Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025
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Theatre (THEA)

THEA 101    Acting I    3 Hours

Improvisation, theatre games, and introductory scene and/or monologue work intended to develop fundamental performance and ensemble collaboration skills.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 141    Stage Makeup    1 Hour

Fundamental theory and application of standard and character stage makeup.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

THEA 151    Theatre Appreciation    3 Hours

A study of the literary, historical and creative aspects of the theatre. It is designed to develop an understanding and appreciation of the art of theatre from the point of view of the audience. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code E-AH | AH

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; winter 2023; spring 2023; fall 2023; winter 2024; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 203    Acting Audition Workshop    1 Hour (repeatable max of 2 hrs)

A developmental studio workshop designed to help students select and prepare effective audition monologues, learn and apply performance techniques unique to the auditioning, and successfully navigate the audition application process. Required of all students needing written departmental recommendation on audition forms. Note: Restricted to students pursuing a degree program in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

THEA 204    Portfolio Preparation Workshop    1 Hour

Introduction to the process of compiling design and technical resumes and portfolios for the performing arts fields.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

THEA 219    Design I    3 Hours

An introduction to the fundamental design concepts, techniques and processes common to all areas of theatre production.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 252

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 222    Stagecraft    3 Hours

Students enrolling in this course must also concurrently enroll in a section of Rehearsal & Production. This course presents the fundamental tools, materials and methods of scenery construction. Other topics include stage rigging, drafting and scene painting. Practical experience is gained by assisting with the construction of scenery for the department's mainstage productions.

Prerequisite(s): PERF 120

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; fall 2023; spring 2024

THEA 230    Stage Combat I: Unarmed    3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

A study of unarmed violence for the stage including punches, slaps, kicks, falls, and rolls. Classic vs. contemporary approaches to staging violence will also be covered. Repeatable once for a total of six credit hours, only three of which may be applied towards a major.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 101 and PERF 205

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024

THEA 241    Costume Technology    3 Hours

Students enrolling in this course must also concurrently enroll in a section of Rehearsal and Production. A basic study of construction techniques for complete stage costumes with emphasis on historical costumes for the theatre.

Prerequisite(s): PERF 120

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 250    Stage Electrics    3 Hours

Students enrolling in this course must also concurrently enroll in a section of Rehearsal and Production. Introduction to the fundamentals of lighting and sound for the theatre.

Prerequisite(s): PERF 120

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 252    Fundamentals of Theatre    3 Hours

An introductory course in theatre. It provides the student with a study of play analysis and its practical application by means of theatre production projects.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 300    Acting II    3 Hours

An acting studio course focusing on the fundamentals of text and character analysis, characterization, and performance.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 101

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

THEA 301    Acting III    3 Hours

An advanced acting course focusing on the application of advanced character analysis, characterization, and style to intensive scene work.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 252 and THEA 300 with a minimum grade of C

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

THEA 303    Acting for the Camera    3 Hours

A fundamental approach to auditioning and acting for the camera.

Equivalent(s): BCOM 303

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023

THEA 306    Musical Theatre Ensemble    1 Hour (repeatable max of 8 hrs)

Musical theatre vocal ensemble. Repeatable seven times for a total of eight credit hours.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

THEA 307    Musical Theatre Workshop I    3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)

Practice in integrating singing, acting, and movement using musical theatre repertoire from 1920 to present.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 101

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

THEA 311    Stage Management    3 Hours

Theoretical grounding and practical training in stage management.

Prerequisite(s): PERF 120 with a minimum grade of C

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

THEA 312    Stage Management Practicum    3 Hours

Requires a concurrent stage management assignment.A practical application course designed to dovetail with an actual stage management assignment providing theoretical grounding and practical "on-the-job" experience in stage management.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

THEA 319    Design II    3 Hours

Application of fundamental design concepts and techniques to the design of scenery, costumes and lighting for the theatre.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 219

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2024

THEA 322    Stage Design    3 Hours

This course presents basic principles for designing theatre scenery. The student will create designs for three plays, including one complete design with drafting, sketches and a model.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 222 with a minimum grade of C and THEA 319 with a minimum grade of C

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024

THEA 323    Period Styles in Design    3 Hours

The study of aesthetic styles as general artistic principles and in costume and decor applications. Emphasis on design as communication across cultures and time periods. No prerequisites required, but taking an introductory art and/or design course in any field before taking this course is recommended. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC

Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

THEA 324    Applied Vocal Styles I    1 Hour (repeatable max of 4 hrs)

Topic-based individual or small group instruction in applied vocal styles for the theatre. Note: Restricted to students pursuing a BFA Performing Arts-Musical Theatre concentration with at least sophomore standing.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 325    Theatre in Education    3 Hours

An overview of strategies for teaching theatre to students in grades K-12. Topics covered include curriculum development, creative dramatics, arts integration, and assessment.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

THEA 330    Stage Combat II    3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)

Staged swordplay technique and choreography featuring single rapier.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 230

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

THEA 341    Culture and Performance    3 Hours

An exploration of how dramatic works reflect, challenge and influence cultural norms and how performance can identify and address social problems. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC

Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2023; spring 2023; winter 2024; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 358    Drama Writing    3 Hours

A concentrated study of the techniques of drama writing emphasizing contemporary theory and practice.

Prerequisite(s): ENG 200 and ENG 203 or ENGL 203C

Equivalent(s): ENG 358

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

THEA 363    World Theatre History I    3 Hours

A study of influential, worldwide theatrical movements, ideas, technologies and personalities that shaped the development of theatre from origin theories through 17th century.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

THEA 364    World Theatre History II    3 Hours

A study of influential, worldwide theatrical movements, ideas, technologies and personalities that shaped the development of theatre from the 18th century to the present.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023

THEA 365    U.S. Theatre History    3 Hours

Survey of U.S. theatre history, with a focus on the 20th century to the present.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024

THEA 371    Directing I    3 Hours

A combined theory/studio course designed to provide both a theoretical framework and practical experience with the stage director's pre-production process, including: dramaturgical research and analysis, production conceptualization, promptbook preparation, the fundamentals of stage composition, organic blocking and the director/designer collaboration.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 252

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

THEA 375    Topics in Drama    3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)

Topics-based course focusing on a particular area of dramatic theory and/or literature.

Prerequisite(s): (THEA 252 or ENG 354 or ENG 355)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 380    Directing II    3 Hours

Applied practice in ground-plan development and implementation, organic blocking, coaching actors, and rehearsal management.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 371

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023; spring 2024

THEA 385    Applied Vocal Styles II    1 Hour (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Topic based individual or small group instruction in applied vocal styles for the theatre.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 391    Theatre for Young Audiences    3 Hours

An examination of the selection, preparation, and presentation of plays for children. Emphasis on analysis of plays for young audiences, script sources and production planning.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 252

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

THEA 392    Production of Theatre for Children    3 Hours (repeatable max of 27 hrs)

A practical application of children's theatre training by means of a traveling children's theatre production company performing on campus and in the surrounding area.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 371 and THEA 372 and THEA 391

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022

THEA 401    Period Styles Lab    3 Hours

Intensive, collaborative scenework, focusing on the special demands of analyzing, conceptualizing and performing period plays, with an emphasis on verse drama.

Prerequisite(s): (THEA 301 or THEA 371)

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

THEA 407    Musical Theatre Workshop II    3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)

A continuation of musical theatre study begun in THEA 307, this course offers advanced character study for both songs and scenes in the American musical theatre repertoire from 1920 to present.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 307

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2023; fall 2024

THEA 410    Playing Shakespeare    3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Advanced acting course focusing on the application of performance and characterization skills in the performance of Shakespearean/Jacobean dramatic literature.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 301

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023; fall 2024

THEA 412    Special Topics in Acting    3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)

Topics-based course focusing on a particular area of advanced acting craftsmanship.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 301

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 414    Acting IV    3 Hours (repeatable max of 9 hrs)

Advanced scene style focusing on collaboration skills and working with directors.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 301

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023; spring 2024

THEA 422    Stage Lighting Design    3 Hours

Lighting equipment is demonstrated and the student is provided practical experience in working with lights for the major productions, at a time other than the class period. Each student will design the lighting for a full-length play.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023

THEA 424    Topics in Design and Technical Theatre    3 Hours (repeatable max of 15 hrs)

Repeatable once with a different topic. A special-problems course for advanced study in the area of technical theatre: scenery, costume, lighting and sound. The topic and project organization are to be submitted by the student and approved by the faculty during the semester prior to the project.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023; spring 2024; fall 2024

THEA 425    Play Production in the Schools    3 Hours

Offers practical instruction in the fundamentals of theatrical production at the secondary school level. Emphasis on providing current and future teachers with resource materials and practical solutions to the challenge of producing and directing high quality theatre in the schools.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

THEA 430    Musical Theatre History    3 Hours

Survey of U.S. musical theatre history from the 18th century to the present, with an emphasis on the 20th century to the present. Note: Permission of instructor.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 252

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; fall 2024

THEA 431    Musical Theatre Repertoire    3 Hours

A performance-based study of musical theatre repertoire and vocal styles from 1920 to present day using both scripts and scores. Performance work will occur in solo and small group settings. Note: Permission of instructor.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 300 and MUS 100 and MUS 350

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023; spring 2024

THEA 441    Costume Design    3 Hours

An advanced course for theatre majors as well as those interested in understanding the concept of costuming. Emphasis is placed upon the historical and practical aspects of theatrical costume design.

Prerequisite(s): THEA 319

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023

THEA 499    Studies in British Theatre    3 Hours

A study of the British theatre highlighted by a tour to England and viewing of representational plays of the English theatre, including visitations to supplementary historical and cultural sites.

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2022; winter 2023; summer 2023; winter 2024; summer 2024