For a listing of courses being offered during the 2025-2026 academic year, follow the link.
Listing of undergraduate courses offered by the Department of Theater; click + for descriptions
Not all courses are offered every semester, and course offerings are subject to change. Enrolled students should consult SPIRE for up to date listings.
This course explores the art of contemporary theater and the power of live performance through a series of shows the students attend in person, along with theater projects they create in a group. Through engagement with both longstanding and new ways of making theater, students will gain exposure to how live theater is being made in the world today -- an exciting moment of new frontiers and forms. (Gen. Ed. AT)
Practical production experience, including ushering, publicity, and stage crews. Specific assignments determined by Production Manager. Open to freshmen; required of majors. May be repeated.
Theater movements of Blacks, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans, and the body of literature by contemporary playwrights of color within a historical context. (Gen.Ed. AL, DU)
Introduction to acting. Includes all or some of the following: improvisation, theater games, monologues, scenes. Required of majors.
Elements of theatrical design and basic skills in the areas of costume construction, lighting techniques, drafting and stagecraft. Required of majors.
This course explores the various manifestations of the voice 'as performance' in protests, activism, and social justice movements in the United States. Topics covered in this course include political protest songs, theatre as a form of protest and activism, the language and theatricality of protest chants, and in recent years, how voice and speech trainers have contributed to the sustainability and health of activists and protestors. (Gen. Ed. AT, DU)
Training of the actor's voice using a progression of psycho-physical exercises developed by Kristin Linklater. Emphasis on freeing the body and voice from habitual tensions and patterns. Prerequisites: THEATER 140, consent of instructor.
In this course, we will examine theatrical works and the social and political contexts of Asian American theater-makers in the US. Weaving in mediums such as film, poetry, fiction, visual art, and scholarship, we will look at issues of race and gender as social constructs that Asian Americans are not only subject to, but also continuously challenge through cultural production. This is a dramaturgy course that requires students to engage with the theatrical texts within various artistic and theoretical frameworks. Grounded in post-colonial and transnational feminist theories, we define 'theater' in this course as a vital cultural weapon with which historically disenfranchised communities in the U.S. have inserted themselves into the cultural narrative that often silences and erases them. We will closely examine the gendering of Asian bodies as a form of colonization.
Development of the theater in Greece and Rome, and the rediscovery of classical models in the 16th and 17th centuries and beyond. Reading and analysis of plays in their theatrical and cultural contexts. Meets Junior Year writing requirement.
Development of the professional theater in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. Reading and analysis of plays in their theatrical and cultural contexts. Meets Junior Year writing requirement.
Development of the theater from the late 18th century, with special emphasis on the realistic play and its antecedents. Reading and analysis of plays in their theatrical and cultural contexts. Meets Junior Year writing requirement.
Contemporary Native American Performance is an area of study with deep roots in culturally specific production and an ever-evolving practice by a wide range of artists. In this Junior Year Writing course we will read plays and performative texts created by Native American artists since the 1960's. We will begin our study by acknowledging the limitations of language and the always contentious issue of labels. Within this critical framework, we will study the art as well as the attending social, political, and historical contexts. We will examine innovations and experimentation with artistic form and study each artist?s use of language, style and thematic content. Imperative topics of discussion will include gender roles, expressions of sexuality, class position, and cultural identity as articulated by the artists we study. Theater is an interactive, living art form. With this in mind we will attend relevant performances and generate in-class performances.
Selected periods and styles in the history of the American stage. Selected play-scripts and allied readings.
The African American presence in the American theater. Selected periods and styles.
Trends in theatrical practice from the end of the 19th century to the present; emphasis on surrealism, expressionism, absurdism, and performance art.
This course examines the influence of hip-hop on contemporary American drama. Primary considerations are identifying its aesthetic, its origins, and expoloring the convergence of art, culture, politics and community.
This course will examine the landscape of American theater and its relationship to the politics of diversity in the U.S. We will study the theater work of Latinos;as in the U.S. to broaden our understanding of multicultural theater. In addition to studying the dramatic texts, we will also consider the political implications of the work and its relationship to social activism. We will also look at theater companies whose primary missions are to produce Latino/a theater and the history of the representation of Latinos on stage in this country.
Studio. Development of the actor's physical resources through movement analysis and practice. Specific theatrical problems in: mask, theatrical clown, status improvisation, character portrayal. Prerequisites: THEATER 140, consent of instructor. Clothing allowing freedom of movement required.
Script analysis and development of vocal and physical performance in the building of effective stage characteriza-tions. Improvisations and scenes.
This course will cover the application of various voice acting techniques that will help the actor to develop skills in voice over. An emphasis will be placed on script analysis, commercial copy, character work, industrials, narration, developing a voice over demo, and home recording.
Theory and practice of stage direction; attention to work with actors and stage space for conveying theatrical in-formation. Assigned scenes and exercises.
Students will explore set;scenic design for live performance in a studio format. What is a performance space? We will investigate the idea of performance spaces where theatre can happen, as well as create some of our own. The main objective is to introduce the language, tools, and technical skills involved in the discipline of scenic design and to lay the foundation for further study while empowering students to actively engage as set designers in productions on campus after taking the course.
Studio. Study of 'seeing': concentration on the articulation of visual pictures developed from a dramatic text and on research; functions and qualities of light and the development of lighting concepts. Practical application of design through specific crew assignments on Department productions.
Each student will be able by course end to design costumes for a performance piece. By completing this course all students will have a beginning grasp of costume history and the ability to research and complete a design project. This course will encourage creative thought and problem solving, collaborative experimentation and will stimulate the development of personal aesthetic, critical analysis, and an intelligent approach to performance design. Also, there will be specific training sessions for figure drawing, character rendering, so students without fine art background can also join.
This course will provide instruction of, and guided practice in, the basics of the art and craft of sound design for theater. It will explore the fundamental tools and processes essential to conceptualizing and implementing both the content of a sound design and the sound system for delivery of that content. At the end of the course, students will master the assembly and operation of simple sound systems, and an ability to interpret basic sound-system documentation. This mastery will lay the groundwork for further exploration of conceptual and technical sound design in the Sound Design II and Sound Design Studio courses.
Discover the art and craft of stage management through class work, observation and production exploration. Learn practical techniques for managing theatrical productions in preparation for academic and professional production responsibility.
This class will offer students the opportunities to learn how scenery, props, and other technical elements are created for theater and other entertainment venues. Students will gain practical experience working with various materials and techniques while fabricating elements for the theater department's main-stage productions. Instructions will include lectures and hands-on demonstrations on topics such as project management, wood and metal joinery, material choices, and the making of non-toxic goo. Students will work in pairs and in teams within a safe and creative environment. Individuals in the fields of design, art, sculpture, architecture, construction, engineering, and project management may find this class beneficial.
This course will offer a comprehensive, hands-on experience with making an original podcast episode. From developing a concept, through conducting interviews, writing and recording narration, making field recordings, editing, sound design, mixing, through to distribution, students will immerse themselves in the creative and technical process of producing compelling audio.
Hands-on, project based learning of baic scenic, prop, and automation fabrication techniques. Some theory, but mostly practice with the curriculum based on Departmental productions and projects.
Principles of stage makeup
Principles of devised theater
Black Theater Workshop is a focused exploration of the work of a selected Black Theater Artist through research and performance of their work and related material. Participants will gain an understanding of the meaning of 'Black Theater' and acquire practical approaches to analyzing and performing this particular kind of work.
Exercises in play construction involving characterization, dialogue, and plot development; and completion of a short playscript.
Bold actor training, adapting classical language techniques for verbally adventurous contemporary plays, from Tom Stoppard to Suzan-Lori Parks. Students unleash the evocative power of the spoken word on stage.
Intensive analysis and rehearsal of scripts for public performance. Prerequisites: THEATER 345, consent of instructor.
In this course, students will gain the skills of dialect acquisition in order to meet specific dialect needs for theatre, film, and television productions. Through physical exploration and detailed study of the International Phonetic Alphabet, analysis of signature sounds and prosody, students will gain valuable insight into the process of taking on another person?s oral posture. Cultural research, listening, play, and character work are other elements of dialect work that will help students develop proficiency in several regional American and foreign language dialects.
Principles of musical theater
This advanced course will build on the foundations of scenic design practice covered in THEATER 360 (Intro to Set Design) such as dramaturgical and visual research, model building, drafting, budgeting, creative problem solving, flexibility of methods and solutions in pursuit of a vision in support of a performance event, and collaboration skills through actual production assignments in the department as well as several paper projects realized in 3-D model form. The course will feature in-class visits from directors and production staff in order to model the various collaborative relationships a designer is involved in, as well as several sessions co-taught with the lighting and costume design faculty to develop an understanding of the interconnectedness of the visual design disciplines. Attention will be paid to portfolio building.
This course addresses lighting design theory, conceptualization, and solution of related technical problems. Advanced lighting lab and paper projects. Advanced lighting assignments on department productions. Satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Theatr majors. Prerequisites: THEATER 361, consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Continuation of THEATER 362. Costume design theory, conceptualization, and solution of related problems. Design projects, concept papers, journal, sketch book, and appropriate design work for department productions. Prerequisites: 300-level theater courses or equivalent, consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit. Satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Theatr majors.
Practical applications of technical design processes and methods of implementation using a project management approach. Specific opportunities derive from departmental projects and are extremely hands-on.
An in-depth examination of the fundamental technology and practice of stage lighting implementation. This class will focus on the work of the Theater Master Electrician and the technology used in entertainment lighting. Topics include electrical principals and safety, Article 520 of the National Electrical code, lighting control systems, conventional to modern Instrumentation, the responsibilities and duties of a theatrical Master Electrician, wiring props and scenic elements, and stage rigging for lighting.
This class will introduce the theatre technician to the AutoCAD program. Through project-based learning, the student will learn how to create a technical drawing using correct theatrical design symbols and standards. This class is very useful for any student interested in the large and extremely fast-growing field of entertainment technology. Must have laptop with AutoCAD 2004 or later version.
This course provides a hands-on introduction to the basics of studio music recording and music mixing in Logic Pro X. Students will learn how to select the right microphone for their project, execute multitrack recordings and use techniques in mixing and audio processing to produce their own recordings. It is recommended that students have some ability to sing or play an instrument so that they are able to record their own music, and eachother's, whether original songs or covers.
What comes next? This culminating course is designed for seniors who intend to pursue careers in the professional theater. Through projects, activities, lectures, discussions and guest lectures, the course will cover such topics as auditioning, interviews, resumes, portfolios, websites, contacts, agents, unions, job-hunting, and professional theater practices. Frequent presentations as appropriate to each student will be an important part of the course. Students will develop their personal strategies for navigating the business of theater and be expected to be self-motivated in pursuing them before the end of the semester.
This course provides the most intensive collaborative opportunity for actors and directors to work together in our department. Directors and actors have an equal voice in the collaborative process, with the goals of: Understanding and experiencing one another's roles; Being able to communicate personal perspectives in a group; and Respecting and integrating the perspectives of collaborators. This course provides multiple opportunities for students to draw on previous learning experiences, both in the theater and in General Education courses, primarily through researching various cultures and time periods and the necessity of putting this research into practice through their interpretation of characters and scenes. Written work, such as text analysis assignments or character biographies, are done individually, but shared with the small scene group. Scene groups usually have four to seven actors and one director. Students work collaboratively to prepare the scene, show their perform
This course looks at the art of theatrical adaptation by comparing plays to their source material. How do theater artists transform their sources, and why?
In this course, students will examine African and African American theater produced in the 20th and 21st century and written or translated into English. We will observe the differences and similarities between work across geographic and temporal locations and conduct dramaturgical research to support concept statements that could facilitate professional productions of these works. Because the literary work we will consider spans about a century and comes from the U.S., the Caribbean and the African continent, we will pay special attention to questions about race, culture and representation including problematic practices such as the consistent exclusion of dramatic work that challenges dominant social and political agendas across the US. More importantly, we will examine how artists use their creative work to articulate a sense of self, community and nation and just how contentious this process continues to be for artists of the African diaspora.
This course provides advanced application of the art and craft of sound design. The tools and processes essential to conceptualizing and implementing aural content and technical delivery of a sound design will be utilized in the department?s main-stage productions, supplemented by class projects.
This is a class exploring multiple medias to create beautiful 2D painting on fabric. Fabric painting and treatment has been a traditional decorative efforts from the cradle of the human civilization and is different within various culture and geographic setting. This class would cover popular fabric painting and distressing crafts in Western theatre and film industry. After the class, students should be able to create convincing portfolio pieces through fabric silk dye, batik, fabric paint, and screen printing.
Fabric specialist (painter, dyer) is a significant portion of costume design ; making in the theatre, film and TV industry. They are the magicians that alter the fabric texture, color and pattern, and also finalize the looks of the costume according to different settings and character needs. Topics to be covered will include general fiber and fabric knowledge, color dyeing ; matching with different types of dye products, including RIT union dye, Pro-chemical Acid Dye, fiber reactive dye, Aljo cotton Direct Dyes, Aljo Acete Nylon Dyes. Different dyeing techniques include: ombre dyeing, Tie Dye and Fortuny pleated dye technique, also screen printing. All participants would need to follow the safety and property rules in the Dye Room of the Costume Shop. Please also noted that all the students would be expected to spend 3 hours average per week in the dye room to work on projects as lab time. The lab schedule is flexible, and more info will be released during the class.