Theatre Arts Discipline

Senior Projects

The Senior Project is a culminating activity undertaken and completed in the student's final year to demonstrate the student's competence in some area of theatre arts. These three to five credit projects may be completed independently (e.g. a research paper, an acting recital) or as part of a group effort. Acting, directing, scenery, lighting, or costume design, playwriting, and theatre history are among the areas in which the project may be undertaken. Although specific requirements for a senior project will be negotiated with your faculty advisor, and theatre faculty, previous successful senior projects and their requirements are listed elsewhere. Remember these are simply possibilities.

Whenever possible, the project should be made public through performance or display. Acting recitals are to be public performances. If the student is enrolled in the UMM Honors Program, the project may be a Senior Honors Project.

Senior Projects are subject to approval by the faculty and must be initiated by the student according to the following procedure:

  1. A written prospectus of the proposed project is to be submitted to the theatre faculty by March 1 of the third year indicating:
    1. the nature of the project;
    2. a plan describing how the project will be carried out;
    3. how the project will be evaluated;
    4. how the project will demonstrate the student's proficiency in the given area of theatre arts.
  2. The project must have a designated Theatre faculty supervisor.
  3. The project must be approved by the Theatre faculty.
(See also "Student Direction, Design and Acting Recital Policies" below.)
Senior Project Activities

These are not all of the possibilities for senior projects. It is possible, even desirable for you to create a senior tailored specifically to your skills and education. Please talk to theatre faculty about this.

Costume Design Senior Project
4 credits

The following constitute the requirements for a senior project as a costume designer. Grades will be determined by the faculty based upon agreed criteria. Each of these elements must be completed, by the deadline, to receive credit.

  1. Written design concept. A well-thought out description of how the costumes will assist in the presentation of this performance, and your evaluation of your designs as presented. This will be typed.
  2. A journal of your participation as the costume designer. It will include your discussions with the faculty advisor, with the director, your experiences with the costume shop and other designers.
  3. A color rendering of each costume.
  4. Attendance at each of the weekly production meetings.
  5. Attendance at each of the weekly UMM Theatre staff meetings
  6. Attendance at each of the dress rehearsals and at one performance.
  7. Your supervision for 6 hours each week in the costume shop in the role of designer.
  8. Production photographs of each costume.

Lighting Design Senior Project
5 credits

Objectives of Project:

  1. To use previous classroom experience to produce a full-scale lighting design from beginning to end.
  2. To participate in the creative communication process which takes place between the Director and Designers.
  3. To emphasize the value of stage lighting as one of the creative theatre arts.
Description of Learning Activity:
  1. attendance at all design conferences and production meetings.
  2. attendance at at least 2 rehearsals prior to the first technical rehearsal.
  3. attendance at all tehnical and dress rehearsals.
  4. supervise the hanging and focusing of the lighting plot.
  5. written concept sheet
  6. completion of a journal detailing the design process and director/designer consultations.
  7. rough and final drafts of
    1. hanging plot
    2. section view
    3. instrument, dimmer, and gel schedues
    4. disc copy of computerized lighting cues
    5. hard copy of computerized lighting cues
    6. production photos
Basis of evaluation of work
  1. quality of the lighting design in production
  2. participation in design process
  3. paperwork and production photos
  4. meeting deadlines
Scenic Design Senior Project
5 credits

Objectives of Project:
  1. To use previous classroom experience (Th 1301, Fundamentals of Design; Th 2301, Stagecraft; Th 4301, Scene Design to produce a full-scale theatrical set design from beginning to end.
  2. To participate in the creative communication process which takes place between the Director and Designers.
  3. To produce a complete set design including appropriate renderings, model, groundplans, and construction drawings.
Description of Learning Activity:
  1. attendance at all design conferences and production meetings.
  2. attendance at at least 2 rehearsals prior to the first technical rehearsal.
  3. attendance at all tehnical and dress rehearsals.
  4. attend shop sessions 8 hours per week (non-workstudy) for consultation, supervision and scene painting
  5. completion of a journal detailing the design process and director/designer consultations. Included in this journal will be:
    1. a written concept statement
    2. thumbnail sketches
    3. notes on designer/director discussions
    4. notes on production meetings
    5. notes taken during technical and dress rehearsals
    6. the student's final evaluation of the creative work
  6. The student will take a set of production photos.
Basis of evaluation of work:
  1. quality of the scene design in production
  2. participation in design process
  3. paperwork and production photos
  4. meeting deadlines




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