Dance Courses
This course will prepare students for practical application of technique and the creative process required for dance performance at the graduate level.
This course will continue to prepare students for the practical application of technique and the creative process required for dance performance at the graduate level.
Exploration and development of contemporary dance technique at the graduate level.
Continued exploration and development of contemporary dance technique at the graduate level.
Study of ballet technique at the graduate level.
Continued study of ballet technique at the graduate level.
Exploration of movement styles beyond traditional Western dance forms. May include world dance forms, social dance forms, theatrical movement, or somatic practices.
This course will examine various aspects of music and sound as it relates to dance performance and choreography.
This course is designed to enhance graduate students’ explorations into creative process with particular attention to improvisational and choreographic abilities.
This course is designed to continue to enhance graduate students’ explorations into creative process with particular attention to improvisational and choreographic abilities leading into the thesis proposal.
Study of Jazz dance technique at the graduate level.
Continued study of Jazz dance technique at the graduate level.
This course engages students in their research design and creative process leading to the MFA Capstone Project.
This course engages students in their research design and creative process leading to the MFA Final Project.
This course will examine the process required for restaging and reconstructing dance repertoire.
Continued exploration of movement styles beyond traditional Western dance forms. May include world dance forms, social dance forms, theatrical movement, or somatic practices.
This class will be a laboratory for graduate choreographers, directors, designers, and composers to create collaboratively.
This course explores creative processes in various dance styles. Students will research the chosen subject matter with a public presentation as the culmination of the class.
This course continues to explore creative process in relation to concert performance and promotion.
This course will hone a core set of practical and theoretical skills to help dance-artists navigate the ever-changing digital landscape.
An introduction to Laban/Bartenieff Studies through movement integration, observation, notation, analysis, and application.
This course is designed for graduate dance students to analyze the principles, methods, philosophy, materials, and practice of teaching in colleges and universities.
This course explores dance science and somatics. Includes investigation of techniques for training dancers in order to minimize risk of injury and maximize potential.
Graduate course in research methods for dance.
This course involves the continued implementation of scholarly research leading to the MFA Capstone Project in Dance.
This course is designed to help students prepare for positions in academic and professional settings. Students will create a personal website, write their resume/CV, articulate personal goals and career aspirations, practice interview skills, and examine resources for network building.
This course provides students ways to look at major dance works and choreography figures prominent in the development of dance in America to enhance the viewing and discussion of dance.
Theatre Courses
A studio course which allows exploration into woodworking, metal working/welding, foam sculpting, casting, upholstery, Photoshop and any other process required to create stage props. Lab fee, $25.00.
This course covers the theories and analysis of rigging systems, their design and engineering as well as practical implementation and operation. This course is intended for the student that already has been exposed to standard theatrical production concepts and methodologies. Furthermore, a large portion of the subject matter of the class deals in scientific theory and computations so competency in basic mathematics, algebra, and basic physics are essential.
This course provides study and studio work in aspects of electricity and electronics with reference to understanding, usage, and design of systems for theatrical production. This course will cover the essential concepts of electrical theory for both AC and DC systems. The student will not only be exposed to theory, but will also have hands-on experience. As a large portion of the subject matter of the class deals in scientific theory and computations, competency in basic mathematics and algebra is essential.
This course will provide students with an overview of the technical design, construction techniques, and the administrative and management functions that are a part of the field of technical direction.
A survey of period architecture, ornament, and furniture as applied in the stage designer's research.
A studio course concentrating on traditional technical drafting techniques as applied to the theatre. Skills learned will include orthographic and isometric projections, ground plans, sections, perspective drawing, and layout.
A studio art course in the materials and techniques of painting and carving surfaces for stage scenery. Lab fee: $25.
A course providing a working knowledge of sound production, with an emphasis on the creation of sound files for theatre and dance and the setup and maintenance of sound reproduction and modification equipment. Lab fee, $25.00.
A studio course exploring the creation of technical drawings through Computer Aided Drafting. Skills learned will include commands for drawing, layout of information, and other CAD techniques.
A studio course in drawing and painting architectural and natural environments appropriate for a variety of stage settings. Exploration of media to render light, color, and texture.
A historical study of civil costume in relation to costuming for the stage.
A studio course in patterning, cutting, and constructing costumes for the stage. Additional hours in related theatre activities are required. This course has a $20 lab fee to cover materials ordered by the professor for use in the classroom as well as to help cover maintenance fees for equipment used.
Bodice, skirt, sleeve, and torso slopers will be created and manipulated through drafting techniques. Patterns will be created from muslin draping techniques. Examination of designer sketches, fashion/movie/theatre photos and research images to determine how they should be patterned as well as the fabric yardage needed for each garment.
A studio course in costume design principles and presentation for stage costumes.
The study and development of professional presentations for theatre artists. This includes, but is not limited to, "hard" portfolios, digital portfolios, exhibits and personal presentations.
This course explores and introduces a variety of techniques in which to modify the original appearance and/or intent of fibres and fabrics. This is done through the use of various dyes/techniques, surface treatment, use of non-traditional materials and restructuring of fabrics.
A studio course for drawing the human figure in a variety of stage settings and period garments. Exploration of a variety of media to render light, shadow, and textures for all types of fabrics and hard surfaces.
An advanced course in Alexander Technique, body awareness, alignment, breathing techniques, physicalization, and physical characterization. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
Advanced course in specific methodologies for character conception and projection. This course may be repeated twice for credit for a total of 6 hours, due to rotating theatrical material studied.
A course focusing on audition and interview techniques, unions, résumé writing, and other skills required to apply for positions in the academic and professional theatre.
Theory and methodology of the textual analysis of playscripts for production. Offered every three years.
Study and practice of period acting styles.
A continuation of TH 544, usually focusing on verse drama, especially Shakespeare. This class may be repeated once for credit, as the material performed will rotate through period and style.
This course will examine vocal anatomy and physiology, and vocal health and care for the performer's voice. Various methods and approaches to voice work using breath, text, speech work and study of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Students will explore their vocal development through exercises, drills, performance and use of heighten text language.
An advanced voice and speech course studying the phonetics of various dialects and accents used by actors needed to create certain roles. Students will apply the dialect/accent work to exercises, drills, and acting/performance projects.
Acting course in which students analyze and participate in the rehearsal process with both unpublished and published scripts. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
Beginnings to the Restoration. Offered every fall semester.
Restoration to the present. Offered every spring semester.
An examination of trends and developments in the theatre and drama since the Vietnam Era. Offered every three years.
The theatre and drama of ancient Greece and Rome.
Theatre and drama in the United States from its beginnings. Special focus on 19th-century developments and current post-modern adaptations of earlier plays and forms. Offered every three years.
A seminar/survey of 20th century american feminist texts, critical essays and videos tracking the shifting focus of feminists theory, concerns and performance.
Through research, class discussions and presentations of various styles, theories and approaches to the craft and art of directing, students will apply new ideas and concepts in a practical, hands-on studio setting. This studio work will be augmented with the direction (selecting, proposing, casting and rehearsing) of a 10-minute play with minimal, “bare-bones” production value at the end of the semester.
Principles of management applied to the fields of theatre operation and production, with emphasis on marketing, development, budgeting, and organizational structure.
This class is designed to introduce students to basic concepts of vocal technique and musicianship through practical application.
This class is designed to further students’ understanding of basic concepts of vocal technique and musicianship through practical application. Students will discuss various topics related to singing and will further explore those topics through performance. Students will give four solo performances over the course of the semester.
A graduate level course in writing for the stage, from dramatic conception to finished full length script, with an emphasis on the identification and development of a writer's "voice." In subsequent semesters, students can explore other script forms (full length plays, one person shows, etc), so the class may be repeated for a maximum of six credits.
In this course the student will be pursuing study in subject matters involving the collaborative theatre process. The specifics of a particular course offering will be assigned by the sponsoring faculty member. The subject matter for the course will require the student to do research, experimentation, analysis or other academic pursuit to fulfill the goals that are proposed for the specific course instance. The particular course offering will focus on a topic that will expose the student to specific collaborative methods found in the production of theatre.
This course provides for participation in productions by graduate level students within Acting, Arts Management, Costume Design and Production, Design and Technical Production, Directing, Stage Management, or other areas.
This course provides for participation in productions by graduate level students within Acting, Arts Management, Costume Design and Production, Design and Technical Production, Directing, Stage Management, or other areas.
Professional, practical application of various theatre specialities in conjunction with professional/commercial theatre companies.
This course provides for participation in productions by graduate level students within Acting, Arts Management, Costume Design and Production, Design and Technical Production, Directing, Stage Management, or other areas.
Advanced theory and practical application of stage management techniques and responsibilities.
A thorough study of the technical aspects of stage lighting, including electricity, optics, color, control theory; implementation and maintenance of lighting fixtures, cables, and control equipment; and a thorough understanding of stage lighting science, terminology, technique, and professionalism.
An advanced course covering the theory and practice of lighting design for the theatre, with an emphasis on the design process and execution.
Provide the graduate level design and technical student an in-depth understanding of the design methods of stage projection, including workflow; generation/acquisition of imagery; visual effects; video production; video systems; hardware; surfaces; and control.
A seminar involving the presentation of designs for various productions and preparation of problem-related demonstrations. May be repeated.
This course will concentrate on mathematical problem solving, the study of structural design and its application to theatrical structures and an investigation of why we build scenery the way we do.
A survey of the history of stage design and the development of stage technology, suitable for all MFA design and technical students. Includes several historically related design and research projects.
A studio course in scenic design for theatre. Students will design three or more plays learning analysis, drafting, drawing, painting, and building models.
A studio course in scenic design building on the techniques learned in TH622. Emphasis on complete design drafting and the building of models.
An intensive study of the designer's responsibility involving design for varied forms of staging and design drafting.
A studio course in advanced costume construction and costume crafts. Included topics are tailoring, corsetry, millinery, armor, wigs, masks, and jewelry, both period and modern. May be repeated. Lab fee, $25.00.
Male and Female torso body blocks will be created and manipulated through draping and drafting techniques. Patterns will be created from muslin drapes as well as drafting. Examination of professional designer sketches, Movie/theatre costume photos, period research, commercial patterns will be examined and evaluated to learn how to assess and interpret costumes. As topics may shift this course may be repeated.
Course projects include costume designs for theatrical musicals, opera and dance. May be repeated.
Projects focus on analysis, research and designs for personality and characters.
The student will be able to analyze a script and apply the principles of design to character appropriate costumes. Projects will include scripts representing time periods prior to 1900. May be repeated for credit.
A studio course in the patterning, fit, and construction of garments popular prior to the 20th century. Different periods of fashion will be covered in each course offering. Each course offering will allow for full development of patterning, fit, and construction for costume projects for a particular time period.
A studio course in both hand and machine tailoring techniques needed to produce high quality custom tailored garments for the stage. This includes, but is not limited to hand padding, machine padding, decorative and couture techniques.
Study and studio work in a specialized area of costume design or technology.
Advanced theory and practice in stage movement topics such as Anatomy/Alexander Technique, Clowning, Mask, Laban Movement Analysis, Stage combat, Mime, etc. May be repeated for credit for up to 6 credit hours as topics differ.
Private instruction in graduate level Alexander Technique. This course is designed to provide advanced, specialized work on movement re-education for the performer. Topics include, but are not limited to, alignment, balance, psychophysical coordination, and applied work.
A course to provide practical experience in teaching and coaching actors, and developing methods and various approaches in teaching acting.
A course covering the practical aspects of teaching, including syllabi preparation, course planning, and classroom experience.
This course provides comprehensive training and experience in aspects of teaching courses in theatre. The subject matter will include course planning, course development, course presentation, and course evaluations.
Advanced theory and practical application of performance techniques.
This course provides study and studio work in aspects of theatre technology. The subject matter will include a variety of aspects of theatre technology including electronics and electricity, physics and motion, automation and programming, or other state-of-the-art techniques.
Advanced theory and exploration of the history of modern Directing and Stage Management.
Advanced theory and practical application of directing techniques. As topics vary, this course is repeatable up to 9 credit hours.
Advanced theory and practical application of directing techniques. As topics vary, this course is repeatable up to 9 credit hours.
Advanced theory and practical application of directing techniques.
Students will learn and subsequently apply the theories and practices to successfully acquire unearned revenue through annual and major gifts, corporate and foundation support, planned giving, capital campaigns and grant writing.
Students will develop and understanding of leadership theory and effective management practices and the ability to model and adapt their leadership, management styles and behaviors as situations change in arts organizations. Students will also develop perspective and coaching on how to apply the course materials to their current work situation and future work environment scenarios.
Public assembly venue management represents one of the fastest growth areas in the sports, entertainment, meeting, and convention industries. With the construction of new arenas, stadiums, theaters, convention centers, and other venues, there are numerous job opportunities for properly trained individuals. This course will review and examine the principles and practices associated with managing a public assembly venue and the nature of the venue business. This is a comprehensive course designed to cover applied versus theoretical knowledge with an emphasis on assisting the student in understanding the concepts related to this professional field. In addition, this course will cover the process undertaken by event managers to plan all types of events from fundraising galas to conventions.
There are two parts to this class. First, a study of the application and principles of microeconomics to the arts. The topics include supply, demand, cost, pricing, margin and the arts organization as a business entity. Second, the class will deal with the principles and practices of financial management applied to the arts enterprise. Analysis of financial statements and financial management function as it is applied to the arts will be examined.
A study of the history and manifestation of public arts policy in the United States, with emphasis placed on arts advocacy and public relations tactics and campaigns.
An examination of legal requirements of nonprofit arts organizations, specifically addressing tax exemption, reporting of contributions, development considerations, and contemporary legal issues affecting artists.
A study of contemporary marketing practices and how they are applied to the nonprofit arts organization. Special emphasis on marketing audits, forecasting, analysis, and campaigns.
This course is an in depth study of the role and impact of a board of directors and the planning process in the operation of an arts organization. Specific topics covered will include board and staff interaction, board duties and responsibilities, fundraising, governance models, the strategic planning process, parliamentary procedures, board committee structures and developing bylaws and articles of incorporation.
Directed studies in specific arts management techniques and theoretical development of theatre projects. May be repeated for credit when the topic differs.
Independent Study of topic found within theatre.
This course is designed for an MFA student in Theatre to demonstrate their accumulated training and experience within their particular area of concentration. Areas of concentration are Acting, Arts Management, Costume Design and Production, Design and Technical Production, Directing, and Stage Management.
Research Not Related to Thesis.
Private Instruction. This class is designed to work on vocal technique, including but not limited to, breathing, resonance, coordination of vocal registers, and musical theatre repertoire.
Private Instruction. This class is designed to work on vocal technique, including but not limited to, breathing, resonance, coordination of vocal registers, and musical theatre repertoire.