Theatre Arts Education (B.A.)

This is a fundamental course in the systematic analysis of dramatic texts. It is designed to equip theatre arts majors and minors with the textual expertise and vocabulary needed for academic discussion and artistic collaboration. Students will read and research a series of scripts in order to investigate the process in which a play develops from page to performance. Emphasis will also be given to how directors, designers, performers, and spectators individually and collaboratively engage with and utilize a dramatic text during each phase of the pre-rehearsal, rehearsal, and performance process.

(Normally offered each fall semester.)

This introductory acting course focuses on building physical, vocal, intellectual, and intuitive foundations for actors. Through discovery exercises, students increase their awareness of the fundamentals of contemporary acting and apply these concepts to monologue and scene work.

(Normally offered each fall semester.)

A course introducing students to all technical aspects of theatre production including scenery, properties, lighting, sound, makeup, and costuming. Particular emphasis is placed on practical knowledge of scenery, property construction techniques, and the materials used. Students must participate in a laboratory theatre experience.

(Normally offered each spring semester.)

The introductory course in costuming for the theatre. It presents the uses of fabrics, textures, colors, plastics, and other materials as well as developing the sewing techniques needed for the theatre.

(Normally offered each fall semester.)

A study of the theory and practice of stage makeup. The final project is the supervised design and execution of makeup for a major production or lab theatre production.

(Normally offered each spring semester.)

This is an introductory course in the theory and practice of scenography for the theatre. The primary goal of this class is to provide access to terms, concepts, and design principle applications for theatrical scenery, costume, and lighting design.

(Normally offered each fall semester.)

Play reading is a course that focuses on the reading, discussion, and interpretation of dramatic texts. Its aim is to provide a concentrated study of both content and form of selected texts in an effort to broaden knowledge of dramatic techniques genre, and strategies for interpretation. Dramatic texts will vary each semester with the goal that students will gain knowledge of a large quantity of plays during a four-year period. This course may be repeated for credit up to eight times for Theatre Arts majors and up to three times for Theatre Arts minors.

This intermediate acting course reinforces the fundamental skills acquired in Script Analysis and Acting I, and builds upon them in order to emphasize technique and truth in acting. Using elements from contemporary acting theorists (Meisner, LeCoq, Alder, etc.) students investigate contemporary dramatic texts. The process focuses on freeing the performer's instrument while concentrating on the actor's intent.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 002 Script Analysis and THTRE 007 Acting I.

A course designed to assist the student in improving control and use of the voice for speaking. Students participate in individualized and group exercises. The course also serves as an introduction to the variations in speech sounds, rhythms, and international patterns that characterize selected dialects of spoken English. Students utilize the International Phonetic Alphabet to transcribe cuttings from selected plays into the sounds of appropriate dialects and then reproduce the sounds vocally. Recordings of dialects are utilized for ear training.

Movement for the Actor will deal with techniques for freeing the actor's body, external character development, awareness of physical habits, the actor's physical health, and listening to body language. Physical assessment coupled with habit modification and intellectual choice of body movement will place the actor in a more "neutral" zone and allow her/him to play more varied roles on stage and off. Improvisation, exercise, music/movement, and elements of Alexander Technique will be explored. May be repeated for credit up to 6 times for Theatre Arts majors and up to 3 times for Theatre Arts minors.

A study of the theories and techniques of directing. Students will direct several short scenes.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 002 Script Analysis, THTRE 007 Acting I, and THTRE 030 Stagecraft.

Students will direct under supervision a one-act play or (with instructor's permission) a full-length play. This course may be repeated.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 002 Script Analysis, THTRE 007 Acting I,THTRE 030 Stagecraft, THTRE 107 Acting II, and THTRE 155 Directing I.

A survey of theatre arts from ancient Greece through the 19th century. It includes sections on classic, medieval, Renaissance, Restoration, 18th century, and 19th century drama and theatre practice.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 001 Theatre Appreciation or THTRE 002 Script Analysis.

(Normally offered on even fall semesters.)

A survey of theatre arts from the advent of realism to contemporary theatre. Special emphasis will be given to nonrealistic theatre movements and their influence on playwriting, directing, acting, and design.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 001 Theatre Appreciation or THTRE 002 Script Analysis.

(Normally offered on odd fall semesters.)

Contemporary Theatre is a course designed to situate the study and practice of theatre within contemporary cultural contexts. Each course examines a particular cultural issue or condition as it is represented in a number of theories, dramatic works, production methods, theatre enterprises, and broader cultural practices. Current topics offered include: "Multicultural Theatre," "Performance of Gender," "Crosscurrents in World Theatre," and "Theatre and Social Change." This course may be repeated for credit up to 4 times. Individual offerings, however, may not be repeated.

Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or permission of the instructor.

THTRE 263 Musical Theatre History is a survey of musical theatre history and musical theatre music and dramatic literature from its earliest documented beginnings up to the present day. As the course is designed primarily for musical theatre majors, primary emphasis will be given to musical theatre history in the United States. Students will consider examples of classical, medieval and early modern musical entertainment, followed by units covering continental operetta of the 18th C, early 19th C, late 19th C (including Gilbert & Sullivan), each decade in the 20th C, as well as contemporary developments. Students will also critically analyze the specific elements of musical theatre: integration of song and book, character and voice, ensemble, orchestra, narration and technology. Musical Theatre History is designed to familiarize students with the tenets and challenges of historical inquiry as they can be applied to the study of musical theatre. The course also seeks to build appreciation for a broad range of musical theatre styles. THTRE 263 Musical Theatre History is a required course for the BFA in Musical Theatre.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 260 Theatre History I or permission of instructor.

(Normally offered even spring semesters.)

U.S. Theatre/U.S. Culture is a survey course providing a historical perspective on the culture of the U.S. through the study of its theatre from the colonial period to the present. Theatre 264 can be used to satisfy a core requirement for the BFA and BA degrees in Theatre.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 260 Theatre History I or permission of instructor.

(Normally offered odd spring semesters.)

A course providing a broad, general survey of education in the United States, designed to help students decide whether to continue coursework in professional education. This course is a prerequisite to further work in the department.

(Normally offered each semester.)

A course designed to allow students an opportunity to determine if they have a talent for teaching. Students will be assigned to assist a preschool, elementary, or secondary school teacher for a designated period of time each week. May be repeated a maximum of three times.

Pass/Fail only.

Pre or corequisite(s): EDUC 001 Introduction to Education in the United States.

(Normally offered each semester.)

A course designed to acquaint students with the basic principles of growth and all phases of human development. Students will be required to assist an elementary or secondary teacher for a 50-minute period twice a week.

Pre or corequisite(s): EDUC 001 Introduction to Education in the United States or permission of the instructor.

(Normally offered each semester.)

Students observe/assist in educational settings associated with our P-12 school system.

Corequisite(s): EDUC 105 Human Development and Learning I.

(Normally offered each semester.)

A continuation of EDUC 105 Human Development and Learning I with emphasis on the principles of learning and their application in the field of education. Secondary students will be required to assist a school teacher for a 50-minute period twice a week.

Pre or corequisite(s): EDUC 001 Introduction to Education in the United States and EDUC 105 Human Development and Learning I, or permission of the instructor.

(Normally offered each spring semester.)

Students observe/assist in secondary level school settings. Only students seeking 7-12 certification complete this lab.

Corequisite(s): EDUC 106 Human Development and Learning II.

(Normally offered each spring semester.)

This course, which meets the Nebraska Human Relations Training requirement for teacher certification, focuses on the history, culture, and contributions of African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanics. In addition, it seeks to sensitize students to dehumanizing biases experienced by groups due to race, ethnicity, gender, social class, religion, exceptionality, sexual orientation, and language background.

Prerequisite(s): Declaration of education major (Elementary Education, Special Education, Middle Grades Education) or a K-12/7-12 Teacher Education Certification program in the Registrar's Office.

See SPED 187 Instructional and Adaptive Technology.

A study of teacher-made, informal tests as well as formal, standardized tests. Students learn to devise assessment instruments for evaluation purposes. They also learn to administer, score, and interpret the results of standardized tests.

Prerequisite(s): Acceptance in the Teacher Education Program or permission of the department chair.

(Normally offered each semester.)

A critical and functional study of effective methods of instruction with emphasis on the planning/teaching/assessment processes applicable for junior high and high schools. Students design and teach an interdisciplinary unit plan in EDUC 236 General Secondary Methods Lab that incorporates specific forms of instructional technology.

Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Teacher Education Program or permission of the department chair.

Corequisite(s): EDUC 236 General Secondary Methods Lab.

(Normally offered each semester.)

Students plan and teach a variety of lessons within a unit plan that incorporates specific teaching and assessment strategies. Second, students will apply various classroom management approaches.

Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Teacher Education Program or permission of the department chair.

Corequisite(s): EDUC 235 General Secondary Methods.

(Normally offered each semester.)

A course designed to acquaint secondary education students with appropriate teaching strategies and methodologies for the regular classroom when teaching students who are gifted or have mild/moderate disabilities. Legal responsibilities and obligations concerning both populations are also discussed. A field experience is included as part of this course.

See EDUC 224 Methods for Teaching Communication and Theatre Arts in Middle and Secondary Schools.

A survey of the methods for teaching communication in the classroom and of directing extracurricular activities.

Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the Teacher Education Program or permission of the department chair.

Students work with one or more regular teachers in a secondary school. They attend the student teaching seminar and conference with their college supervisor as directed.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of preliminary student teaching requirements or approval of the department chair.

The Chicago Center for Urban Life and Culture project is a semester-long program that involves both interdisciplinary class work and field experiences in Chicago, Illinois, including full-time student teaching. The semester program will replace certain teacher certification program requirements as determined by the department chair.

Prerequisite(s): Students must meet the preliminary requirements for student teaching, be approved by the education department and the chair of the department in which the student is majoring, and be accepted by the Chicago Center Program Director.

THTRE 258 Directing III is a directing practicum in which students apply theory and techniques to the task of directing a play of a one hour's length or, with instructor's permission, a full-length play. The class also continues to introduce students to more advanced directing theory and technique. All students are expected to actively participate in a series of exercises that emphasize the development of critical thinking, research, communication and organizational skills associated with effective stage direction. This course may be repeated once for credit.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 155 Directing I and THTRE 255 Directing II and/or permission of the instructor or department chair.

(Normally offered every semester.)

THTRE 259 Directing IV is a directing practicum in which students apply theory and techniques to the task of directing, under supervision, a full length play. The class also continues to introduce students to more advanced directing theories and techniques. All students are expected to actively participate in a series of exercises that emphasize the development of critical thinking, research, communication and organization skills associated with effective stage direction. This course may be repeated for credit.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 155 Directing I, THTRE 255 Directing II, and THTRE 258 Directing III and/or permission of the instructor or department chair.

(Normally offered every semester.)