Department of Theatre Arts

This dance intensive course will introduce students to the fundamentals of tap dancing. Students will master basic tap techniques and learn a few short routines. Tap shoes (not provided) are required for this course and should be acquired prior to the first day of class.

This course in theatre appreciation provides an introduction to the audience experience in theatre, including an emphasis on the history and traditions of theatre and the role of the theatre in our contemporary social context. Consideration is given to the important contributions of actor, designer, director and playwright. Attendance at theatrical productions required.

This course explores human creative expression through role play, scene study, improvisation and acting exercises. The course introduces basic terminology and physical activities that lead to a foundational understanding of theatre arts and performance skills. The course is intended for students who might suffer from stage fright or want to increase confidence in public speaking/performing. The course will also serve both the theatre major and non-major who have an interest in developing skills in basic acting/performing.
This is a concurrent course offered at local area high schools. May be counted as an elective in the theatre majors or as a creative studio arts course in the core curriculum.

This course provides an introduction to the art and craft of acting. Students will explore basic acting techniques, theories and principles through specific exercises, monologue and scene study work.

An introduction to the techniques, materials, equipment and procedures employed in scenic construction for the theatre. Studio experience in hand drafting, construction, painting, rigging and shifting scenery and properties. Emphasis on developing creative solutions to production challenges.
Includes laboratory experience.

An introduction to the theory, techniques, materials, equipment and procedures employed in lighting for the theatre. Studio experience in hand drafting, wiring, rigging and focusing. Emphasis on developing creative solutions to production challenges.
Includes laboratory experience.

An introduction to the techniques, materials, equipment and procedures employed in costuming for the theatre. Studio experience in pattern drafting, draping, cutting and sewing. Emphasis on developing creative solutions to production challenges.
Includes laboratory experience.

An introduction to the theory, techniques, materials, equipment and procedures employed in make-up for the theatre. Emphasis is placed on design, character development, application techniques and basic skin care.

Studio exploration of drawing and painting for the theatre. Introduction to color theory, highlight, shadow and scale. Emphasis on visual analysis and development of painting techniques to produce basic textures for scenery.
Prerequisite: TH 221

An introduction to technique and theory as it pertains to the development and exploration of the stage-speaking voice for clear and effective communication. Focus is on physical awareness, proper body alignment, tension/release, breath, vibration, the vocal channel and resonance. Special attention will be given to developing vocal sensitivity and power needed to meet the special vocal and physical demands of the actor.

Students will learn basic principles of on-camera presentation and creating an authentic character/personality. Emphasis is on commercial/industrial work, news presentation, and self-taping.
Identical with DM 271.

A history of theatre from Greek theatre through the eighteenth century. Representative plays and playwrights of the various eras and cultures will be studied.

A history of theatre from the early nineteenth century through the contemporary period. Representative plays and playwrights of the various eras and cultures will be studied.

A continuation of the techniques and skills covered in Beginning Acting. Emphasis will be placed on character transformation, in depth scene study and a more detailed exploration of objective, obstacle, subtext and the active actor.
Prerequisite: TH 212

An intermediate course in design for non-realized productions. Emphasis is placed on the collaborative design process experienced in professional theater. Consideration of theatre styles and the development of creative methods to solve design challenges.
Repeated twice. Students choose two of the four offerings from TH 320CO, 320LI, 320SC and 320SO.

Further development of design theory, techniques, materials and processes employed in costume design. Exploration of the principles and elements of costume design through studio experience in creating script breakdown and analysis, research methods, sketching, rendering, costume plots and fabric specifications.
Prerequisite: TH 223

Further development of design theory, techniques, materials and processes employed in lighting design. Exploration of the principles and elements of lighting design through studio experience in creating script breakdown and analysis, research methods, drafting, sketching, rendering, color keys and equipment specifications.
Prerequisite: TH 222

Further development of design theory, techniques, materials and processes employed in scene design. Exploration of the principles and elements of scene design through studio experience in creating script breakdown and analysis, research methods, drafting, sketching, rendering and model making.
Prerequisite: TH 221

Further development of design theory, techniques, materials and processes employed in sound design. Exploration of the principles and elements of sound design through studio experience in creating script breakdown and analysis, research methods, drafting, spatial acoustics and equipment specifications.
Prerequisite: One course from TH 221, 222, or 223

Selected topics or studies in theatre will be offered as needed and based on student interest.
May be repeated for credit in different topics.

An introductory class into the various styles of dance within musical theatre. Basic ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance techniques will be explored as well as distinct styles of contemporary choreographers who have heavily influenced American musical theatre. Emphasis is on body awareness, physical coordination and a heightened sense of performance through dance.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing

Students will examine a selection of well-known plays, classical and contemporary music, as well as selections from the modern performing arts that are topical and relevant. Through analysis and critique, the students will look at these works from both secular and Christian world views. Class will include in-depth discussions of religious themes presented in the works and the place of the Christian artist in the secular world of the performing arts.
Prerequisite: Junior standing

A study of the procedures, practices and problems of directing dramatic productions. Emphasis is given to script analysis and theory. Each student will experience process of preparing to direct a full-length production and will gain practical experience directing in-class scenes.
Prerequisite: TH 212

An introduction to the business of non-for-profit theatre as well as to the functions of theatrical stage management from pre-production organization through rehearsal procedures and performance. Topics of producing, casting, directing, managerial responsibilities, production schedules, budgeting, supervision of facilities and personnel and effective communication are covered. Emphasis is on development of creative solutions to production challenges as the class culminates in the student produced One Act Festival.
Prerequisites: TH 212 and 341

An intermediate course in drafting for the stage (scenery, lighting and sound plots). Focus is on the development and creation of industry standard drafting documents for the purpose of communicating design ideas to technical and creative collaborators.
Prerequisite: TH 221 or 222

An introduction to the study of the vocal mechanism as it relates to dramatic text. Topics include the International Phonetic Alphabet, phrasing, stress, rhythm, intensity and attention to individual speech problems pertaining to the development and exploration of the stage-speaking voice for clear and effective communication. Dialects are also explored in class through monologue and scene work.
Prerequisite: TH 241

This course is an introduction to the skills essential for today's musical theatre performer. Topics such as song preparation, dance/movement, ensemble and duet work, musicality and acting the lyric will be covered. The semester will conclude with a public performance of music and scenes.
Identical with MU 365.
Prerequisites: Music or theatre major and sophomore standing

Students will learn and apply character and text analysis skills to create in-depth characters and perform them in narrative scenes. Special emphasis is given to multi-person and multi-camera scene work.
Identical with DM 373.

Practical experience in technical theatre wherein students assist in the production of a play/musical with possible emphasis on scene design, scene building, scene painting, makeup, costuming, lighting, props, sound, stage management, house management or backstage crew duties.
May be repeated for credit up to three times.
Prerequisite: Consent

Practical experience in acting and performance is provided in scheduled productions.
Student must audition and be cast in a production prior to adding the course. May be repeated for credit up to three times.
Prerequisite: Consent

Practicum in some aspect of theatre designed to give student practical, directed experience.
Prerequisite: Consent

More than any other author who wrote in English, William Shakespeare has shaped our world in complicated ways. How has Romeo and Juliet shaped our ideas of romantic love? How has Hamlet influenced our ideas of our inner lives? Has Othello influenced the development of racism, or has it helped us to address the problems of racism? William Shakespeare's plays have an ongoing presence in our lives. This course will examine as many as eleven Shakespeare plays with attention give to their presence today, on stage and transformed in our culture. (Attending a play, performed professionally if possible, is a requirement for this course.)
Identical with EN 431.
Prerequisite: EN 151

An advanced study of principles and theories of acting as it relates to Period Styles. Laboratory experiences in character and role analysis, movement and voice exercises and in acting, including improvisation.
Prerequisites: TH 212, 241, 316, 361

Study of staging and performance aspects of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. The focus is on the development of a process with which to approach Elizabethan drama, emphasizing rhythm and phrasing necessary for performance. Through scene, monologue and exercise work, the actor learns the demands of heightened characterization and style.
Prerequisites: TH 441 and 431 or concurrent

A seminar course covering advanced topics such as resumes, portfolios, auditioning and interviewing techniques, as well as Christian theatre worldviews. In addition, students will complete a research project with a public presentation. Students in the performance track will produce a formal evening of scenes and monologues. Students in the design and technology track will complete a portfolio exhibit and an assigned realized design. Theatre students in the BA program will select one of the above options or write a thesis on a topic of sufficient scope.

The study of a challenge, a research paper or a project related to the theatre major on a subject of mutual interest to the student and the professor.
Prerequisite: Consent

A field experience in theatre which provides an opportunity for the student to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. Student maintains close cooperation with the supervisory personnel in the field.
Prerequisite: Consent

An acting, singing and stage movement workshop, culminating in scenes for performance from musical theatre, operetta and opera.
Must be able to read music.
Prerequisite: C- or better in MU A06 Class Voice I or one semester of applied voice