■ Theater

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

Faculty

Ken Elston, Chair

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

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

Term Associate Professor: Chew

Adjunct Faculty: Cadby, Cetron, Dunayer, Gaines, Lechter, Lee, Maier, McManus, Mountain, Murray, Nanni-Messegee, Wallace

Course Work

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

Undergraduate Programs

The Theater Department offers BA and BFA degrees, both requiring completion of 120 hours of course work. Entrance into either program is by interview and audition or portfolio review. Information about the audition, portfolio review and interview process, including dates, can be found on the department web page, theater.gmu.edu/admissions or by calling the department office at 703-993-1120. Admission to the University is determined by the Admissions Office.

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 or BFA as a second bachelor’s degree, either concurrently or sequentially, must complete all theater degree requirements. Students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in their major.

Theater BA

Theater majors organize their advanced work within the major to include classes in at least two areas of emphasis including Performance, Design and Technical Theater, and Theater Studies.

Theater BA Concentrations

Theater majors may apply to complete their Bachelor of Arts degree in one of the following concentrations: Design and Technical Theater, Performance (Acting and Directing), Playwriting and Dramaturgy, Teaching Theatre Arts PK-12, or Theater Studies. University application deadlines and a link to the application form can be found on the department web page, theater.gmu.edu/admissions or by calling the department office at 703-993-1120.

Theater BFA Concentrations

In addition to the general education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, Theater Bachelor of Fine Arts majors must complete a minimum of 80 hours in the major: 32 credits of required core courses and 48 hours in a concentration. Concentrations are: Design for Stage and Screen, Performance for Stage and Screen (Acting and Directing), Writing and Dramaturgy for Stage and Screen.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated writing-intensive in their major at the 300 level or above. Students seeking a BA in theater fulfill this requirement by successfully completing THR 350 or THR 482.

Certification for Teaching Theatre Arts PK-12

The Teaching Theatre Arts PK-12 concentration is approved by the Virginia State Department of Education and administered through the College of Education and Human Development, which is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Minimum scores on the Praxis I and VCLA tests must be achieved before state licensure is granted.

Students must be formally accepted into the Teaching Theatre Arts PK-12 concentration. See Teaching Theatre Arts PK-12 concentration for a complete list of requirements.

Production Opportunities

Participation in Theater at Mason productions is expected of all declared majors.

All Theater majors must enroll in THR 191 each semester. It is a zero (0) credit class, graded S/NC, that is successfully completed by attending productions, guest lectures, workshops; participation in production load-in; and participation in production strike.

Students must also earn four (4) practicum credits, one (1) credit for satisfactory completion (a minimum of 30 hours) of each of four (4) performance and production assignments in the major, including faculty or guest-directed Mason Players Mainstage, and student-directed Studio productions.

All freshmen, first year transfer, and new Theater majors must register for one (1) THR 198 credit and one (1) THR 199 credit during their first academic year.

Assignments for THR 196 and THR 197 will include a presentation of portfolio documents demonstrating a practical analysis of the role, design, or support position to subject area mentors.

THR 196 assignments including 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.

Unless registered for a Theater course approved as directly connected to production (i.e. THR 196-199, 492 or 495) all students (including non-Theater majors) electing to participate in a Theater at Mason production must register for THR 200 concurrent with participation.

Theater Honors Program

Highly qualified students who have completed 75 credits may pursue advanced work leading to graduation with honors in the major. Students apply for Honors in Theater by submitting to the Chair (by November 15 or April 15) a two-page written statement outlining their reasons for pursuing advanced coursework and specific professional goals, along with the names of two Mason theater faculty members who have agreed to serve as references.

Students satisfy the honors course sequence by taking three Honors specific courses from their chosen concentration. They must also maintain an overall GPA of 3.50 and a GPA of 3.75 within the major.