Requirements & Courses
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Theatre courses, as designated by the three-letter prefix THE, are offered through the Theatre and Dance Department. Theatre courses were offered under the prefix THD through the 2016-17 academic year.
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Students wishing to pursue a concentration in either Performance or Design/Technology may complete a twelve-credit concentration beyond the major’s thirty-six credit core requirements.
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Theatre Major Requirements
Thirty-six credits that include:
- Complete THE 125, 170, 202, 232, 261, 262, 497 and 498;
- Four credits from the following: THE 120, THE 263, THE/ENG 292, ENG 354, ENG 364;
- Four credits of THE electives, excluding THE 150 Theatre Company.
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Theatre Major with Concentration in Design Technology
Forty-eight credits which include:
- Complete all Theatre Major requirements (36 cr);
- Successful Completion of THE 171;
- Eight credits from the following: THE 271, 272, 273, 275.
Required prerequisites: ART 101 (for THE 271, 272, 273 and 275)
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Theatre Major with Concentration in Performance
Forty-eight credits which must include:
- Complete all Theatre Major requirements (36 cr);
- Complete THE 225, THE 226, DAN 139;
- Two credits of Dance Technique (DAN 140, 144, 145).
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Theatre Minor Requirements
Twenty-four credits which must include:
- THE-125, THE-170 or 171, and THE-232
- Four credits from THE-261, 262 or 263
- Four credits from DAN-146 or Dance studio (technique) courses
- Four credits of Theatre electives excluding THE 150, Theatre Company.
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**A maximum of 4-credits from THE or DAN may count toward the distributive requirements in the Arts and Humanities area. Practicum and independent study courses do not fulfill these requirements.
Courses
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THE101.Introduction to Theatre4 creditsAn exploration of theatre as an art form and how dramatic literature becomes theatre.
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THE120.Introduction to Dramatic Literature4 creditsPreparation for advanced study of literature and language, including vocabulary, critical approaches, and writing strategies employed in literary analysis. This course is required for a major or minor in English, but open to all students with a solid foundation in reading and writing.
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THE123.Performing Advocacy4 creditsExplores the relationships among identity, power and culture. Students learn how to become advocates through the use of Everyday Life Performance and other performance techniques, engaging in perspective taking and service learning with marginalized groups. (Also listed as COM 123)
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THE125.Acting4 creditsIntroduction to acting through participation in exercises which emphasize moment-to-moment acting from the actor’s impulse in contact with a partner. Culminates with class performances.
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THE150.Theatre Company1 creditParticipation in acting and technical work on departmental productions with actual rehearsal and performance. May be repeated more than once for credit.
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THE152.Theatre Administration1 creditParticipation in business areas required to create, manage and address audience needs for all departmental productions: publicity, programs, box office and house management. May be repeated more than once for credit.
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THE170.Stagecraft4 creditsIntroduction to the terminology, technology and techniques of technical production in the performing arts. Laboratory sessions in the theatre, workshops and backstage assignments on department productions ensure practice of the topics discussed in class. Laboratory.
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THE171.Design for the Theatre4 creditsIntroduction to the design of the physical environment in the theatre. Consideration of scenery, costume, lighting and sound for live performance; their unifying aesthetic principles and distinctions. Culminates in class presentation of student designs for particular plays.
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THE202.Script Analysis4 creditsPrerequisite: THE-125 or THE-170 or PermissionThis course develops bedrock skills in “discovering meaning” by examining various analytical models.
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THE225.Acting II4 creditsPrerequisite: THE-125Continuation of THE 125 expanding to explore period styles and dialect work.
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THE226.Voice and Language on Stage4 creditsDevelopment and training of the student actor’s vocal instrument for theatrical performance. Principles and exercises to free, develop and strengthen the actor’s voice.
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THE227.Stage Combat4 creditsStudy of the art of physical combat in a theatrical setting using the Society of American Fight Director’s guidelines. The focus will be on performing a hand to hand combat scene and a rapier fight scene. Laboratory.
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THE232.Directing4 creditsPrerequisite: THE-125Study of basic procedures for the director: script analysis, communication and working with actors, and technical use of the stage. Students direct one or two short scenes emphasizing script analysis and the director’s collaboration with actors.
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THE261.Great Ages of Theatre I4 creditsSurvey of the physical structure, production methods and styles of theatre and the cultures that produced them from their beginnings to the Elizabethan Period. Considers primitive rituals and Eastern Theatre as well as Western Theatre. Includes reading representative plays and their place in the theatrical development of the period.
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THE262.Great Ages of Theatre II4 creditsSurvey of the physical structure, production methods and styles of theatre and the cultures that produced them from Elizabethan England to the Modern Period. Considers Renaissance Spain and France, Restoration England, and Baroque and Romantic Europe through the Modern Theatre. Includes the reading of representative plays and their place in the theatrical development of the period.
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THE263.Modern Drama4 creditsSurvey of major plays written and produced in last 100 years. From Isben, Shaw and Chekhov through Williams, Miller, Beckett, and Albee. Consideration given to staging.
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THE271.Scene Design4 creditsExploration of scenery as a tool for expression in live performance. Exploration of visualization of the intellectual concept of a production, research for scenic design development, advanced presentation techniques. Culminates in assembly of a portfolio of scenic designs for plays chosen by the student from approved list.
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THE272.Lighting and Sound Design4 creditsPrerequisite: ART 101 or PermissionExploration of lighting and sound as expressive tools in live performances.
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THE273.Costume Design4 creditsExploration of costumes as an expressive tool in live performance. Intensive work in color theory, line, mass, texture; survey of historical fashion; advanced presentation techniques. Culminates in assembly of a portfolio of student renderings for plays chosen by the student from approved list.
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THE275.Stage Management4 creditsStudy of the basic procedures for the stage manager: organization skills, communication skills, supervisory skills, scheduling, budgeting, and theatre technology as they pertain to the stage manager.
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THE276.Scene Painting4 creditsLearn basic scene painting techniques such as marble, stone work and wood grains and apply them to scene painting projects. Course culminates in a major project including multiple techniques.
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THE277.Props Design and Construction4 creditsLearning basic props design and construction including casting, molding, sculpting and woodworking.
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THE278.Costume Construction4 creditsStudents will learn the basic skills required for sewing and building costumes for theater and dance through a series of projects geared towards the practical application of various techniques. This includes instruction in hand sewing, machine sewing, cutting, patterning, and design concerns.
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THE280.Topics in Theatre4 creditsSpecial topics and projects in theatre selected by instructor. Background prerequisites vary with selections.
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THE280M.Topics in Theatre4 creditsSpecial topics and projects in theatre selected by instructor. Background prerequisites vary with selections.
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THE292.Playwriting Workshop4 creditsPrerequisite: PermissionStudents write several brief etudes in addition to writing and revising a more substantial script. The course uses staged readings and feedback from actors and audience members to help students learn the craft of writing for performance. Emphasizes revision and collaboration in the production process. May be repeated once for credit. (Also listed as ENG-292.)
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THE325.Theatre Studio: Acting2-4 creditsPrerequisite: THE-125 and PermissionAdvanced participation as an actor cast in a public performance of a theatre production under the direction of a faculty supervisor. The student must be cast in a major role, submit a written character analysis and journal of rehearsals and performances of that role. May be repeated for credit.
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THE332.Intermediate Directing4 creditsPrerequisite: THE-232Continuation of THE 232. Principles and techniques of stage directing culminating in the analysis, casting and direction of a one-act play for public presentation.
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THE371.Theatre Studio: Scenery2-4 creditsPrerequisite: THE-271 and PermissionAdvanced tutorial in scenic design. Students responsible for all research materials, production drawings, models, plots and schedules for a theatre or dance production working in close consultation with a faculty member. Culminates in the realization of a scenic project. May be repeated for credit.
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THE372.Theatre Studio: Lighting2-4 creditsPrerequisite: THE-271 and PermissionAdvanced tutorial in lighting design. Students responsible for all research materials, production drawings, plots, and schedules for a theatre or dance production working in close consultation with a faculty member. Culminates in the realization of the lighting atmosphere for a public performance and a written analysis of the project. May be repeated for credit.
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THE375.Theatre Studio: Management2-4 creditsPrerequisite: THE-273 and PermissionAdvanced participation as a stage manager of a theatre production under the tutelage of a faculty supervisor. Students organize and run auditions, rehearsals, technical rehearsals and performances of a major production for public performance. May be repeated for credit.
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THE380.Topics in Theatre and Dance4 creditsSpecial topics and projects selected by instructor. Background prerequisites vary with selections.
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THE385.Theatre Practicum4 creditsPrerequisite: PermissionStudy-work participation in community institutions, schools or professional organizations combined with faculty supervision. Practical experience in teaching, directing or performance of theatre. Culminates in written report. Also offered as THE 386.
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THE399.Theatre and Dance Independent Study1 creditSupervised reading, research or projects.
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THE432.Theatre Studio: Directing2-4 creditsPrerequisite: THE-232 and PermissionAdvanced tutorial in the principles and techniques of stage directing culminating in the analysis, casting and directing of a full-length play.
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THE497.Capstone I2 creditsPrerequisite: 30 credits in THE and second semester Junior standingFocuses on the scholarly research required to prepare for the performance/practical element of the capstone experience. THE 497 usually culminates in an advanced research paper that explores and explains a specific topic in theatre studies chosen by the student in conjunction with his or her capstone advisor. The project may include designing an element of mainstage production. In such cases, the designer will provide his or her research portfolio at the end of Capstone I in lieu of the research paper.
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THE498.Capstone II2 creditsPrerequisite: THE-497 and Senior standingStudents apply the practical skills developed while pursuing the theatre major. THE 498 usually culminates in the presentation of scenes related to the topic studied in THE 497. Depending on the student’s area of interest, scenes will be directed, designed, and/or acted in by the capstone student. In some cases, special projects such as directing or designing a main stage production may provide the content of THE 497 and 498 and fulfill the capstone requirement. At the end of 498, the student will be required to complete a paper or project reflecting on their Capstone and Alma Experience.
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THE500.Senior Thesis4 creditsStudents with honors in Theatre and Dance must complete a Senior Thesis, approved and directed by the Department. In some cases, THE 500 may replace THE 497 and 498 to fulfill the capstone requirement.