Courses

TH 101A: The Human Instrument
Exploration of the potentials for use of the body, mind, voice, movement, energy, and sensory awareness through a wide range of creative exercises.

TH 102A: The Living Theatre
This course examines the many aspects of producing a play through the study of functions of the playwright, actors, director, and design team. Students will gain a basic knowledge of the process of creating a play, from first draft to final curtain, through a series of exercises and readings, and by watching productions of plays.

TH 145A: Design Basics
An introduction to the elements and principles of design and the design process. Exposure to graphic communications, drafting techniques and computer-aided design and drafting. Includes practical projects in design and research into design history.

TH 161A: Stagecraft
Basic principles and procedures for constructing the stage picture. Theatre terms, use of hand and power tools, set construction, scene painting, special effects and new products.

TH 163A: Basic Acting
Development of basic tools of the actor through reading, discussion, acting exercises and scene work. Introduction to several approaches to the craft of acting.

TH 202A: Improvisation
Introduction to basic techniques of short-form improvisation and theatre games. Students work with techniques developed by a variety of theatrical innovators, with emphasis on controlled creativity.

TH 204A: Lighting and Sound Design
Explores the theories and practices of theatrical lighting and sound design. Students will learn to use lighting and sound equipment through several in-class projects. Pre-requisites: TH 145A or TH 161A.

TH 210A: Acting For The Camera
An experiential course replicating a working film set where camera acting is taught through acting exercises, readings, and filmed and edited scenes shot on digital cameras.

TH 224A: Acting & Imagination
Exploration of acting through body-mind-imagination exercises devised by acting teacher Michael Chekhov as applied to a wide range of creative work. Evaluation based on creative projects, scene performances, and observational/reflective journals.

TH 226: Truth In Acting
A course on the Meisner technique of actor training that teaches purposeful listening, feeling, and responding to fellow actors. Coursework includes scene work, readings, acting exercises, and written reflections. Prerequisites: TH 101A or TH 163A.

TH 233A: Plays in Performance
Attend plays at area theatres. Gain an appreciation for playwriting, acting, directing, theatrical design, and technical production through an examination of live performance. Learn script analysis techniques and how to write an effective theatrical critique.

TH 235A: Theatre Production
An intensive laboratory experience in play production. Work in a single area such as assistant directing, stage management, costuming, lighting, sound, box office, or publicity. Course requires extensive out of class group work. Open to all students.

TH 243G: Bears to Cats:London Thtr Hist
This "Spring into Summer," Study Abroad course considers how the inclusion of animals and animalistic performance informs our understanding of various worldviews, philosophies, religions, and aesthetics from the Elizabethan period to now. Global Perspective.

TH 245: Scene Design
Play analysis and research for creating scene designs. Drawings, ground plans, renderings, model-making. Each student will produce a number of designs. Prerequisite: TH 145A or TH 161A.

TH 257: Advanced Acting: Short Form Improv
Focus on study of advanced acting styles or techniques, with an emphasis on their practical application. Prerequisite: TH 163A or TH 101A.

TH 263A: Technical Theatre
Focus on academic/practical study in areas of technical theatre, e.g., stage management, advanced stagecraft, welding, drafting, scene painting, etc. Prerequisite: TH 161A.

TH 264A: Animals in Stage Design
Investigation of the intersection between animals and design in Broadway-styled productions through research-based, practical design projects.

TH 270: Acting: Shakespeare
Exploration of Shakespeare through acting exercises: style, language, imagery, actions, storytelling, physicality, emotions, characterization. Students perform Shakespeare scenes, monologues, and sonnets.

TH 272E: Performance and the Environment
What do performance and the environment offer each other? Students critically evaluate environmentally themed performances across media (such as ecodrama, dance, public presentation, and ecocinema), as well as create public performance projects of their own.

TH 280A: Animals and Performance
This course broadly considers the historic and contemporary use of animals as performers and topics of performance and culminates in a performance-based project.

TH 282A: Performance and Design History
A class focusing on reading classic and contemporary plays from specific theatrical periods, with students researching social, visual, and performance context of each script.

TH 333A: Play Reading
An exploration of current and contemporary plays produced in New York and London. Designed to increase overall theatrical vocabulary and foster skills in script analysis and communication.

TH 372: Directing
Study and practice of directing theories and techniques for the theatre: script analysis, auditions, and rehearsal process from play to production.

TH1 402: Musical Theatre Dance Troupe 1
This course is designed for students pursuing the 2 + 2 Musical Theatre or Theatre BFA degree to increase skills in ballet, jazz, tap, and/or other musical theatre dance styles. Participation in both fall and spring semesters for a total of one course credit.

TH2 402: Musical Theatre Dance Troupe 2
This course is designed for students pursuing the 2 + 2 Musical Theatre or Theatre BFA degree to increase skills in ballet, jazz, tap, and/or other musical theatre dance styles. Participation in both fall and spring semesters for a total of one course credit.

TH 498: Theatre Capstone
Students will demonstrate skills in Dramaturgy, Acting, and Design through a sequence of written and creative assignments, and learn methods for finding professional work in the entertainment business. Theatre majors only.