Theater
Faculty
Robinson Professor: D'Andrea
Visiting Associate Professor: Davis
Visiting Assistant Professors: Austin, Gero, Johnsen-Neshati
(Director), Kurtz, Raybuck
Contractual Assistant Professors: McDonald
Course Work
The Theater Division offers all course work designated THR
in the "Course Descriptions" section of this catalog.
Undergraduate Program
Theater, BA
The BA in Theater stresses the breadth of a liberal arts education in
the belief that such study, combined with serious practical training
and experience, offers the best preparation for a life in the theater.
Students electing to major in theater complete the theater core, a group
of courses that provides a broad introduction to the various arts of
the theater and strives to create a shared body of knowledge within
the division's student population.
To organize their advanced work within the major, students elect a
course of study that includes classes in at least two of three areas:
performance, design and technical theater, and theater studies. The
division aims to prepare students for graduate study and/or entry into
the profession through rigorous, concentrated, and individualized training.
However, students are encouraged to maintain wide-ranging interests
both inside the division and throughout the university's extensive offerings.
Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one course
designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above.
Students in the BA in Theater program fulfill this requirement by successfully
completing THR 350 or 351..
Diagnostic Examination
Theater students are required to take a diagnostic examination during
their junior year or upon reaching 30 credits in Theater Division courses,
whichever comes first. This examination cannot be "passed" or "failed";
it is a tool with which the faculty can assess each student's progress
in the major to provide better advising for the student's final year
and for preparation for life after college. The exam also serves to
assess the curriculum's effectiveness. Arrangements for the diagnostic
exam are initiated by the student through the division director.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
| General Education |
44-57
|
| Major |
47
|
| Electives |
16-29
|
| General Education |
44-57
|
- Language
|
18
|
a. English
ENGL 101, 302. Nonnative speakers of English
with limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGL
100 for ENGL 101. A student must attain
a minimum grade of C to have ENGL 100
or 101, & 302 fulfill degree requirements. Students are reminded
that the English Department offers proficiency exams for credit
and exemption from this requirement.
|
6
|
b. Foreign Language
Students must demonstrate proficiency (at the intermediate
level) in one foreign language offered by the university either
by examination or course work.
|
0-12
|
- Analytical Reasoning
MATH, MATH 106
or above.
|
3
|
- Humanities
|
15-16
|
a. Literature
ENGL 201, and 202, 203, or 204, or 300
level or above in modern and classical languages if listed as
fulfilling the literature requirement, PHIL
253; or CLAS 250
|
6
|
b. Fine Arts
Take courses from two of the following areas:DANC
125, 131, 150, or 161 recommended but any DANC
course is acceptable (3 credits). ARTS
103, 104, 222, or 399 recommended but any ARTS
course is acceptable (3-4 credits).
ARIN, MUSI, or
ARTH (3 credits)
|
6-7
|
|
|
3
|
- Social Science
ANTH, ECON,
GEOG, GOVT,
HIST, PSYC,
SOCI
|
6
|
- Natural Science
ASTR, BIOL,
CHEM, EVSC,
GEOL, PHYS
|
8
|
- Non-Western Studies
Three credits must be earned in courses devoted to nonwestern
culture. This requirement is waived for the student who has
attended a native school in a nonwestern country (for more than
four years). Requests for a waiver should be made through the
director of academic affairs of IOA. The following courses,
which are designated as meeting this requirement, may also be
presented in partial fulfillment of requirements stated in other
sections.
ANTH 114, 300, 301, 302, 304, 305, 306,
311, 313, 332
ARTH 203, 319, 320, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 384, 385
DANC 118
ECON 361
FREN 451
GEOG 101, 316, 325, 330
GOVT 332, 333, 432
HIST 130, 251, 252, 261, 262, 271, 281,
282, 328, 329, 353, 354, 356, 387, 426, 460, 461, 465, 466
MUSI 103
RELI 211, 212, 313, 314, 315, 337, 490
RUSS 353, 354
STAM 303, 304
|
3
|
- PHIL or RELI
|
3
|
|
Theater Core Requirements
|
26
|
THR 150, 151 Drama, Stage, and Society
I and II
|
6
|
THR 200 Play Production Practicum (1 each,
repeated for a total of 4)
|
4
|
|
|
3
|
THR 230 Introduction to Technical Theater
I
|
3
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
3 |
One upper-level literature seminar (THR
351, 352, 355)
|
3
|
One from the following group of one-credit mini- courses: THR
201 Stage Management, THR 202 Literary
Management, THR 203 Production/ Company
Management
|
|
Practicum
Participation in Theater Division productions is expected of all declared
majors. Up to four practicum credits can be awarded for satisfactory
completion of performance/production assignments in the major (i.e.,
faculty- or guest-directed) GMU Players mainstage, studio or TFA productions.
Students must earn a total of four practicum (THR
200) credits, one from each of the three groups below. Students choose
their fourth practicum assignment from the group of their choice.
- Group 1: Performance/Design (e.g., acting, directing, design,
stage management)
- Group 2: Production Crew (e.g., run crew, wardrobe, set construction,
costume construction, electrics)
- Group 3: Production Administration (e.g., positions such
as master electrician, company manager, publicity manager, dramaturg)
Theater of the First Amendment
Theater of the First Amendment (TFA), a professional theater in residence
within IOA, offers students the chance to work closely with professional
artists. TFA productions regularly employ student assistants in stage
management, directing, dramaturgy, technical crews, and production/company
management. Students are eligible to audition for roles or understudy
assignments in TFA productions and may participate in the membership
candidate program through Actor's Equity Association.
Participation in Theater Division productions is expected of all declared
majors. Up to four practicum credits can be awarded for satisfactory
completion of two to four production assignments in the major (i.e.,
faculty- or guest-directed) productions or on TFA productions.
Upper-Level Units
Twenty-one credits of 300- and 400-level courses, chosen from at least
two of the following areas: performance, design and technical theater,
and theater studies.
Performance
This area is designed for the serious student of acting with performance
aspirations. Solid grounding in the fundamentals of analysis and basic
training of the actor's instrument is complemented by intensive, individualized
instruction in the various facets of the actor's craft.
NOTE: Acting Ensemble (THR 320, 321, 420,
421) is open by audition only and may require concurrent enrollment
in required courses. Auditions are held at the beginning of each semester
and by appointment.
THR 300 Voice and Speech Fundamentals (3)
THR 301 Voice and Speech for the Performer
(3)
THR 310 Acting II (3)
THR 320, 321 Acting Ensemble I, II (6)
THR 321 Acting Shakespeare (3)
THR 322 Alexander Technique/Stage Combat (3)
THR 345 Puppetry: History & Technique (6)
THR 420 Advanced Modern Acting (3)
THR 421 One-Person Show (3)
THR 423 Audition Techniques: Stage and Camera
(3)
THR 425 Verse Speaking (3)
Design and Technical Theater
This area helps prepare students for further study and work in the
design and technical fields. Courses in this area are also strongly
recommended for students interested in directing.
THR 330 Seminar in Technical Theater (3+)
THR 333 Stage Design (3)
THR 334 Lighting Design (3)
THR 335 Costume Design (3)
THR 336 Advanced Theater Technology (3)
THR 343 Costume Draping and Drafting (3)
Theater Studies
This area is designed to provide the theater generalists with thorough
preparation for further study and work in directing, dramaturgy, theater
criticism, theater scholarship, play writing, and teaching. For specific
teacher licensure (certification) requirements, students are directed
to the Office of Teacher Education in the Graduate School of Education.
THR 340 Directing II (3)
THR 351 Dramatic Theory and Criticism (3)
THR 352 Dramatic Literature Seminar (3)
THR 355 Moral Vision in American Theater (3)
THR 380 Play writing I (3)
THR 381 Play writing II (3)
THR 440 Advanced Studies in Directing/Dramaturgy
(3)
THR 480 Advanced Playwriting (3)
THR 490 Special Topics in Drama, THR
494 Field Experience, and THR 497 Independent
Study may be applied to the appropriate area.
Minor in Theater
The minor in theater consists of 18 credits in theater, selected in
consultation with a faculty advisor and approved by the division director.
George Mason University: 2000-2001
University Catalog: Catalog Index: Institute
of the Arts: Theater |
