100 Level Courses:

THTR 135: Introduction to Theatre
THTR 140: Acting I
THTR 177: Dance
THTR 180: Comic Performance

200 Level Courses:

THTR 200, 201: A-D Theatre Practicum
THTR 202: Oral Interpretation I
THTR 235: The History of Film
THTR 240: Voice and Speech for the Theatre
THTR 255: Stage Makeup
THTR 265: Stagecraft
THTR 270: Stage Management
THTR 271: Ballet I
THTR 272: Ballet II
THTR 276: Tap I
THTR 277: Tap II
THTR 282: Acting II
THTR 288: Jazz Dance
THTR 290: Selected Topics
THTR 291, 292: Research

300 Level Courses:

THTR 320: Play Direction
THTR 337: Shakespeare
THTR 338: Modern Drama
THTR 340: History of Theatre: Origins to Renaissance
THTR 341: History of Theatre: Renaissance to Romanticism
THTR 343: History of Theatre: Realism to Contemporary
THTR 349: History and Development of American Musical Theatre
THTR 354: Writing for Stage and Screen
THTR 361: Costume Design
THTR 365: Scene Design
THTR 366: Stage Lighting
THTR 379, 380: Dance Workshop
THTR 390: Selected Topics
THTR 391, 392: Research
THTR 397, 398: Internship

400 Level Courses:

THTR 421: Advanced Projects in Play Direction
THTR 450: Arts Criticism
THTR 453: Dramatic Theory and Criticism
THTR 468: Advanced Projects in Production and Design
THTR 481: Acting III
THTR 482: Advanced Projects in Acting
THTR 490: Selected Topics
THTR 491: Research
THTR 492: Senior Project in Theatre
THTR 497, 498: Internship

THTR 135: Introduction to Theatre. 3 hours.

A survey of all aspects of the theatre and theatrical production including a study of representative artifacts of theatre history, a variety of dramatic styles and the work of the individual theatre artists involved in the process as well as the role of the audience in theatre. (Meets Artifacts of Western Culture)

THTR 140: Acting I. 3 hours.

An introductory course to acting designed for majors and all students who wish to explore acting methodology. The course includes character development and expression. Practical exercises in both scripted and improvisational work will be stressed. (Meets Creativity Explored)

THTR 177: Dance. 2 hours.

Basic skills and techniques of modern exercises, with an introduction to contemporary jazz movement. Same as EXSP 177.(Meets Activity Class)

THTR 180: Comic Performance. 3 hours.

The course includes application of principles of comedy to scripts and live and videotaped performances. Assignments include analysis and presentation of excerpts from comic plays, narrative material and creating comic sketches. (Meets Creativity Explored)

THTR 202: Oral Interpretation I. 3 hours.

Oral interpretation is the emotive performance of the printed page. Through in-class projects, this class explores the tenets of recitation and dramatic delivery as well as the assessment of literary aesthetics and performative form. The evaluation of interpretive personae and historical merit also are explored. Same as COMM 202. (Meets Creativity Explored)

THTR 235: The History of Film. 3 hours.

A survey of major international and American film accomplishments beginning with Griffith and Chaplin and continuing through contemporary directors such as Bergman, Fellini, and Allen. Some attention will be given to film technique, theory, and analysis. Same as COMM 235 and ENGL 235.

THTR 240: Voice and Speech for the Theatre. 1 hour.

Study and practice of techniques for effective use of the speaking voice on the stage. Includes rudimentary principles for learning to speak dialects.

THTR 255: Stage Makeup. 2 hours.

Designed to acquaint students with the theory and basic techniques of makeup for the stage. Assignments include practicing techniques and creating and carrying out makeup designs.

THTR 265: Stagecraft. 3 hours.

Students who register for this course also must take Theatre Practicum. Designed to acquaint the student with the fundamentals of scenic construction and mechanics of stage lighting, the course will include studies in drafting, technical planning, basic shop tools and techniques, construction of scenery and stage electrical equipment and practices.

THTR 270: Stage Management. 3 hours.

This course is designed to introduce the student to the art and practice of stage management. The student will study the basic functions of the stage manager in the theatrical production phase.

THTR 271: Ballet I. 2 hours.

Basic ballet technique in the recognized classical form. Includes barre exercises, port de bras and center floor work. Same as EXSP 271.

THTR 272: Ballet II. 2 hours.

Prerequisite: THTR 271. Continued study of ballet technique in the recognized classical form. Gradually increasing the complexity of barre exercises, port de bras and center floor work.

THTR 276: Tap I. 2 hours.

Beginning tap steps, terminology and rhythms. Same as EXSP 276. (Meets Activity Class)

THTR 277: Tap II. 2 hours.

Prerequisite: THTR 276. Intermediate tap steps, terminology and rhythms.

THTR 282: Acting II. 3 hours.

Prerequisite: THTR 140. Designed to continue the actor training begun in Acting I, this course includes more advanced training in the skills of analysis and characterization. These skills will be developed through scene work in monologues and in scenes with other actors. (Meets Creativity Explored)

THTR 288: Jazz Dance. 2 hours.

Introduces movement, rhythms and technique of dance interpreted to various forms of jazz music. Same as EXSP 288.

THTR 320: Play Direction. 3 hours.

Prerequisite: THTR 140, THTR 265. An introduction to direction theory and practice, including the function of the director, the production concept, textual analysis and techniques of directing. Students will direct a one-act play. (Meets Creativity Explored)

THTR 337: Shakespeare. 3 hours.

Study of major themes in the plays and poetry of William Shakespeare within their Elizabethan context. Same as ENGL 337.

THTR 338: Modern Drama. 3 hours.

Major dramatists from Ibsen to the present. Liberal use of recordings, live productions. Same as ENGL 338.

THTR 340: History of Theatre: Origins to Renaissance. 3 hours.

A study of the origins and development of western theatre from ancient civilizations through the Renaissance. Emphasis is placed on the development of dramatic forms through the reading of plays, the evolution of theatre architecture, and production in the western theatre. Same as ENGL 340. (Meets Artifacts of Western Culture)

THTR 341: History of Theatre: Renaissance to Romanticism. 3 hours.

A study of western theatre development from the 17th century to mid-nineteenth century. Emphasis is placed on literature, architecture, and production styles of these historical periods. Same as ENGL 341. (Meets Artifacts of Western Culture)

THTR 343: History of Theatre: Realism to Contemporary. 3 hours.

A study of the development of western theatre from 1870 to the present. Emphasis is placed on the literature, architecture and development of production styles in modern theatre. Same as ENGL 343. (Meets Artifacts of Western Culture)

THTR 349: History and Development of American Musical Theatre. 3 hours.

A study of the development of musical theatre in America from its roots in minstrels, burlesques and 18th and 19th century European forms through its variations of the 20th century. Same as MUSC 349.

THTR 354: Writing for Stage and Screen. 3 hours.

Students study play and film structure, character creation and the art of writing dialogue. Course responsibilities include the writing of two short plays and/or films. Same as ENGL 354. (Meets Creativity Explored)

THTR 361: Costume Design. 3 hours.

Designed to acquaint the student with the art and practice of designing costumes for the theatre, the study will include design concepts, fabric selection, script analysis, color theory and design conceptualization and costume rendering. Assignments include theoretical costume designs from selected plays. (Meets Creativity Explored)

THTR 365: Scene Design. 3 hours.

Prerequisite: THTR 265. Designed to acquaint the student with the art and practice of designing scenery for the theatre, the study includes design concepts, script analysis, color theory, design conceptualization, solving mechanical challenges of the script and theatre architecture, scenic painting, perspective drawing, rendering and modeling. Assignments include theoretical scenic designs from selected plays. (Meets Creativity Explored)

THTR 366: Stage Lighting. 3 hours.

Prerequisite: THTR 265. Designed to acquaint the student with the art and practice of lighting design for the theatre, the course will include lighting equipment and control, script analysis, design methodologies, additive and subtractive color theory, lighting for dance, musicals and alternate theatre architectures. Assignments include theoretical lighting designs. (Meets Creativity Explored)

THTR 379, 380: Dance Workshop. 2 hours each.

Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. An advanced course with emphasis on dance performance and experience.

THTR 421: Advanced Projects in Play Direction. 3 hours.

Designed to enable students who have achieved basic directing skills to pursue directing projects such as arena staging, musical theatre, nonrealistic styles and television directing.

THTR 450: Arts Criticism. 3 hours.

Designed to help students develop criteria for judging the quality of works of art, music and theatre and to match them with potential audiences. Coursework includes readings in arts criticism as well as critiquing current art events. Examples of projects include box office management and public relations and shadowing program planners, stage managers, and gallery curators. Same as ARTZ 450 and MUSC 450.

THTR 453: Dramatic Theory and Criticism. 3 hours.

An investigation of theoretical principles evidenced in the practice of the creators of dramatic art and the application of those principles in critical evaluation of both dramatic literature read and productions seen.

THTR 468: Advanced Projects in Production and Design. 3 hours.

Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. An advanced course for students in design and production. The course explores design and production challenges on a more intricate level. Extensive practical experience will be included in the course.

THTR 481: Acting III. 3 hours.

Prerequisite: THTR 282. An advanced course in acting designed to increase the student’s skills in character development and work within dramatic scenes. Coursework will include scene and monologue work in a variety of theatre genres and performance styles.

THTR 482: Advanced Projects in Acting. 3 hours.

Prerequisite: THTR 282. A course designed to acquaint students with theoretical and practical concepts of acting at an advanced level and to provide opportunity to address specific needs and interests such as an achievement of a variety of acting styles and genres.

THTR 492: Senior Project in Theatre. 1-3 hours.

THTR 290, 390, 490: Selected Topics. 1-3 hours.

THTR 291, 292, 391, 392, 491, 492: Research.

THTR 397, 398, 497, 498: Internship.

THTR 200, 201: A-D Theatre Practicum. 1 hour each semester.

A practical course in theatrical production offering training in each of the production areas including scenic construction and painting, lighting, properties and costuming.