Course Information Suite

Department of Theatre

http://www.theatre.uiuc.edu
Interim Head of Department: Thomas Mitchell
Department Office: 4-122 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 South Goodwin, Urbana, (217) 333-3538

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)
Natural Sciences and Technology (6 hours)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)
Cultural Studies (Western and non-Western Cultures) (6 hours)
9 General non-Theatre Electives
11-14 Open Electives
48-51 Total

Core Requirements for all Theatre Majors

Hours Required Courses
4 THEA 102 - Text to Stage*
1 THEA 104 - Introduction to Scenecraft*
1 THEA 105 - Introduction to Costume Technology*
1 THEA 106 - Introduction to Lighting Technology*
1 THEA 107 - Introduction to Stage Makeup*
3 THEA 170 - Fundamentals of Acting, I*
3 THEA 175 - Fundamentals of Acting, II or THEA 125 - Graphic Skills*
3 THEA 261 - Dramatic Analysis
3 THEA 262 - Literature 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 100 - Practicum, I
4 THEA 400 - Practicum, II
3 THEA 270 - Relationships in Acting, I
2 THEA 271 - Acting: Movement
3 THEA 275 - Relationships in Acting, II
2 THEA 276 - Acting: Voice
8 THEA 371 - Acting Studio I: Dynamics (1 hr.); THEA 372 - Acting Studio I: Voice (2 hr.); THEA 373 - Acting Studio I: Movement (2 hr.);THEA 374 - Acting Studio I: Acting (3 hr.);
8 THEA 375 - Acting Studio II: Dynamics (1 hr.); THEA 376 - Acting Studio II: Voice (2 hr.); THEA 377 - Acting Studio II: Movement (2 hr.); THEA 378 - Acting Studio II: Acting (3 hr.)
8 THEA 471 - Acting Studio III: Dynamics (1 hr.); THEA 472 - Acting Studio III: Voice (2 hr.); THEA 473 - Acting Studio III: Movement (2 hr.); THEA 474 - Acting Studio III: Acting (3 hr.);
8 THEA 475 - Acting Studio IV: Dynamics (1 hr.); THEA 476 - Acting Studio IV: Voice (2 hr.); THEA 477 - Acting Studio IV: Movement (2 hr.); THEA 478 - Acting 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 100 - Practicum, I
8 THEA 400 - Practicum, II
3 THEA 208 - Dramatic Analysis
3 THEA 222 - Introduction to Scenic Design
3 THEA 231 - Introduction to Stage Lighting
2 THEA 391 - Individual Topics
2 THEA 392 - Individual Topics
3 THEA 426 - History of Decor
3 THEA 442 - Costume Patterning
4 THEA 444 - Costume Draping
4 THEA 445 - Costume History and Design, I
4 THEA 446 - Costume History and Design, II
4 THEA 447 - Costume Rendering
4 THEA 449 - Costume Fabrication and Crafts
49 Total
Lighting Design Concentration
Hours Required Theatre Courses
5 THEA 100 - Practicum, I
8 THEA 400 - Practicum, II
2 THEA 199 - Undergraduate Open Seminar: Lighting
3 THEA 222 - Introduction to Scenic Design
4 THEA 223 - Introduction to Technical Direction
3 THEA 232 - Advanced Lighting Design
2 THEA 391 - Individual Topics
3 THEA 423 - Introduction to Stage Lighting
3 THEA 425 - Stage Drafting
3 THEA 431 - Video Lighting and Production
3 THEA 432 - Lighting for the Musical Stage
2 THEA 435 - Professional Lighting Systems
2 THEA 437 - Software for Lighting Design
2 THEA 446 - Costume History and Design, II
4 THEA 451 - Stage Management
3 THEA 453 - Theatre Sound Technology
52 Total
Scenic Design Concentration
Hours Required Theatre Courses
5 THEA 100 - Practicum, I
8 THEA 400 - Practicum, II
3 THEA 222 - Introduction to Scenic Design
4 THEA 223 - Introduction to Technical Direction
3 THEA 231 - Introduction to Stage Lighting
2 THEA 391 - Individual Topics
4 THEA 415 - Scenic Design, I
4 THEA 416 - Scenic Design, II
3 THEA 425 - Stage Drafting
3 THEA 426 - History of Decor
2 THEA 427 - Scene Painting
4 THEA 445 - Costume History and Design, I
4 THEA 446 - Costume History and Design, II
2 THEA 456 - Properties Design
51 Total
Scenic Technology Concentration
Hours Required Theatre Courses
5 THEA 100 - Practicum, I
8 THEA 400 - Practicum, II
3 THEA 126 - Stage Mechanics, I
2 THEA 199 - Undergraduate Open Seminar: Scenic Technology
3 THEA 222 - Introduction to Scenic Design
4 THEA 223 - Introduction to Technical Direction
3 THEA 231 - Introduction to Stage Lighting
2 THEA 391 - Individual Topics
3 THEA 419 - CAD Drafting for the Stage
3 THEA 425 - Stage Drafting
2 THEA 427 - Scene Painting
3 THEA 430 - Technical Direction
3 THEA 438 - Stage Mechanics, II
3 THEA 440 - Stage Mechanics, III
2 THEA 446 - Costume History and Design, II
3 THEA 453 - Theatre Sound Technology
52 Total
Sound Design and Technology Concentration
Hours Required Theatre Courses
5 THEA 100 - Practicum, I
8 THEA 400 - Practicum, II
3 THEA 126 - Stage Mechanics, I
2 THEA 199 - Undergraduate Open Seminar: Sound
3 THEA 222 - Introduction to Scenic Design
4 THEA 223 - Introduction to Technical Direction
3 THEA 231 - Introduction to Stage Lighting
2 THEA 391 - Individual Topics
3 THEA 425 - Stage Drafting
2 THEA 446 - Costume History and Design, II
4 THEA 451 - Principles of Stage Management
3 THEA 453 - Theatre Sound Technology
3 THEA 454 - Sound Design, I
2 THEA 455 - Audio Production
2 THEA 459 - Sound Systems
2 THEA 456 - Properties Design
51 Total
Stage Management Concentration
Hours Required Theatre Courses
5 THEA 100 - Practicum, I
10 THEA 400 - Practicum, II
3 THEA 212 - Introduction to Directing
3 THEA 220 - Survey of Design
4 THEA 223 - Introduction to Technical Direction
3 THEA 408 - AEA Union Stage Management
6 THEA 409 - Stage Management Workshop
6 THEA 450 - Management Seminar
3 THEA 451 - Principles of Stage Management
3 THEA 452 - Principles of Arts Management
3 THEA 453 - Theatre Sound Technology
2 THEA 456 - Properties Design
51 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 100 - Practicum, I
2 THEA 400 - Practicum, II
3 THEA 210 - Oral Interpretation or THEA 270 - Relationships in Acting, I
3 THEA 211 - Introduction to Playwriting
3 THEA 212 - Introduction to Directing
3 THEA 220 - Survey of Theatrical Design
2 THEA 391 - Individual Topics
2 THEA 392 - Individual Topics
6 THEA 490 - Professional Internship
12 Advanced Theatre courses: any 300 or 400 level Theatre course
12 Supporting Professional Electives: any theatre, dance or music course
52 Total

Minor in Theatre

The Minor in Theatre offers students a comprehensive overview of the study of theatre, including both academic (history and criticism) and production (acting, design and technology) courses. The purpose is to expose undergraduate students to the field by reinforcing the integrated nature of theatre as a scholarly and aesthetic pursuit. Students are required to take a core of required courses, totaling ten hours. They then take a minimum of ten hours of electives in two general areas (History/Criticism and Production/Performance) with at least one course from each area.

Hours Requirements
1 THEA 100 - Practicum
3 THEA 101 – Introduction to Theatre Arts
3 THEA 208 – Dramatic Analysis
3 THEA 262 – Literature of Modern Theatre
4

Select at least one of the following courses:
THEA 360 – Theatre History I
THEA 361 – Theatre History II
6 Select at least three courses from the list of electives with a minimum of one course from History/Criticism and one from Production/Performance. At least one course must be 300 level or higher. A listing of electives is available in the Department of Theatre office.
20 Total

Contact the Department of Theatre for admission information.