Theatre Arts
Theatre Arts Program Acting Program Classes Theatre Practice
Admission to the Theatre Arts Program
All freshman and transfer students who wish to major in theatre arts are admitted to Southern Oregon University as theatre "pre-majors." For formal admission to the theatre arts program, students must apply directly to the Department of Theatre Arts. Students generally apply during their first year of residence. The admission process involves a written application and an interview with Theatre Department faculty. Interviews are scheduled during the seventh and eighth weeks of each term. The Theatre Foundations (TA 166) course prepares theatre pre-majors for the application process, acquainting them with the requirements of the theatre program. This course is required for all freshmen and transfer students. Once a theatre arts major, each student is assigned an advisor and may register for classes that are otherwise restricted to majors only.
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Admission to the Acting Program
Theatre Foundations also provides information about admission to the department's acting sequence, which students may audition for at the end of fall term. A successful audition permits students to enroll into Acting I (TA 247). This class is offered winter and spring term of each year. Auditions for this entry-level performance class are held in conjunction with the Theatre Foundations' interviews/auditions for acceptance to the major. Continuation in the acting program is contingent upon auditioning for and being accepted into Acting II (TA 248), offered each fall term. Auditions for Acting II are held near the end of the spring quarter.
Important note: Acceptance into Acting II enables students to take the sophomore level classes which include:
Fall quarter:
Acting II (TA 248)
Movement for the Actor I (TA 210)
Voice and Speech for the Actor I (TA 224)
Winter quarter:
Movement for the Actor II (TA 211)
Voice and Speech for the Actor II (TA 225)
Transfer students should contact the Department of Theatre Arts 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 an acting emphasis must contact Dennis Smith, head of the acting program, to arrange an audition for appropriate placement in the acting sequence. Students interested in a scenic design, lighting design, stage management, or technical emphasis must contact Craig Hudson, head of the design program, to arrange for a portfolio review and/or interview. Students interested in a costume design emphasis should contact Deborah Rosenberg, head of the costume program, for a portfolio review and/or interview. Students transferring into the program without early contact are likely to experience difficulty in registering for classes and may be denied access to advanced level classes.
Continuation as a major in any of the degree programs is contingent upon an annual evaluation. The criteria used to determine a student's success in the program includes the student's satisfactory fulfillment of the Theatre Practice requirement and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 overall and 3.0 in the major. Also, the student must successfully complete the following courses by the end of the sophomore year: Stagecraft (TA 144), Costume Fundamentals (TA 146), Theatre Foundations (TA 166), Script Analysis (TA 167), Playreading (TA 168), Stage Lighting (TA 245), and Acting I (TA 247).
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Classes
Class requirements at Southern Oregon University fall into three categories: general education, core requirements for the major, and electives. General education requirements are established by the University and are specified in the SOU catalog. Every theatre arts student should have a copy of the catalog that was in effect when he or she entered the university and be familiar with these requirements. Students may choose to go by the requirements in a more recent catalog. Students transferring in with over 60 credit hours may opt to use the catalog that was in effect when they began their studies elsewhere. It is best to consult the SOU Student ACCESS Center. There are sometimes significant differences between catalog years. The core requirements for the theatre arts degree are the classes that are required by the department for the various degree options. See the SOU catalog.
All new theatre majors are required to take Theatre Foundations (TA 166) during the fall quarter. Students are free to choose elective classes. Faculty members, however, strongly recommend certain electives, as well as classes that satisfy the general education requirements. These recommendations are included in the scheduling grids and also on the audition preparation sheets for students interested in pursuing the BFA degree. These forms are available in the Theatre Arts office. Faculty members are available by appointment during pre-registration for assistance.
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Theatre Practice
Theatre arts majors are required to participate in the departmental productions and are given Theatre Practice credits. Through Theatre Practice assignments, students gain practical experience, demonstrate skills, and obtain resumé credits. Students are automatically enrolled in Theatre Practice by the department. Students must attend a Theatre Practice meeting each term to apply for an assignment. These meetings take place at 5 p.m. on the first Thursday of each term. This meeting is not required for those enrolled in Theatre Foundations (TA 166). A list of available assignments and a sheet for students to indicate their preferences of assignments will be distributed at the Theatre Practice meeting. Theatre Practice work is evaluated and letter grades are given. Grades are assigned by the faculty based upon input of student crew supervisors. Theatre Practice credit will be given for all areas of production including performance, technical, design, and administration of SOU plays and performances. It is not given for work at other theatres, for involvement in showcase productions, or participation in thesis projects with the exception of the stage/production manager.
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