Department of Performing Arts (Music, Theatre and Dance)
Courses — Theatre Arts
THRART G102
Contemporary Issues in Theatre
THRART G105
Multicultural Drama in the U.S.: 1956-Present
THRART G108
Plays from Page to Stage
THRART G110
Opera as Drama
For a complete description of these courses, see the “First-year and Intermediate Seminars” section of this publication.
THRART 100
Introduction to Theatre
This course introduces the collaborative art of theatre from the varied perspectives of playwright, director, designer, technician, actor, critic, and informed audience.
Distribution I and II Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Lublin
THRART 121
The Styles and Techniques of Comedy
A study of the comic form, emphasizing the differing styles, techniques, motivations, and degrees of effectiveness of various exemplary comic playwrights, particularly in relation to their audiences, actors, and theatre architectures.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Lublin, Ms Overly
THRART 122
The Styles and Techniques of Tragedy
The evolution of the tragic form, emphasizing the differing styles, techniques, motivations and degrees of effectiveness of various exemplary tragic playwrights, particularly in relation to their audiences, actors, and theatre architectures.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Lublin, Ms Overly
THRART 123
Theatre Crafts I
An introduction to an exploration of stage facilities and skills, emphasizing skill development in the uses and choices of tools, materials, and procedures necessary for scenic and property execution. Includes 50-hour lab work in department productions. Offered each Fall semester
Distribution I and II Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Schrader
THRART 124
Theatre Crafts II
A continuation of Theatre Arts 124, this course emphasizes set design and construction, basic electrical work in theatrical lighting, prop construction, basics of running theatrical and dance productions, and the development of related crafts in the theatre. Students gain experience in individual and group design projects. This course has a 50-hour lab requirement. Offered each Spring semester.
Distribution I and II Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Schrader
THRART 200
Musical Theatre
An introduction to styles, kinds, and techniques of performance in musical theatre, from early mime through commedia dell’arte, opera and operetta, and modern musical comedy. Vocal and movement training, scene work and musical numbers developed, as well as semester projects of musical performances.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lab/Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Schrader
THRART 201
Theatre History
The intellectual content, designs, and techniques of the drama of the Western world, from the classic Greek to the contemporary European and American theatres. Emphasis on the cultural environment of each major period and locale of the drama in relation to the theatre and its public.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
Distribution II Area: Humanities.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Lublin
THRART 212
The Theatre of Social Protest
Historical survey of the use of the theatre to challenge the values of society. The techniques of staging used in different periods to reveal conflict in society, to dramatize contemporary issues, and to influence public opinion.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
THRART 213
American Theatre Before O’Neill
A survey of American drama from before the revolution until the advent of O’Neill on Broadway in 1920. Emphasis is placed upon the relation of individual plays to American theatrical, political and social history.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Lublin
THRART 214
American Theatre Since O’Neill
The rise and decline of the great period in American playwriting and production. Emphasis on the Broadway theatre as a mirror image of the ideas and events of American contemporary history since World War I.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Lublin
THRART 215
Mid–Twentieth Century Drama
The ideas, values, and techniques of the contemporary theatre as reflected in modern styles of stage production.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Lublin
THRART 220
Black Theatre in America
An exploration of the history of black theatre from its beginnings to the present, as related to and reflective of American society. An extension of the historical understanding of theatre related to society; a study of an artistic tradition influencing American theatre practices.
Distribution I and II Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
THRART 223
Intermediate Theatre Crafts
A study of the tools, equipment, and procedures necessary in theatrical graphics, lighting and sound production. Includes 50-hour lab work in department productions and individual projects.
Prerequisite: Theatre Crafts I or II.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Schrader
THRART 224
Play Production I
A study of the process of producing a theatrical event, emphasizing the selecting and training of the production staff, budgeting, and promotion. Lab work includes supervisory roles in department productions.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Schrader
THRART 225
Play Production II
Further exploration of the process of producing theatre, emphasizing organization of personnel and facilities for touring and for repertory.
Prerequisite: THRART 123 or 224.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Schrader
THRART 226
Play Analysis
Decoding a script: interpretation of playwright’s intention; director’s function; designer’s vision; actor’s creation. Emphasis on vocal characterization in readings done by the class of a variety of plays—mostly short, some original, some unproduced. Offered each Spring semester.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Lublin
THRART 234
New Theatre Strategies
Works in a new theatrical direction: the evolution of a theatre piece from a theme or group of themes rather than from a script. Students are involved in all aspects of the collective process of formulating drama from the interaction of a group. Structured and directed by the instructor.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
2 Lect Hrs, 2 Lab Hrs, 3 Credits
THRART 236
Introduction to Acting I
Dramatic form as required in acting. A survey of various styles: Greek, Elizabethan, Restoration and Modern; the actor’s function, with emphasis on recently evolved methods of acting, and on preparation of scenes in class.
Distribution I and II Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Casey, Mr Fennimore, Mr Gidron, Ms Schrader, Mr Lublin, Ms Overly, Mr Sweeney
THRART 237
Introduction to Directing I
The director as creator of the vision of the whole play and all its elements: acting, lighting, stage design, styles of theatre, script breakdown, production notebook, and slow, careful work in directing small scenes.
Prerequisite: Acting I.
Distribution I and II Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Gidron, Ms Overly
THRART 240
Women in Theatre
Plays by and about women; the history of women in theatre, supplemented by visits with women employed in the theatre. The changing role of women in society as reflected in drama and in literature.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
Diversity Area: United States.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
THRART 245
Creative Drama for Children
Students learn creative drama techniques, learn to teach drama to children of various ages, and actually teach in the community’s schools. Emphasis on expression of creative energies, bodies, voices, emotions, theatre games, rather than on mounting plays.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Boston Children’s Theatre Staff
THRART 251
Playwriting I
Writing for the theatre, including examinations of model one-act and three-act plays by major contemporary writers; selected readings on the craft of playwriting; and the completion of an original play begun in class.
Distribution I and II Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Lazarus
THRART 260
Introduction to Scene Design
Theatre as art form in cultural and popular expression: the function of the designer, application of elementary scenery as given in stagecraft classes, methods of pictorial representation; survey of architectural styles as applied to stage scenery, and of historical design for the stage.
Distribution I and II Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Schrader
THRART 261
Introduction to Costume Design
The theatre as incorporation of the history of fashion and costume design. A theoretical approach to designing costumes for the theatre and film. An introduction to the uses of color, scale, and general design elements as they apply to qualities of fabric, basic cutting and draping in stage costumes.
Distribution I and II Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Elliot
THRART 265
Television Production
An exploration and evaluation of techniques of television production, with particular emphasis on common industry practices.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Sweeney, Mr Brodsky
THRART 275
Introduction to Screen and Television Writing
An introduction to the art and the technical aspects of writing scripts for film and television. Involves analyses of screenplays, study of screen writers past and present, the relationship between director and writer, aesthetics of film writing. Project: the completion of a full-length screenplay from first treatment (synopsis) through first and second drafts and final script.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Brodsky
THRART 300
Seminar in the Scenic Imagination
The creative principles of stage production, based on an analysis of the play script in its relation to stage action, setting, costumes, makeup, sound design, and lighting. Study of scenic metaphor and a review of historical forms of staging, with emphasis on modern styles from naturalism to absurdism and epic theatre.
Distribution II Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Schrader
THRART 301
Seminar in Contemporary American Playwrights
Analysis of the art of a major living writer of the American stage; the history of the plays and their production; critical response; contribution of this body of drama to the American theatre and society. In most cases students consult with the playwright and/or those who have worked with him or her.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Conlon, Mr Lublin
THRART 316
The Elizabethan Stage
Study of Elizabethan stage techniques as revealed in plays by Marlowe, Shakespeare, Jonson and Webster.
Distribution II Area: Humanities.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Lublin
THRART 318
Modern European Drama
A study of late-nineteenth, early-twentieth-century theatre in Europe that marked the beginning of naturalistic, realistic, and symbolic drama, and created a revolution in directorial, scenic, and performance techniques. Plays are presented as scripts to be produced. Students create production books integrating all facets of theatrical expression.
Distribution II Area: Humanities.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Lublin
THRART 320
Shakespearean Acting
Specialized study of Shakespearean plays based on historical awareness of acting styles and techniques employed since the sixteenth century. Students create a broad range of characters in a variety of scenes from Shakespeare.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Lublin, Ms Overly
THRART 325
Workshop in Drama
This course culminates in a fully staged, fully mounted production. It is also designed to study the connection between the text and the performance of a play. Attention is given to the playwright, to the time, and to the production history. Production is presented to the University and general community. Note: THRART 325 must be repeated (for credit) by theatre arts majors. Other students may but need not repeat the course.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Lab Hrs, 4 Credits
Ms Schrader, Ms Overly
THRART 336
Introduction to Acting II
Advanced work in acting, including the mounting of scenes and one-act plays.
Prerequisite: THRART 236.
Distribution I Area: The Arts.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Fennimore, Mr Gidron, Ms Overly
THRART 337
Introduction to Directing II
Advanced work in directing, including the mounting of scenes and one-act plays.
Prerequisite: THRART 235.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Overly
THRART 351
Playwriting II
Writing for the theatre, with emphasis on the three-act form. Students construct a scenario and complete a draft of an original three-act play.
Prerequisite: THRART 251.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Lazarus
THRART 355
Lighting Design
The principles and techniques of illumination for the stage.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Scully
THRART 360
Advanced Design
Advanced techniques in the scene sketch, models for scenery, interpretations of the differing styles required for plays, opera, ballet, musical comedy, etc. Sketches, ground plans, and one major design project to be executed during the term.
Prerequisite: THRART 260 or permission of instructor.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Schrader
THRART 404
Advanced Directing
Advanced work on special class projects in a laboratory situation. The mounting of small scenes and plays.
Prerequisites: THRART 235 and 335 and permission of instructor.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Overly
THRART 435
Theatre Arts Internship
Designed to enable theatre arts majors to earn 6 credits for a semester’s internship in communication arts or in commercial or other working theatres outside the university.
Prerequisites: Junior standing as a theatre arts major, completion of most major requirements including workshops, and permission of instructor and chairperson.
Hrs by arrangement, 3-6 Credits
Staff
THRART 436
Advanced Acting
Advanced work on selected projects with special attention to the individual actor’s needs. Scene work, script breakdown, and development of a character.
Prerequisites: THRART 236 and 336.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
THRART 478, 479
Independent Study
Open only to a limited number of students in any one semester. Research, study and participation in theatre projects outside the classroom involving consultation with a faculty advisor. A written prospectus is required.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and chairperson.
Hrs by arrangement, 1-3 Credits
THRART 481
Selected Topics
The study of different areas within the field of theatre arts preparation. Courses vary each semester and are announced during pre-registration periods.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credit