■ School of Theater

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

Faculty

Ken Elston, Director

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

Associate Professors: Austin, Elston (director), Gero, Johnsen-Neshati

Assistant Professor: Casey

Administrative Faculty (Instructional): Lechter, Murray

Adjunct Faculty: Cadby, Dunayer, Gaines, Gardner, Hurt, Lee, Maier, Nanni-Messegee, Wallace,Wilson

Course Work

The School of Theater offers all course work designated THR in the Courses section of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

The School of Theater offers BA and BFA degrees, both requiring completion of 120 credits 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 School of Theater web page, theater.gmu.edu/academics/admissions.html or by calling the School of Theater office at 703-993-1120. Admission to the University is determined by the Admissions Office.

The School of Theater 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. A student must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 to complete a BA with a concentration or a BFA.

Admission Requirements

Admission to George Mason University requires application through Mason’s Admissions Office. Admission to the theater major requires an interview and audition or portfolio review with the School of Theater as described below. Please note that these are two separate processes. The Theater admission process is a give-and-take experience in which students are encouraged to discuss their education and career goals in addition to demonstrating their artistic ability. The Theater minor does not require an interview. Applicants are encouraged to seek admission to the university prior to their interview with the School of Theater. For information regarding admission to George Mason University, financial aid, and campus tours, please visit the George Mason University website (www.gmu.edu). Admission to the university is determined by the Admissions office.

Interviews will be conducted by appointment and candidates must prepare an appropriate resume.

Actors will also audition for a panel of Theater faculty with two pieces, either two contrasting monologues or a monologue and 16 bars of a song (to be sung unaccompanied), not to exceed three minutes total. Actors will likely be asked to make adjustments and repeat portions of their work.

Designers, technicians and stage managers will have their portfolios and resumes reviewed by representatives of the design faculty. Students are responsible for assembling and presenting examples of their work.

Playwrights, dramaturgs and generalists must submit a writing sample to theater@gmu.edu prior to interviewing.

Theater Education candidates must submit a written Teaching Philosophy Statement prior to interviewing, and will also audition for a panel of theater Faculty with one monologue.

Under special circumstances that preclude an in-person audition, interview, or portfolio review, student applicants may qualify for alternate arrangements. Contact the School of Theater for details.

Applicants will be notified of a School of Theater decision within two weeks. Applicants who are denied acceptance to the Theater major must wait one year before reapplying and must meet with the Director of the School of Theater or his/her designee one semester prior to reapplying.

Please contact the School of Theater at theater@gmu.edu or 703-993-1120 to schedule your interview. Students who audition or present a portfolio at theater conferences (i.e. Virginia Theatre Association, Southeastern Theater Conference, etc.) before or after applying to Mason are required to attend a separate interview on campus.

Theater BA

Theater majors organize their advanced work within the major to include classes in areas of emphasis including performance, design and technical Theater, and other theater studies.

Theater BA Concentrations

Theater majors may choose to complete their Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in one of the following areas: Design and Technical Theater, Performance (Acting and Directing), Playwriting and Dramaturgy, or Theater Education for Theater Arts PK-12. Students must earn a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA to complete a BA with a concentration. There is no further audition requirement or portfolio review for theater majors electing to complete a concentration. Students may also complete the traditional Bachelor of Arts without a concentration.

Theater BFA Concentrations

In addition to the Mason Core requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree, Theater Bachelor of Fine Arts majors must complete a minimum of 73 credits in the major: 49 credits of required core courses and 24 credits 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. All students pursuing a BFA in Theater must earn a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA for graduation.

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 or BFA in theater fulfill this requirement by successfully completing THR 350 or THR 482 .

Certification for Theater Education for Theater Arts PK-12

The Theater Education for Theater 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). Upon degree conferral and completion of all requirements, students may be eligible to apply for Virginia State Licensure. Minimum scores on the Praxis Core and VCLA tests must be achieved before state licensure is granted.

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

Certification in Musical Theater

Students pursuing a certification in Musical Theater must satisfy all requirements for a BA or BFA in the Theater Department, with a concentration in performance, or a BA or BM in the School of Music, as reflected in the university catalog. Some credits required for the certificate may simultaneously fulfill the learning requirements of the certificate in Musical Theater and fulfill Mason Core requirements. Some courses require placement. Thus, depending on electives and other learning experiences, this certification requires up to 30 credits beyond the requirements to complete a major in the Theater Department.

Students receiving the certificate must hold a baccalaureate degree or be earning a baccalaureate degree from Mason at the time they receive the certificate. This program of study is coordinated between units within the College of Visual and Performing Arts. See Musical Theater Certificate section for specific requirements.

Production Opportunities

Participation in Theater at Mason productions is expected of all declared majors. Students must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA to participate in Theater at Mason productions.

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 Director (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.