Department of Theatre and Dance

Professor Norman A. Bert, Chairperson.

Professor Emeritus Sorensen; Professor Willis-Aarnio; Associate Professors Christoffel, Lewis, Marks, and Moore; Assistant Professors Boersig, Donahue, and Homan; Visiting Assistant Professor Stinespring.

This department offers study in the following graduate degree programs: THEATRE ARTS, Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts; FINE ARTS, Doctor of Philosophy with an option in theatre arts.

The Master of Arts degree in theatre arts requires a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate. Completion of the M.A. degree requires a thesis and a final examination.

The Master of Fine Arts degree is a terminal professional degree that provides for intensive specialization in acting and directing, design, playwriting, or theatre management. A minimum of 54 hours is required beyond the baccalaureate. Completion of the M.F.A. degree requires a thesis. In the case of acting-directing and design candidates, the thesis is based on a performance or production project accomplished during their program. In the case of playwriting candidates, the thesis is based on a script which is produced during their program.

The department participates with the faculties in art, music, and philosophy in an interdisciplinary program leading to the Ph.D. degree in Fine Arts, which is detailed in the "Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Study" section of this catalog. Doctoral students whose major area is theatre choose two of the following fields of concentration: Acting and directing; design; history, theory, and criticism; arts administration; and playwriting. Work towards the degree is both scholarly and practical, requires a minimum of 63 semester hours at the graduate level beyond the master's degree, includes a rigorous comprehensive examination, and culminates in a dissertation requirement that allows a choice of several avenues of research.

Applicants for the Ph.D. program with the major area of theatre must have completed a master's degree or its equivalent in theatre or a related field. Each applicant must meet minimum Graduate School requirements, be recommended by the department's faculty, and be approved by the Fine Arts Doctoral Committee.

For admission to any graduate program in theatre, the applicant must fulfill all requirements of the Graduate School as well as departmental requirements; for the latter contact the graduate advisor in the department. All incoming students must take a diagnostic examination, which is administered at the start of the fall term, and which provides a basis for faculty decisions about any leveling courses that may be required and credits that may be transferred. After this examination, a degree plan must be decided upon and filed; master's students must do so during the first term of work, and doctoral students before the end of the second term.

In keeping with the department's commitment to educate students practically as well as academically, all graduate students are expected to participate actively in the department's production program.

Courses in Theatre Arts. (THA)

5118. Rehearsal and Performance (1). Credit for acting in University Theatre and Laboratory Theatre productions.

5301. Advanced Playwriting (3:3:0). Advanced study in the theory and practice of playwriting. May be repeated for credit.

5303. Theatre Scene Design (3:0:9). Advanced work in the process of designing for the stage. Includes work on models, sketches, renderings, and theatre drafting. May be repeated for credit.

5304. Theatre Lighting Design (3:0:9). Advanced work in theatrical lighting design with an emphasis on the use of light as artistic expression. May be repeated for credit.

5305. Theatre Costume Design (3:0:9). Advanced work in the total process of designing costumes for the stage through design projects for representative plays. May be repeated for credit.

5307, 5308. Advanced Practicum in Repertory Theatre I, II (3:0:9 each). Prerequisite: An undergraduate major in theatre arts, or consent of instructor. Practical work in supervision of the organization, mounting, and presentation of plays in a repertory situation. May be repeated for credit.

5309. Seminar in Theatre History (3:3:0). Prerequisite: An undergraduate major in theatre arts or consent of instructor. Consideration of the theatre of a specific historical epoch, or the comparative study of the theatre of several periods.

5310. Historical and Critical Perspectives in Theatre Arts (3:3:0). Historical and critical overview of the field including introduction to major theories and methodologies; study of particular artists; works or movements that provide insight into specific creative techniques; basic media and techniques of the field; and interdisciplinary relationships with the other arts.

5311. Advanced Directing (3:2:3). Prerequisite: Undergraduate directing course or consent of instructor. Study of procedures and techniques of directing. Enrollment in noncredit lab is required.

5312. Theatre Management (3:3:0). Study of university, community, and professional theatre management with special attention to policy making, audience building, play selection, staff organization, budget preparation, and relationships with governmental and private agencies and foundations.

5313. Dramatic Criticism (3:3:0). Principles of dramatic criticism from Aristotle to the present day.

5314. Theatre Arts in Contemporary Context (3:3:0). Focus on contemporary issues in the field including current artistic trends, theory and criticism, and organization (e.g., education, assessment, multi-cultural issues, censorship).

5316. Promotion in Theatre Arts (3:3:0). An approach to the field of promotion with emphasis on application to theatre arts.

5317. Funding of Theatre Arts (3:3:0). A seminar in locating and arranging funding for theatre organizations.

5318. Advocacy for the Performing Arts (3:3:0). Study of the importance and impact of external environments on the formation, production, and funding of arts activities.

5320. Theatre Planning (3:3:0). A study of the planning and design of theatre facilities.

5323. Problems in Lighting, Costuming, and Scenery (3:3:0). Development of complete scenery, costume, and lighting designs for selected plays and theatre buildings from research to presentation.

5324. The Teaching of Acting (3:3:0). Study of modern theories and practices of acting and actor training. Design of the acting course.

5325. Period Styles in Acting (3:3:3). Prerequisite: TH A 5329. Scene study in various periods ranging from Ancient Greece through Medieval, Spanish Golden Age, Jacobean, Restoration, and beyond. Two labs at progressive skill levels.

5326. Seminar in Directing Methods (3:3:0). A study of the methods of selected modern directors and directing theories.

5327. Special Problems in Directing (3). Individual directing project on or off campus. Project must be approved by instructor before enrollment.

5328. Special Problems in Playwriting (3). Prerequisite: TH A 5301. Advanced study in developing, writing, and revising play scripts. May be repeated for credit.

5329. Advanced Scene Study (3:3:3). Scene study in realist and contemporary acting styles. Various approaches to acting in 20th century drama. Required of all first year acting and directing MFA students.

5331. Studies in Contemporary Theatre (3:3:0). A seminar in contemporary theatre theories and practices.

5333. Studies in the Production of Pre-Modern Drama (3:3:0). A study of the problems of producing classical, Elizabethan, French neo-classic, Restoration, and eighteenth-century drama for present-day audiences.

5334. Topics in Acting (3:3:3). In-depth workshop in specific acting styles, genres, national and ethnic theatres, and techniques or training.

5335. Dramatic Analysis (3:3:0). Study of dramatic structures and script analysis methods as a preparation for writing, directing, designing, performing, and criticizing plays.

5341. Seminar in Dramatic Theory (3:3:0). Prerequisite: An undergraduate major in theatre arts or consent of instructor. The consideration of a specific theoretical approach to the theatre or the comparative study of several theoretical approaches. Repeatable for credit.

5343. Seminar in Voice and Movement (3:3:3). Intensive training in specific voice and movement techniques and methodologies culminating in a studio performance of improvisations, montages, and solo performances.

5350. Seminar in Theatre Research Methods (3:3:0). Examination of research and critical processes in dramatic history, theory, and performance or production through current philosophical orientations, methodologies, and techniques. Required of all graduate students.

6000. Master's Thesis (V1-6).

6001. Internship (V1-6). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Service assignment in an arts organization for students in the graduate theatre and dance program. May be repeated for credit.

7000. Research (V1-12).

8000. Doctor's Dissertation (V1-12).


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