Theatre Arts
Theatre Arts 111
541-552-6346

Dale R. Luciano, Chair

SOU CATALOG HOME : SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS : THEATRE ARTS : COURSES

Professors: Craig N. Hudson, Dale R. Luciano, Dennis L. Smith

Associate Professors: Ellen Dennis, Kerri Robbins

Assistant Professor: Maggie McClellan

Instructors: Jim Giancarlo, Chris Sackett, Suzanne Seiber

Adjunct Faculty: Douglas Burns, Gwen Overland

The Department of Theatre Arts offers education and practical experience in all areas of theatre: acting, directing, costuming, stage scenery and lighting, sound, makeup, management, dramatic literature, and theatre history. Theatre arts majors participate in the department's active and ambitious production program and experience the close working relationships that develop between faculty and students as they produce live theatre together.

Through its presentation of classic and contemporary dramatic works, the Department of Theatre Arts contributes significantly to the social and cultural enrichment of the University and southern Oregon community. Dedicated to creating opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills in practical ways, the department not only supplies performance opportunities for students but also mounts productions that are often designed and predominantly executed by students.

Degrees

Minor

Admission To Program

Whether incoming freshmen or transfer, all students wishing to pursue the theatre arts major are admitted to SOU as "pretheatre majors" and must apply to the Department of Theatre Arts for formal admission to the major. Application forms may be filed during the first term in residence and are available in the department office. (New students are required to enroll in Theatre Foundations during their first term at SOU and complete the application process as part of the class.)

The theatre arts faculty considers applications between the sixth and eighth week of each term. Typically, students are not admitted to the major until their third term in residence. However, students who clearly demonstrate that they meet the criteria for admission may have their applications approved prior to their third term. Also, some students who do not meet department standards before their third term will not be accepted into the major.

The department limits the number of students admitted to the major. Selection of students to be admitted to the major is prioritized on the basis of identifying those students who:

1. Possess the intellect, interest, and aptitude to successfully engage the academic requirements of the theatre arts degree program, as demonstrated by overall GPA and GPA in the major;

2. Demonstrate that they can meet their responsibilities and obligations to both the intellectual and production life of the department, as demonstrated by GPA in major classes and work undertaken in Theatre Practice; and

3. Will contribute to the creative and scholarly activities of the program and will exercise a positive influence on the learning environment.

The department chair notifies each student of formal acceptance to the theatre major and assigns each student a faculty advisor. The above criteria will be utilized by the department chair to determine the master roster of new majors being admitted to the department.

Transfer Students

To facilitate as fluid a transition into the program as possible, transfer students are strongly encouraged to contact the department at least two full terms prior to arrival at SOU and arrange for an audition and/or interview, to determine appropriate placement within the training sequence. Students interested in a performance (acting) emphasis must contact Dennis Smith, head of the acting program, to arrange an audition for appropriate placement in the acting sequence. Students with a scenic design, lighting design, stage management, or technical orientation must contact Craig Hudson, head of the design program, to arrange for a portfolio review and/or interview. Students interested in a costume design or costume construction emphasis must contact Ellen Dennis, head of the costume program, for a portfolio review and/or interview.

Early contact with the department will minimize difficulties in registering for appropriate classes within the training sequence.

Upon commencing studies at SOU, transfer students must schedule an appointment with the department chair for an evaluation of which, and how, credits listed in the Advanced Standing Report (ASR) may be used to satisfy core requirements for the theatre major.

Transfer students who have not completed lower division core requirements in theatre may not be allowed to register for upper division theatre classes until they have completed those requirements.

Admission to the Acting Sequence

Auditions before the full faculty for admission to TA 247 (Acting I) will be administered under the auspices of TA 166 (Theatre Foundations) during the fall term each year. Auditions are also conducted by the full faculty each spring term to determine the roster of students who will be permitted to take TA 248 (Acting II) and other courses in the advanced acting sequence.

Admission to the BFA Program

All students admitted to the major are admitted as majors in the BA or BS degree program. Admission to the BFA program is by audition only. Each student should consult a department advisor to determine a course of study. Students may apply for admission to the BFA no earlier than the end of the sophomore year by means of audition, interview, and/or résumé-portfolio presentation. (Transfer students should wait until they have been in residence at least two full terms prior to auditioning.) For information about audition guidelines and dates, contact the Department of Theatre Arts.

Requirements for Major

1. Fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements as stated beginning on printed catalog page 31.

2. All theatre arts majors are required to fulfill the computer literacy requirement by enrolling in Microcomputer Applications I (CS 115). Students with prior computer experience may apply for a waiver of this requirement from the department chair by submitting written documentation providing substantial evidence of computer proficiency, including letters of reference.

3. All theatre arts majors are required to participate in the department's production program by enrolling in Theatre Practice each term until they have earned the maximum credits available for TA 255 and 455.

This maximum is 21 total Theatre Practice credits for BFA students and 18 for BA and BS students. Through production assignments, students are expected to demonstrate serious commitment to the major and solid work habits by adequate or better fulfillment of the obligation to Theatre Practice. Students who do not demonstrate such commitment through a grade of C or better in Theatre Practice are dropped from the major.

Students generally do not preregister for Theatre Practice. A mandatory Theatre Practice meeting is held each term during the first week of classes. The exact date and time is listed in the schedule of classes each term. At the meeting, students select possible assignment opportunities which include performance, management, design, and technical areas. Assignments are then posted and students are administratively enrolled in Theatre Practice at the appropriate credit level.

4. Continuation as a major in any of the degree programs is contingent upon a yearly evaluation. The criteria used to determine whether students shall be retained in the program or dropped from the major include:

a) Satisfactory fulfillment of the Theatre Practice requirement;

b) A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 overall and 3.0 in the major; and

c) Successful completion of the following courses by the end of the sophomore year: TA 144, 146, 166, 167, 168, 245, 247.

Exceptions to the above criteria may be presented to the department chair for consideration.

Students at risk of being dropped from the major for failure to meet one of the criteria are notified in writing by the department chair or designated representative.

Theatre Arts Major (BA/BS degree)

(67 credits)

Requirements to be evaluated by advisor and approved by department chair. Total upper division theatre credits required: 32.

Summary

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree

(59 credits)

Adjunct/paraprofessional requirements and theatre arts major requirements to be evaluated by advisor and approved by department chair.

Summary

BFA students may concentrate on one of the following areas: acting, costuming, directing, stage lighting, sound, stage management, stage scenery, or theatre business (12 hours of credit, some of which can come from core courses, must be in the area of concentration).

BFA students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA for all work in theatre arts and 3.0 for all University work and must meet graduation requirements of the University.

Coursework leading to the BFA degree in theatre arts is strictly monitored. Once admitted to the BFA program, students are required to plan a program of coursework, in consultation with their departmental advisor and subject to faculty approval, that follows departmental guidelines. Published guidelines and requirements for developing an area of concentration and successful proposal and completion of a BFA thesis are available in the departmental office.

Retention in the BFA program is dependent on academic performance and continued development of talent and acquisition of skills as evaluated by faculty assessment. Although it is possible to complete all requirements within four years, a successful course of study may take longer, since graduation depends as much on demonstrated proficiency as on credits.

Minor

Students interested in pursuing a minor in theatre arts should submit a written application to the department chair. If enrollment of theatre majors in the program meets full capacity of the department, the department chair may deny the application.

(40 credits)

Teacher Licensing

Students who want to teach theatre arts at the middle school and/or high school level in Oregon public schools must complete a bachelor's degree in theatre arts before applying for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at SOU. Interested students should consult the department chair for an appropriate advisor and also consult the Education Department regarding admission requirements for the MAT teacher education program.

This competitive program requires students to prepare in advance to enhance their acceptance into the program. Practica, internships, and volunteer experiences working with children in the public schools prior to application to the MAT program are required.

In addition, admission requires proficiency in a second language. This requirement can be met by successfully completing two years of a second language at the college or university level or by passing a second language proficiency test at the intermediate level.

FOOTNOTES:

1TA 255, TA 455 (6 credits minimum ­ 9 credits maximum each; TA 455 for BFA is 6 credits minimum ­ 12 credits maximum). All Theatre Arts majors are required to register for a minimum of one Theatre Practice (TA 255 or TA 455) credit each term until they reach the maximum allowable credit. Students earning 5 credits in two consecutive terms may be exempt from the one-credit requirement during the third term.

2Taught during even years (e.g., 2002-03) only.

3Taught during odd years (e.g., 2001-02) only.