Sarofim School of Fine Arts

Theatre Department

Curriculum

The following list of courses represents current or recent course offerings. See the course catalog for updated information.

Theatre

  • 73-001 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 73-002 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 73-003 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 73-004 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 73-101 THEATRE PERFORMANCE PRACTICUM
    Main-stage productions are open to all University students. One hour of credit is granted for each production experience. This course may be repeated for up to two semester hours of credit. Prerequisite: Must be cast in a role in a main-stage production. (FAP)
  • 73-111 THEATRE LABORATORY (SCENERY AND STAGE PROPERTIES)
    This course focuses on the building, painting, and dressing used in the creation of theatrical scenery. Students will use drafted plans, paint elevations, color models, and research to create stage settings used in the theatre department's main stage productions. The built and painted stage scenery ...
  • 73-121 THEATRE LABORATORY (COSTUMES)
    This course focuses on the cutting, draping, and building of costumes. Students will develop and use skills in machine and hand sewing to realize the designs for the theatre department's main stage productions. (FAP)
  • 73-131 THEATRE LABORATORY (LIGHTING AND SOUND)
    This course focuses on the craft and practice of stage lighting and audio. Students will serve as stage electricians, audio technicians, programmers, and console operators for departmental productions. Besides being responsible for the execution of the designs (hanging, circuiting, and focusing fixt...
  • 73-143 STAGECRAFT
    This course will examine the technical areas involved in the production of a theatrical presentation. Each student will have the opportunity to spend equal time studying with the resident scene designer, resident costume designer and resident lighting designer, exploring the fundamentals of scenery ...
  • 73-153 VOICE AND MOVEMENT
    This is a practical, activity-based course designed to help students speak and move with ease and freedom. Voice work will focus on improving resonance and enunciation. Movement work will focus on body alignment and spatial awareness. Along with voice and movement skills, students will gain an under...
  • 73-163 DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS
    As the pre-requisite for all further studies in design, this introductory course examines the collaborative nature of technical theatre design, utilizing the department's resident scenic, costume and lighting/sound designers. A survey of plays will provide a chronological backdrop of Western theatre...
  • 73-173 INTRODUCTION TO PERFORMANCE STUDIES
    This course focuses on performance as an activity which can lead to enhanced literary and cultural analysis and understanding. Topics and activities include everyday life performance, cultural performance and the performance of non-dramatic literature. Also Communication Studies 75-173. (FAP)
  • 73-183 FUNDAMENTALS OF ACTING
    This course is designed to introduce students to the process of acting, including trusting and using instincts, making interesting and challenging character choices, analyzing scripts for character, dramatic action and conflict, and the relationship of an actor to the text and the theatre as a whole...
  • 73-193 MAKEUP FOR THE THEATRE
    Design and practice in the art of stage makeup. Course focuses on development of skills for the practicing theatre artist. (FAP)
  • 73-201 THEATRE PERFORMANCE PRACTICUM
    Main-stage productions are open to all University students. One hour of credit is granted for each production. This course may be repeated for up to two semester hours of credit. Prerequisite: Must be cast in a role in a main-stage production and Theatre 73-101 (two semesters). (FAP)
  • 73-211 THEATRE LABORATORY (SCENERY AND STAGE PROPERTIES)
    This course focuses on advanced building, painting, and stage dressing techniques used in the creation of theatrical scenery. Students will use drafted plans, paint elevations, color models, and research to create stage settings used in the theatre department's main stage productions. The built and ...
  • 73-221 THEATRE LABORATORY (COSTUMES)
    This course focuses on advanced cutting, draping, and building of costumes. Students will continue developing and using skills in machine and hand sewing to realize the designs for the theatre department's main stage productions. May be repeated for up to five semester hours of credit. Prerequisite:...
  • 73-231 THEATRE LABORATORY (LIGHTING AND SOUND)
    This course focuses on advanced craft and practice of stage lighting and audio. Students will serve as stage electricians, audio technicians, programmers, console operators, and master electricians for departmental productions. Besides being responsible for the execution of the designs (hanging, cir...
  • 73-241 THEATRE PRODUCTION PRACTICUM
    One hour of credit is granted for stage management and design positions for main-stage theatre productions. This course may be repeated for up to four semester hours of credit. Prerequisite: Must be chosen for a stage management or design position for a main-stage production. (FAP)
  • 73-263 THEATRE CRAFTS
    A practical course in which the technical theatre skills used for millinery, mask making, corset building, painting, dying and general craft construction are taught in a laboratory setting. These advanced skills will then be used to create unique costume items for a specific production chosen by the...
  • 73-273 CREATIVE DRAMATICS/THEATRE FOR YOUTH
    The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the field of creative dramatics and theatre for youth through lecture, demonstration, classroom workshops and attendance at theatre for youth performances. The student will learn skills necessary to work with young people on language and comm...
  • 73-301 SELECTED TOPICS
    Special studies not in the regular curriculum to be offered on student request. May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 73-302 SELECTED TOPICS
    Special studies not in the regular curriculum to be offered on student request. May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 73-303 SELECTED TOPICS
    Special studies not in the regular curriculum to be offered on student request. May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 73-304 SELECTED TOPICS
    Special studies not in the regular curriculum to be offered on student request. May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 73-311 ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE
    The Alexander Technique is a body alignment and movement technique that focuses on alignment of the spine and skeleton. When the spine and skeleton come into alignment, muscles soften, tension releases, coordination improves, and the body works more efficiently. This activity-based course focuses on...
  • 73-413 THEATRE DANCE
    Preparation and execution of basic movement exercises, jazz, tap and modern dance and their application to choreography for musical theatre. Also Dance 79-413. (FAP)
  • 73-463 COMPUTER AIDED THEATRICAL DESIGN
    This course familiarizes the student with Computer Aided Design (CAD) using VectorWorks. Each student will take a scenic design that was rendered using a dry point medium and translate it into a CAD drawing. The CAD drawings will concentrate on ground plan view, section view and front elevation view...
  • 73-503 SCENE STUDY
    This course is an investigation and development of a character that further strengthens techniques of personalization, character and scene analysis and character motivation through action. Additionally, through scene study of realistic dramas, this course investigates the physical life of a characte...
  • 73-513 CONTEMPORARY STYLES-ACTING
    Study and practice of 20th-century acting techniques through research, analysis work and performance. Prerequisite: Theatre 73-503. (Alternate years) (FAP)
  • 73-603 MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP
    This course focuses on the intensive practical aspects of scene-and-song work in the repertory of popular musical theatre genres, paying particular attention to the skills needed as an actor to interpret lyrics and text within the structure of a musical play. There will be weekly rehearsals and crit...
  • 73-613 THEATRE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: PRACTICE AND PERFORMANCE
    This course explores theatre as a political, activist, problem solving, educational and aesthetic tool. Students will learn to develop interactive performances which can be used to effect social change in a wide variety of community settings. (FAP)
  • 73-713 ADVANCED PERFORMANCE STUDIES
    A course which focuses on performance as a field of knowledge and a way of knowing. Topics vary in different semesters and can include: cultural performance, literary performance, performance art and theatre for social justice. Prerequisite: Theatre 73-173 or 183. Also Communication Studies 75-513 a...
  • 73-723 FEMINISM AND PERFORMANCE
    A course focusing on the ways culture has constructed the performance of gender on stage, in everyday life and in the media. Prerequisite: Feminist Studies 04-103. Also Communication Studies 75-523 and Feminist Studies 04-723. (FAP)
  • 73-793 COSTUME DESIGN
    A study of the art and practice of theatrical costume design. Emphasis will be placed on the costume designer's requirements for pre-production. Topics covered include analysis, research, basic figure proportion, color theory, sketching, swatching and rendering. Students will present design concepts...
  • 73-803 SCENIC DESIGN
    A study of the art and practice of theatrical scenic design. The focus of the course will be on the traditional approaches to scenic design and a study of the elements of composition as they apply to scenery. Students will work with different theatrical styles and settings and will present design co...
  • 73-813 PERIOD STYLES-ACTING
    Study and practice of acting techniques using texts with poetic language through research, analysis work and performance. Study includes character and scene analysis and the performance of scenes and audition material from a variety of theatrical periods. Prerequisite: Theatre 73-503 or 603. (Altern...
  • 73-823 LIGHTING DESIGN
    A study of the art and practice of theatrical lighting and lighting design. Students are introduced to the technical skills necessary to handle stage lighting and to the skills necessary to develop lighting designs for the theatre and dance. Additional topics include the use of color, lighting in al...
  • 73-833 AUDIO TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN
    This course informs on two topics: the use of audio technology as a reinforcement tool, specifically the various equipment used for sound in the theatre, i.e. speaker, cable, digital recording, etc. The course also covers sound design and effects as a reinforcement for a play's theme, style, mood an...
  • 73-843 SCENIC ELEMENTS AND STAGE PROPERTIES
    This course specializes in the area of scenic building and properties production for the stage. Areas covered include basic sewing for the stage and more advanced prop fabrication. From initial script analysis for props, to working with designers, directors, stage management and prop assistants, the...
  • 73-853 SCENE PAINTING
    A practical activity-based and lecture course which specializes in the study of various paint finishes and techniques that are applied to stage scenery. When working on class assignments, students will have the opportunity to experiment with paint, binders, tools and techniques. This course covers s...
  • 73-863 SUMMER THEATRE REPERTORY
    (FAP)
  • 73-893 DIRECTING FOR THE THEATRE
    Principles and practices of directing. Includes detailed analysis of the playscript and directing of laboratory or workshop productions. Prerequisite: Theatre 73-183. (FAP)
  • 73-901 TUTORIAL
  • 73-902 TUTORIAL
  • 73-903 TUTORIAL
  • 73-904 TUTORIAL
  • 73-913 ADVANCED LIGHTING DESIGN
    This course provides an opportunity for students to further study the art and technology of lighting design. There will be three major designs in the areas of ballet, opera and the large-venue concert; a realized design project may be substituted for one of these. Each student will select one of thr...
  • 73-923 ADVANCED PRODUCTION FOR THE THEATRE
    This course provides a student director, designer, stage manager, or actor with a platform to exercise his/her skills in a performance situation. This course is limited to senior theatre majors and is designed to serve as the capstone project for the BA and BFA degrees. (FAP)
  • 73-933 ADVANCED DIRECTING
    This course will explore how a director transforms personal vision into social and aesthetic meaning in a theatrical event. Through lecture, discussion and in-class exercises, the course will examine how a director uses an in-depth approach to script analysis with a special emphasis on the director'...
  • 73-941 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 73-942 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 73-943 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 73-944 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 73-951 INDEPENDENT STUDY
    May be repeated with change in content.
  • 73-952 INDEPENDENT STUDY
    May be repeated with change in content.
  • 73-953 INDEPENDENT STUDY
    May be repeated with change in content.
  • 73-954 INDEPENDENT STUDY
    May be repeated with change in content.
  • 73-983 HONORS
    By invitation only.
  • 74-001 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 74-002 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 74-003 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 74-004 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 74-103 THEATRE APPRECIATION
    An introduction to the various elements that contribute to the development of theatre as a specialized art form, with particular emphasis placed on the role of theatre as an artistic and humanizing experience. Topics covered include historical and cultural influences, the nature and variety of drama...
  • 74-113 THEATRE ARTS IN LONDON
    A theoretical and experiential survey of the art of the theatre, its past and present, with an emphasis on the role of theatre within the society and the techniques employed to achieve its purpose. Emphasis will be upon attending performances in London. This course is taught by faculty from Goldsmit...
  • 74-123 THEATRE HISTORY AND HISTORIOGRAPHY I
    A theatre course exploring various critical approaches to Western written texts intended for the stage, in order to help students to develop the ability to analyze and evaluate a variety of scripts in terms of form (structure and tone) and style. Students will read some of the most important realist...
  • 74-233 THEATRE HISTORY AND HISTORIOGRAPHY II
    This course focuses more on theatre history and historiography than on dramatic literature. Students will be asked to meditate on questions regarding the uses to which play-texts are put in the educational system and in cultural practices (performances through the ages, films, television, exhibition...
  • 74-243 THEATRE HISTORY AND HISTORIOGRAPHY III
    See THE74-233 Theatre History and Historiography II for course description. Theatre History and Historiography I, II and III may be taken in any order. (FAL)
  • 74-253 EAST MEETS WEST: INTERCULTURALISM AND THEATRE
    An investigation of theatrical interculturalism in a world-wide context. This course examines the series of exchanges, imitations, misunderstandings and betrayals that took place in theatre during the 20th century and the new forms produced at the intersection of cultures. The focus will be on: (a) ...
  • 74-293 HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE
    A cultural study of the American Musical as an art form beginning with its origins in vaudeville, burlesque, English music halls, European operetta and minstrel shows through its development, and ultimately its effect on popular culture today. This class will include in-depth analysis of varied musi...
  • 74-301 SELECTED TOPICS
    Special studies not in the regular curriculum, offered upon student request. May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 74-302 SELECTED TOPICS
    Special studies not in the regular curriculum, offered upon student request. May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 74-303 SELECTED TOPICS
    Special studies not in the regular curriculum, offered upon student request. May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 74-304 SELECTED TOPICS
    Special studies not in the regular curriculum, offered upon student request. May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 74-313 PLAYWRITING
    Theory and practices of playwriting. Includes the writing of scripts for theatre reading and production. Also English 10-313. (FAL)
  • 74-323 DRAMATURGY
    Fundamentals for the development of a dramaturgical sensibility in order to promote integration between theory (the knowledge of theatre history, dramatic literature and criticism) and practice (the expertise needed to realize the potential of a play in a particular production). The course focuses o...
  • 74-413 COSTUME HISTORY I
    A survey of historic costume and fashion in the Western world from classical antiquity through the 18th century. This course focuses on the exploration of the relationship between social, political and cultural occurrences and fashion, art, and clothing. The ability to identify historical periods by...
  • 74-423 COSTUME HISTORY II
    A survey of historic costume and fashion in the Western world from the late 18th century through the present. This course focuses on the exploration of the relationship between social, political and cultural occurrences and fashion, art and clothing. The ability to identify historical periods by cos...
  • 74-613 THEATRE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: HISTORY AND THEORY
    This course examines the ways that contemporary theatre and performance with a determined social standpoint attempts to confront issues of political engagement and activism in order to inspire social change. Examples of playwrights and theatre companies covered include: Tony Kushner, Anna Deavere Sm...
  • 74-673 MANAGEMENT FOR THE THEATRE
    Studies in managerial aspects involved in promoting and producing theatre (educational, community and professional). (FAL)
  • 74-703 SHAKESPEARE
    See English 10-623. (H)
  • 74-853 STAGE MANAGEMENT FOR THE THEATRE
    An introduction to stage management for commercial and non-commercial theatre. The course will include discussion of the stage manager's responsibilities as well as the development of the skills necessary to perform effectively as a stage manager for a theatrical production. Prerequisite: Theatre 73...
  • 74-901 TUTORIAL
  • 74-902 TUTORIAL
  • 74-903 TUTORIAL
  • 74-904 TUTORIAL
  • 74-941 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 74-942 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 74-943 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 74-944 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 74-951 INDEPENDENT STUDY
    May be repeated with change in content.
  • 74-952 INDEPENDENT STUDY
    May be repeated with change in content.
  • 74-953 INDEPENDENT STUDY
    May be repeated with change in content.
  • 74-954 INDEPENDENT STUDY
    May be repeated with change in content.
  • 74-983 HONORS
    By invitation only.

Dance

  • 79-001 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 79-002 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 79-003 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 79-004 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 79-203 BALLET
    A study of basic foot, arm and body position in ballet. The student is introduced to the barre for fundamental ballet exercises, followed by center practice and combination of dance steps. (FAP)
  • 79-243 HISTORY OF DANCE
    A survey of the development of humankind through dance from primitive times to the 20th century, with a special focus on ballet and dance in America. (FAL)
  • 79-301 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 79-302 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 79-303 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 79-304 SELECTED TOPICS
    May be repeated with change in topic.
  • 79-403 MODERN DANCE
    Education in body movement through dance techniques designed to teach an understanding of rhythm and relaxation and a presentation of basic movement problems. (FAP)
  • 79-413 THEATRE DANCE
    See Theatre 73-413. (FAP)
  • 79-503 JAZZ DANCE
    A study of jazz technique, free style movement, floor and barre work and combinations. The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a wider range of body movement and a creative means of expression for theatre dance. (FAP)
  • 79-603 TAP DANCE
    An introduction to tap dance techniques, emphasizing the use of this dance in theatrical performance. (FAP)
  • 79-803 DANCE REPERTORY
    Emphasis is on learning new techniques through combined movement phrases and by learning one dance and/or sections from others. Prerequisites: Any two of the following: Dance 79-203, 403, 503. May be repeated for up to six hours of credit. (FAP)
  • 79-901 TUTORIAL
  • 79-902 TUTORIAL
  • 79-903 TUTORIAL
  • 79-904 TUTORIAL
  • 79-941 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 79-942 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 79-943 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 79-944 ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP
    Must be taken Pass/D/F.
  • 79-951 INDEPENDENT STUDY
  • 79-952 INDEPENDENT STUDY
  • 79-953 INDEPENDENT STUDY
  • 79-954 INDEPENDENT STUDY
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