Theatre Arts Courses
The Theatre Arts Major provides study, training, and experience in all areas of the theatre arts for careers in professional, regional, and community theatre, as well as for continued study in theatre and related professions.
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.
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.
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.
TA 1454
TA 1454 Lab
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.
Required Courses for BA in Theatre
Theatre Experiential Learning
TA 1152
Stage Makeup
Materials and techniques of makeup for the stage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Theater History and Literature
TA 2444
Playwriting
Stage practice of procedures and processes necessary for writing a stage play.
TA 3181
Theatre History I
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.
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.
Theatre Technology - Choose ONE from the following:
TA 2552
Costume Construction
TA 2553
Lighting Technology
The basic concepts of light, electricity, and color, with emphasis on the practical use of standard stage lighting equipment and controls. Prerequisite: TA 1454.
TA 2557
Topics in Theatre Technologies
This course explores topics in Technical Theatre Production, as related to theatre and broader applicable study. In a semester focus may be given to, but not limited to, specialty topics in Theatre Lighting, Scenic production, Costume construction, Costume Crafts, Sound production, Props fabrication, Special Effects, or any combination. Prerequisites: TA 1454, TA 1561, ENGL/TA 1421 or Permission of Instructor.
Theatre Performance - Choose ONE from the following:
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.
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.
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.
Theatre Design - Choose ONE from the following:
TA 3561
Scene Design
Theory and practice of scenic design for the stage. Prerequisites: TA 1421, TA 1454, TA 1522 and TA 1561.
TA 3562
Costume Design
TA 3563
Lighting Design
The concepts of stage lighting design with emphasis on accepted professional procedures, script analysis, drafting, and cueing. Prerequisites: TA 1561 and TA 2553.
TA 3564
Topics in Design
This course explores topics in Design, as related to theatre and broader applicable study. In a semester focus may be given to, but not limited to, specialty design in Lighting, Scenery, Costume, Sound, Props, Special Effects, or any combination. Prerequisites: TA 1421, TA 1454, TA 1561, or Permission of Instructor.
Theatre Leadership - Choose ONE from the following:
TA 3361
Theatre Arts Management
A study of the administration of theatre arts organizations, with an overview of events management, publicizing, marketing, audience development, and developmental functions.
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.
Captsone
TA 4000
BFA Capstone Experience
Required Courses for BFA in Theatre - in addition to Theatre Arts Core (15 hours)
Admission to the B.F.A. majors in Theatre Arts (either Performance or Design and Production specializations) and Musical Theatre are 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.
Bachelor of Fine Arts Common Courses
Theatre Experiential Learning
TA 1152
Stage Makeup
Materials and techniques of makeup for the stage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Theatre History and Literature
TA 3181
Theatre History I
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.
Theatre Leadership Option (6 hours) - Choose TWO from the following:
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.
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).
Capstone
TA 4000
BFA Capstone Experience
BFA Performance Concentration
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.
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.
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.
TA 3531
Period Performance
Study and practice of theatre performance styles from ancient Greece through Nineteenth-Century Romanticism. Prerequisites: TA 1134, TA 1421 and either TA 1522 or TA 3181.
TA 3530
Playing Shakespeare
Study and practice of scenes, monologues and sonnets of Shakespeare, with emphasis on Elizabethan movement, manners, customs and the practicalities of analyzing and performing Shakespeare's language.. Prerequisites: TA 1134, TA 1421 and DAN 1101.
TA 3533
Acting for the Camera
Adjusting basic techniques for film, television, and commercial industry. Prerequisites: TA 1134, TA 2534 and DAN 1101. (Offered in alternate years.)
TA or DA Elective at the 2000 level or above (3 hours)
BFA Design and Production Concentration:
TA 1522
Decorative Arts/Material Cult
A study of the major developments in the decorative and applied arts and material culture from antiquity to the present. Cross listed as ART 1522.
Theatre Technology. - Choose THREE from the following:
TA 2552
Costume Construction
TA 2553
Lighting Technology
The basic concepts of light, electricity, and color, with emphasis on the practical use of standard stage lighting equipment and controls. Prerequisite: TA 1454.
TA 2557
Topics in Theatre Technologies
This course explores topics in Technical Theatre Production, as related to theatre and broader applicable study. In a semester focus may be given to, but not limited to, specialty topics in Theatre Lighting, Scenic production, Costume construction, Costume Crafts, Sound production, Props fabrication, Special Effects, or any combination. Prerequisites: TA 1454, TA 1561, ENGL/TA 1421 or Permission of Instructor.
Theatre Design - Choose THREE from the following:
TA 3561
Scene Design
Theory and practice of scenic design for the stage. Prerequisites: TA 1421, TA 1454, TA 1522 and TA 1561.
TA 3562
Costume Design
TA 3563
Lighting Design
The concepts of stage lighting design with emphasis on accepted professional procedures, script analysis, drafting, and cueing. Prerequisites: TA 1561 and TA 2553.
TA 3564
Topics in Design
This course explores topics in Design, as related to theatre and broader applicable study. In a semester focus may be given to, but not limited to, specialty design in Lighting, Scenery, Costume, Sound, Props, Special Effects, or any combination. Prerequisites: TA 1421, TA 1454, TA 1561, or Permission of Instructor.
