Theatre Arts

The Program

A strong liberal arts education is the best preparation for a career in theatre. Based on our experience, students carrying greater than a normal load (15 credits) should not be involved in a theatrical production. Plays take (1) a significant amount of physical time to rehearse and build, (2) complete dedication, commitment and passionate attachment to the production from start to finish, and (3) emotional and spiritual energy to create a production that truly captures the life of the characters and the hearts and minds of the audience.

Students spend their senior year preparing and producing their senior projects, a theatrical production or a research project presented to the campus. Their project, submitted to the Theatre faculty as a proposal, should be approved by the end of their junior year.

Courses in Theatre Arts are arranged in three focus areas —
Dance, Theoretical/Historical and Applied:

  1. DANCE

    • THEA 112 Beginning Dance: Ballet

    • THEA 113 Beginning Dance: Modern

    • THEA 137 Applied Theatre: Dance, Musical

    • THEA 212 Advanced Dance: Ballet

    • THEA 213 Advanced Dance: Modern

    • THEA 237 Applied Theatre: Dance Captain, Musical

    • THEA 241 Dance Composition

    • THEA 251 Introduction to Dance

  2. THEORETICAL/HISTORICAL

    • THEA 250 Introduction to Theatre

    • THEA 260 Acting I

    • THEA 270 Theatrecraft

    • THEA 275 Video Production

    • THEA 280 Script Analysis

    • THEA 282 Special Topics

    • THEA 350 Theatre History I

    • THEA 351 Theatre History II

    • THEA 360 Acting II

    • THEA 370 Directing

    • THEA 371 Aesthetics of Design

    • THEA 372 Principles of Advanced Design

    • THEA 373 Advanced Design Practices

    • THEA 374 Makeup for the Stage

    • THEA 381 Shakespeare

    • THEA 382 Special Topics

    • THEA 481 Internship

    • THEA 482 Director-Actor Relationship

    • THEA 483 Teaching Assistants

    • THEA 484 Ford/Knight Research Project

    • THEA 485 Independent Study

    • THEA 488 Senior Capstone Experience

  3. APPLIED

    • THEA 130 Applied Theatre: Acting

    • THEA 132 Applied Theatre: Set Construction

    • THEA 134 Applied Theatre: Costume Construction

    • THEA 135 Applied Theatre: Lighting/Sound Crew

    • THEA 230 Applied Theatre: Acting

    • THEA 232 Applied Theatre: Set Construction

    • THEA 234 Applied Theatre: Construction

    • THEA 235 Applied Theatre: Lighting/Sound Console Operator

    • THEA 236 Applied Theatre: Backstage Running Crew

    • THEA 238 Applied Theatre: Makeup Crew

    • THEA 332 Applied Theatre: Set Construction

    • THEA 333 Applied Theatre: Assistant Stage Manager

    • THEA 334 Applied Theatre: Wardrobe Crewhead

    • THEA 335 Applied Theatre: Master Electrician

    • THEA 336 Applied Theatre: Backstage Running Crewhead

    • THEA 432 Applied Theatre: Student Set Construction Supervisor

    • THEA 433 Applied Theatre: Stage Manager

    • THEA 434 Applied Theatre: Student Costume Designer

    • THEA 435 Applied Theatre: Student Lighting/Sound Designer

    • THEA 436 Applied Theatre: Student Technical Director

    • THEA 437 Applied Theatre: Student Set Designer

    • THEA 438 Applied Theatre: Student Makeup Designer

    • THEA 439 Applied Theatre: Student Director