Musical Theatre Courses

Admission to the Musical Theatre Major is by permission of the department only. Guidelines and procedures for applying are published in the Theatre Arts Handbook and are available from the theatre arts department office.

The Theatre Arts Core - Required of all Theatre Arts Students

DAN 1101

Foundations in Movement

An introductory study of basic concepts in movement and vocal and physical performance techniques through exploration of embodied anatomy and various movement modalities geared specifically for theatre majors. Appropriate clothing required.
(3 Hours)
TA 1134

Beginning Acting for Majors

Provides beginning acting students with a fundamental approach to acting in contemporary realistic drama, rooted in the foundations of the Stanislavsky system.
(3 Hours)
TA 1421

Analy of Dramatic Literature

Same as ENGL 1421. Reading and analysis of plays using multiple lenses such as character, plot, structure, theme/idea, and conceptualization.
(3 Hours)
TA 1454

TA 1454 Lab

(0 Hours)
TA 1561

Fundamentals of Theatre Design

An introductory study of the theory and practice of design in relation to stage production. Prerequisites: TA 1421 and TA 1454.
(3 Hours)
 

Required Courses for the BFA in Musical Theatre

TA 1152

Stage Makeup

Materials and techniques of makeup for the stage.
(1 Hours)
TA 2111

Production Studio -- Costumes

Practical experience in the area of costuming. Students will work on the season's productions, while learning sewing and costume techniques in the Costume Shop. May be repeated once for credit.
(1 Hours)
TA 2112

Production Studio -- Electrics

Practical experience in the area of lighting for entertainment, sound production, and video for live entertainment. Students will work on the season's productions, while learning safety and current practices in lighting, sound, and video preparation techniques for live performance through practical work in the theatre spaces.
(1 Hours)
TA 2113

Production Studio -- Scenery

Practical experience in the area of scenery. Students will work on the season's productions, while learning construction, rigging and painting techniques in the Scene Shop.
(1 Hours)
TA 2114

Production Studio - Management

Practical experience in the area of theatre management. Students will work on the season's productions while learning marketing, publicity, and box office techniques in the Management Shop.
(1 Hours)
TA 3181

Theatre History I

(3 Hours)
TA 3182

Theatre History II

Global theatre and dramatic literature from the early nineteenth century to the present. Prerequisites: TA 1421, ENGL 2111, TA 3181, and Junior standing.
(3 Hours)
TA 3952

Junior Seminar

Guided research toward professional development opportunities that will help students prepare to enter the marketplace. Topics include but are not limited to graduate school, networking, internships, entry-level positions in the discipline, resume building, and interview skills. Prerequisite: TA Core and junior standing.
(1 Hours)
TA 4000

BFA Capstone Experience

(3 Hours)
MUS 1511

Music Theory I

A study of the elements of melody, rhythm, and harmony; introduction to voice leading and analysis skills. Based on placement test some students may be required to complete MUS 1105 before registering for this course. Corequisites: MUS 1516 and MUS 2135.
(2 Hours)
MUS 1512

Music Theory II

A study of the elements of melody, rhythm, and harmony, including basic phrase structures, pentatonic and blues scales, syncopation, asymmetrical meters, triads, seventh chords, chord extensions, sus chords, diatonic modes and an introduction to music form. Prerequisite: MUS 1511. Corequisites: MUS 1517 and MUS 2136.
(2 Hours)
MUS 1516

Aural Skills I

A study of foundational and practical aural skills utilizing the basic elements of melody, rhythm and harmony. Corequisites: MUS 1511 and MUS 2135.
(1 Hours)
MUS 1517

Aural Skills II

(1 Hours)
MUS 2135

Keyboard Skills I

A study of foundational and practical keyboard skills utilizing the basic elements of melody, rhythm and harmony. Corequisite: MUS 1511.
(1 Hours)
MUS 2136

Keyboarding Skills II

A continued study of foundational and practical keyboard skills utilizing the basic elements of melody, rhythm and harmony. Corequisite: MUS 1512.
(1 Hours)
MUS 2140

Sec Private Voice Instruction

Individual instruction in the literature and techniques of vocal production and performance. Prerequisite: MUS 2145.
(1 Hours)
MUS 2142

Maj Private Voice Instruction

Individual instruction in the literature and techniques of vocal production and performance. Prerequisite: MUS 2145.
(2 Hours)
MUS 2145

Class Voice:(Mus/Mus Thea Maj)

The study of the basic techniques of singing.
(1 Hours)
TA 2701

Sem in Musical Theatre History

A survey of the history of Musical Theatre from early origins to the present.
(1 Hours)
TA 2525

Voice and Speech

A practical study of vocal production for the stage, with emphasis on breathing, resonance, and placement. Students will learn clear vocal articulation and notation through the application of Standard American Stage Dialect and the International Phonetic Alphabet. Prerequisite: TA 1134 and DAN 1101.
(3 Hours)
TA 2534

Physical Theatre

A practical study of both historical and contemporary physical and psycho-physical approaches to the acting process with an emphasis on modalities developed in response to psychological realism. Prerequisites: DAN 1101, TA 1134 and TA 1421.
(3 Hours)
TA 2537

Business of Acting

An in-depth study of the fundamental necessities of self-management for the actor to include finding and developing your brand, creating marketing and business plans, networking, and developing strategies for auditioning for stage, film, and television. Prerequisite: TA 1134.
(3 Hours)
TA 3539

Musical Theatre Performance

A practical study of the special theories, techniques and practices of theatrical performance in musical theatre styles. Prerequisites: TA 1134 or TA 1421 and DAN 1101.
(3 Hours)

TA Leadership Option

TA 3534

Directing I

A practical study of the fundamentals of directing. Prerequisites: DAN 1101, TA 1134, TA 1421, TA 1454, TA 1561 (The Theatre Arts Core), and Junior standing.
(3 Hours)
TA 2536

Collaborative Aesthetics & Ens

Exploration of the collaborative aesthetic through an examination of the history and practices of ensemble theatre. Designed to prepare theatre arts majors to function as working members of an ensemble company. Prerequisites: TA Core (DAN 1101, TA 1134, TA 1421, TA 1454, TA 1561).
(3 Hours)

* Because most graduate programs and professional companies expect musical theatre students to have foundational knowledge in various dance styles, students contemplating graduate study or a professional career in musical theatre are advised to include the Dance Minor as part of their studies.