Theatre Courses

Courses are 1 unit unless otherwise indicated.

011 Theatre Lab. Half a unit. Intensive participation in the college theatre production program in any facet of theatre arts. Especially designed for matriculated majors.

014-018 Play Production. Zero units. This class is an experiential component of theatre curriculum. Students will learn by supporting the productions. Four experiences in FOH, Management, Technical Services, Dramaturgy, and Backstage support are required; only one can be in FOH operations.

103 Script Analysis. An introduction to dramatic theory, structure, analysis and theatre literature. Students will read one to two plays weekly and participate in class discussion.

105 Theatre Appreciation. A course designed for non-majors to create a deeper appreciation and understanding of the theatrical process. Students attend current college and professional productions.

106 Introduction to Acting. An introductory course in acting designed for non-majors and for theatre majors who are not on performance track. Provides a basic orientation to the dynamics of acting within a supportive studio environment.

107 Stagecraft. A course designed for non-majors to create a deeper appreciation and understanding of the technical theatre process. This course is an introduction to the crafts needed to take the show from the conceptual design to the stage. An emphasis will be placed on learning basic vocabulary, construction technique, electrical theory and equipment.

108 Stage Lighting and Electronics. This course is an introduction to the skills and equipment needed to take the lighting and sound design from the conceptual to the stage. Emphasis will be placed on learning basic vocabulary, electrical theory and equipment (instruments and electronics) used in mounting a production.

109 Stage Costuming. A study of basic costume design for the stage, emphasizing the interpretation of dramatic texts in terms of characterization. Basic figure drawing and fabric study are included. The collaborative process which translates ideas to finished design will be explored.

110 Scene Painting. This class is an elementary level class in scenic painting technique. Beginning with choice of paint and ending with touchup, this class will work on the skills necessary to transform raw materials into a dramatic environment for a theatrical production. Students will be introduced to techniques such as faux painting, glazes, washes and other basic techniques needed to do Trompe-l'oeil, the illusionistic representation of real objects.

111 Introduction to Design and Technology. An introduction to the principles of design and technology for the stage. This class includes research from the designer's point of view; study of professional practices in the development of designs; an overview of the realization of stage designs; and the process and procedures for the execution of the designs. The course does not presuppose any technical knowledge.

112 Stagecraft I. The emphasis of this course will be on the mastery of practical skills associated to take a theatrical production from the conceptual design to the stage. Students will learn; technical vocabulary; construction techniques and painting skills necessary to function as a stage carpenter; electrical theory and equipment needed to be a stage electrician; and basics of sound theory to become a sound Technician.  * For matriculated DTM majors, others by permission of instructor only.

117 Acting Techniques I. A course to introduce the student to the physical and vocal techniques of acting, mental and emotional aspects of acting, and the creation of character through interpretation of plays and scenes.

TH 120  Musicianship for Actors.  One unit. This music theory class will address the special needs of the musical theatre actor.  Material for the class will include intensive work in basic music reading skills, keyboard orientation, and elementary performance, sight singing and audition preparation.  This class is especially designed for First Year theatre majors who are preparing to take TH307 Musical Theatre Performance I as well as theatre majors interested in developing stronger music reading skills.

204 Intermediate Acting. This class is an advanced scene study course designed for the non-major and for Theatre majors who are not on the performance track. A continuation of the techniques studied in Introduction to Acting with an emphasis on classical and modern plays, including text analysis and characterization.

210 Drafting for the Stage. Half a Unit. The focus of this course is on drafting as a form of communication of visual ideas. This will be a project and critique oriented course. Skills to be developed include understanding of scale, two dimensional representation of three dimensional objects and literacy of blueprint reading. Prerequisite: Theatre 111.

217 Acting Techniques II: Scene Study. A contemporary/modern scene study course on how to apply and integrate the skills taught in Acting I. Emphasis is placed on character analysis, research, and text analysis. Objectives include developing a rehearsal technique and understanding the process of exploration. Prerequisite: Th117.

218 History of American Film. This course examines landmark films, their directors, stars, writers, and producers. Each class will include screening at least one film as well as lecture and discussion.

220 Computer Visualization. This course builds on the foundations in Drafting for the Stage (209) and extends the skills needed for visual communication as a cross application from VectorWorks into RenderWorks and into Photoshop to build a more visual presentation. Prerequisites: 209.

222 Advanced Musical Theatre Preparation

228 History of Costume and Fashion.   A survey of western historic fashion and costume for women and men from ancient times to the present, including the cultural and political events that shaped each era and it's clothing. An introduction to the design elements: color, line, form texture and silhouette and a brief introduction to the use of graphic techniques in the presentation of fashion and costume designs. Analysis of the artistic styles of each era as they relate to understanding costume detail and stylization.

229 Devised Theatre  The goal of Devised Theatre is a holistic understanding of how theatre works, as students encounter the challenges of building compelling theatre from scratch. The course will explore the making of theatre, not from prepared scripts, but from the inspiration, research, and imagination of the participants. This course may be taught on campus or as part of the Expanding Your Horizons program.

233 History of the Theatre. A comprehensive study of the theatrical art from its beginning to the present. Consideration is given to the cultural milieu of each period and to the changes in theatrical architecture and production styles.

235 Musical Theatre History - Background and Analysis I. This course is an extensive survey of the music theatre literature from 1868 to the present. The objective of this course is to familiarize the student with representative musicals from all significant periods of music theatre history. The class will include literary, dramatic and musical analyses of the works presented during the course of the semester.

240 Stage Makeup. Demonstration and practicum in straight and character makeup for the stage.

242 Commedia dell'Arte. Generally an Expanding Your Horizons course offered in the spring semester which involves a 2 week trip to Amsterdam or Paris in January.  This physical form of acting is studied with  renown international theatre artist Carlos Garcia Estevez.

244  Musicianship II Musicianship II builds on the musical concepts presented in Musicianship I.   Students will review all major and minor keys and corresponding scales, review fundamental rhythmic concepts and also review construction, identification and singing of intervals.  Students will move into analysis of compound meters, basic harmony and advanced ensemble singing.  All musical concepts will be studied through the use of musical theatre repertoire.  The class will also include basic jazz improvisation and extensive sight singing.   Students will also develop basic keyboard skills with the goal of being able to accompany themselves.  Prerequisite:  Musicianship 1 or Permission of Instructor.

TH250 The Movie Musical.  This course examines the development of American film musicals from “The Jazz Singer” to the present day. The course looks at the contributions of major stars such as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, and Judy Garland, and the influence of directors like Vincente Minnelli and Bob Fosse. Students examine the interrelationships between Broadway and Hollywood, the shaping hand of different studios, and questions of ethnicity, sexuality, and gender as represented through the musical. Representative films will be screened in class, with reading and writing assignments corresponding to each film, as well as independent viewing of other films.

255 Acting for the Camera. This course offers an introduction to on-camera performance in film and television. Students will participate in monologue and scene work based on age and type, and will learn the fundamentals of on-screen camera acting technique. In addition, class content will focus on the specific demands, protocols, and technical challenges of filmed media, from the audition process to the final shoot. Class work will include monologue and scene rehearsal and presentation, an introduction to the process of on-camera production, and discussion of the professional film and television industries.

290 Playwriting. An introductory course in techniques of playwriting, including play structure, genre and theatrical components. The course includes opportunities for creative writing for the stage.

306  Sound Design for the Theatre.   This course will be presented from both an artistic and technical point of view, with emphasis on process. The course will provide students with an introduction to audio technology and the sound design process for Theatre, including theory, technology, equipment, techniques, and the knowledge, skills, and resources to put the process into practice. Readings, class presentations, practical projects and critical analysis of productions will be used to illuminate the history of sound design, the design process, equipment, technology, sound recording, reinforcement and system design.

307 Musical Theatre Performance I. An intensive and highly focused course in learning how to act a song. The objective of this course is to teach students to perform musical theatre literature with a strong emotional connection. Prerequisites: Theatre 117 and 217, or permission of the instructor.

308 Musical Theatre Performance II. A performance survey course in performance styles. The objective of this course is to accumulate a wide range of audition material that represents various Musical Theatre composers. Students will learn, memorize and perform a new song each week. Prerequisites: Theatre 117, 217 and 307.

310 Stage Directing I. A course which develops rehearsal techniques, including thematic and character interpretation, and overall design techniques. Prerequisite: Theatre 103, 111, 117 and 217 or 106 and 210 permission of the instructor.

311 Stage Directing II. A continuation of development of skills and techniques explored in Stage Directing I. Prerequisite: Stage Directing I and/or permission of the instructor.

313 Costume Design.  This course focuses on the art and practice of designing costumes for the theatre, TV and film. The study will include a series of design projects to develop skills in research, script analysis, design concept, costume sketching and rendering, and fabric selection.

TH314 Musical Theatre Performance III.  This class will explore popular music from the 50's to present, including the following styles: Motown/Soul; 70's folk and rock; Disco; 80's pop and rock; Contemporary pop and rock; Hip-Hop; Contemporary R & B; and Punk  Students will learn how to capture the essence of each genre/era through the synthesis of body, voice, and emotions.  This class will prepare the actor/singer for the contemporary musical theatre market, which requires the use of pop/rock songs in a theatrical setting.  (For Theatre Performance Majors who have completed MTP1, Acting III. Permission of instructor required)

TH 317 Acting Techniques III-Acting ShakespeareOne unit. Through scene study and monologue work students learn a practical process for playing Shakespeare that includes research, text analysis, scansion and period performance practices.  Students explore techniques for creating a role, devising staging as well as examining the actor's relation to the audience. Prerequisites: TH 217. Offered fall semester

321 Scenic Design. This course will focus on the fundamentals of scenic design theory (through the application of basic mechanical and conceptual solutions) in a variety of theatre spaces and genres, for the development of research and presentation skills. Readings and projects may include comedy, tragedy, melodrama, musicals, opera and ballet. Prerequisite: Theatre 111.

323 Lighting Design. This course focuses on the fundamentals of lighting, including the history, styles and aesthetics of lighting design. Exploration of the design process will include practical projects such as light plots, essays and sketches for productions. Individual topics in lighting include optics, color psychology of light, position, control, distribution and timing. Prerequisite: Theatre 111 & 210.

324 Period Styles Design. Periods of style in fashion, costume, art, and architecture will be explored as they relate to current theatrical design and production, as well as their historical, political, religious, and social contexts. This will be a seminar style class in which students will participate in the presentation of material to the class.

350 Stage Management. This course provides concentrated Stage Management training. The student will study organizational models for professional and nonprofessional theatres, organizational strategies to aid the performance of stage management duties, and the care and development of the production and personnel. Prerequisite: Theatre 111.

400 Senior Seminar. This is the capstone course for Theatre Studies and D/T/M students; involves attending and writing about theatre and other performances.

TH 417 Acting Techniques IV-Styles. One Unit. Students examine the theatrical literature and practices of players from the ancient era to the present.  We explore the original impulses behind various theatrical styles while examining our responses to the material through our modern sensibilities. The goal is not to mandate any correct way to play styles; rather this work stimulates actors to exercise discernment and examine their perspectives when working in unfamiliar theatrical worlds. Other objectives include calibrating the level of external expression to meet the demands of the dramatic material and the space; to practice deep and thorough research and text analysis; to cultivate the habits the best actors use while building performances that are unselfconscious and fully rooted in the individual artist's personal truth. Prerequisites: Theatre 317. Offered spring semester

TH 420 Musical Theatre Practicum. The goal of this class is to provide theatre performance majors with the opportunity to work with an accompanist and musical coach on a wide range of repertoire chosen by the students as well as the coach. Students will meet with their coach once a week for an individual thirty minute session to practice current repertoire and also explore new genres. Prerequisites: TH120, TH307. Limit: 10.

TH422 Musical Theatre Repertoire Practicum. This course will build on skills established in Musicianship for the Actor such as sight-reading, ear training, and ensemble singing.  Students will learn how to quickly read and perform musical sides, easily understand and execute both simple and difficult harmony and habitually incorporate valuable practice strategies.  A broad range of musical theatre repertoire will be used as material for the course. (Enrollment is limited to theatre performance majors who have successfully passed the freshman music theory placement test OR Musicianship for the Actor, MU101 Rudiments of Music. Permission of instructor required.)

424 Theatre Design Studio. The emphasis of this class is on design theory and conceptualization through use of design exercises. Advanced work will be individually oriented to develop graphic and analytic skills used in design with special attention to portfolio development. The class will be a studio/seminar style course where students present their research, analysis, and designs to the class on an ongoing basis for discussion and critique.

440 Performing Arts Management. A study of techniques in managing the performing arts. Areas covered include planning events, facilities, budgeting, contracts, box office procedures, promotion, and publicity.

450 Theatre Criticism. This course will involve attending performances and writing as well as well as reading professional style reviews.

461 Acting V: The Professional Actor. A continuation of the first three years of Acting Techniques with an emphasis on the business end of theatre, auditioning material and tools, including pictures and resumes, union affiliation, agents and contracts. Prerequisites: Theatre 117, 217 and either 317 or 417 and by permission of the instructor. Open to seniors.

462 Senior Showcase. Students prepare polished audition material for Showcase presented for professionals in New York. Open to seniors only, with permission of the department.

463 Advanced Lighting Design - This course will focus on building skills as a lighting designer and assumes that you have a working knowledge of the role, the process and the objectives of the stage lighting. The skills to be emphasized are analysis, research, CAD drafting and visual, oral and written communication. Throughout this process the class will develop your design aesthetic through practical projects.

464 Advanced Scenic Design - This course will focus on building skills as a scenic designer and assumes that you have a working knowledge of the role, the process and the objectives of the theatrical scenic designer. The skills to be emphasized are analysis, research, CAD drafting and visual, oral and written communication. Throughout this process the class will develop your design aesthetic through practical projects.

582 Musical Theatre Practicum. A course providing intensive practical experience in the multiple facets of the stage production of musicals. Departmental permission required.

585 Advanced Musical Theatre Practicum. A course for advanced students only, providing intensive practical experience in the multiple facets of the musical stage production.

591 Special Topics in Theatre. A flexible course, offered at various times, focusing in depth on special areas in theatre.

593 Independent Study in Speech and Theatre. An opportunity for advanced students independently to pursue experimental, creative projects of research with faculty guidance. Departmental permission required.

TH 595 Advanced Theatre Practicum. Senior Learning Community for Theatre Studies and D/T/M Concentration, providing senior students with intensive practical experience in multiple facets of stage production.