Musical Theatre (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. The content and meeting times of THTRE-1020FYW and THTRE 1030 are the same and students may not receive credit for both courses.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

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. The content and meeting times of THTRE 1020FYW and THTRE-1030 are the same and students may not receive credit for both courses.
(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 study of the theories and techniques of directing. Students will direct several short scenes.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1020FYW Script Analysis or THTRE 1030 Script Analysis.
(Normally offered each fall and 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.)

Introduction to Musical Theatre investigates musical theatre as a performing arts genre by incorporating historical explorations with listening, viewing, and performance activities in order to gain a greater appreciation for the art form. A history of musical theatre forms the basis for development of course activities. Critical and creative exploration of scenes, songs, styles, and artistic development of musical theatre comprise the course content. Each student develops and participates in individual and group projects presented for the class. This course is recommended for students who have an interest in musical theatre performance and production, as well as students who plan to be music or theatre educators.
(Normally offered spring semester of even years)

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-1020 and THTRE 1300 Acting I or instructor permission.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

This course focuses on development of musical theatre performance skills in the areas of singing, acting, and truthfully bringing a character to life on stage through song. Topics to be investigated include foundational acting technique, techniques of musical storytelling, vocal techniques for musical theatre singing, acting a solo song, and truth in musical theatre acting/performance. Each student prepares and presents a series of performance solo projects, beginning to build a repertoire of musical theatre songs.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1060 Introduction to Musical Theatre.
(Normally offered every spring semester.)

This discourse-instructive course will study the diverse and varying collection of the musicals that encompass the Broadway stage. Musicals to be studied will vary each semester and students will engage in multiple discussions on topics such as performance transitions, styles, time periods, subject matter, historical contribution, composers, and even audience appeal. Students will experience such musical either visually or aurally and complete a variety of assignments to identify the unique characteristics and contributions of each.

This is an advanced course in acting that incorporates the technique and truth in acting skills from Acting II and aims to provide an intensive study of character analysis and presentation skills. Performance texts for class activities and exercises will be drawn primarily from turn-of-the-century playwrights such as Ibsen, Shaw, and Chekhov. Attention is also to be given to the process of preparing professional auditions. This course may be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1300 Acting I and THTRE 1310 Acting II.
(Normally offered on even fall semesters.)

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 intonational 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.

Explores the different ways in which an actor may use the voice and body to create character, with an emphasis on full body integration. Students will learn techniques to free the natural voice, strengthen the body, and do so in a fully integrated and creative way so as to maximize expression for the stage. Students will study the works of Master Teachers, such as Alexander, Lessac, Bogart, and/or Linklater, in order to learn the foundational principles of voice and movement work. The class is intended to be a required class for performance majors.

This course builds on the acting and musical techniques introduced in Musical Theatre II, Acting II, Music Theory and Musicianship I and II, and Musical Theatre Voice II. It focuses on continuing to develop musical theatre performance skills in the areas of acting and singing while beginning to work with a partner and/or small ensemble groups. Topics to be investigated include vocal techniques for musical theatre singing, truth in musical theatre acting and storytelling, and working with and off of a partner in musical theatre performance. Students will prepare scenes/songs with their partner(s) and continue to build their musical theatre solo repertoire.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1650 Musical Theatre I or permission of instructor.

Equips theatre students with a broad range of musical competencies for interpreting music in the musical theatre genre, including fundamental notation and basic score analysis including melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic components. Students will develop skills in sight-singing, ear-training and informed listening to prepare for a career in musical theatre.

This advanced course focuses on development of musical theatre performance skills in the various styles of musical theatre literature. Topics to be investigated include building on fundamental acting techniques and their utilization in musical theatre styles, musical storytelling, vocal techniques for musical theatre, and truth in musical theatre acting as they relate to specific styles which may include Gilbert and Sullivan, Jazz Standards, Golden Age, Post-Golden Age, Pop/Rock, Sondheim, Musical Theatre comedy, Pop/Rock Opera, and Cabaret songs. Each student prepares and presents a series of performance projects, each of different style or genre. Two major focuses of this course will be on musical theatre literature as it pertains to the performer, and more quickly and deeply developing repertoire.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1650 Musical Theatre I, THTRE-2660.

Equips theatre students with the broad range of musical competencies for interpreting music in the musical theatre genre, including lead sheet and roman numeral score analysis, melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic components of musical structure and form, modulation, stylistic figures and complex chord identification and creation. Students will compose music and develop an intermediate skill level of sight-singing, ear training and informed listening. Students will further develop their written communication skills by writing about music analysis.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 2670 Musical Theatre Theory and Musicianship I.

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. 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.

Prerequisite(s): THTRE 3800 World Theatre History I or permission of instructor.

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 fall and 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 and spring semester.)

Ballet I is an introductory course in the fundamentals of ballet that underscore musical theatre dance. Students will learn vocabulary, basic ballet technique, care of the ballet dancer's body, strength and conditioning exercises, and basic ballet combinations. This course may be repeated for credit.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

Musical theatre dance techniques and combinations will be explored in this course. Exercises to promote flexibility and stamina will be incorporated into the process. Course progress will be demonstrated in a culminating performance. This class may be repeated for credit.
(Normally offered each fall and spring semester.)

Musical Theatre Dance II builds on the foundation of THTRE 1620 Musical Theatre Dance I. It is an intermediate-level dance class that reviews introductory knowledge and musical theatre dance skills, focuses on correcting habits, and emphasizes learning combinations expected for professional auditions, conditioning and an introduction to choreographic techniques. This course can be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1620 Musical Theatre Dance I or permission of instructor.
(Normally offered each fall and spring semester.)

Musical Theatre Dance III builds on the foundational knowledge and skills of THTRE 1620 Musical Theatre Dance I and THTRE 2620 Musical Theatre Dance II. This course explores more advanced techniques, conditioning and choreography. The course will often be an intensive "master class" experience offered by a guest artist. The schedule will be determined and may include evenings and weekends over a short duration of the guest artist's residence. This course can be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1620 Musical Theatre Dance I and THTRE 2620 Musical Theatre Dance II or permission of instructor.

Weekly voice studio and bi-weekly 30-minute private instruction in musical theatre voice for first-year students. May be repeated.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.
Corequisite(s): THTRE 1060 Introduction to Musical Theatre or THTRE 1650 Musical Theatre I or declared Musical Theatre major.

Weekly voice studio and private weekly 30-minute instruction in musical theatre voice for second-year students.  May be repeated.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1640 Musical Theatre Voice Lessons and Studio I or permission of instructor.
Corequisite(s): THTRE-1660 or declared Musical Theatre major.
 

Weekly voice studio and bi-weekly 30-minute private instruction in musical theatre voice for third-year students. May be repeated.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1640 Musical Theatre Voice Lessons and Studio I and THTRE-2460 or permission of instructor.
Corequisite(s): THTRE 3650 Musical Theatre III or declared Musical Theatre major.
 

Weekly voice studio and bi-weekly 30-minute private instruction in musical theatre voice for fourth-year students. May be repeated.
Prerequisite(s): THTRE 1640 Musical Theatre Voice Lessons and Studio I, THTRE 2640 Musical Theatre Voice Lessons and Studio II, and THTRE 3640 Musical Theatre Voice Lessons and Studio III or permission of 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.
P/F only.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the department chair.

Senior Capstone is a culmination of a graduating theatre student's academic and artistic experience of theatre at the undergraduate level. Research, analytical and reflective writing, and professional presentation skills compromise the primary components of this course, which focuses on the integration, synthesis and application of cumulative knowledge and prepares students for the transition from their undergraduate education into their future profession. Senior Capstone should be taken during the student's last year in residence at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Prerequisite(s): Theatre major with senior standing or permission of the instructor.