• ACTING
• MUSICAL THEATRE
• DIRECTING
• SCENE DESIGN
• STAGE MANAGEMENT
• LIGHT DESIGN
• THEATRE MANAGEMENT
• COSTUME DESIGN

The faculty includes professional actor-teachers, designers and management staff. Theatre Arts operates three production facilities on campus, the Macklanburg Proscenium Theatre, Warehouse Thrust Theatre and an Arena Theatre, as well as a summer stock 450-seat proscenium theatre in Iowa. The department produces 10 productions on campus during the academic year and nine productions each summer at Lake Okoboji.

The bachelor of fine arts degree in theatre arts is earned in three years and two summers and is offered for the student whose primary interest lies in developing pre-professional skills in any of the above emphases.

Two summer programs afford additional theatre experience with college credit: the on-campus Stephens Summer Theatre Institute and the Okoboji Summer Theatre at Spirit Lake, Iowa. At Okoboji, students work with professional actors, directors and designers in the production of nine plays in weekly stock.

Requirements for B.F.A. Major in Theatre Arts
The bachelor of fine arts major in theatre arts requires completion of liberal arts requirements and 22.0 courses (including at least 5.0 at the 300 or 400 level) as specified below. Students may elect additional THA credit, up to a total of 26.0 within a 40.0 course degree program. Students in the B.F.A. major meet the upper-division liberal arts requirements as follows: cross-cultural is met with the theatre history sequence; interdisciplinary is met through the dramatic literature requirement; and ethical issues is met by special content added to THA 420 and 425. B.F.A. requirements include one summer in the Summer Theatre Institute and one in Okoboji Summer Theatre, six production crew assignments and two strikes per semester. Entrance to the B.F.A. program is based on faculty evaluation of each student's work during the first year and at the end of the Summer Theatre Institute program. Elective work in the B.F.A. major may include advanced acting, stage management, directing, scene design, costume design and general theatre.

Because of the rigorous nature of the performing arts program, students are expected to demonstrate a level of dedication, effort and ethical behavior consistent with that demanded within the profession. Any student who, in the collective judgment of the department faculty in consultation with the department chair, fails at any time to live up to these standards may be required to withdraw from the B.F.A. program.

NOTE: In the following course listings, (1c) = 1.0 course credit = 1.0 course.

Required Courses

THA 124: Acting II (1c)

THA 128: Theatre Speech (1c) or
THA 211 Drafting

THA 205: Make-up for Theatre (.5c)
THA 213: Stagecraft I (.5c)
THA 227: Stage Management I (.5c)
THA 251: Costuming I (.5c)
THA 315C: Theatre History III (.5c)
THA 316C: Theatre History IV (.5c)

THA 420: Senior Acting Seminar (1c) or
THA 425: Senior Production Seminar (1c)

ENG 345C: Shakespeare (1c.)
7.0 elective THA courses

Required Liberal Arts Courses

THA 122F: Acting I (1c)
THA 313–314C: Theatre History I, II (1c)

THA 360: Acting Workshop II (2c)
THA 361: Production Workshop II (1c or 3c)
THA 363: Theatre Management II (1c)

Theatre Arts and the Liberal Studies Major
In the residential program, Theatre Arts offers a concentration in Theatre Studies that is available for the liberal studies major. See the liberal studies section of the catalog for complete information about this concentration and the major.

Theatre Arts Courses
THA 122F: Acting I—Mind and Body: The Actor's Preparation
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
A course designed to provide beginning theatre students an understanding of the senses and an awareness of self, others and the world in order to develop basic acting skills.

THA 124: Acting II—Scene Study (Acting emphasis)
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 122)
Provides the tools necessary for breaking down the script, making effective choices and communicating the intent of the scene in a dramatic and effective way.

THA 128: Theatre Speech
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
Designed to give students the tools to develop vocal quality and speech standards for performance in theatre, film, television and radio.

THA 205: Makeup for Theatre
(.5 course)
(Open to theatre majors only)
Study of basic techniques of designing and applying stage makeup for straight, character and stylized roles.

THA 211: Drafting for Technical Theatre
(1.0 course)
(Open to all students)
Introduction to basic mechanical drawing for theatrical design and construction.

THA 213: Stagecraft I
(.5 course)
(Open to all students)
Lecture, demonstration and practical work assignments to develop skills in production techniques.

THA 214: Stagecraft II
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 213 and permission of instructor)
Lecture, demonstration and practical work assignments to develop more advanced skills in production techniques.

THA 215: Rendering for the Theatre
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 216 or permission of instructor)
Introductory course for scene designers and lighting designers in the techniques of rendering in watercolor, acrylics, pastels and other media.

THA 216: Theatrical Design I
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 211 or permission of instructor)
Introduction to the theory and practice of stage design, including drawing of floor plans, elevations, detail drawings and beginning rendering.

THA 218: Theatrical Lighting I
(1.0 course)
Introduction to the theory and practice of stage lighting, including light plots, focus charts and schedules, hookups, the creation of lighting cues, and functions and qualities of light.

THA 227: Stage Management I
(.5 course)
(Open to all students)
Survey of the functions of various theatre arts in producing a theatrical event. Introduction to the contemporary practice of stage management.

THA 228: Stage Management II
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 227)
A course designed to assist the student in developing competency as a stage manager, including the capacity to assemble a complete production prompt script. Fifty (50) hours production work required.

THA 232: Directing I
(1 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 227 or permission of instructor)
A study of the function of the director and basic theories of composition, picturization and movement. Practical staging assignments. Development of practical skills as directors through classroom discussion and the direction of scenes. Assembly of a complete director's script for a final project.

THA 235: Scene Painting
(.5 course)
(Open to all students. Lab fee charged)
Introduction to basic techniques used in the painting of stage scenery.

THA 248: Performance Techniques
(.5 course)
(May be taken three times for credit)
(Prerequisite: THA 124)
Intensive study of the skills for singing on the stage, practical experience and individual attention concerning performance and singing techniques. Delivery, expression, interpretation of lyrics and stage presence will be studied and developed through individual attention and practical experience.

THA 251: Costuming I
(.5 course)
(Open to all students)
Beginning study of costume history, design and construction through class discussions and laboratory work.

THA 252: Costuming II
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 251 or permission of instructor)
Continuation of the development of basic competencies in the design and construction of stage costumes.

THA 258: Stage Movement
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: THA 124, THA 213, THA 227, THA 251 and/or program approval)
Development of stage movement and dance skills for acting students in the Summer Theatre Institute.

THA 259: Acting Workshop I
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: THA 124, THA 213, THA 227, THA 251 and/or program approval)
Application of theories and techniques learned in first-year acting classes through class assignments, rehearsal and public performances in the Summer Theatre Institute.

THA 260: Theatre Production and Management I
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: THA 124, THA 213, THA 227, THA 251 and/or program approval)
Development of basic skills in technical theatre through class assignments and crew work and a study of general principles and accepted practices in theatre management. Summer Theatre Institute only.

THA 272: Acting III—Scene Analysis: Character Study
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 124)
Scene analysis to form an approach to discovering the essence of the character—motivation and intention. Scenes used to implement character study, create given circumstance and develop technique for credible characterization and proper execution.

THA 280: Topics in Theatre Arts
(l.0 course)
(Open to all students)
Topics courses are devoted to special subjects that may not be covered in depth in other courses, to issues of current interest or to the newest research available in a discipline.

THA 313C: Theatre History I
(.5 course)
(Open to all students)
A study of the theatre of ancient Greece and Rome, dealing primarily with the development of the physical theatre structures, production methods and major theatrical figures.

THA 314C: Theatre History II
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 313C or permission of instructor)
A study of theatre from 1100 to 1700 dealing primarily with the development of physical theatre structures, production methods and major theatrical figures.

THA 315C: Theatre History III
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 314C or permission of instructor)
A study of theatre from 1700 to 1875 dealing primarily with the development of physical theatre structures, production methods and major theatrical figures.

THA 316C: Theatre History IV
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 315C or permission of instructor)
A study of "modern" theatre, from the emergence of realism (ca. 1875 to the present), dealing primarily with styles, production methods and major theatrical figures.

THA 317: Theatrical Design II
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 216 or permission of instructor)
A course designed to assist the student in developing proficiency as a designer of stage scenery through research, classroom discussion and design projects.

THA 318: Theatrical Lighting II
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 218 or permission of instructor)
A course designed to assist the student in developing proficiency as a designer of stage lighting through research, classroom discussion and design projects.

THA 320: Directing II
(1 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 232 or permission of instructor)
Advanced study in directing techniques, including theories concerning the director's choices regarding scenery, lighting and costuming. Each student directs a one-act play.

THA 327: Stage Management III
(1.0 course)
(May be taken for credit four times)
(Prerequisite: permission of program chair)
Stage management of a major on-campus production.

THA 332: Acting IV—Scene Study: Styles
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 272)
Introduces different styles and period pieces to broaden the student's perspective. Scene study is to be the basic means used to develop the technique required to create the style and ambiance of a period.

THA 348: Advanced Performance Technique
(.5 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 248 and permission of instructor; may be taken three times for credit)
Advanced techniques for musical comedy presentation.

THA 352: Costuming III
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 252)
Continuation of THA 252.

THA 360: Acting Workshop II
(2.0 courses)
(Prerequisites: THA 332 and program approval)
Students learn through practical experience, performing three to six roles during a 10-week summer stock season at the Okoboji Summer Theatre.

THA 361: Production Workshop II
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: 9.0 courses in theatre arts and program approval)
Students learn through practical experience, participating in crew work for a 10-week summer stock season at the Okoboji Summer Theatre.

THA 363: Theatre Management II
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: 9.0 courses in theatre arts and program approval)
Students learn more advanced principles and practices of theatre management through classes and work assignments during a 10-week summer stock season at Okoboji Summer Theatre.

THA 380: Topics in Theatre Arts
(l.0 course)
(Prerequisites: see current course schedule)
Topics courses are devoted to special subjects that may not be covered in depth in other courses, to issues of current interest or to the newest research available in a discipline.

THA 413: Stagecraft III
(1.0 course)
(May be taken four times for credit)
(Prerequisites: THA 214, THA 216, THA 218 and permission of instructor)
Practical work experience designed to aid the student in attaining professional quality skills through completion of a major construction project.

THA 416: Theatrical Lighting III
(1.0 course)
(May be taken four times for credit)
(Prerequisites: THA 318 and permission of instructor.)
Designing and supervising the execution of lighting for a major stage production.

THA 417: Theatrical Design III
(1.0 course)
(May be taken four times for credit)
(Prerequisites: THA 317 and permission of instructor)
Designing and supervising the execution of scenery for a major stage production.

THA 420: Senior Acting Seminar
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: THA 332, senior standing and permission of program)
Actors' marketplace. Practical and ethical problems faced by the actor seeking work in theatre/television and films. Discussion with actors, agents, casting directors and other theatre professionals in Hollywood and New York City (via amplified telephone) with emphasis on techniques of making rounds, unions, contracts, television commercials, demo tapes, show case productions and more.

THA 421: Advanced Acting I—Shakespeare
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 332 or permission of instructor)
Shakespeare for the actor. Voice, movement and script analysis in classical drama.

THA 422: Advanced Acting II—The Audition
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: THA 421, which may be taken concurrently, or permission of instructor)
Creation of an audition package for presentation at the national URTA auditions for advanced work in graduate schools, summer stock and professional repertory theatre.

THA 423: Advanced Acting III—Acting for Camera
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 332 or permission of instructor)
Acting for camera in TV and film (in conjunction with the Mass Communication Program).

THA 424: Advanced Acting IV Comedy
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisite: THA 332 or permission of instructor)
Comedy: theory and acting techniques. Course includes study in slapstick farce, stand-up monologues, contemporary comic playwrights and "period" plays (Restoration, Wilde, Coward).

THA 425: Senior Production Seminar
(1.0 course)
(Prerequisites: senior standing and one of the following: THA 254, 317, 318, 327 or 436)
The production seminar is an intensive course to prepare the technical theatre student to enter the working world of theatre. Each student works with a faculty member in his/her specific area of concentration during lab sessions. The core of the course is the development and refinement of a portfolio for presentation/interviews during the semester. The course includes readings and discussions about moral and ethical issues faced in art and the business of technical theatre today.

THA 432: Directing III
(1.0 course)
(May be taken four times for credit)
(Prerequisite: THA 320 or permission of instructor)
Direction of a major production with the approval of the program chair.

THA 436: Costuming IV
(1.0 course)
(May be taken four times for credit)
(Prerequisites: THA 352 or permission of instructor)
An advanced project, usually the design and execution of costumes for a major production.

Independent Study
Independent studies (special studies, tutorials, readings, projects) may be proposed by students who wish to investigate a subject not otherwise available. Information about independent study may be obtained in the department offices or in the Office of the Registrar.