Theatre

• Chair, Fall 2012: Nancy Simon
• Chair, Spring 2013: Christopher Petit (on Sabbatical, Fall 2012)
• Jessica Cerullo
• Thomas G. Hines
• Kristen Kosmas
• Derek Maize
• Greg Mitchell
• Robin Waytenick Smasne
• Kevin Walker

Courses and dramatic productions are offered to provide the student with rigorous, demanding professional training and a cultural background with which to attain the highest standards in theatre.

All classes without stated prerequisite or an indicated level of difficulty are recommended to any student, regardless of class standing.

The Theatre major: A minimum of 35 credits to include Theatre 125, 245, 246, 247, 248, and 490; one course to be selected from Theatre 278, 345, 366; four courses to be selected from Theatre 233, 234, 371, 372, 377, 379; and two credits in Theatre 231, 232.

The Theatre minor: Theatre 125, Theatre 245 or 246; three courses to be selected from Theatre 233, 234, 371, 372, 377, 379; one credit in Theatre 231 or 232.

107 Introduction to the Theatre
3, x Kosmas, Mitchell

Theatre is a global revolutionary force with roots buried deeper than our recorded history. This class will expose students to the many diverse modes in which performance takes place around the world and examine them in the historic context of theatre and the evolving ideas of art and human experience. We will explore how the directors, actors, designers, and technicians who work in this medium generate their work. Students will create their own live performance projects. Using the Harper Joy Theatre production season as a laboratory, students will see the plays from backstage and front, and critically evaluate the work. Open to all students.

125 Beginning Acting I
3, 3 Fall: Simon, Staff; Spring: Kosmas

Designed to help the student to realize his/her potential as an actor and to help him/her find a systematic way of approaching a role. Emphasis on concentration, imagination, movement, working in terms of objectives and responding to others. Students engage in acting exercises, scene work and assigned reading. Open only to first-year students and sophomores.

126 Beginning Acting II
x, 3 Petit, Cerullo

A continuation of Theatre 125. Students build on the acting fundamentals they learned in Beginning Acting I. Includes additional scene work, acting exercises, and assigned reading. Prerequisite: Theatre 125.

222 Digital Media for the Theatre
3; not offered 2012-13

Digital media is indispensable to visual artists working in contemporary theatre. This class will teach basic skills in several applications consistently used in technical production, presentation, and digital image editing, including Photoshop, Vectorworks, Renderworks, Sketchup, and, depending on the interests of the class, Poser and Final Cut Pro. This class is geared toward theatre costume, set, production, and lighting designers, but other visual artists, designers, and architects could benefit from the material. Projects will be tailored to students’ particular areas of interest. A portion of the class will be devoted to creating online portfolios for artists.

225, 226 Intermediate Acting
4, 4 Fall: Staff; Spring: Cerullo

First semester: an actor’s continued development of physical, emotional, and imaginative awareness with application to texts, and approaches to playing Shakespeare. Second semester: improvisation and preparation for a formal audition. Acting in the plays of Anton Chekhov and contemporary playwrights. Prerequisite for 225: Theatre 126. Prerequisite for 226: Theatre 225.

231, 232 Rehearsal and Performance
1, 1 Staff

Rehearsal and performance by selected students in major productions. Course exempted from 18-credit enrollment limitation. Activity credit limitation applies. May be repeated for not more than two credits per semester. Graded credit/no credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

233 Theatre History from the Middle Ages to 1800
4, x Mitchell

The history of European theatre from the Middle Ages through 1800, examining as appropriate social, political, and religious attitudes, architecture, design and technical practice, business and administration, acting, audiences, and critical theory. Emphasizes the practical value of theatre history for the student attending or working in today’s theatre. Three periods per week. Students complete written or practical projects. Offered in alternate years.

234 Nineteenth Century Theatre History
x, 4 Kosmas

The history of European and American theatre from 1800-1900. Examines, as appropriate, social/political/religious attitudes, architecture, design and technical practice, business and administration, acting, directing, audiences, and theory. Emphasizes the practical value of theatre history for the student attending or working in today’s theatre. Students complete written or practical projects. Offered in alternate years.

242 Seminar in Contemporary Theatre
3; not offered 2012-13

An in-depth survey course of recent plays from around the world. Discussion based, the course will explore the nature of plays compared to the written word. Content changes every semester. The course content includes contemporary topics or issues with emphasis on productions in London and New York. May be repeated once for credit.

245 Play Production
3, x Walker

An introduction to the elements of theatre technology. Emphasis is given to the production process, the organization of personnel, the equipment and architecture of the theatre, and the equipment and techniques used in the construction, rigging, and painting of scenery. Class lectures and discussions are complemented by production assignments. Corequisite: Theatre 247. Open to all students.

246 Play Production
x, 3 Mitchell

An introduction to the elements of theatre technology. Emphasis is given to the equipment, materials, and methods used in stage lighting, drafting, costuming, and sound. Class lectures and discussions are complemented by production assignments. Corequisite: Theatre 248. Open to all students.

247 Play Production Laboratory
1, x Smasne, Walker

Laboratory exercises in theatre technology. Lab projects will allow practical applications of the class materials covered in 245 Play Production. Open to all students. May be repeated for credit.

248 Play Production Laboratory
x, 1 Walker

Laboratory exercises in theatre technology. Lab projects will allow practical applications of the class materials covered in 246 Play Production. Open to all students. May be repeated for credit.

259 Voice and Movement for the Actor
x, 4 Petit

A physical approach to acting, focusing on the kinesthetic and vocal development of the actor. Through performance techniques including Viewpoints, and Michael Chekhov technique, this course is designed to increase the students’ access to their physical instruments, and their ability to articulate themselves on stage. Students create original work devised through the acting process. Prerequisite: Theatre 125 or consent of instructor.

269 Performance Ensemble
4; not offered 2012-13

This course focuses on the practical application of performance techniques from Theatre 259, honing skills toward creating actor-generated material. Through composition, improvisation, and character study, the class will develop a physical approach to the craft of acting, and work as an ensemble to create an original performance.

277 Costume Construction Techniques
3, x Smasne

An introduction to theatre costume construction through hands-on projects tailored to the student’s skill level. Emphasis is placed on the techniques necessary for creating costumes and includes hand sewing and machine sewing from commercial patterns with an introduction to costume design principles.

278 Costume Design
x, 3 Smasne

The process of designing costumes for the theatre taught through projects and class discussions. Includes an introduction to script analysis, period research, and rendering techniques for the costume designer.

345 Lighting Design for the Theatre
x, 4 Mitchell

Lighting designers speak with electricity and luminescence. The ability to see performers is merely the beginning. This class will allow students to work with the latest lighting equipment to explore vocabularies of color, angle, intensity, and time. We will investigate how conceptual ideas drawn from the scripted page translate into practical equipment choices, design of lighting rigs, and computer control systems. Working on productions in the Harper Joy Theatre, students will gain practical professional level experience. Through projects they will learn graphic standards and formal methods for communicating technical information to professional crews. Prerequisite: Theatre 246.

357 Theory and Performance
4; not offered 2012-13

What theories have inspired contemporary avant-garde theatre, installation and performance art, tanz-theatre, experimental video/film and new media? In this interdisciplinary course we will chart the evolution of performance theory from the writings of Bertolt Brecht to the present day. We will explore how artists have embraced and challenged these emerging forms, and examine seminal works from each genre in their historical, political, and social contexts. Designed to bring students from a variety of disciplines (art, art history, theatre, dance, film and video, etc.) into a collaborative forum; coursework will include outside readings, in-class screenings, class discussions and short essays, as well as group and individual projects. May be elected as Art History 237.

365 Visual Design Techniques: Scale Modeling and Drafting
4, x Mitchell

Designers communicate visual ideas by building detailed proportionally accurate miniature representations of their ideas and creating scale drawings. This class is envisioned for lighting and scenic designers to hone their craft in the studio, but is relevant to designers of all kinds, costumers, architects, and artists with an interest in representing large format ideas in true scale on paper and in three dimensions. Projects will be tailored to student’s particular areas of interest. A portion of this class will be dedicated to CAD drafting using Vectorworks. Offered every fourth semester. Prerequisite: Theatre 246.

366 Scenic Design for the Theatre
4, x Mitchell

Theatre scenic designers create sophisticated worlds on their studio table that are enlarged into full-scale environments by armies of carpenters, painters, and fabricators. This class explores how designers formulate ideas based on scripted words and evolve them into three-dimensional landscapes. Students will learn basic drawing techniques and build scale models to express ideas drawn from their own imagination. Offered every third semester. Prerequisite: Theatre 245 or consent of instructor.

367 Graphics for the Theatre: Scenic Drawing and Painting
4; not offered 2012-13

The process of communicating theatrical design concepts and solutions using graphic techniques. Emphasis on drawing, rendering and scene painting. Projects will reflect established theatre graphic standards and the criteria for portfolio presentations.

371 Dramatic Literature: Medieval through Eighteenth Century
4; not offered 2012-13

A course in the history and development of Western drama from the Middle Ages through the 18th century. Dramatists to be studied may include the Wakefield Master, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Jonson, Lope de Vega, Molière, Racine, Congreve, Beaumarchais, and Sheridan. May be elected as English 371 or World Literature 371. Offered in alternate years.

372 Literature of the Modern Theatre
4; not offered 2012-13

A study of the directions modern drama has taken from the 19th century to the present. Dramatists to be studied may include Büchner, Ibsen, Strindberg, Chekhov, Shaw, Pirandello, O’Neill, Brecht, and Pinter. May be elected as English 372 or World Literature 372. Offered in alternate years.

377 Ancient Theatre
4, x Vandiver

The origin and development of ancient theatre, especially of Greek tragedy, through a close reading of ancient plays in English translation. In addition to ancient plays, we will read modern critical responses to those plays. May be elected as Classics 377 or World Literature 377. Open to all students. Offered in alternate years.

379 Theatre History: The Twentieth Century
4; not offered 2012-13

An exploration of influential developments in the idea and practice of theatre during the 20th century. Prerequisite: Theatre 233 or 234. Offered in alternate years.

381, 382 Special Topics
1-4

Designed to permit close study of particular areas of theatre not covered in the regular curriculum. Any current offerings follow.

381 ST: Collaboration and Concept
1, x Smasne

A one-credit seminar on communication, inspiration, concept and collaboration in the theatre. Each week theatre teams consisting of a director and two designers will explore and then present alternative concepts for a selected script. Presentations will be given through a concept statement present by the team director and visual presentations given by the two designers. Team players switch roles with each new assignment and explore the communication requirements inherent in a collaborative process. Distribution area: fine arts.

382 ST: Playwriting
x, 3 Kosmas

In order to generate a shared vocabulary, we will begin with critical readings from classic and contemporary plays. All reading will be balanced by a great deal of student writing. Students will write during every class period and draft several short plays over the course of the semester. Collectively, we will rigorously examine and question our ideas about what a play is and ought to be. Student playwrights will ask essential questions such as: What is my process as a writer? What are my materials as a playwright? What is my aesthetic point of view? Students will gain techniques for writing practice and broaden and refine vocabularies for the discussion of creative writing. They will sharpen critical and evaluative skills of thought, speech, and writing applicable to a variety of disciplines including but not limited to theatre. Distribution area: fine arts.

465 The Director in the Theatre I
4, x Maize

Through reading, discussion, exercises, and scene work, explores the history, function, requisite skills, and ongoing preparation of the director in the theatre. Considers play selection and analysis; the director’s work with the playwright, designer, stage manager, and dramaturge; casting; rehearsal procedures, and the director’s work with the actor. Prerequisites: junior standing, consent of instructor, a basic acquaintance with dramatic literature and the work of the actor, designer and theatre technician.

466 Director in the Theatre II
4, 4 Staff

Based on an apprenticeship model, this course serves as a continuing exploration of the directing process. The requirements include acting as assistant director for a faculty-directed season production from research through performance and completing an independent directing project. The latter might be for Lunchbox Theatre, the Student One-Act Play Contest, a high school or community theatre, or another venue approved by the instructor. Prerequisite: Theatre 465 and consent of instructor.

481, 482 Independent Study
1-4, 1-4 Staff

Readings or a project in theatre not covered in regular courses. The student must submit a detailed proposal to the instructor in the semester preceding the anticipated study. The student is responsible for any expenses incurred in completing the project. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing, consent of instructor.

485, 486 Advanced Acting
4, 4 Fall: Simon; Spring: Petit

A continuing exploration of acting as process. Focuses on developing skills necessary to become a professional actor. Emphasis on living truthfully under imaginary circumstances so that the actor, action, character, and text come to life. Beginning Meisner exercises, Williamson movement exercises, scene and monologue work involved. Prerequisite: Theatre 226.

490 Senior Project
3, 3 Staff

Involves the development and execution of a project reflecting the student’s primary area of theatre study. The student works closely with a faculty project adviser during the process. The final project is evaluated by that adviser and two other faculty members. This course is limited to and required of all senior theatre majors. Prerequisites: previous coursework in the area of study and theatre faculty approval. May be taken during the first or second semester of the senior year.

498 Honors Thesis
3, 3 Staff

Preparation of undergraduate thesis. Required of and limited to senior honors candidates in theatre. Prerequisite: admission to honors candidacy.