Courses

    Introductory course designed to explore creativity, collaboration, and communication in the craft of acting. Focuses on basic terms and concepts of psychological realism fundamental to the actors' process through solo work and ensemble exercises. Open to majors and non-majors.

    Emphasizes principles of acting, focusing on exercises in relaxation, talking and listening, actions and objectives, and basic concepts of process work. Prerequisites: Restricted to Thteatre (THTR, TBFA) Dance (DNCE, DBFA), Film or Arts and Sciences Open Option majors only.

    Students learn to perceive literary form and content and to translate that perception into classroom performances of selected modern plays and stories. Performances, both solo and ensemble, embody literary texts diverse in terms of gender and ethnicity. Prereqs., 15 credit hours and THTR 1003, 2003 or 2043.

    Natural resources of the human voice and body are studied as artistic resources for the performing artist. Designed to examine both the process and products of vocal and physical craft work. Prerequisites: Restricted to Theatre (THTR, TBFA) or Dance (DNCE or DBFA) majors only (excluding minors).
    Students learn to deepen and develop their proficiency with specific acting techniques. Explores the craft elements of acting, as well as text analysis. Prereq., THTR 2003. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) Theatre (TBFA) majors only.
    Continued development of acting technique and tools for play analysis, with particular emphasis on scene study. Special attention will be given to the Master Teachers of Acting and their pedagogies. Prereq., THTR 3013 or instructor consent. Prerequisites: Restricted to Theatre (TBFA) majors only.

    Allows students to undertake an acting project, either within the major season or approved departmental production. Requires detailed preparational research, rehearsal commitments, and public presentation of theories and concepts in practice. Following the performance, students present written reports and evaluations. May be repeated up to 3 total credit hours. Prereq., THTR 2003 or 2043.

    Continues the work begun in THTR 2043. Studies advanced vocal techniques with the goal of integrating these skills into the working process of the performing artist. Prereqs., THTR 2043 or instructor consent. Prerequisites: Restricted to Theatre (THTR or TBFA) majors only (including minors).
    Continuation of the techniques introduced in the beginning acting courses (THTR 1003 and 2003). Emphasis is placed on monologues and scene study of contemporary plays. Basic techniques in developing a character are explored. Prereq., THTR 1003 or 2003. Prerequisites: Restricted to Theatre (THTR), Music (MUSC), Music Arts (MUSA) or Film (FILM) majors only.
    In-depth study of Shakespearean texts from the perspective of their demands on the actor, including the conventions and performance styles of Elizabethan theatre. Prereqs., THTR 3013 and 3023, or instructor consent. Prerequisites: Restricted to Theatre (TBFA) majors only.

    Studies selected styles of theatre performance such as Greek Drama, Comedy of Manners, Commedia Dell'art, Modern Realism, Theatre of Absurd, and Non-Western Theatre, including vocal and physical style elements. Prereq., THTR 3013, 3023, and 4013, or instructor consent.

    Continues the work begun in THTR 2043. Studies the advanced physical techniques with the goal of integrating these skills into the working processesof the performing artist. Prereqs., THTR 2043 or instructor consent.

    Prepares students for the demands of the acting profession. Trains students in various audition techniques including general auditions, prepared auditions, cold readings, on-camera auditions, andcommercial auditions. Shows how to prepare and perfect audition material in a professional and exemplary way. Discusses agents, casting directors, and the process of becoming a professional actor. Prereq., THTR 1003.

    Explores theories underlying the "Feminine voice," varied perspectives in prose and poetry, ways of embodying these voices and perspectives in performance forms, and ultimately the students' own voices through creation of autobiographical performance pieces (some to be presented for student audiences). Open to both men and women. Prereq., instructor consent. Same as WMST 4073.

    Introduces fundamental tools of acting for the camera. Students learn basic film terminology, specific camera acting techniques, and the demands placed on an actor when shooting a film. Uses exercises, scenes, monologues, and readings to provide a solid understanding of how to create a character, analyze a text, utilize important vocabulary, and performeffectively on camera. Prereq., THTR 1003.

    We generate multimodal compositions on the subject of climate change, and engage with various dimensions of issues associated with sustainability. We work to deepen our understanding of how issues associated with climate change are or can be communicated, by analyzing previously created expressions from a variety of media (interactive theatre, film, fine art, television programming, blogs, performance art, for example), and then be creating our own work. Recommended prereq., ENVS 1000. Same as ENVS 3173.

    Students create an ensemble piece utilizing collaborative approaches. Emphasizes training actors in weaving personal, social, political, and cultural threads into an enactment. Prereqs., THTR 3013, 3023, 4013, 4023, or instructor consent.

    Allows students to undertake an acting project, normally within the major theatre season, that requires detailed preparatory research, testing of ideas, and public presentation. Students work under faculty supervision and prepare a written report and evaluation of the research, rehearsal, and performance process. Prereqs., advanced studies in acting and advisor approval. Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students only.