techniques and terminology, mime, and stage combat will be included.

 

THR 340 Principles of Acting    3/2
Introduction to the basics of acting, including theatrical terminology, improvisation, scene study and character analysis.  Emphasis will be placed on an acting method based on the works of Cohen and Constantin Stanislavski.

 

THR 342 Theatre History I—to 1850   3/3
Historical investigation of theatre and dramatic literature from primitive time to 1850. 

 

THR 344 Stagecraft      3/3
Basic principles of costume, make-up, set design, lighting techniques and construction of scenery.  The students will demonstrate comprehension by applying these principles as an artistic tool in theatre production.  Prerequisite:  THR 242

 

THR 346 Contemporary American Theatre/J-Term (Alternate terms)  
Study of American Theatre as it relates to contemporary theatre.  A trip to New York to attend 10 or more Broadway productions.

Prerequisite: THR 242


THR 347 Theatre History II—since 1850   3/3
Historical investigation of theatre and dramatic literature from 1850 to present.
 
THR 348 Theatre Production Lab II   1/1 
Evaluation of acting and crew work for all major productions.  Prerequisite COM 248

 

THR 349 Theatrical Production and Management 3/4
The study of business aspects of theatre, including musical theatre, the art of producing theatre, marketing strategies and analysis, and an overview of stage management.

 

THR 373 Playwriting     3/4
The Study and practice of playwriting fundamentals, emphasizes the one-act play.

 

THR 441 Play Directing     3/2 
A study of techniques of play direction and how to dissect various components of a play.  Fundamental consideration of blocking and director-actor communication using Hodge analysis.  The student will demonstrate comprehension by directing production scenes from a determined work.  Prerequisite: THR 242

  

THR 445 Advanced Acting     3/4
Correlating advanced acting techniques and the performance requirements of important historic, realistic, and contemporary playwrights.  Students will analyze, rehearse and perform scenes and monologues from a variety of periods including Greek, Medieval, Elizabethean, Restoration, Romantic, and Contemporary.

 

THR 447 Advanced Directing    3/4
Directing styles contemporary and period.  Focus on director/designer collaboration cumulating into the direction of a one act play.

 

THR 390 Independent Study    3-6/1

An independent project related course. Students work closely with a professor in the choosing of a topic, its design, and in the developing of a plan for its completion. Prerequisite: Approval of the division chair

 

KIN/DAN 181 Modern Dance I    1/4

Emphasis on modern dance technique and fundamentals of improvisation and choreography. Fundamental exercises and analysis of time, space and dynamics as they apply to elements of dance with emphasis on movement, structural alignment and integration.

 

KIN/DAN 183 Jazz Dance I      1/4

Fundamentals of Jazz technique, basic vocabulary and combinations. Areas to develop include jazz walks, Isolations, arabesque, grand plies and various turns.

 

KIN/DAN 185 Fundamentals of Ballet      1/4

Fundamentals of Ballet technique, basic vocabulary and combinations. Emphasis placed on alignment, integration and simple ballet movement.

 

KIN/DAN 187 Fundamentals of Tap Dance   1/4

Fundamentals of Tap dance, basic vocabulary and combinations. Emphasis of body placement, ,simple tap combinations, elements of performance quality and tap dance composition.

 

KIN/DAN 182 Modern Dance II  (Pre-req KIN/DAN 181)   1/4

Intermediate skills in modern dance technique. Emphasis placed on performance of relatively more complex combinations of movement patterns. Technical development of the body for greater range of movement and control. Analysis of time, space and dynamics as they apply to dance.

 

KIN/DAN 184 (Pre-req Kin/DAN 183)   1/4

Intermediate skills in jazz dance technique, vocabulary and movement combinations. study includes more complex vocabulary, longer movement combinations and more attention to technique and development of jazz dance style.

 

THR 245 and 345 Music Theatre Performance Workshop I & II (only offered fall semesters)  THR 245 is a Pre-req for THR 345

Music theatre performance experiences in a workshop setting culminating in a formal performance at the end of the semester. Will focus on opportunities for developing repertory and techniques for auditions.