Theater
Web: gmu.edu/departments/theatre
Clayton Austin, Chair
Performing Arts Building, A407
703-993-1120
Faculty
Robinson professor: D'Andrea
Professor: Davis
Assistant professors: Austin, Elston, Gero, Johnsen-Neshati, Kurtz,
Raybuck
Visiting assistant professors: Chew, McDonald
Adjuncts: Anduss, Hoffman, Lechter, Lee, Maeshiba, Mountain, Murray,
Paglin, Wallace
Course Work
The Theater Department offers all course work designated THR in the "Course
Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.
Undergraduate Program
The B.A. 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 department'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 department 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 department
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 B.A. in Theater program fulfill this requirement
by successfully completing THR 350 or THR 351.
Theater, B.A.
Degree Requirements
| |
Credits |
| General Education |
43-55 |
| Foundation Requirements |
|
| Written communication. ENGL 101 and 302 |
6 |
| Non-native 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, and 302 fulfill
degree requirements. Students are reminded that the English Department
offers proficiency exams for credit and exemption from this requirement. |
|
| Oral communication |
3 |
Quantitative reasoning
Either: appropriate placement score on quantitative skills and
one of MATH 108, 110, 111, 113, 115, 125, or IT 250, or STAT 250
or lower placement score requiring MATH 106 |
3 |
| Information technology |
3 |
| Core Requirements |
|
| Literature |
3 |
| Arts (outside the major) |
3 |
| Natural science (including1laboratory science) |
7 |
| U.S. history |
3 |
| Western civilization |
3 |
| Global understanding |
3 |
| Social and behavioral sciences |
3 |
| Synthesis Requirement |
|
| Synthesis Requirement |
3 |
| Other |
|
| Foreign language |
0-12 |
| Students must demonstrate proficiency (at the intermediate
level) in one foreign language offered by the university either by
examination or course work. |
|
| Major |
53-54 |
| Theater Core Requirements |
32-33 |
| Additional Literature |
3 |
| Additional Arts (outside the major) |
3-4 |
| 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 |
| THR 210 Acting I |
3 |
| THR 230 Introduction to Technical Theater I |
3 |
| THR 240 Directing I |
3 |
| THR 350 Script Analysis |
3 |
| One upper-level dramatic literature seminar (THR 351,
352, or 355) |
3 |
One from the following group of one-credit mini-courses:
THR 201 Stage Management, THR 202 Literary Management, or THR 203
Production/Company Management |
1 |
| Upper-Level Units |
21 |
| 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 actorís instrument is complemented
by intensive, individualized instruction in the various facets of
the actorís craft. |
|
| THR 300 Voice and Speech Fundamentals |
3 |
| THR 301 Voice and Speech for the Performer |
3 |
| THR 303 Movement for Actors I |
3 |
| THR 304 Movement for Actors II |
3 |
| THR 310 Acting II |
3 |
| THR 320 Beginning Modern Acting |
3 |
| THR 321 Acting Shakespeare |
3 |
| THR 322 Alexander Technique/Stage Combat |
3 |
| THR 345 Puppetry: History and Technique |
3 |
| THR 365 Characterization |
3 |
| 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 prepares 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 314 Lighting Stagecraft |
3 |
| 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 generalist
with thorough preparation for further study and work in directing,
dramaturgy, theater criticism, theater scholarship, playwriting, and
teaching. For specific teacher licensure (certification) requirements,
students are directed to the Office of Teacher 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 359 World Stages |
3 |
| THR 380, 381 Playwriting I, II |
3, 3 |
| THR 424 Contemporary Women Playwrights |
3 |
| THR 440 Advanced Studies in Directing/Dramaturgy |
3 |
| THR 480 Advanced Playwriting |
3 |
| THR 491 Majors Seminar in the Profession |
3 |
| THR 496 Text in Performance |
3 |
| THR 490 Special Topics in Drama, THR 494 Field Experience,
and THR 497 Independent Study may be applied to the appropriate area. |
|
| Practicum (1 credit) |
|
| Students must earn a total of 4 practicum (THR 200)
credits, 1 from each of the 3 groups below. Students will select 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) |
|
| Electives |
11-24 |
Minor in Theater
The theater minor consists of 18 credits in theater, selected in consultation
with a faculty adviser and approved by the department chair.
Honors in Theater
Students wishing to pursue Honors in Theater should contact the department
chair.
Production Opportunities
Participation in Theater Department (GMU Players) productions is expected
of all declared majors. Up to 4 practicum credits (one per assignment)
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).
Theater of the First Amendment (TFA), a professional theater in residence
within CVPA, 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. |
