Theatre Courses

This dance intensive course will introduce students to the fundamentals of tap dancing. Students will master basic tap techniques and learn a few short routines. Tap shoes (not provided) are required for this course and should be acquired prior to the first day of class.

This course in theatre appreciation provides an introduction to the audience experience in theatre, including an emphasis on the history and traditions of theatre and the role of the theatre in our contemporary social context. Consideration is given to the important contributions of actor, designer, director and playwright. Attendance at theatrical productions required.

An overview of the potential careers in the performing arts, including actor, director, dramaturge, stage manager, arts administrator, and producer. This course will also provide students with practical information about life skills pertinent to self-employed artists, such as budgeting, taxes, and insurance.

This course explores human creative expression through role play, scene study, improvisation and acting exercises. The course introduces basic terminology and physical activities that lead to a foundational understanding of theatre arts and performance skills. The course is intended for students who might suffer from stage fright or want to increase confidence in public speaking/performing. The course will also serve both the theatre major and non-major who have an interest in developing skills in basic acting/performing.
This is a concurrent course offered at local area high schools. May be counted as an elective in the theatre majors or as a creative studio arts course in the core curriculum.

This course provides an introduction to the art and craft of acting. Students will explore basic acting techniques, theories and principles through specific exercises, monologue and scene study work.

An introduction to the techniques, materials, equipment and procedures employed in scenic construction for the theatre. Studio experience in hand drafting, construction, painting, rigging and shifting scenery and properties. Emphasis on developing creative solutions to production challenges.
Includes laboratory experience.

An introduction to the theory, techniques, materials, equipment and procedures employed in lighting for the theatre. Studio experience in hand drafting, wiring, rigging and focusing. Emphasis on developing creative solutions to production challenges.
Includes laboratory experience.

An introduction to the techniques, materials, equipment and procedures employed in costuming for the theatre. Studio experience in pattern drafting, draping, cutting and sewing. Emphasis on developing creative solutions to production challenges.
Includes laboratory experience.

An introduction to the theory, techniques, materials, equipment and procedures employed in make-up for theatre and film. Emphasis is placed on design, character development, application techniques and basic skin care.

Studio exploration of drawing and painting for the theatre. Introduction to color theory, highlight, shadow and scale. Emphasis on visual analysis and development of painting techniques to produce basic textures for scenery.
Prerequisite: TH 221

An introduction to technique and theory as it pertains to the development and exploration of the speaking voice for clear and effective communication. Focus is on physical awareness, tension/release, breath, vibration, and resonance. Special attention will be given to the anatomy of the vocal tract and an introduction to the International Phonetic Alphabet.

Students will learn basic principles of on-camera presentation and creating an authentic character/personality. Emphasis is on commercial/industrial work, news presentation, and self-taping.
Identical with DM 271.

A history of theatre from Greek theatre through the eighteenth century. Representative plays and playwrights of the various eras and cultures will be studied.

A history of theatre from the early nineteenth century through the contemporary period. Representative plays and playwrights of the various eras and cultures will be studied.

A continuation of the techniques and skills covered in Principles of Acting I. Emphasis will be placed on character transformation, in depth scene study, and a more detailed exploration of various acting techniques.
Prerequisite: TH 212

An intermediate course in design for non-realized productions. Emphasis is placed on the collaborative design process experienced in professional theater. Consideration of theatre styles and the development of creative methods to solve design challenges.
Repeated twice. Students choose two of the four offerings from TH 320CO, 320LI, 320SC and 320SO.

Further development of design theory, techniques, materials and processes employed in costume design. Exploration of the principles and elements of costume design through studio experience in creating script breakdown and analysis, research methods, sketching, rendering, costume plots and fabric specifications.
Prerequisite: TH 223

Further development of design theory, techniques, materials and processes employed in lighting design. Exploration of the principles and elements of lighting design through studio experience in creating script breakdown and analysis, research methods, drafting, sketching, rendering, color keys and equipment specifications.
Prerequisite: TH 222

Further development of design theory, techniques, materials and processes employed in scene design. Exploration of the principles and elements of scene design through studio experience in creating script breakdown and analysis, research methods, drafting, sketching, rendering and model making.
Prerequisite: TH 221

Further development of design theory, techniques, materials and processes employed in sound design. Exploration of the principles and elements of sound design through studio experience in creating script breakdown and analysis, research methods, drafting, spatial acoustics and equipment specifications.
Prerequisite: One course from TH 221, 222, or 223

Selected topics or studies in theatre will be offered as needed and based on student interest.
May be repeated for credit in different topics.

An introductory class into the various styles of dance within musical theatre. Basic ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance techniques will be explored as well as distinct styles of contemporary choreographers who have heavily influenced American musical theatre. Emphasis is on body awareness, physical coordination and a heightened sense of performance through dance.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing

Students will examine a selection of plays, music, films, and other selections from modern performing arts that are topical and relevant. Through analysis and critique, students will study these works from both secular and Christian worldviews, discussing the religious themes presented in the works as well as the intersection of Christianity and the performing arts.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing

A study of the procedures, practices, and problems of directing theatrical productions. Emphasis is given to script analysis and modern directing methods. Each student will experience the process of preparing to direct a full-length production and will gain practical experience directing scenes.
Prerequisites: TH 121 and 212

An intermediate course in drafting for the stage (scenery, lighting and sound plots). Focus is on the development and creation of industry standard drafting documents for the purpose of communicating design ideas to technical and creative collaborators.
Prerequisite: TH 221 or 222

An introduction to the study of the vocal mechanism as it relates to dramatic text. Topics include the International Phonetic Alphabet, phrasing, stress, rhythm, intensity and attention to individual speech problems pertaining to the development and exploration of the stage-speaking voice for clear and effective communication. Dialects are also explored in class through monologue and scene work.
Prerequisite: TH 241

This course is an introduction to the skills essential for today's musical theatre performer. Topics such as song preparation, dance/movement, ensemble and duet work, musicality and acting the lyric will be covered. The semester will conclude with a public performance of music and scenes.
Identical with MU 365.

Students will learn and apply character and text analysis skills to create in-depth characters and perform them in narrative scenes. Special emphasis is given to multi-person and multi-camera scene work.
Identical with DM 373.

Practical experience in technical theatre wherein students assist in the production of a play/musical with possible emphasis on scene design, scene building, scene painting, makeup, costuming, lighting, props, sound, stage management, house management or backstage crew duties.
May be repeated for credit up to three times.
Prerequisite: Consent

Practical experience in acting and performance is provided in scheduled productions.
Student must audition and be cast in a production prior to adding the course. May be repeated for credit up to three times.
Prerequisite: Consent

Practicum in some aspect of theatre designed to give student practical, directed experience.
Prerequisite: Consent

An introduction to the business of non-profit art organizations as well as the functions of theatrical management from pre-production organization through rehearsal and performance. Topics of producing, casting, directing, managerial responsibilities, production schedules, budgeting, supervision of facilities and personnel, and effective communication are covered. Emphasis is on development of creative solutions to production challenges as the class culminates in the student-produced One-Act Festival.
Prerequisites: TH 121 and 212; TH 341 if student wishes to direct for the One-Act Festival

More than any other author who wrote in English, William Shakespeare has shaped our world in complicated ways. How has Romeo and Juliet shaped our ideas of romantic love? How has Hamlet influenced our ideas of our inner lives? Has Othello influenced the development of racism, or has it helped us to address the problems of racism? William Shakespeare's plays have an ongoing presence in our lives. This course will examine as many as eleven Shakespeare plays with attention give to their presence today, on stage and transformed in our culture. (Attending a play, performed professionally if possible, is a requirement for this course.)
Prerequisite: EN 151

An advanced study of principles and theories of acting as it relates to historical period styles. Special emphasis is given to Elizabethan drama and the rhythm and phrasing necessary for Shakespearean performance. Through scene, monologue, and exercise work, students learn how to meet the demands of heightened characterization and style.
Prerequisites: TH 212, 241, 316, 361

Devised performance is a practice of collaborative creation developed via alternative rehearsal and production processes and frequently utilizing improvisational skills. Devised work is a new piece created in response to an idea, event, or other external stimulus and often involves a plurality of viewpoints. This course focuses on developing an artist's toolkit for devising and improvisation, pulling from a variety of traditions. Students will work closely with each other to create a variety of performance pieces throughout the semester.
Prerequisite: TH 212 or 373

A seminar course covering advanced topics such as resumes, portfolios, and job searching for the performing artist. In addition, students will complete a formal showcase of their work to be performed and/or displayed to the public.
Prerequisite: Senior standing

The study of a challenge, a research paper or a project related to the theatre major on a subject of mutual interest to the student and the professor.
Prerequisite: Consent

A field experience in theatre which provides an opportunity for the student to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. Student maintains close cooperation with the supervisory personnel in the field.
Prerequisite: Consent

An acting, singing and stage movement workshop, culminating in scenes for performance from musical theatre, operetta and opera.
Must be able to read music.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MU A06 Class Voice I or one semester of applied voice