James Hunter, Chair/Artistic Director

Overview

The curricula in theatre arts are based on the belief that critical study, performance, and studio work are all necessary for the education of the theatre artist. Study of literature, theatre history, and theory deepens the artist’s understanding of principles and perspectives. Likewise, the studio provides the necessary practical training for the artist, and productions become the laboratory for practice of new skills gained.

The production of plays is the principal means available for coordinating all the elements of theatre art. The play is the single experience in which the knowledge and insight gained from history, theory, and criticism are given substance by the arts of the playwright, director, actor, and designer. In this way the production program of the department is an integral component of the education of graduate students.

To excel in the practical disciplines of theatre, an individual’s natural abilities must be developed through study combined with practice. Hence, while individual students with a high degree of natural talent are selected, it will be their ability to apply themselves with discipline and determination to the preparation and practice of classroom work that will lead to their final success in programs and in the profession.

The ultimate aim of our graduate program is to produce theatre artists who have knowledge of representative plays from all periods of Western European theatre history and of the theoretical foundations of Western drama and the theatre arts. They should be capable of applying that knowledge in performance and production work.

The department uses a combination of permanent faculty and visiting professionals to provide its graduate population with appropriate instructional experiences. The department also uses artists-in-residence to augment graduate instruction, play production, and the dance program.

This faculty serves graduate students in the M.A., M.A.T., and M.F.A. degree programs. With an attractive student-teacher ratio, the graduate program in theatre provides a number of forums in which experiences, ideas, and knowledge can be shared.

Admissions

Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching

Applicants for the M.A. and M.A.T. degrees should hold a baccalaureate degree that includes a minimum of 24 semester hours in theatre, with grades indicating graduate ability. Applicants for the M.A.T. should submit satisfactory scores on the Miller Analogies Test. Applicants for the M.A. degree must submit satisfactory scores on the general section of the Graduate Record Examination and a recent writing sample. While there is no absolute minimum score required on the MAT or GRE, students with less than a 40 (MAT) or 1000 (GRE verbal and quantitative) usually find it difficult to complete the program and may need to justify their scores during the application process.

Master of Fine Arts

Applicants for the M.F.A. degree should hold a B.F.A. or B.A. degree from an accredited institution with a major in theatre. Acceptance of an M.F.A. applicant, determined by the departmental admissions committee, will be based upon academic records, letters of recommendation, interviews, and either the critical examination of appropriate portfolio materials or the audition.

Programs and Courses

The Theatre and Dance Department offers the Theatre, M.A.T. (P-12 Certification)  in conjunction with the College of Education .

Programs

• Theatre, M.A.
• Theatre, M.F.A.

Courses

• DANC 500 - Selected Topics in Dance
• DANC 573 - Dancer’s Workshop
• DANC 577 - Dance Performance
• DANC 586 - The Articulate Body
• DANC 599 - Special Topics in Dance

• THEA 500 - Selected Topics in Theatre
• THEA 510 - Rendering Techniques for the Theatre
• THEA 520 - Playwright’s Workshop
• THEA 522 - Drama in Education
• THEA 526 - Children’s Theatre
• THEA 529 - Theatre Management
• THEA 530 - Period Styles for Wig and Hair Design
• THEA 531 - Theatre Graphics
• THEA 550 - History of Costume
• THEA 552 - Stage Costume Pattern Drafting and Drawing
• THEA 553 - Advanced Stagecraft
• THEA 554 - Performing Arts Safety
• THEA 555 - Scene Painting for the Stage
• THEA 556 - Stage Design
• THEA 557 - Advanced Scenic Design
• THEA 561 - History of the Theatre I
• THEA 562 - History of the Theatre II
• THEA 563 - History of Modern Theatre
• THEA 565 - African American Theatre
• THEA 567 - Dramatic Theory I
• THEA 568 - Dramatic Theory II
• THEA 569 - Dramaturgy
• THEA 570 - Advanced Acting I
• THEA 571 - Advanced Acting II
• THEA 572 - Advanced Makeup for Theatre and Film
• THEA 575 - Rehearsal and Performance
• THEA 576 - Rehearsal and Performance
• THEA 577 - Special Topics in Physical Theatre
• THEA 578 - Play Direction I
• THEA 579 - Play Direction II
• THEA 581 - Film as Performance
• THEA 582 - Costume Design
• THEA 583 - Advanced Practice in Sound Design
• THEA 585 - Design for Communications Media Production
• THEA 586 - The Articulate Body
• THEA 587 - Film and Television Acting
• THEA 588 - Stage Light Design I
• THEA 589 - Advanced Stage Lighting Design II
• THEA 599 - Special Topics in Theatre
• THEA 701 - Research Methodology
• THEA 702 - Directing Debate and Forensics
• THEA 710 - Graduate Design Studio
• THEA 720 - Dramatic Literature for Youth
• THEA 721A - M.F.A. Practicum, Technical Direction
• THEA 721B - M.F.A. Practicum, Management
• THEA 721C - M.F.A. Practicum, Costuming
• THEA 721D - M.F.A. Practicum, Lighting
• THEA 721E - M.F.A. Practicum, Acting
• THEA 721F - M.F.A. Practicum, Scenery and Properties
• THEA 721G - M.F.A. Practicum, Directing
• THEA 730 - Stage Management
• THEA 731 - Technical Drawing for the Theatre
• THEA 741 - Advanced Voice Lab
• THEA 752 - Advanced Costume Construction
• THEA 754 - Theatrical Rigging and Mechanics
• THEA 755 - Advanced Scene Painting for the Stage
• THEA 756 - Advanced Costume Design
• THEA 757 - Problems in Theatre Practice I
• THEA 758 - Problems in Theatre Practice II
• THEA 759 - Design Motifs
• THEA 760 - Graduate Text Analysis
• THEA 761 - Studies in Theatre History
• THEA 765 - Staging in the Non-Traditional Theatre
• THEA 770 - Problems in Acting, Rehearsal, and Performance
• THEA 771 - Problems in Acting, Rehearsal, and Performance
• THEA 773 - Performing in Period Plays I
• THEA 774 - Performing in Period Plays II
• THEA 777 - Advanced Movement and Dance
• THEA 778 - Directoral Workshop I
• THEA 779 - Directoral Workshop II
• THEA 782 - Professional Costume Design Practices I
• THEA 783 - Professional Costume Design Practices II
• THEA 786 - Professional Scene Design Practices I
• THEA 787 - Professional Scene Design Practices II
• THEA 788 - Professional Stage Lighting Practices I
• THEA 789 - Professional Stage Lighting Practices II
• THEA 790 - Professional Theatre Internship
• THEA 796 - Special Projects
• THEA 797 - Special Projects
• THEA 799 - Thesis Preparation