Curriculum

THEA 101 | SCRIPT ANALYSIS

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course focuses on the analysis of dramatic literature – learning how to closely read, examine, dissect, interpret, and analyze play scripts – which is the essential foundation for playmaking. Through the process of excavating a script for the ideas that ultimately shape the play in performance, students will develop critical thinking skills. The course includes extensive reading, written analysis, individual and group projects, and class discussion.

THEA 111 | THEATRE AND SOCIETY

Units: 3-4 Repeatability: No

Core Attributes: Artistic Inquiry area

This course studies theatre as an art form and examines the historical role of theatre in the world and its significance as a cultural force. It involves attending plays, designing projects and/or performing.

THEA 116 | THEATRE PRACTICUM - ACTING/STAGE MANAGEMENT

Units: 1-2 Repeatability: Yes (Can be repeated for Credit)

Non-Core Attributes: Experiential

This course is for those cast in acting roles or assigned to work as an Assistant/Stage Manager in a Theatre Department show. Attendance required at all rehearsals and performances for the assigned show. Course is open to non-theatre majors/minors and repeatable for up to 3 units. Audition information available in Theatre office and on-line.

THEA 117 | THEATRE PRACTICUM - BACKSTAGE AND PRODUCTION

Units: 1 Repeatability: Yes (Can be repeated for Credit)

Non-Core Attributes: Experiential

This course is for students working backstage in a Theatre Department production. Student may be assigned to work in a number of backstage roles such as a dresser or lighting board operator. Attendance required for class meetings and all required rehearsals and performances for the assigned show. Student must check production calendar for conflicts and may register prior to being assigned to a show. No previous production experience necessary. Course is open to non-theatre majors/minors and repeatable for up to 3 units.

THEA 155 | THEATRE IN EDUCATION

Units: 3

This course is designed specifically for future elementary school teachers enrolled in the liberal studies major as an introduction to the use of theatre and dance in the classroom. It involves theatre and dance through form, style, history, and cultural perspectives. Students learn the structure and vocabulary of theatre and dance, as well as practical methods of application in the classroom.

THEA 201 | THE CREATIVE MIND

Units: 3

This course is designed to build the infrastructure of creative thinking through exploratory engagement with daily life and the world around us. The creative and performing arts provide models for risk taking, confidence in performance and public presentation, and reenvisioning the familiar. Students will experience problem re-framing, collaborative solutions, sensory imagery, and compassionate innovation challenges to develop a vocabulary of creative thinking that can inform artistic practice and build the skills of charismatic leadership.

THEA 205 | TECHNICAL THEATRE WITH LAB

Units: 4 Repeatability: No

This course covers the primary technical process, the behind-the-scenes work, necessary to mount a theatrical production. It involves stagecraft vocabulary, set construction, lighting and sound technology, stage management, production organization, and theatre architecture. In the technical theatre lab portion of this course, students learn how to put theory into practice in the support of the semester’s theatrical productions. It involves the construction and installation of sets, hanging and focusing lights, and the installation and configuration of the sound system. Hours outside scheduled class time will be required, including some weekends.

THEA 220 | FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRICAL DESIGN

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

Core Attributes: Artistic Inquiry area

This course focuses on understanding foundational elements of theatrical design and developing the skills to translate text into visual content. It involves script analysis, research, creative exploration, and visual communication.

THEA 230 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

Core Attributes: First Yr Integration (LC Only), Artistic Inquiry area

This course examines the tradition of the actor as storyteller and challenges students to increase their ability to express their own experience and the experience of others. It involves improvisation, monologue, and scene work, technical methods in voice, physical action, and text analysis.

THEA 294 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN THEATRE

Units: 0.5-4 Repeatability: Yes (Repeatable if topic differs)

Courses examining specific aspects of theatre not covered in other classes. See program listing each semester.

THEA 316 | THEATRE PRACTICUM - COSTUME PRODUCTION

Units: 1 Repeatability: Yes (Can be repeated for Credit)

Non-Core Attributes: Experiential

This course is for students to practice costume production skills initiated in THEA 205 – Technical Theatre. Students work in the costume shop over the course of the semester to fulfill the course requirement. Course is open to non-theatre majors/minors and repeatable for up to 3 units.

THEA 317 | THEATRE PRACTICUM - STAGECRAFT

Units: 1 Repeatability: Yes (Can be repeated for Credit)

Non-Core Attributes: Experiential

This course is for students to practice stagecraft skills initiated in THEA 205 – Technical Theatre. Students will work in scenery, lighting and sound production. Course is open to non-theatre majors/minors and repeatable for up to 3 units.

THEA 320 | SCENIC DESIGN

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course is an advanced study of theatrical set design. It involves script analysis, research, sketching, model building, drafting and presentations. Students are required to attend theatrical productions, both on and off campus.

THEA 325 | LIGHTING AND SOUND FOR ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

In this course, students will learn how to use lighting and sound to support a performance. The course covers both technical aspects of modern lighting and sound equipment as well as foundational work in principles of design to help students understand why different pieces of equipment are used and when to use them.

THEA 330 | COSTUME DESIGN

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course is an advanced study of the process of costuming a theatrical production. It involves how the social impact of clothes translates to theatrical costuming, visual and textual research, play analysis, costume history, rendering, design elements, production procedures, and collaboration with other artists.

THEA 340 | VOICE AND SPEECH

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course will integrate various vocal training approaches and methods in order to encourage vocal growth in the areas of breath support, clarity of speech, diction, and range. It is specifically designed for actors, but can benefit anyone interested in public speaking or in communicating with more clarity and confidence. It involves cultivating vocal potential and performing monologues, scenes, and poetry.

THEA 345 | PHYSICAL ACTOR

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

Through this course, students will learn physically-based performance techniques as a means to discover the body and its movement through space as an inspiration for the actor and the primary generator of meaning in theatre. Selected topics may but will not necessarily include clowning, commedia dell'arte, masks, stage combat and other approaches drawn from movement training.

THEA 360 | THEATRE HISTORY 1

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course examines the historical role of theatre in the world, exploring the roots and development of theatrical performances in a range of cultures and time periods. In addition to reading play texts, students will evaluate broad-based performance forms such as rituals and festivals as well as consider a range of performance genres from commedia dell’arte to kabuki in oral and manuscript cultures through early print cultures.

THEA 362 | THEATRE HISTORY 2

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course builds upon Theatre History 1 and examines the historical role of theatre in the world, exploring the roots and development of theatrical performances in a range of cultures and time periods. In addition to reading play texts, students will evaluate broad-based performance forms such as rituals and festivals as well as consider a range of performance genres from popular spectacles to postmodern experiments beginning in periodical print cultures and extending into electric and electronic communication cultures.

THEA 365 | PLAYWRITING

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

Core Attributes: Advanced writing competency, Artistic Inquiry area

This course focuses on writing scenes and creating work in playwriting format, through reading, writing, and acting exercises. The final project is an original one-act play.

THEA 367 | LONDON PLAYS IN PRODUCTION

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

Core Attributes: Advanced Integration, Artistic Inquiry area

ENGL 367/THEA 367 is an interdisciplinary course taught in London by one faculty member from English and one from Theatre. It will introduce students to the wide diversity of London theatre in what is arguably the theatre capital of the English-speaking world. Students will read a variety of scripts and see a range of productions in an assortment of venues. In addition, students will participate in field trips designed to provide background, history and context for their theatre experience. Class discussion, two essays, field trips, the integrative core project and the final exam will underscore the interdisciplinary and integrative focus of our study. Students enrolled in ENGL 367 will satisfy core requirements for Literary Inquiry and Advanced Integration. Students enrolled in THEA 367 will satisfy core requirements for Artistic Inquiry and Advanced Integration.

THEA 370 | PERFORMANCE STUDIES

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

Core Attributes: Advanced writing competency, Oral communication competency

This course is part of the written and oral communication competency series. As an Advanced Writing course, Performance Studies focuses on writing as a process, teaching students how to assess and conduct scholarship in the field. As an Oral Communication course, students will develop well-structured presentations that clearly and compellingly communicate a central argument, use engaging examples as well as a strong delivery. Students will explore and engage with a range of disciplinary methods for analyzing, understanding, and discussing performance in order to learn and apply critical and theoretical concepts as a means to develop skills as scholar-practitioners.

THEA 380 | THEATRE OF DIVERSITY

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

Core Attributes: Domestic Diversity level 1

This course explores the dynamic cannon of U.S. theatre literature with a focus on diversity, inclusion and social justice. Primarily a lecture based course, theatre exercises are also used as a teaching tool to foster deeper connections with the material. Student creativity is highly valued, encouraged and supported.

THEA 385 | ACTING FOR THE MUSICAL THEATRE

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course cultivates the skills of analyzing, interpreting, and performing the two primary texts of the musical theatre song: lyrics and music. By learning the performer’s mind/body connection through researching musical theatre repertoire, students ultimately are prepared for an effective musical theatre singing audition.

THEA 390 | DIRECTING AND STAGE MANAGEMENT

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course focuses on the duties of the two playmakers responsible for leading, planning, executing, and administering the collaborative processes inherent in the rehearsal and performance of theatrical production: the Director and the Stage Manager. Processes, skills, and principles introduced and developed include basic leadership principles, fundamentals of management, organizational structure, theatricality, production concept, effective communication in a collaborative setting, rehearsal etiquette and protocol, staging practice, technical rehearsals, and theatrical performance.

THEA 405 | BUSINESS OF THEATRE

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course examines the business roles and principles of theatre, both commercial and non-profit. By becoming familiar with the financial, legal, marketing , philosophical, and creative aspects of theatre companies, students will learn how to manage, form, and contribute to a career in arts-based enterprises.

THEA 430 | CONTEMPORARY ACTING

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course is an advanced study in contemporary acting techniques. Selected topics may but will not necessarily include the Chekhov Technique, the Meisner Technique, Richard Schechner’s Rasaboxes™, Acting for the Camera, Acting for Musical Theatre, Stanislavski's Active Analysis, and Viewpoints.

THEA 435 | CLASSICAL ACTING

Units: 3 Repeatability: No

This course will focus on performing classical texts. Students will address the challenges of heightened language, rhetoric, argumentation, style, scansion, poetry, and period movement.

THEA 475C | THEATRE AND COMMUNITY

Units: 3 Repeatability: Yes (Can be repeated for Credit)

Core Attributes: Advanced Integration, Domestic Diversity level 2

Non-Core Attributes: Community Engagement, International

This course focuses on the use of theatre and performance as a means of exploring social justice issues in partnership with community organizations. Students will engage the skills necessary for creating theatre on issues of mutual concern and collaborate in multiple and variable levels of the artistic creation. This class culminates in the staging of a final theatrical event. Fulfills: AI (Advanced Integration) and DISJ2 (Diversity Inclusion & Social Justice Level 2).

THEA 494 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN THEATRE

Units: 0.5-4 Repeatability: Yes (Repeatable if topic differs)

Courses examining specific aspects of theatre not covered in other classes. See program listing each semester.

THEA 496 | SENIOR PROJECT IN THEATRE

Units: 1-3

Individual directed study under the supervision of a faculty member.

THEA 498 | PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP

Units: 1-3 Repeatability: Yes (Can be repeated for Credit)

Non-Core Attributes: Experiential

Internship opportunities may be taken for credit, with the oversight of Theatre faculty. Enrollment is arranged on an individual basis according to a student’s interest and background and is dependent on positions available and faculty approval. The department internship instructor as well as the academic advisor should be consulted before beginning an internship. A maximum of six internship units can be earned.

THEA 499 | INDEPENDENT STUDY

Units: 1-3