Professor James E. Shollenberger, Chair
302 Fine Arts Center

Associate Professors Foregger, Mizenko, and Pulliam
Assistant Professors Cuomo, Edwards, Kozminski, Rainey, and Scott

Prerequisite to Graduate Study
A minimum of 24 semester hours of acceptable undergraduate courses is required, including theatre history, performance techniques, dramatic literature, technical theatre and directing. Twelve semester hours must be in upper-division courses in these areas. Evidence of meaningful artistic achievement/experience may, at the department's discretion, be accepted in lieu of all or part of the above.

Students for whom English is a foreign or second language must present evidence of having successfully completed the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum total score of 600, preferably in graduate study fields #53 (Dramatic Arts) and/or #24 (Speech).

THE MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN THEATRE DEGREE

This 60-semester hours program is a terminal degree program intended to produce performers, directors, and designers with aspirations for creative theatrical production as a profession in American educational theatre and/or the various areas and levels of commercial theatre. The primary thesis requirement is a creative project in the student's area of specialization.

Requirements
Each of the three emphases within the M.F.A. program requires 54 semester hours of course work and at least 6 hours of thesis credit. THEA 621, Bibliography and Research, and THEA 623, Dramatic Theory, are required of all students in the M.F.A. program.

Degree Requirements
There are three emphasis areas: directing, acting and design. For each emphasis, a student is required to complete a thesis project through enrollment in 6 hours of THEA 697. In addition to the requisite study and research, MFA theses normally will require a public presentation embodying the results of the research. MFA students are required to demonstrate progress in their area of specialization through production assignments each year.

For the acting emphasis, THEA 576 or 579, 561, 621, 623, 624, 625, 626, 664 (2 semesters), 665 (2 semesters), and 666 (2 semesters) are required. Five 3-hour elective courses, approved by the student's adviser, also must be taken.

For the directing emphasis, THEA 576, 579, 581, 582, 621, 623, 684, 685, 586, 687, 688, and 689 are required, plus THEA 624, 625, and 626. Three elective courses, approved by the student's adviser, also must be taken.

For the design emphasis, students must take THEA 570, 576, 579, 621, 623, 624, and 625. Also, students must take 27 hours of electives chosen from among THEA 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 641, 651, 670, 671, 672, 673, 675, 677, and 678 (some of which may be repeated once, as indicated in the course descriptions), and they must take two additional electives. At least 15 hours of these electives must be at the 600 level, and all must be approved by the student's adviser.

The department requires the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination. M.F.A. students are required to demonstrate progress in their area of specialization through production assignments each year.

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Course Descriptions

Theatre Arts - THEA

All 500-level courses in theatre arts can only be taken for graduate credit.

501. FILM HISTORY. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (3).

502. FILM CRITICISM. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (3).

505, 506. MOTION PICTURE TECHNIQUES. Methods and practices for the film performer. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (3, 3).

511, 512. VOCAL PRODUCTION FOR REALISTIC STYLES I, II. The vocal interpretation and performances of modern realistic plays, stressing specific vocal approaches and techniques, and their application apropos of this genre. (1,1).

513, 514. VOCAL PRODUCTION FOR CLASSIC STYLES I, II. The vocal interpretation and performance of classical plays, stressing specific vocal approaches and techniques, and their application apropos of these genre. (1,1).

515, 516. VOCAL PRODUCTION FOR ALTERNATIVE THEATRICAL STYLES I, II. The vocal interpretation and performance of nonrealistic, nonclassical plays, stressing specific vocal approaches and techniques, and their application, apropos of these genre. (1,1).

521. THE BLACK PLAYWRIGHT IN AMERICA. Development of black playwrights in American drama. (3).

561. ADVANCED ACTING. Intensive exploration of acting problems, approaches and techniques. Combines lectures on acting theory with applied studio work. (3).

562. ADVANCED STAGE MOVEMENT. Studies in movement techniques for the advanced actor. (3).

565. ADVANCED VOICE AND DICTION. Methods of production; analysis and training of each student's voice; attention to individual career goals. Required of every graduate student during the first semester of residence. (3).

566. ADVANCED ORAL INTERPRETATION FOR THE ACTOR. Analysis and delivery of line studies and complete character studies of varying types and from various historical periods. Prerequisite: 366 and consent of instructor. (3).

570. SCENIC PAINTING FOR THE THEATRE. Historical and modern theory and techniques of scenic painting for the theatre arts. (3).

571. ADVANCED THEATRE DESIGN GRAPHICS. Execution of technical drawings, perspective, and color renderings as basis for communication of scenic design in theatre arts. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (3).

572. ADVANCED STAGE COSTUMING. Special problems in applied costume design and theory and practice. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (3).

573. ADVANCED STAGE LIGHTING. The history, properties and functions of stage lighting, including production styles, script analysis, lighting formulae, psychological implications of light, color, space and form, composition. (3).

574. DRAFTING AND MODEL CONSTRUCTION. Practices and techniques of drafting and model making for the theatre, emphasizing conventions and standards of technical communication for scenic design. Prerequisite: THEA 274 and THEA 370 or equivalents. (3)

575. PERIOD PATTERN DRAFTING AND DRAPING. Special problems in pattern development for period stage costumes applied to supervised studio projects. Prerequisites: THEA 273 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. (3).

576. HISTORY OF DRESS AND DÈCOR. Historical survey of period styles in dress and decor from classical Greece to the 20th century as related to theatre arts. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (3).

579. HISTORY OF DRESS AND DÈCOR II. Historical survey of trends, innovations, and developments in the history of dress and decor from 1600 to the present, as pertaining to theatre arts. (3).

581. ADVANCED DIRECTING. All phases of theatre work; current theories of production; preparation of director's prompt book. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (3).

582. ADVANCED DIRECTING TECHNIQUES. All phases of theatre work; current theories of production; preparation of production book. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (3).

585. THEATRE MANAGEMENT. Promotion, finance, and organization of educational, professional, and community theatre; practical experience in University and experimental theatre. (3).

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603. DIRECTED STUDY. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

620. STUDIES IN THEATRE LITERATURE. Detailed study of some one period or figure. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

621. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND RESEARCH. Introduction to graduate study in the theatre arts. (3).

623. DRAMATIC THEORY. An intensive study of major dramatic forms and their structural principles as they relate to the total art form. (3).

624. DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE I. Lecture/seminar. Major trends and movements in theatre from the Greek period to 1850. (3).

625. DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE II. Lecture/seminar. Major trends and movements in theatre from 1850 to 1920. (3).

626. DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE III. Lecture/seminar. Major trends and movements in theatre from 1920 to the present. (3).

627. MODERN DRAMA IN TRANSLATION. Development of European drama and dramatists forming the background of the last half of the 20th century. (3).

628. MODERN THEATRE PRACTICES. Current operations and artistic organization of commercial, educational, and community theatre in the United States. Emphasis on production personnel policies and practices. (3).

641. SCENIC DESIGN STYLES. Exploration and implementation of visual design styles and historical period styles through design projects based on individual studio practice. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (3).

651. PRODUCTION DESIGN. Special problems in scenic design for nontheatrical performance, including opera, ballet, television, and film. Prerequisite: THEA 571 and THEA 641. (3).

661, 662, 663. ADVANCED ACTING PRACTICUM. Supervised studio projects designed to demonstrate superior proficiency in acting. (3, 3, 3).

664. ACTING MODERN REALISM. The interpretation and performance of contemporary realistic plays, stressing particular physical and vocal techniques and modern acting approaches and applying critical analysis to a range of modern playwrights. (May be repeated once for credit). (3).

665. ACTING SHAKESPEARE. The interpretation and performance of the plays of Shakespeare, stressing particular physical and vocal techniques and classical acting approaches and applying critical analysis to a range of Shakespearean works. (May be repeated once for credit). (3).

666. ACTING IN ALTERNATIVE STYLES. The interpretation and performance of plays in styles exclusive of Shakespearean and modern realistic styles, from classical Greek to Absurdist, stressing particular techniques and applying critical analysis to representative playwrights. (May be repeated once for credit). (3).

668. ADVANCED THEATRE PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUES. Advanced verbal and nonverbal communication methods and practice for media and live performance. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

670. ADVANCED SCENIC PAINTING. Special problems in scenic painting applied to supervised studio projects. Prerequisite: THEA 570 or equivalent. (3).

671, 672, 673. ADVANCED DESIGN PRACTICUM. Supervised studio projects designed to demonstrate superior proficiency in design for the theatre arts. (3, 3, 3). (May be repeated once for credit).

675. TECHNICAL DIRECTION AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE THEATRE ARTS. Analysis of the organization and operation of theatre facilities; emphasis on technological research. (3).

677. COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN STUDIES FOR THE THEATRE. A thorough investigation of a variety of current software being used in the industry stressing literateness in the subject matter and cognition of the scope of available programs. (3).

678. ADVANCED THEATRE PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES. Advanced production practicum for theatre performances using traditional and advanced methods of technology. (May be repeated for credit). (3).

681, 682, 683. ADVANCED DIRECTING PRACTICUM. Supervised studio projects designed to demonstrate superior proficiency in directing. (3, 3, 3).

684, 685. DIRECTING MODERN REALISM I AND DIRECTING MODERN REALISM II. The interpretation and direction of contemporary realistic plays, stressing particular staging and production techniques, and applying these techniques to a range of modern playwrights. (THEA 685 is a continuation of THEA 684; description is the same). (3).

686, 687. DIRECTING SHAKESPEARE I AND DIRECTING SHAKESPEARE II. The interpretation and direction of Shakespearean plays, stressing particular staging and production techniques, and applying these techniques to a range of Shakespearean comedies and dramas. (THEA 687 is a continuation of THEA 686; the description is the same). (3).

688, 689. DIRECTING IN ALTERNATIVE STYLES I AND DIRECTING IN ALTERNATIVE STYLES II. The interpretation and direction of nonrealistic, nonclassical plays, stressing particular staging and production techniques, and applying these techniques to a range of dramatic literature. (THEA 689 is a continuation of THEA 688; the description is the same). (3).

691, 692. PROBLEMS IN PRODUCTION. Problems in several types of plays; experience as production assistant in University productions. (3, 3).

697. THESIS. (1-12).

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