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Theater OverviewThe Theater Program is grounded in the belief that theater is a fundamental cultural necessity that enriches all who participate in it. The program emphasizes the practical and the theoretical; technique and practice; and the knowledge of dramatic literature, theater history, and dramaturgy. It is geared toward students who are interested in theater as a part of a liberal arts education and those who might wish to pursue further professional training or a career in theater.Areas of StudyStudents can concentrate on acting, directing, or playwriting. Performers are trained in voice and movement technique and take acting classes in a studio setting that supports their work in production. Writers and directors exercise their craft and develop their style in class in preparation for staged readings, workshops, and full productions.RequirementsThe following courses are required before Moderation in the Theater Program: Theater 101-102, Introduction to Acting; Theater 121-122, Movement for Actors; Theater 131, Voice for Majors; Theater 206, History of Theater I; Theater 227, Neutral Mask; Theater 228, Character Mask, or Theater 215 or 216, Physical Comedy; at least one course from the Survey of Drama group (Theater 310); and one course in art history. In addition, moderating students are required to read the following texts: The Theater and Its Double by Antonin Artaud, The Empty Space by Peter Brook, and Towards a Poor Theatre by Jerzy Grotowski. Students seeking to concentrate in theater are also required to perform a role in a play, write a short play, or direct a significant scene or play; they must also write a paper about that project and what they expect to accomplish as a major in the program. Before graduation, all theater majors must complete a total of three courses from the Survey of Drama group; Theater 210, History of Theater II; Theater 318, Visual Imagination for the Modern Stage; and one advanced literature course. In addition, theater majors are required to read The Birth of Tragedy by Friedrich Nietzsche and The Death of Character by Elinor Fuchs. Actors must complete two semesters of advanced scene study, playwrights two semesters of playwriting, and directors two semesters of directing seminars. Individual tutorials will be designed to accommodate Senior Projects, which in most cases will involve a production. FacilitiesThe Theater Program is located in The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Facilities include studios and a “black box” theater that seats 200.CoursesProgram courses emphasize the truly inclusive nature of theater, which encompasses performance, literature, design, history, artistic community, and intellectual rigor. Students are expected to acquire a solid familiarity with dramatic literature and to develop the ability to research the historical context and dramaturgy of a play and to write about it.
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