2010-2011 University Catalog 
  
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2010-2011 University Catalog

Theater, BA

Banner Code: AR-BA-THR

Performing Arts Building, Room A407
Phone: 703-993-1120
Web: gmu.edu/departments/theater

Faculty

Clayton Austin, Chair

Professors: D’Andrea (Robinson Professor), Davis, McDonald

Associate Professors: Austin, Elston, Gero, Johnsen-Neshati, Kurtz

Term Associate Professor: Chew

Adjunct Faculty: Cetron, Lechter, Lee, McManus, Mountain, Murray, Nanni-Messegee, Wallace

PROGRAM

The BA degree 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, which is a group of courses providing a broad introduction to the various theater arts and striving 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 or entry into the profession through rigorous, concentrated, and individualized training; however, students are encouraged to maintain wide-ranging interests within the department and throughout the university’s extensive offerings.

Students seeking to earn a BA as a second bachelor’s degree, either concurrently or sequentially, must complete all theater degree requirements including foreign language. Students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in their major.

Theater Concentrations

Theater majors may apply to complete their degree in one of the following concentrations: Design and Technical Theater, Performance, Playwriting and Dramaturgy, or Theater Studies.

To apply for admission into a concentration a student must have:

  • completed 45 credits including THR credits as specified in the concentration
  • cumulative GPA minimum of 2.5

Course Work

The Theater Department offers all course work designated THR in the Courses  chapter of this catalog.

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 seeking a BA in theater fulfill this requirement by successfully completing THR 350 or THR 351.

Honors in Theatre

Students wishing to pursue Honors in Theater should contact the department chair.

Production Opportunities

Participation in Theater Department productions with the GMU Players is expected of all declared majors. Up to 4 practicum credits, 1 credit per assignment can be awarded for satisfactory completion of  performance and production assignments in the major, including faculty or guest-directed GMU Players main stage, studio, or Theater of the First Amendment (TFA) productions.

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, design, dramaturgy, technical crews, and production and company management. Students are eligible to audition for age-appropriate roles or understudy assignments in TFA productions and may participate in the Membership Candidate Program through the Actors’ Equity Association.

Academic Policies

Please see College of Visual and Performing Arts  academic policies.

Degree Requirements

General Education (40 credits)

Foundation Requirements

  • Oral communication Credits: 3
  • Information technology Credits: 3
  • Quantitative reasoning Credits: 3
  • ENGL 101 - Composition Credits: 3
  • ENGL 302 - Advanced Composition Credits: 3

  • Nonnative speakers of English with limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGL 100 for ENGL 101.  Students must attain a minimum grade of C in ENGL 100 or 101, as well as in 302, to fulfill degree requirements.

Core Requirements

  • Literature Credits: 3
  • Arts (outside the major) (students earning a concentration in Design and Technical Theater must take ARTH 101, 102, 200 or 201) Credits: 3
  • Natural science (including one laboratory science) Credits: 7
  • Western civilization Credits: 3
  • Global understanding Credits: 3
  • Social and behavioral sciences Credits: 3
  • Synthesis requirement (see concentration for specific requirement) Credits: 3

Major (56-78 credits)

Foreign Language, Minor, Double Major or Double Degree (0–21 credits)

See beginning of CVPA chapter for foreign language requirement.

Students may complete an academic minor, double major or double degree in lieu of the foreign language requirement.

Theater Core Requirements (32-33 credits)

  • Additional literature (3)
  • Additional arts (outside the major) (students earning a concentration in Design and Technical Theater must take AVT 104 or 222) (3–4)
One upper-level dramatic literature course (3 credits)

Students earning a concentration in Playwriting and Dramaturgy must take THR 351

One from the following group of 1-credit minicourses:

Students earning a concentration in Playwriting and Dramaturgy must take THR 202

Practicum

Students must complete 1 assignment in each of the following areas to earn a total of 4 practicum credits.

THR 196 assignments include actor, designer, assistant designer, stage manager, and assistant stage manager

THR 197 assignments include director, assistant director, dramaturg, master electrician, technical director, playwright, house management, and publicity

THR 198 assignments include scenery construction and painting, costume construction, electrician, and props

THR 199 assignments include stage crew, light board operator, sound board operator, wardrobe, and fly crew

Upper-Level Units:

  • 24 credits of 300- and 400-level courses, chosen from at least two of the following areas: performance, design and technical theater, and theater studies. These credits are in addition to upper-level credits taken to fulfill theater core requirements.
Performance

This emphasis 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 are complemented by intensive, individualized instruction in the various facets of the actor’s craft.

Design and Technical Theater

This emphasis 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.

Theater Studies

This emphasis 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 certification requirements, students are directed to the Office of Teacher Education.

May be applied to the appropriate area:

Theater Concentrations (30-39 credits)

Theater majors may apply to complete their degree in one of the following concentrations: Design and Technical Theater, Performance, Playwriting and Dramaturgy, or Theater Studies.

Theater majors are not required to complete a concentration to graduate with a Theater BA.

To apply for admission into a concentration, a student must have:

  • completed 45 credits including THR credits as specified in the concentration
  • cumulative GPA minimum of 2.5

Please see the concentration advisor in your area of interest for specific application details.

To graduate with a concentration, student must have a minimum cumulative program GPA of 3.0.

▲ Concentration in Design and Technical Theater (DTT)

The Design and Technical Theater concentration provides a foundation of knowledge, technique, and experience in one or more areas of theater design and technology in preparation for advanced study and professional work in the field.

Synthesis fulfilled by THR 440 or THR 496

Prerequisites to apply: THR 198, 199, 230, and 9 additional THR credits

Required Core Courses:

Design Courses

Take two design courses:

Design and Technical Theater Concentration Electives:

Select four courses from (maximum of 6 credits of THR 330 and maximum of 3 credits of THR 494):

Total: 36 credits

▲ Concentration in Performance (PFM)

This area is designed for the serious student of acting and directing with professional aspirations.  Solid grounding in the fundamentals of performance analysis and basic training of the actor’s instrument are complemented by a rigorous, sequential instruction in the various facets of the actor’s craft.

At its core, the Performance Concentration is a blend of Modern and Classical actor training using a Stanislavski-grounded approach balanced with techniques for understanding texts written two hundred years before “motivation” and “characterization” entered the critical vocabulary.  Rounding out the curriculum is specialized study in vocal production and movement technique.  Matriculation in this program expresses a profound commitment to a rigorous intellectual, physical and emotional investigation of the discipline of performance over a two-year period.  Professional development is enhanced with ongoing student progress reviews, support and advising from Performance Concentration faculty.

Synthesis fulfilled by THR 440 or THR 496

Prequisites to apply: THR 210, 310, 329, and 3 additional THR credits

Required Core Courses:

Performance Concentration Electives

Select four courses from the following:

Total: 39 credits

▲ Concentration in Playwriting and Dramaturgy (PWD)

The Playwriting and Dramaturgy concentration acknowledges a creative and practical connection between the work of the playwright and dramaturg.  Students choosing this area of specialization will focus on the literary aspects of theater, such as playwriting, dramaturgy, screenwriting, translation, adaptation, season planning, and theater criticism.  Students seeking specialized experience as a playwright or dramaturg will choose from a selection of required and recommended courses designed to expose students to a broad range of contemporary and classical texts, deepen their understanding of dramatic structure, encourage collabaoration, and foster opportunities for new play development.  Students are encouraged to consult their advisors on complementary courses of interest outside the major, such as in the visual and performing arts, Film and Video Studies, English and Foreign Language.  This concentration gives students access to a variety of hands-on opportunities within the Department and the professional world.

Synthesis fulfilled by THR 440

Prerequisites to  apply: THR 150 or 151 and 9 additional THR credits

Required Core Courses:

Playwriting and Dramaturgy Concentration Electives:

Take four courses from the following:

Total: 30 credits

▲ Concentration in Theater Studies (THST)

This concentration is designed to provide the theater generalist with a thorough preparation for further study and work in directing, scholarship or teaching.

Synthesis fulfilled by THR 440 or THR 496

THR 494 requires 3 credits

Prerequisites to apply: THR 198 or 199, 150 or 151, 210 and 230

Required Core Courses:

Theater Studies Concentration Electives:

Select three of the following courses:

Theater Elective:

Select one course from the following:

Design Elective:

Select one course from the following:

Theater Studies Electives:

THR 300-499 (9 cr)

Total: 33 credits

Electives

  • Electives (2-24 credits)

Total: 120 credits