Theatre Arts (Thea)
Burgess, Cutler, Lyons, McLennan (Chair), Reissig and
Williams
The mission of the Department of
Theatre Arts is to achieve the following: 1) empower students to discover and
fulfill their own potential as artists for the enrichment of the global
community; 2) engage in a dialogue of ideas about the complex human condition
through research, scholarship, and creative work within the campus community
and throughout the world; and 3) develop in students a sense of social
responsibility and arts advocacy through service to the community, region, and
state.
The Department of Theatre Arts
strives to promote integration of the creative arts for the campus, community
and region by fostering a climate of creativity and cultural enrichment, and instilling
an appreciation and understanding of theatre and drama in our students, faculty
and the community. While serving the university academically and culturally,
the theatre offers diverse practical and aesthetic assets whether the student
has professional or non-professional aspirations. Participation and training in
theatre arts leads the student to an understanding of the creative process in
the performance and the technical areas of the theatre arts.
The University of
North Dakota is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre
(NAST). The curriculum of the Department of Theatre Arts provides students with
opportunities to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Arts, or a
Minor. The Department offers a Master of Arts degree at the graduate level (see
Graduate section for details). All undergraduate theatre majors share a common
set of core courses. The Bachelor of Arts offers a well-rounded curriculum for
theatre majors. The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance is a pre-professional
acting degree that requires a higher level of proficiency in theatrical
performance and is an appropriate preparation for students who desire acting
careers.
The Department of Theatre Arts
integrates the classroom curriculum with applied, experiential learning in
production. Our production season offers a rich variety of styles and genres,
including musicals. Student directors and designers may apply to stage a
production in the Studio Theatre.
The Burtness Theatre facility and
the adjacent Chandler Hall house offices, labs, and classrooms for Theatre
Arts. The Burtness Theatre building boasts a fully-equipped, 365 seat, proscenium-stage, a set-construction shop, a costume
shop, and a 150-seat Studio Theatre. Chandler Hall is home to an acting/movement
and voice studio, a high-tech lecture classroom, a computer design studio, a
conference room, rehearsal space, student stage manager and publicity offices,
a student lounge, and faculty offices.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in
Performance is offered to students with marked abilities who desire an
intensive undergraduate concentration in acting, in preparation for either a
career in professional theatre, or graduate study leading to the MFA, or both.
Candidates accepted for the program will be expected to maintain a high
standard of excellence and to demonstrate significant artistic growth.
Candidates seeking admission to
the BFA program must submit an application to the chairperson who will then
schedule an audition and personal interview for the candidate with the Theatre
Arts faculty. BFA applications are generally accepted in March with screening
held in April of the student’s sophomore year. Upon acceptance, the student
will be assigned to the BFA faculty adviser. Each student will be reviewed
annually by Theatre Arts faculty who will make a recommendation concerning the
student’s status in the BFA program based on the student’s performance in
classes and in production activities. If probation is recommended, students may
apply for readmission at the completion of a full semester of satisfactory
work. Readmission will be contingent upon faculty evaluation.
As part of the department’s
outcomes assessment plan, all Theatre Arts majors are required to complete an
exit interview, an attitudes survey upon entrance to and completion of the
degree, along with various other assessment tools beyond those specifically
listed for BFA students. For complete information concerning outcomes
assessment in Theatre Arts, consult the departmental chairperson.
College of Arts and Sciences
B.F.A. IN PERFORMANCE WITH A MAJOR IN THEATRE ARTS
Required 125 credits (36 of which
must be numbered 300 or above, and 60 of which must be from a 4-year
institution) including:
I.General Education Requirements
(see University GER listing): 39 credit hours.
II.The Following Curriculum:
A. Core I (courses normally
taken during the first year of study): 19 credits
Thea 122 Makeup for Theatre (1)
Thea 130 The Art and Craft of Theatre (3)
Thea 161 Acting I (3)
Thea 201 Theatre Practicum (3)
Thea 226 Intro to Design (3)
Thea 250
Thea 270 Stagecraft (3)
B.Core II (courses normally taken
during the second year of study): 18 credits
Thea 230 Text Analysis (3)
Thea 300 Play Direction I (3)
Thea 330 Contemporary
Theatre (3)
Engl 315/316 Shakespeare (3)
Thea 423 History of the Theatre:
Classical, Medieval,
Renaissance (3)
Thea 424 History of the Theatre:
17th Century to the Present (3)
C. Acting, Voice, and Movement Sequences: 31
credits
Thea 120 Voice and Movement I (2)
Thea 162 Introductory Acting II (3)
Thea 220 Voice and Movement II (2)
Thea 271 Intermediate Acting I (3)
Thea 272 Intermediate Acting II (3)
Thea 320 Voice and Movement III (2)
Thea 371 Advanced Acting I (3)
Thea 372 Advanced
Acting II (3)
Thea 420 Voice and Movement IV (2)
Thea 471 Advanced Acting Styles (3)
Thea 481 Theatre Practicum
(1)
Thea 494 Senior Project (4)
D. Electives: 12 credits from the following:
Thea 222 Advanced Makeup (1)
Thea 240 Ballet I (2)
Thea 241 Jazz Dance (2)
Thea 242 Tap Dance (1)
Thea 325 Scenecraft (3)
Thea 326 Lighting I (2)
Thea 339 Production Design (3)
Thea 340 Ballet II (2)
Thea 341 Jazz Dance II (2)
Thea 342 Modern Dance (2)
Thea 404 Acting for the Music Theatre (3)
Thea 425 Directing II (3)
Thea 426 Scene Design (3)
or
Thea 427 Costume Design (3)
B.A. WITH A MAJOR IN THEATRE ARTS
Required 125 credits (36 of which
must be numbered 300 or above, and 60 of which must be from a 4-year
institution) including:
I.
General Education Requirements (see University GER listing).
II. Level II proficiency in a foreign
language.
III. 8 additional hours in the
same or a second foreign language or 8 additional hours in a cognate area: courses
to be approved by adviser (suggested cognate course topics include: Women’s
Studies, Minority Studies, Anthropology, English, Psychology, Computer Science,
Indian Studies, Peace Studies, Music, Communication, Visual Arts, etc.)
IV. The following curriculum:
32 credits, including:
Thea 130 The Art and Craft of Theatre (3)
Thea 161 Acting I (3)
Thea 201 Theatre Practicum (2)
Thea 226 Intro to Design (3)
Thea 230 Text Analysis
(3)
Thea 250
Thea 270 Stagecrafts (3)
Thea 300 Play Direction I (3)
Thea 330 Contemporary Theatre
(3)
Thea 423 History of Theatre I: Classical
Medieval & Renaissance (3)
Thea 424 History of Theatre II:
17th Century to the Present (3)
4 hours from the following:
Thea 122 Makeup for Theatre and Television (1)
Thea 222 Advanced Makeup
(1)
Thea 271 Intermediate Acting I
(3)
Thea 325 Scenecraft (3)
Thea 326 Lighting for Stage I
(2)
Thea 425 Play Direction II (3)
Thea 427 Costume Design (3)
Thea 481 Theatre Practicum
(1)
Thea 488 Playwriting
(3)
MINOR IN THEATRE ARTS
Required 23 credits, including:
Thea 130 The Art and Craft of Theatre (3)
Thea 161 Acting I (3)
Thea 201 Theatre Practicum
(1)
Thea 270 Stagecrafts (3)
Thea 300 Play Direction I (3)
3 hours from the following:
Thea 423 History of Theatre (3)
Thea 424 History of Theatre (3)
3 hours from the following
Thea 250
Thea 330 Contemporary Theatre (3)
Courses from the following to
total 23 hours:
Thea 122 Makeup for Theatre (1)
Thea 222 Advanced Makeup (1)
Thea 229 Creative Dramatics (3)
Thea 230 Text Analysis (3)
Thea 271 Intermediate Acting I (3)
Thea 326 Lighting for Stage I (2)
Thea 425 Play Direction II (3)
Thea 426 Scene Design for Stage (3)
Thea 481 Theatre Practicum (1)
Thea 488 Playwriting
(3)
Courses
110. Introduction to Theatre Arts. 3 credits. Basic
orientation and historical perspective to theatre arts. Study of the roles of playwright, director, actor, designer, producer,
and audience members in current theatre practice. Course will require
lab hours in the theatre. Course will
include attendance at area performances. F, S
120. Voice and
122. Makeup for Theatre and Television. 1 credit. Principles
of theatrical and television makeup with practical experience in the classroom.
F, S
130. The Art and Craft of Theatre. 3 credits. Introduction
to basic principles, theory, and techniques of theatrical performance. Examines theatre with emphasis on participatory roles. For prospective majors and minors. F
161. Acting
162. Introductory Acting II: Playing the Part. 3 credits. Prerequisites: Thea
161 or consent of instructor. A continuation of Theatre 161,
integrating the creative process in acting with the dramatic text. S
201. Theatre Practicum. 1 credit. Participation
in theatre pre-performance and performance capacities, both technical and
acting, under faculty direction. Repeatable to 8
hours. F, S
210. Selected Topics in Theatre. 1-3 credits. Repeatable up to 9 credits.
Topics of special interest to faculty and students, such as
Stage Management, and others. On Demand.
220. Voice and Movement II. 2 credits. Prerequisites: Thea
120 or consent of instructor. A continuation of Thea 120 with a focus on
freeing the channel for sound, range, resonance, tone, economy of movement,
neutral mask and movement improvisation. S
222. Advanced Makeup. 1 credit.
Prerequisite: Thea 122 or consent of instructor. A continuation of 122 with
emphasis on various prosthetic techniques, mask building, and non-realistic
styles.
226. Intro to Design. 3 credits. Introduces
the student to the principles and elements of design, the design process, and
the methods of presentation of design ideas. F
229. Creative Dramatics. 3 credits. The
study of theatre games, improvisations and techniques as they relate to the
education and development of creativity in children. On
demand.
230. Text Analysis. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Thea 130. An
analysis of the dramatic text from the standpoint of production and
performance. F
240
241.
242.
250.
270. Stagecraft. 3 credits. Designed to familiarize the student with crafts
and technologies of production; scenery construction, costume construction,
painting, lighting equipment, sound techniques. Practical experience, shop
procedures and safety practices are tied to lab experience in University
productions. S
271. Intermediate Acting I: The
Actor in You. 3 credits. Prerequisites: Thea 161 or 162 or consent of instructor. An introduction to the Meisner Technique with special emphasis on
working together and discovering your truth in your art. Students
advised to enroll concurrently in Thea 120. F
272. Intermediate Acting II: The Psychology of Acting Through Advanced Scene Study. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Thea
271. An introduction to the psychology of performance and
application of skills from Thea 271 and 162 to contemporary realist scripts
making advanced demands on the actor. Students are advised to enroll
concurrently in Thea 220. S
300.
320. Voice and Movement III. 2 credits.
Prerequisite: Thea 220. A sequential continuation of Thea
220. Vocal emphasis on shaping and muscularity of sounds and words,
articulation, love of language and vocal flexibility. Physical
emphasis on creating physical characterizations through mask work. F
325. Scene Craft.
3 credits. Prerequisites: Thea 226 and 270. Specialized construction and rigging of scenery, advanced
technology applications to the stage, drafting projects and practical problem
solving. On Demand.
326. Lighting for
330. Contemporary Theatre. 3 credits.
336. Lighting for Stage II. 2 credits. Prerequisite: Thea
270, or consent of instructor. This course is specifically designed to develop
a lighting aesthetic for directors, designers, and technicians. There will be a
script analysis with practical application, plus laboratory participation in
University Theatre productions. F/2
339. Production Design. 3 credits. Prerequisites;
Thea 130, 226, 270, and 300, or consent of instructor. The development
of the entire theatrical event, from conception to closing, with particular
attention to the collaboration of various artists, craftspersons,and managers. S
340. Ballet II. 2 credits. Ballet II is a continuation of Ballet I. Students will continue to develop advanced ballet skills and technique in relationship to form, strength, flexibility, center, line, choreography and physical expression.
341. Jazz Dance II. 2 credits. This course is designed to be a continuation of THEA 241 Jazz I. Students continue to explore the principles and techniques characteristic of Jazz dance through a variety of jazz dance styles. Emphasis will be placed on applying efficient form and dynamic energy to intermediate level movement combinations in center and across the floor. S.
THEA
242. Modern
Dance. 2 credits. Students continue to explore the principles
and techniques characteristic of Modern dance through a variety of dance
styles. Emphasis will be placed on
applying efficient form and dynamic energy to intermediate level movement
combinations in center and across the floor.
S.
350. Dramatic Production and Criticism. 3 credits. Prerequisites: Thea
130 and 250, or consent of instructor. An examination of the
principles of production criticism and the application of those principles to a
series of theatrical productions. F/2.
371. Advanced Acting I: The
Meisner Challenge. 3
credits. Prerequisites: Thea 272 and admittance to BFA program. Special
problems and challenges for the actor to overcome through advanced study in the
Meisner Technique. Primary focus on emotional preparation.
Students are advised to enroll concurrently in Thea 320. F
372. Advanced Acting II.
3 credits. Prerequisite: Thea 371. A
detailed examination of Shakespeare in Performance. S
397. Cooperative Education. 1-6 credits, repeatable to 12.
Prerequisites: 2.5 GPA, junior standing. A practical work experience with an
employer closely associated with the student’s academic area. Arranged by mutual agreement among student, department, and
employer.
404. Acting for the Music Theatre. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Appreciation of and
performance techniques for musical theatre including: voice and movement work,
acting, and staging. S/2
415. Selected Problems in Theatre Arts. 1-3 credits. Repeatable up to 9 credits.
Topics of special interest to faculty and students, such as
Theatre Management, Women’s Issues in Drama, Polish Theatre and Drama,
Improvisation, Scene Painting, and others. On Demand.
420. Voice and Movement IV. 2 credits. Prerequisite: Thea
320. A continuation of Thea 320 with emphasis on specialized
and advanced voice and movement skills. S
422. American Theatre History. 3 credits. The
development of Theatre Arts in
423. History of the Theatre: Classical Medieval and
Renaissance. 3 credits.
The theatre in performance. The
origins of theatrical forms and their relationships to acting style, physical
theatre and audience with the cultural environment. F
424. History of the Theatre: Seventeenth Century to
the Present. 3 credits.
A continuation of topics covered in Thea 423 beginning with the Seventeenth
Century and continuing to the present. Student need not take Thea 423 prior to
enrolling in Thea 424. S
425. Play Direction II. 3 credits.
Prerequisite: Thea 300 or consent of instructor. A
continuation of Thea 300 with emphasis on contemporary theories, analysis,
research, conceptualization, and implementation. Laboratory
experience. S
426. Scene Design for the Stage. 3 credits. Repeatable
up to 6 hours. The analysis, research, and
conceptualization of the physical context of theatre productions. Emphasis on individual creative projects. F
427. Costume Design. 3 credits.
Prerequisites: Thea 226, 270, or equivalent. Repeatable up to
6 credits. Elements, principles, and styles of design applied to the
visual creation of a dramatic character. S
471. Advance Acting Styles. 3 credits. Prerequisites: Thea
372 or consent of instructor. Intensive study, research in,
and performance of a variety of advanced literary works and styles. F
481. Theatre Practicum. 1-2 credits. Repeatable to 8 hours.
Projects in all areas of theatre and interpretation in a
supervisory capacity. Specific assignments in
production/planning with faculty approval. F, S
488. Playwriting. 3 credits. Repeatable up to 6 hours. Prerequisites: Sufficient
background in theatrical arts and creative writing and consent of instructor. The playwright’s problems as revealed through practice of writing
plays; experimental productions of the student’s creative work whenever
possible. F, S
494. Senior Project. 4 credits. Individual work
in an approved area. F, S