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The UMM Theatre Program The UMM Theatre program encompasses theatre as an artistic form and as a social and cultural institution. The study of theatre arts enables the individual to develop a creative imagination, an inquiring mind, a sense of social responsibility, professional discipline, a collaborative attitude, artistic standards and judgment, and a respect for the art form. The curriculum provides academic and practical training in theatre arts for undergraduate liberal arts students, particularly for those wishing to pursue graduate studies in the field and for those preparing to teach. This program is designed to help students develop an appreciation for and ability to produce quality theatre. Each member of the faculty heads up areas in design and publicity for our production program. Most afternoons, students who volunteer or receive work study compensation or academic credit, work intimately with the faculty and other part-time professionals on the actual plays in production. Students may act in plays directed by our faculty (each of whom has considerable professional experience) and have opportunities to design or co-design sets, lights, and costumes under the supervision of Professor Payne. It is common for the Discipline to sponsor spring break or summer trips (some for academic credit) to the theatre capitals of New York and London. In recent years approximately 80% of UMM theatre majors have had some international educational experience. Every other week the entire Discipline (theatre majors, faculty, staff and any other interested party) gathers together. At these informal sessions we engage in a variety of activities, such as discussing the latest production, giving presentations and workshops, playing theatre games, or just having an informal chat and sharing snacks. The Discipline usually produces three shows a year: one in the fall semester, one in the early part of spring semester, and a children's show done late in the spring semester. Meinengens, UMM's student theatre organization, also produce one, sometimes two shows a year. Auditions are limited to UMM students, but all UMM students are encouraged to audition. Theatre majors generally account for about one third of the casts in our productions. Qualified students frequently direct and design discipline productions. As a capstone theatre experience, theatre majors undertake a personalized senior project with a faculty advisor in their area of interest. This past semester, for instance, one of our seniors directed our annual children's production, while another designed the lights for it. This coming academic year, we have senior projects in costume and lighting design, as well as a solo acting recital and a project that will develop an original improvisational theatre piece. Students also perform and design at the many community theatres in our region and have directed productions at our local high school. These senior project opportunities are limited only by your own interests and imagination. The theatre curriculum is apportioned so that each of the major fields of theatre gets at least two courses of study required for the major. Students may then specialize by taking other courses as electives. Courses in italics means that the course is required for the major Acting Th 1111—Fundamentals of Acting Th 3201—Advanced Acting and Directing: Period Style or Th 3202— Advanced Acting and Directing: Realism and Alternatives Th 2201—Voice and Movement Th 2211—Oral Interpretation Th 2221—Readers' Theatre Directing Th 2101—Fundamentals of Directing Th 3201—Advanced Acting or Th 3202— Advanced Directing Technical Theatre/Design Th 1301—Fundamentals of Design Th 2301—Stagecraft Th 3301—Stage Lighting Th 3302—Stage Costuming Th 3303—Computer-Assisted Drawing Th 4301—Scenic Design Theatre History Th 1101—The Theatre Experience: An Introduction Th 3101—World Theatre: History and Literature I Th 3102—World Theatre: History and Literature II In addition to the course work, a portfolio review in the third year, a para-programmatic experience, and working on a minimum of six discipline productions in your career as a student are required to receive a theatre major. The current theatre major requirements as listed in the catalog are as follows. Course Descriptions for each theatre course are listed at: Major Requirements Th 1101—The Theatre Experience: An Introduction Th 1111—Fundamentals of Acting Th 1301—Fundamentals of Design Th 2101—Fundamentals of Directing Th 2301—Stagecraft Th 3101—World Theatre: History and Literature I Th 3102—World Theatre: History and Literature II Th 3201—Advanced Acting and Directing: Period Styles or Th 3202— Advanced Acting and Directing: Realism and Alternatives Th 4901—Senior Project or Th 4994—Senior Honors Project One course from: Th 2201—Voice and Movement Th 2211—Oral Interpretation Th 2221—Readers' Theatre Th 3201— Advanced Acting and Directing I: Period Styles Th 3202— Advanced Acting and Directing II: Realism and Alternatives Th 3301—Stage Lighting Th 3302—Stage Costuming Th 3303—Computer-Assisted Drawing Th 4301—Scenic Design • Six major production responsibilities (four of which must be in a faculty-directed production, and three of which must be in the junior and senior years) • A portfolio review in your third year • At least one para-programmatic theatre experience that is arranged through a theatre arts faculty member and may take any number of forms, e.g., an internship with a theatre company, study abroad, or theatre tour to New York or London Course Descriptions Syllabi for the courses can be opened by clicking on the courses above. |
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