Theatre
Theatre
Department of Theatre
4-122 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
500 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2371
For students beginning Fall 2005 and after
The curricular concentrations in the Department of Theatre provide intensive and extensive preparation for the rigorous demands of a professional career in the theatre. A strong commitment to work in the theatre and a realistic understanding of its intellectual, aesthetic, and physical demands are therefore necessary in students who enter the department.
Before acceptance into theatre, applicants must participate in auditions or interviews, which take place at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts five or more weekends each year, and at selected regional locations (normally Chicago and New York). In these auditions, applicants who plan to pursue the concentration in acting should present a three-minute audition, comprising two contrasting works from dramatic literature. Applicants wishing to pursue one of the concentrations in design, technology, and management should present a portfolio of previous theatre work. Applicants who intend to pursue the theatre studies concentration should also bring evidence of their previous theatre work and a 500-word essay addressing the aspects of the theatre studies program that interest them most and why they want to pursue those aspects. Information on these auditions and interviews will be sent to applicants once they have applied to the University and their eligibility has been determined by the Office of Admissions and Records.
Concentrations in theatre are in Acting, Costume Design and Technology, Lighting Design, Scenic Design, Scenic Technology, Sound Design and Technology, Stage Management, and Theatre Studies. Students are initially accepted as theatre majors and then formally admitted to one of these concentrations after an evaluation by the faculty during the student's first or second year. The concentrations in acting and design, technology, and management are intended for students who, in the judgement of the faculty, are ready to concentrate in these specialties in an intensive undergraduate professional training curriculum. The theatre studies concentration is intended for students who plan to pursue advanced training in directing, dramaturgy, playwriting, arts management, social issues theatre, and theatre history and criticism.
As one of the resident producing organizations at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, the Department of Theatre produces six or seven fully mounted productions each academic year and three each summer. The theatres and workshops of the Krannert Center serve as laboratories for theatre students, who have the opportunity to learn and to work alongside an outstanding staff of resident theatre professionals and visiting artists, preparing performances in theatre, opera, and dance. In addition, the department sponsors a small experimental theatre space for student-written and student-directed productions.
All theatre majors must successfully complete production crew assignments at the Krannert Center under THEA 100-Practicum I. Acting and theatre studies students cast in Krannert Center productions or assigned to assist in Krannert Center productions must also take THEA 400-Practicum, II. Design, technology, and management students are required to work on Krannert Center productions as assigned for THEA 400-Practicum, II, credit. Students seeking credit for practical theatre work outside the Krannert Center must secure the approval and supervision of theatre faculty in the form of an Individual Project ( THEA 391 or THEA 392) or as a Professional Internship (THEA 490) or Creative Project (THEA 595).
Curricula in Theatre
For the Degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre
A minimum of 128 hours of credit is required for the degree.
General Education Requirements for all University Students
| Hours | Required Courses |
|---|---|
| 4 | Composition I |
| Advanced Composition (fulfilled by THEA 261) | |
| 6 | Quantitative Reasoning, I and II |
| 0-12 | Foreign Language |
| 18 | General Education Humanities and the Arts (fulfilled by THEA 102 and 261) |
| 9 | General non-Theatre Electives |
| 11-14 | Open Electives |
| 48-51 | Total |
Core Requirements for all Theatre Majors
| Hours | Required Courses |
|---|---|
| 4 | THEA 102Text to Stage* |
| 1 | THEA 104Introduction to Scenecraft* |
| 1 | THEA 105Introduction to Costume Technology* |
| 1 | THEA 106Introduction to Lighting Technology* |
| 1 | THEA 107Introduction to Stage Makeup* |
| 3 | THEA 170Fundamentals of Acting, I* |
| 3 | THEA 175Fundamentals of Acting, II or THEA 125Graphic Skills* |
| 3 | THEA 261Dramatic Analysis |
| 3 | THEA 262Literature of Modern Theatre |
| 4 | THEA 461—History of Theatre |
| 4 | THEA 462—History of Theatre II |
| 28 | Total |
*First year theatre foundations courses.
Acting Program
The acting program provides intensive training in a wide variety of performing media. In the first and second years, students take introductory courses in movement, voice, and acting. In their second year of study in the department, students must audition for acceptance into the studio in acting. In addition to successful completion of all classes in their first and second years, acceptance will be based on an evaluation of each student's potential for professional-caliber performance, commitment to theatre, and the necessary discipline for intensive study. Third- and fourth-year students meet in daily four-hour sessions, each of which includes sections in dynamics, voice and speech, movement, and acting. Semester-long acting sections include advanced scene study, musical theatre, Shakespeare, and acting for the camera. Students in the professional studio in acting must audition for department productions and perform as cast.
Acting Concentration
| Hours | Required Theatre Courses |
|---|---|
| 4 | THEA 100Practicum, I |
| 4 | THEA 400Practicum, II |
| 3 | THEA 270Relationships in Acting, I |
| 2 | THEA 271Acting: Movement |
| 3 | THEA 275Relationships in Acting, II |
| 2 | THEA 276Acting: Voice |
| 8 | THEA 371Acting Studio I: Dynamics (1 hr.); THEA 372Acting Studio I: Voice (2 hr.); THEA 373Acting Studio I: Movement (2 hr.);THEA 374 Acting Studio I: Acting (3 hr.); |
| 8 | THEA 375Acting Studio II: Dynamics (1 hr.); THEA 376Acting Studio II: Voice (2 hr.); THEA 377Acting Studio II: Movement (2 hr.); THEA 378Acting Studio II: Acting (3 hr.) |
| 8 | THEA 471Acting Studio III: Dynamics (1 hr.); THEA 472Acting Studio III: Voice (2 hr.); THEA 473Acting Studio III: Movement (2 hr.); THEA 474Acting Studio III: Acting (3 hr.); |
| 8 | THEA 475Acting Studio IV: Dynamics (1 hr.); THEA 476Acting Studio IV: Voice (2 hr.); THEA 477Acting Studio IV: Movement (2 hr.); THEA 478Acting Studio IV: Acting (3 hr.); |
| 50 | Total |
Division of Design, Technology, and Management
Students planning careers in costume design and construction, lighting design, scenic design, scenic technology, sound design and technology, and stage management are selected for the options in this division by a process of faculty evaluation at the end of their first year of study in the department. Criteria for acceptance and continuance in these options include satisfactory completion of all course work in the first and second years, potential for professional-caliber work, commitment to theatre, and the necessary discipline for intensive study and practice. Students in these options are assigned to teams that design, mount, and manage more than fifteen productions annually in the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
Costume Design and Technology Concentration
| Hours | Required Theatre Courses |
|---|---|
| 5 | THEA 100Practicum, I |
| 8 | THEA 400Practicum, II |
| 3 | THEA 208Dramatic Analysis |
| 3 | THEA 222Introduction to Scenic Design |
| 3 | THEA 231Introduction to Stage Lighting |
| 2 | THEA 391Individual Topics |
| 2 | THEA 392Individual Topics |
| 3 | THEA 426History of Decor |
| 3 | THEA 442Costume Patterning |
| 4 | THEA 444Costume Draping |
| 4 | THEA 445Costume History and Design, I |
| 4 | THEA 446Costume History and Design, II |
| 4 | THEA 447Costume Rendering |
| 4 | THEA 449Costume Fabrication and Crafts |
| 49 | Total |
Lighting Design Concentration
| Hours | Required Theatre Courses |
|---|---|
| 5 | THEA 100Practicum, I |
| 8 | THEA 400Practicum, II |
| 2 | THEA 199Undergraduate Open Seminar: Lighting |
| 3 | THEA 222Introduction to Scenic Design |
| 4 | THEA 223Introduction to Technical Direction |
| 3 | THEA 231Introduction to Stage Lighting |
| 3 | THEA 232Advanced Lighting Design |
| 2 | THEA 391Individual Topics |
| 3 | THEA 425Stage Drafting |
| 3 | THEA 431Video Lighting and Production |
| 3 | THEA 432Lighting for the Musical Stage |
| 2 | THEA 435Professional Lighting Systems |
| 2 | THEA 437Software for Lighting Design |
| 2 | THEA 446Costume History and Design, II |
| 4 | THEA 451Stage Management |
| 3 | THEA 453Theatre Sound Technology |
| 52 | Total |
Scenic Design Concentration
| Hours | Required Theatre Courses |
|---|---|
| 5 | THEA 100Practicum, I |
| 8 | THEA 400Practicum, II |
| 3 | THEA 222Introduction to Scenic Design |
| 4 | THEA 223Introduction to Technical Direction |
| 3 | THEA 231Introduction to Stage Lighting |
| 2 | THEA 391Individual Topics |
| 4 | THEA 415Scenic Design, I |
| 4 | THEA 416Scenic Design, II |
| 3 | THEA 425Stage Drafting |
| 3 | THEA 426History of Decor |
| 2 | THEA 427Scene Painting |
| 4 | THEA 445Costume History and Design, I |
| 4 | THEA 446Costume History and Design, II |
| 2 | THEA 456Properties Design |
| 51 | Total |
Scenic Technology Concentration
| Hours | Required Theatre Courses |
|---|---|
| 5 | THEA 100Practicum, I |
| 8 | THEA 400Practicum, II |
| 3 | THEA 126Stage Mechanics, I |
| 2 | THEA 199Undergraduate Open Seminar: Scenic Technology |
| 3 | THEA 222Introduction to Scenic Design |
| 4 | THEA 223Introduction to Technical Direction |
| 3 | THEA 231Introduction to Stage Lighting |
| 2 | THEA 391Individual Topics |
| 3 | THEA 419CAD Drafting for the Stage |
| 3 | THEA 425Stage Drafting |
| 2 | THEA 427Scene Painting |
| 3 | THEA 430Technical Direction |
| 3 | THEA 438Stage Mechanics, II |
| 3 | THEA 440Stage Mechanics, III |
| 2 | THEA 446Costume History and Design, II |
| 3 | THEA 453Theatre Sound Technology |
| 52 | Total |
Sound Design and Technology Concentration
| Hours | Required Theatre Courses |
|---|---|
| 5 | THEA 100Practicum, I |
| 8 | THEA 400Practicum, II |
| 3 | THEA 126Stage Mechanics, I |
| 2 | THEA 199Undergraduate Open Seminar: Sound |
| 3 | THEA 222Introduction to Scenic Design |
| 4 | THEA 223Introduction to Technical Direction |
| 3 | THEA 231Introduction to Stage Lighting |
| 2 | THEA 391Individual Topics |
| 3 | THEA 425Stage Drafting |
| 2 | THEA 446Costume History and Design, II |
| 4 | THEA 451Principles of Stage Management |
| 3 | THEA 453Theatre Sound Technology |
| 3 | THEA 454Sound Design, I |
| 2 | THEA 455Audio Production |
| 2 | THEA 459Sound Systems |
| 2 | THEA 456Properties Design |
| 51 | Total |
Stage Management Concentration
| Hours | Required Theatre Courses |
|---|---|
| 5 | THEA 100Practicum, I |
| 10 | THEA 400Practicum, II |
| 3 | THEA 199Undergraduate Open Seminar: Management |
| 3 | THEA 212Introduction to Directing |
| 3 | THEA 222Introduction to Scenic Design |
| 4 | THEA 223Introduction to Technical Direction |
| 3 | THEA 231Introduction to Stage Lighting |
| 2 | THEA 391Individual Topics |
| 2 | THEA 446Costume History and Design, II |
| 4 | THEA 451Principles of Stage Management |
| 3 | THEA 452Principles of Arts Management |
| 3 | THEA 453Theatre Sound Technology |
| 4 | THEA 465Musical Theatre History |
| 49 | Total |
Theatre Studies Program
The theatre studies program focuses on the practical application of theatre scholarship and explores theatrical production as a collaborative art form that is grounded in theory, criticism, history, research, and writing.
The theatre studies concentration is intended to lay the foundation for students planning to pursue professional careers in areas of theatre for which advanced training or specialization at the graduate level is normally required. These areas include, but are not limited to: directing, dramaturgy, playwriting, arts management, social issues theatre, and theatre history and criticism.
Emphasis is given to a comprehensive study of theatre practices of the past, material participation in theatre practices of the present, and the discovery and application of theatre practices for the future.
| Hours | Required Theatre Courses |
|---|---|
| 4 | THEA 100Practicum, I |
| 2 | THEA 400Practicum, II |
| 3 | THEA 210Oral Interpretation or THEA 270Relationships in Acting, I |
| 3 | THEA 211Introduction to Playwriting |
| 3 | THEA 212Introduction to Directing |
| 3 | THEA 220Survey of Theatrical Design |
| 2 | THEA 391Individual Topics |
| 2 | THEA 392Individual Topics |
| 6 | THEA 490Professional Internship |
| 12 | Advanced Theatre courses: any 300 or 400 level Theatre course |
| 12 | Supporting Professional Electives: any theatre, dance or music course |
| 52 | Total |