Theatre Design and Technology (B.F.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.)

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.

A study of the theories and techniques of directing. Students will direct several short scenes.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1020 Script Analysis, THTRE 1300 Acting I, and THTRE 1400 Stagecraft.

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.)

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 1020 Script Analysis, THTRE 1300 Acting I, THTRE 1400 Stagecraft, THTRE 1310 Acting II, and THTRE 2500 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 1010 Theatre Appreciation or THTRE 1020 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 1010 Theatre Appreciation or THTRE 1020 Script Analysis.
(Normally offered on odd fall semesters.)

A course for students preparing for careers in theatre. Projects will include resume and portfolio preparation, auditioning, and interviewing techniques, introduction to internships, apprenticeships, and graduate study.

Contemporary Theatre is a course designed to
situate the study and practice of theatre within
contemporary cultural contexts.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or permission of
the instructor.

THTRE 4810 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 4810 Musical Theatre History is a required course for the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 3800 World Theatre History I or permission of instructor.
(Normally offered even spring 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.)

An introduction to the basic tools and techniques of creating scenographic design documents and models for the theatre. Technical documents of ground plans, sections, elevations and lighting plots will be explored using CAD. Costume and set rendering will be explored using traditional and computer methods. Model making will be explored using both traditional and computer assisted methods.

Theatre Management provides an in depth look at all the aspects of starting and running a non-profit theatre from the ground up. The first part provides a survey of the field of arts administration and introduces nonprofit governance including incorporation, mission development, and roles and responsibilities of boards of directors. The second part examines the relationship between the arts and law, including contracts, license fees, copyrights, intellectual property, and royalties. The third part of the course provides the students with audience development techniques and fundraising models. Finally each student will be introduced to practical experience picking a season, timelines, establishing a budget, and getting the word out to the public in today's world.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or permission of instructor.
(Normally offered spring semesters.)

History of Period Style is a class for theatre performers, directors, designers and generalists, who wish to have a basis of knowledge about the major historical periods in Western Civilization that are the setting for the majority of plays in the western canon. This course will be an overview of the most important innovations in architecture, art, costume, furniture and decorative arts, and music for each period, as they influence theatrical production.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or permission of the instructor.

An introductory design studio course focusing on scenery, costume, and lighting design for the theatre. Students will design the visual world of a number of dramas, comedies, or musicals creating standard designer communication documents including sketches, renderings, and drafting. The course also emphasizes script analysis and visual research in the design process. Students will assemble a portfolio documenting their designs.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1020 Script Analysis, THTRE 2700 Approaching Scenography, and THTRE 2710 Scenographic Techniques or permission of th e instructor.

An intermediate design studio course focusing on scenery, costume and lighting design for the theatre. Students will design the visual world of a number of moderate size dramas, comedies or musicals from contemporary and historical periods, creating standard designer communication documents including sketches, renderings and drafting. The course also emphasizes script analysis and visual research in the design process. Students will assemble a portfolio documenting their designs.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 3700 Scenography I.

An advanced design studio course focusing on scenery, costume and lighting design for the theatre. Students will design the visual world of a number of multi-act dramas, comedies or musicals from contemporary and historical periods, creating standard designer communication documents including sketches, renderings, a scale model and drafting. Additionally, students will work collaboratively with an advanced student director to design one or more elements of a realized production. The course emphasizes script analysis, visual research in the design process and designer/director communication. Students will assemble a portfolio documenting their designs.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 3710 Scenography II.

A capstone design studio course focusing on scenery, costume and lighting design for the theatre. Students will design the entire visual world of a multi-act drama, comedy or musical from contemporary or historical periods, approved by the instructor, creating standard designer communication documents including sketches, renderings, a finished model and drafting. Additionally, students will work collaborately with a faculty director to design one or more elements of realized production. The course emphasizes script analysis, visual research in the design process and designer/director communication. Students will assemble a portfolio documenting their designs.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 4700 Scenograpy III and instructor permission.

This course gives students a working comprehension of the elements and principles of design in a variety of media.  Students are expected to develop a strong studio work ethic, increase creative problem-solving capabilities, and discover ways to communicate ideas visually.  Students learn through making, self-reflection, and critique to develop a verbal/visual vocabulary that forms the foundation for the future study of art.

An introduction to drawing by surveying its use as a foundation for future study in all 2D and 3D media.

A survey of art and architectural hstory using a great masterpieces approach. Significant monuments from antiquity to the twentieth century will be considered with particular attention to the interaction of art and its producing society so that political situation, theology, science, and aesthetics will be considered in lectures. Cannot be used toward a major in art. Credit cannot be earned for ARH 1000 Masterpieces of World Art and ARH 1010 Art and Society in the West: Ancient to Medieval or ARH 1000 Masterpieces of World Art and ARH 1020 Art and Society in the West: Renaissance to Modern.

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.)

Students earn credit for learning costume construction and maintenance, and learning theatrical lighting by working on theatre productions under direct faculty supervision.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1400 Stagecraft and permission of the Director of Technical Theatre. Open to Language Arts Education majors only.

Students earn credit for learning costume construction and maintenance by working on theatre productions under direct faculty supervision.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

Students earn credit for learning the design and application of theatrical makeup by working on theatre productions under direct faculty supervision.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

Students earn credit for learning the construction, organization, and maintenance of stage properties by working on theatre productions under direct faculty supervision.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

Students earn credit for learning theatrical lighting by working on theatre productions under direct faculty supervision.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

Students earn credit for learning the operation of sound equipment and the practical application of sound effects by working on theatre productions under direct faculty supervision.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

Students earn credit for learning scenery construction, painting, shifting, and maintenance by working on theatre productions under direct faculty supervision.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

Stage Management is an introductory course in production management. Students will be introduced to the basic guidelines and techniques for stage managing theatre productions including: communication skills, collaboration skills, rehearsal management, assembling the stage manager's cue and production book, and tech rehearsal/production run management. Students will also learn about professional stage management and Equity rules, guidelines, and membership, It is anticipated that each class member will serve as a stage manager for a university production and submit a detailed cue and production book.

This course is a study of the theory and practice of scenery and properties design. The student will do several designs for scenic and property elements. One of these designs will be actualized in the laboratory theatre of a major production. This course may be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1020 Script Analysis and THTRE 1400 Stagecraft.
(Normally offered on even fall semesters.)

A study of both the history of costume and the techniques of designing costumes. It includes supervised work not only on the design but actual construction of costumes for the theatre. This course may be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1020 Script Analysis or permission of the instructor.
(Normally offered on even spring semesters.)

Advanced Make-up Design builds the basic techniques and skill acquired in Make-up Design class regarding use of highlight and shadow as a means to sculpt the face for various characters. Students in the advanced class design and complete a sequence of projects incorporating prosthetics and three-dimensional materials, latex and liquids, facial hair, and wigs.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1020 Script Analysis and THTRE 1420 Makeup Design.

This course is a study of the theory and practice of lighting and sound design. The student will do several projects and designs for lights and sound. One of these designs will be actualized in the laboratory theatre or a major production. This course may be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1020 Script Analysis and THTRE 1400 Stagecraft.
(Normally offered on odd fall semesters.)

A topical course designed to investigate any relevant subject matter not included in any of the standard courses. The title, content, and credit will be determined by current mutual interests of students and faculty. Selected topic acting styles courses such as Acting for Musical Theatre, Acting Shakespeare, Acting Chekhov, Acting Coward and Wilde, and Acting Brecht will be offered regularly. Other selected topics courses such as Mask Making, Rendering, Stage Management, Directing for Musical Theatre, Arts Management, and Children's Theatre will be offered based on student interest and demand and faculty expertise.
Prerequisite(s): To be determined by the instructor.

The student completes the design for the scenery, lights, costumes, and/or makeup for a full-length play that is produced by the department. The area or areas of design are selected by the student and instructor. This course may be repeated up to four times for credit.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

On-the-job training for theatre arts majors and minors in theatre-related organizations. Students will arrange for their positions according to departmental guidelines, and each internship will be designed to the satisfaction of the sponsor, faculty coordinator, and student. Students may repeat the course and earn a maximum of 6 hours credit.
Pass/Fail only.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the department chair.

The senior theatre project is done under the immediate supervision of a theatre faculty or teaching-staff member in one of these areas: costumes, scenery, lights, properties, makeup, acting, stage management, or directing. The student and the diretor of the theatre must first determine the feasibility of the proposed project for a full-length play (i.e., at least 90 minutes playing time) and select a theatre faculty/teaching-staff member supervisor. This planning process must be completed no later than May 1 of the junior year. The student will be responsible for doing the research, designing the project and seeing it to completion. The supervisor will serve as a consultant throughout the project, will grade the project, and will arrange for the student to present a description of his or her accomplishment to interested persons. See the director of the theatre for further guidelines and procedures.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the department chair.