Section
Theatre
Theatre

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

THR 100  Actor’s Lab    1
This activity course invites students to engage in integration of faith, physicality and imagination through a process of exercises, theatre games and improvisation. The course is very experiential, communal, participatory and cumulative, intended to train, prepare and promote growth in performing. It is designed to be taken repeatedly, especially by Eastern University theatre performers. Prerequisite: audition.

TheatreTHR 135  Acting I    3
The objective of this class is to help students tap into the psychological, physical and spiritual resources within them through the discipline of acting. Primary tools are personalized and scripted monologues, acting exercises and improvisations of increasing complexity, preparation and collaboration. This lab-style class requires a greater than normal commitment to attendance, participation and journal-keeping in addition to written performance critiques.

THR 150  Performance Production I    1
For students with some experience or interest in dramatics; involves participation in University play productions or other group projects. This course is an activity course. May be taken more than once for credit. Graded on a P/F basis.

THR 151  Basic Stage Craft and Design    3
An introduction to the basics of technical theatre, including design principles, construction techniques, and stage management procedure and preparation. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in THR 150 or permission of instructor.

THR 195  Communicating Gospel Through Performance    1
A course designed around helping students develop skills needed to use theatre as a medium for communication of the gospel. Graded P/F.

THR 202  The Active Voice    3
Students will be introduced to and engage in an exploration of vocal life as an active, powerful and transformational component of their entire physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual selves. Attention will be paid to breath awareness, vocal production, speech and diction by way of study of the physiological and psychological nature of voice, lab-style participation, practice and evaluation of exercises, text presentations and performances. Not a singing class. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in THR 100 or 135.

THR 204  Introduction to the Theatre    3
A survey of drama and the theatre from historical and generic perspectives. The great periods in the theatre will be examined and a brief introduction to technical theatre and problems of direction and production given. Class trips to view plays will supplement the lectures.

Theatre StudentTHR 250  Performance Production II    2
Individual study of the dramatic arts, depending upon needs and interest, and intensive work within the play productions. Prerequisite: one year of work with the campus drama group or THR 150 or recommendation of the instructor. Not to be taken concurrently with 150. This course is an activity course. Graded on a P/F basis.

THR 308  Directing I    3
This class introduces students to the skills of directing (live or recorded performance) through a process of mastering fundamentals of theatre direction. This lab-style class places a very high premium on attendance, participation and thorough outside-of-class preparation: reading, writing, research, analysis, organization and rehearsal. Class time is devoted to presenting, observing and evaluating prepared work and culminates in a Final Scene. The Final Scene will require a minimum of 12 hours of in and out-of-class rehearsal. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in THR 135 or permission of instructor.

THR 318  Advanced Acting/Directing    3
This advanced course will focus intensely on a particular style/playwright (e.g. Shakespeare, Moliere, Pinter, Albee) within an intense collaborative rehearsal environment. Actors and directors will choose projects, research, rehearse and perform them. Class will address physical and thematic hermeneutics, literary and dramaturgical analysis, rehearsal techniques, style, Shakespeare, conceptual/ improvisational approaches, adaptation, working with new plays. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in THR 135 or 308 or permission of instructor.

THR 335  Acting II    3
This advanced course will present a detailed study of characterization, text analysis, rehearsal technique, scene study and auditioning. Students will be exposed to and be expected to integrate a wide variety of approaches to acting and style, including realism, dance-theatre and non-western performance. Challenging character scene work will require greater responsibility to scene partners and to the issues of collaboration and self-direction. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in THR 135.

THR 351  Advanced Stage Craft and Design    3
An advanced study of stage craft, including advanced design principles, construction techniques, style and special effects. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in THR 250 or permission of instructor.