Apply Today

SFA Home / Bulletin / College of Fine Arts

School of Theatre

Director to be named

Fine Arts 212B
(936) 468-4003
Fax: (936) 468-7601
www.sfasu.edu/theatre

Faculty

Professors
Alan Nielsen, Allen Oster

Associate Professors
Angela Bacarisse, Richard Jones, Thomas Matthys

Assistant Professors
Carolyn Conn, Kyle Kennedy

Lecturers
Juanita Finkenberg, Jack Heifner, Shari Watterston-Ellsworth

Areas of Study & Degrees

The School of Theatre offers a degree program for students wishing to incorporate the study of theatre within the liberal tradition, for students wishing to teach theatre and for students wishing to pursue a professional career in theatre. Our degree programs include: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Theatre, a liberal arts degree with theatre emphasis; Bachelor of Arts in Teacher Education (B.A.T.E.) degrees leading to certification for teaching theatre, kindergarten through 12th grade; Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Theatre, a more intensive course of study in Acting and Directing; in Technical Theatre and Design; in Stage Management. The school also offers an 18-24 hour minor program of study.

Objectives

The School of Theatre serves students in four ways: first, it encourages individual development through disciplined creativity; second, it offers training for those students wishing to pursue careers in theatre and related fields; third, it provides experiences through academic and performance activities which aid in the development of individuals desiring vocations featuring communication skills; and fourth, the department presents a diverse curriculum through which the student may study the ideas and passions of man as reflected in many of his most human and thought-provoking creations.

In addition to offering a program of study for majors and minors, the School of Theatre serves a larger function by providing meaningful cultural and entertainment experiences for the university and the people of East Texas.

The School of Theatre at Stephen F. Austin State University is an accredited member of the Texas Educational Theatre Association and the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Definition of Majors and Minors

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a major in theatre is a pre-professional program designed to prepare the student for entry into the theatre profession or for advanced study. Admission and screening procedures for the B.F.A. program take place during the spring of the sophomore year. All transfer students will be screened and admitted by the same process in their first semester.

Jury critiques may be required for the following performance courses: THR 221, 223, 321, 420, 421, 424, 427, 428. Jury projects are conducted during the final two weeks of a semester for the purpose of assisting the student in his/her overall development of professional skills.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program with a major in theatre consists of 80 semester hours as follows:

Core: 34 semester hours

Production: 9 hours:

Two hours of THR 150 and three hours of THR 350 are required*, and/or one hour of THR 151 and one to two hours of THR 351, THR 450 (one to six hours), and THR 425 (three to six hours).
*Incoming freshmen (declared majors) are required to complete five semesters of Production Lab. Transfer students are required to complete four semesters of Production Lab.

Electives: 18 hours:

Six hours to be chosen from THR 301, 370, 371, 425, 429, 463, 471. Design students will also choose 12 hours from THR 480 (six credit hours required), 420 (required), ART 110, 130, 210, 230, 312, 361, 461, HMS 206, 212, 230, 232, 233, 260, 310. Performance students will choose 12 hours from THR 321, 322, 420 (required), 422, 424, 427, 428. Stage Management students will take (10 hrs) THR 301, 425 and/or 429, COM 170, and MGT 395; 10 hrs of electives COM 315, MGT 370, CSC 101, 102, or 121, THR 321, 427, 428, 480.

Practicum: 19 hours.

* Courses offered in general education requirements may not count both blocks.

Theatre Minor

A minor in theatre consists of 18 to 24 hours chosen in consultation with a school adviser. At least nine hours must be in upper division courses, including at least six hours at SFA. Also, at least six hours must be in production-related courses.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in theatre is appropriate for those students who seek a more general course of study with less depth in theatre and more educational breadth than is required by the B.F.A. degree. Though this program does not provide a strong preparation for specialization in the various areas of theatre, it may, when combined with an appropriate minor, provide an education suitable for a number of vocations. The Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre consists of 45 semester hours of theatre courses listed as follows:

Core: 31 semester hours

Production: 5 semester hours from

Electives: Nine semester hours
No more than six hours may be taken in the same area of study as indicated. Any 300-400 level course may be taken as a general elective but will not count toward the major. It is recommended that the majority of your general elective courses NOT be theatre.

Acting/Directing area

Design/Tech area

Theory and History area

Individual areas

Secondary Teacher Certification

All-Level Theatre (49 hours)

Grades K-12

Core: 31 semester hours

Theatre Education Core: 6 semester hours

Production:
Six semester hours from THR 150 Production Lab (two hours), THR 350 (one hour) and THR 425 Repertory Theatre (three hours).

Electives:
Six hours from THR 301 Stage Management (three), THR 321 Intermediate Acting (three), THR THR 425 Repertory Theatre (three to six), THR 427 Advanced Acting (three), THR 428 Advanced Directing (three), THR 462 Advanced Play Analysis (three), THR 480 Design for the Theatre (three).

Education courses: 24 hours

 

(Theatre as a second teaching field)

31 Semester Hours

Course Credit

Unless otherwise indicated, courses are three semester hours credit, three hours lecture per week.

Courses in Theatre (THR)

127.   

Stage Movement I – Two semester hours, one hour lecture, two hours lab per week. Basic postural alignment and movement, emphasis on body awareness and rhythm.

150.

Production Laboratory (DRAM 1120) – One semester hour, three hours lab per week. Assigned duties in theatre practicum related to department productions. May be repeated for a maximum of four semester hours credit.

151.

Rehearsal and Performance I – One semester hour. (production) Credit for participation in Main Stage productions as an actor or technician. Repeatable three hours maximum.

161.

Theatre Appreciation (DRAM 1310) – Intended primarily for non-theatre majors.

162.

Play Analysis and Dramatic Literature – Dramatic structure and literature for the theatre practitioner. Required of all theatre majors. Fall.

221.

Beginning Acting (DRAM 1351) – Three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. Emphasis on the understanding and exploration of the actor’s tools and the application of the actor’s basic skills through the creative process.

223.

Theatre Speech (DRAM 2336) – Study of voice and diction for the actor.

227.

Stage Movement II – Two semester hours, one hour lecture, two hours lab per week. Exploration of movement styles, including musical, period, combat, partner and group. Prerequisite: THR 127.

231.

Costume Technology (DRAM 1342) – Three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. Introduction to costume construction and coordination; includes pattern development, theatrical sewing techniques, crew organization and special problems.

232.

Stage Makeup (DRAM 1241) – Two semester hours, one hour lecture, two hours lab per week. Introduction to the techniques of theatrical makeup application and design, including production planning and organization.

241.

Stage Craft (DRAM 1330) – Three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. Introduction to the fundamentals of modern scenic construction, drafting, rigging and handling. Basic scene shop operation and procedure.

242.

Lighting Technology – Two semester hours, one hour lecture, two hours lab per week. Introduction to the fundamentals of modern lighting craft, including basic electricity, principles of light, instrumentation and functions. Laboratory procedure and application.

301.

Stage Management – Three semester hours. Study of the duties and principles of stage management. Prerequisite: Lower-division theatre core or permission of instructor.

321.

Intermediate Acting – Three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. Designed to give the student actor the opportunity to explore the acting process through modern realistic dramatic literature and to continue his/her development of a method for building an honest and believable character. Prerequisites: THR 221 and 223 or permission of instructor.

322.

Advanced Theatre Speech – Advanced study of voice and diction for the actor with specialization on Shakespearean text. Three semester hours in a lecture/lab format. Prerequisite: Lower-division theatre core or permission of instructor.

350.

Production Lab II – One semester hour, three hours lab per week. Assigned duties in theatre practicum related to departmental productions. May be repeated for a maximum of four semester hours credit.

351.

Rehearsal and Performance II – One semester hour. (production) Credit for participation in productions as an actor or technician. Repeatable for three hours maximum.

360.

Principles of Design for the Theatre – Two semester hours, one hour lecture, two hours lab. Principles of color; elements of design; basics of 3-D composition; development of imagination and application of principles to theatre design and technology; design aesthetics. Prerequisites: THR 162, 231, 241, 242.

370.

History of the Cinema – Three semester hours, two hour lecture, two hours lab per week. Study of the history of the motion pictures from their inception to the present. Lecture-discussion class with laboratory periods dedicated to the viewing and study of classic motion pictures.

371.

History of the Cinema II – Three semester hours, two hour lecture, two hours lab per week. A study of the history and development of motion pictures from 1941 to the present. A lecture/discussion class with laboratory periods dedicated to the viewing and study of important modern motion pictures. Prerequisite THR 370.

411.

Theatre for Children – Three semester hours. Principles and methods of inventing theatre with and for children. Prerequisite: Lower-division theatre core or nine hours elementary education

420.

Auditions / Designers Portfolio – One semester hour, two hours lab per week. Organization, preparation, and presentation of the audition process. Organization of the portfolio, resumes, presentation of designs, and interviewing. Prerequisite: Lower-division theatre core or permission of instructor.

421.

Introduction to Play Directing – Three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. Introduction to the art and craft of directing with specific consideration of the major elements of the director’s work: play analysis, stage composition, visualization and blocking, rehearsal techniques, and the nature of collaboration. Prerequisites: Lower-division theatre core or permission of instructor.

422.

Acting for the Camera – Three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. Practicum/study of techniques and procedures needed for those who perform before the camera. Prerequisites: Lower-division theatre core or permission of instructor.

424.

Dialects – Two semester hours in a lecture/lab format. Study and use of dialects for the stage. Prerequisites: Lower-division theatre core or permission of instructor.

425.

Repertory Theatre – Three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. Practicum in all phases of theatre production for public presentation. Levels A and B. May be repeated for credit but for no more than nine hours in B.F.A. major block.

427.

Advanced Acting – Three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. Study of period acting styles. Prerequisites: Lower-division theatre core or permission of instructor.

428.

Advanced Directing – Three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. Study of problems related to the directing of period plays. Prerequisite: THR 421.

429.

Directing Theatre for Youth – Three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. Study of the special problems in directing young actors during a workshop situation. Offered second summer session only. Prerequisite: THR 421 or permission of instructor.

450.

Theatre Projects – One to three semester hours. May be repeated: (1) Directing, (2) Design, (3) Technical production, (4) Stage Management, (5) Stage Performance. No more than six hours may be included in the B.F.A. major block. Prerequisite: Lower-division theatre core and permission of instructor.

451.

Theatre Cooperative. Rose Bruford/ETA – Eight to 24 credits. Dramaturgical/theatrical analysis and intensive practical work in voice, movement, music. Exposure from one to three areas of study: Elizabethan/Jacobean, Restoration/18th Century, and forms of contemporary theatre. Technical/design, stage management, costume design and wardrobe, scenic construction and properties, theatre design, and music technology.

452.

Practicum (Theater Internship) – Six to19 credits. Practicum with a professional theatre company. Practical work in acting, theatre management, dramaturgy, directing, box office, publicity, stage management, lighting, scenery, sound, costume, and make-up, set-property construction. List of internships available through the Department of Theatre.

460.

History of the Theatre I – Three semester hours. Study of the history of the theatre from primitive times to 1700. Includes a study of the physical theatre, acting styles, costumes and sets, representative plays, and theories of drama applicable to the various periods under consideration. Prerequisite: nine hours theatre and/or English literature.

461.

History of the Theatre II – Three semester hours. Study of the history of the theatre from 1700 to 1940. Includes a study of the physical theatre, acting styles, costumes and sets, representative plays, and theories of drama applicable to the various periods under consideration. Prerequisite: nine hours theatre and/or English literature.

462.

Advanced Play Analysis – Three semester hours. Advanced critical analysis of selected plays from the modern era as blueprints for theatrical production. Course emphasis both in scripts examined and critical methodologies will be on 20th century alternatives to Aristotelian structure. Prerequisites: Junior status and completion of THR 162 with a grade of C or better.

463.

Playwriting – Three semester hours. Introductory course in writing for the stage. Consists of a series of practical, short writing exercises in characterization, dialogue, plot, etc., culminating in a one-act play. Prerequisites: Lower-division theatre core or any creative writing course or permission of instructor.

471.

Topics in the Theatre and Drama – Three semester hours. Specialized topics in the history, literature, theory, and practice of theatre. May be repeated twice for credit provided topics are different. Prerequisite: nine hours of theatre including THR 162 or consent of the instructor.

480.

Design for the Theatre – Three semester hours, one hour lecture, four hours lab per week. May be repeated. Study of advanced techniques in design of scenery, costumes, makeup and lighting. Prerequisites: Lower-division theatre core or permission of instructor.

491.

Independent Studies – Three semester hours. Prerequisite: nine hours of theatre and consent of instructor.

Top of page

Become a Student Academics & Research Students Alumni & Friends Faculty & Staff Arts & Athletics A-Z List