Theatre

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Purpose and Focus

The Bachelor of Arts degree allows the student to pursue theatre as a major in the context of a liberal arts curriculum. The degree seeks the integration of the theory and practice of the theatre arts. Students explore theatre as an intellectual discipline and a performing and visual art as well as a technique and a craft. The Department of Theatre also provides cultural enrichment for the university and community through the university theatre season.

Accreditation

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
National Association of Schools of Theatre

Undergraduate Majors

Theatre — Bachelor of Arts

Areas of Concentration

Theatre Bachelor of Arts: Design/Technology
Offers specialized training in costume, lighting, scenic design, and theatre technology for the student pursuing a career as a professional designer/technician or conservatory training beyond the baccalaureate level.

Theatre Bachelor of Arts: Stage and Screen Acting
Offers specialized acting, camera, voice, movement, dance and singing training for students pursuing a career as a professional actor or conservatory training beyond the baccalaureate level.

Theatre Bachelor of Arts: Theatre Studies
Offers a generalized study in all aspects of the theatre for students seeking a professional career in teaching and/or continued practical, artistic, or scholarly study beyond the baccalaureate level.

Admission to the Major

• Minimum GPA: 2.00
• Students in Theatre must declare an area of concentration in stage and screen acting, design/technology, or theatre studies.
• Students in Theatre changing an area of concentration must complete all required courses in their new concentration.

Transfer Policies

Articulation of transfer credit will be determined by the department chairperson or the undergraduate coordinator. No more than 50 percent of the course work required for a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre may be transferred. Articulation of transfer credit in the selected area of concentration must be made in consultation with faculty of the respective area of concentration.

Department Policies

All Theatre Majors

• Students must maintain a minimum 2.70 (B-) GPA.
• Students must maintain continuing enrollment by registering each term after matriculation (summer excluded) for at least three credits of work related to meeting specific degree requirements.
• Students must be available for participation in productions that are an official part of the university theatre season.
• Students must meet with an academic advisor in advance of registration for the approval of a class schedule and assessment of academic progress.
• Students are required to attend all productions sponsored by the Department of Theatre. Tickets are available free at the Performing Arts Center Box Office to all full-time university students with a valid student ID. The department has a long-standing tradition of attending the opening night performance in a collective celebration of our “home team” efforts.
• Students in Theatre must declare an area of concentration in stage and screen acting, design/technology, or theatre studies.

Stage and Screen Acting (SSA) Concentration

• Admission to the concentration is by audition only. Contact the Department of Theatre for information about dates and audition schedules.
• Continuation in the concentration is determined by the quality of class work, performance projects, and the end of semester evaluations. Failure to be placed in the appropriate course work toward the completion of the degree requirements may result in suspension from the concentration. In some cases students may be placed on probationary status for deficiencies in particular areas of study (voice, movement, acting, style, language). Students placed on probation may be required to successfully repeat specific performance courses or complete additional courses specified by the SSA faculty. Repeatable technique courses are a common practice in the technical training of the actor.
• The SSA is a pre-professional program in which all courses must be taken in a very specific sequential order. Each student must enroll in courses prescribed by the SSA Faculty. Failure to do so may result in delayed graduation or separation from the concentration.
• Students must audition for (and be available for participation in) all productions that are an official part of the university theatre season. Performance work in university theatre productions is an extension of the classroom and a practical laboratory for all SSA concentration students. Students unable to audition must submit in advance a written request for a waiver to the head of SSA. Participation in production includes attendance at rehearsals, performances, costume and photo calls, and strike.
• Students must submit a written request to the head of SSA for prior approval of any performance opportunity which is not an official part of the university theatre season. This includes but is not limited to ancillary class projects, community and professional theatre.

Design/Technology Concentration

• Students must meet all obligations and requirements with respect to design/technology assignments in major and studio productions that are an official part of the university theatre season as well as class scenes and ancillary productions. This includes attendance at strike, photo calls, production meetings and any and all obligations and requirements articulated by design/technology faculty.
• Students must participate in the semester’s end portfolio review each semester until the completion of the degree.
• Students must enroll in and successfully complete all courses specified by the design/technology faculty at the semester’s end portfolio review.
• Continuation is determined by a semester’s end portfolio review. In some cases, students may be placed on probationary status for deficiencies in particular areas of study. Students placed on probation may be required to successfully repeat specific design/technology courses or complete additional courses specified by the design/technology faculty.

Probation/Suspension

Failure to comply with department policies may result in probation or suspension. Students placed on probation may be subject to the following sanctions: be given a semester’s grace period to improve GPA to comply with concentration or department policies; and/or achieve satisfactory academic progress, be required to repeat or complete additional remedial course work, be denied enrollment in course work in their area of concentration and/or the Department of Theatre, and/or be denied participation in production projects sponsored by the Department of Theatre. Students placed on suspension will be separated from their area of concentration and/or the Department of Theatre.

Advisement

Every student majoring in theatre or senior adult theatre is expected to have a schedule approved each term, in advance of registration, by an academic advisor. Any subsequent change in schedule requires an additional endorsement. The Department of Theatre holds a departmental advising session each semester. Contact the department office for dates and times. Failure to seek academic advising may result in delays to anticipated date of graduation.

Scholarships

The Department of Theatre offers scholarship and grant-in-aid awards to students who receive above-average grades and demonstrate scholastic and creative excellence in the theatre. Scholarship applications and audition information are available through the department office. Additionally, interested students are encouraged to apply for financial awards through the university Office of Student Financial Services.

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