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The Mason Gross School of the Arts
 
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Catalogs
  Mason Gross School of the Arts 2004-2006 Graduate Programs in Theater Arts Graduate Courses  

Graduate Courses
08:966:501-502Introduction to Graduate Study (3,3) A two-term course that covers a wide spectrum of plays and major ideas that have nourished the theater. The emphases are on understanding how form and style serve content and on the script translating into a living work on stage. Required for all first year M.F.A. theater arts students.
08:966:503-504The Actor's Craft: Techniques (2,2) Uses improvisation and scene work to build a truthful acting instrument. Stage managers must register for this course with an N prefix.  Open only to M.F.A. directing and stage management students.
08:966:505-506Speech I (1.5,1.5) Understanding American-English sounds. Figurative drawing instruction, including still life, landscape, the human figure, and freehand perspective. Model fee.
08 :966:507Drawing Practice for Theater Design (0.5)Figurative drawing instructions, including stil life, landscape, the human figure, and freehand perspective. Model fee.
08:966:508Seminar in Theater History (3) Study of selected topics in theater history. Topics vary and may include contemporary and non-Western theater. Offered occasionally.
08:966:509Production Techniques (BA) Practical experience in various techniques used to create technical aspects of theatrical production. Course is repeated. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:510Theater Criticism (3) Seminar/workshop in theater criticism. Explores ways to analyze, appreciate, and evaluate live performance by seeing, reading, and discussing classical and modern plays. Students` critical writing edited in class. Requires weekly attendance at a theater production. Cost for attending theater productions is in addition to tuition. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
08:966:511-512Acting: Techniques (4,4) Uses improvisation and scene work to build a truthful acting instrument. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.
08:966:513-514Movement I (2,2) Development of a movement vocabulary and use of muscle release exercises for advanced dramatic movement. Open only to M.F.A. acting or directing students.
08:966:515-516Voice I (1.5,1.5) Introduction to healthy vocal use for the stage. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.
08:966:517Introduction to Stage Lighting (2) Technical and mechanical aspects of stage lighting, including electrical theory, practical wiring, equipment maintenance, and safety practice. Applications to stage, TV, film, and touring situations.
08:966:518Acting Performance I (1) Application of acting principles learned in the classroom. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.
08:966:519-520Introduction to Directing (3,3) Exploration of director`s role as the unifying factor in a collaboration with designers, actors, and stage managers. Open scenes used to realize theories and techniques. Staging first-year actors in basic situations and moment-to-moment reality with minimal production values. Open only to M.F.A. directing, stage management, and playwriting students.
08:966:521-522Elements of Design (2,2) Sketching and rendering techniques and practice for theater designers. Freehand drawing and painting of perspective, the rendering of fabric, three-dimensional design, and color theory. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:523-524History of Architecture and Decorative Arts (2,2) Survey of architecture and decorative arts from ancient Egypt to the present, focusing on periods encountered most by theatrical designers. Includes visits to major metropolitan museums, where students study and draw from example. Activity fees. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:525-526Costume History and Rendering (2,2) Extensive survey of costume history from ancient Egypt to the present. Regular sessions drawing from models` period costumes. Model fee. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:527-528Fundamentals of Lighting Design (2,2) Basic theory and practice of lighting design, including script analysis, physics of light, and color and light plots. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:529-530Fundamentals of Drafting (2,2) Drafting as a means of clarifying and communicating ideas. Standard professional practice followed. Lettering for drafting emphasized. Model building in second term. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:531-532Directed Study in Playwriting (BA,BA) Concentrated work in the theory and practice of playwriting. Completion of major dramatic writing projects each term. Study of dramatic literature. Weekly group meetings supported by weekly individual tutorials. Open to M.F.A. playwriting students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:533-534Directing Project (1,1) The directorial conception, casting, and rehearsal of a one-act play for a studio-level production at Jameson Studio Theater. Prerequisite: 08:966:519.
08:966:535-536Stage Management (3,3) Systems and techniques of professional stage management. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:537Theater Management (3) Producing for commercial and nonprofit theater. Artistic direction and management of a working theater company. New York field trip. Activity fee.
08:966:538Theater Management Practicum (BA) Work as an intern on a project related to managing a theater. Prerequisite: 08:966:537.
08:966:541-542Acting: Scene Study (3,3) Advanced study of interpretation and characterization. Prerequisites: 08:966:511-512.
08:966:543Movement II (1) Advanced movement: interpretation of music, poetry, and dramatic themes. Continued integration of voice and body. Prerequisites: 08:966:513-514.
08:966:545-546Voice II (1,1) Development of 08:966:515-516 Voice I skills as appropriate for use in various styles of text. Prerequisites: 08:966:515-516.
08:966:547-548Acting Performance II (1,1) Continuation of 08:966:518 Acting Performance I. Prerequisite: 08:966:518.
08:966:549-550Directing: The Playwright's Voice (3,3) Work in more complex and innovative forms that build on the skills and theories taught in 08:966:519-520 Introduction to Directing. Through research, discussion, and videos, the student is taught to identify and interpret the voice of the playwright. Short plays by playwrights with widely different styles, such as Shanley, Mamet, Pinter, and Williams, are directed for class. The student is expected to bring as many production values to the effort as he or she can achieve. Prerequisites: 08:966:519-520.
08:966:551-552Set Design I (3,3) Projects to develop an approach to scenic design that begins with characters inhabiting the work and culminates in creating the production environment. Prerequisites: 08:966:529-530.
08:966:553Production Properties (2) Traditional and contemporary techniques, materials, and approaches to building and painting three-dimensional objects for stage use. Materials fee. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:555-556Costume Design I (3,3) Advanced design discovery of appropriate costume through study of the people and period of the play. Close attention to period silhouette, colors, and fabrics. Sketching techniques. Prerequisites: 08:966:525-526 or permission of instructor.
08:966:557Scene Painting I (2) Classical trompe l`oeil painting and modern scene painting for classroom projects and departmental productions. Organization and painting of full stage drops emphasized. Materials fee. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:559-560Costume Construction Techniques (BA,BA) Fundamental sewing skills oriented to the special needs of the costume shop. Use of costume-shop tools and equipment. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:561-562Lighting Design I (3,3) Techniques for solving advanced lighting design and production problems. Role of lighting designer from conceptual meetings through to crew organization and management. Prerequisites: 08:966:527-528.
08:966:563-564Theater Technique I (BA,BA) Theater professionals conduct partial-term workshops on special craft techniques, including millinery, dyeing, color theory, wig making, and makeup. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:565-566Production Design: Sets (BA,BA) Supervised design of actual productions. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:567-568Production Design: Costumes (BA,BA) Supervised costume design for actual productions. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:569-570Production Design: Lights (BA,BA) Supervised design and realization of production lighting. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:571-572Technical Direction Projects (BA,BA) Supervised technical direction of a theater production. Prerequisites: Fundamental design and stagecraft courses. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:575Directed Study in Design (BA) Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
08:966:576-577Drawing for Designers (2,2) Personal style developed by application of drawing and observation skills to human-figure drawing. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:578Blocking (2) Composition and picturization leading to beginning scene work, using behavioristic techniques. Open only to M.F.A. directing students.
08:966:579Script Analysis (3) Lecture/discussion designed to help achieve a better understanding of play form and structure. Open only to M.F.A. students in theater arts.
08:966:580Directing: Conceptualization (2) Preproduction analysis of the dramatic script to develop and articulate premises that distinguish different productions in terms of style, type of staging, and directorial image. Open only to M.F.A. directing students.
08:966:581-582Script in Production (BA,BA) Supervised work revising and perfecting a student-written dramatic script during an actual production. Open only to M.F.A. playwriting students.
08:966:583Sound Techniques for the Theater (2) Analysis of scripts for sound. Research and preparation of sound tapes for rehearsals and performance. Open to M.F.A. students in theater arts or with permission of instructor.
08:966:584Sound Practicum (BA) Supervised production sound projects.
08:966:585Playwright/Director Relationship (2) Playwrights and directors explore and master techniques of collaborating on common projects. Emphasis on consultation and cooperation on such tasks as script interpretation, rewrite, casting, and rehearsal evaluation. Scripts developed in readings and workshops. Open to M.F.A. playwriting or directing students or with permission of instructor.
08:966:587-588Directed Study in Stage Management (BA,BA) Advanced stage management problems analyzed, with particular attention to problems of human relations and people management. Organization and calling of complex productions addressed. Prerequisites: 08:966:535-536.
08:966:589Stagecraft (2) Building of complex scenic units. Experimental solutions to theatrical building problems. Prerequisite: Fundamental stagecraft.
08:966:590Stagecraft Practicum (BA) Supervised stagecraft and construction projects.
08:966:591Dramatic Adaptation (3) Techniques of selection, analysis, and conversion of literary works in other forms or languages to English language theatrical form. Literary works and stage adaptations examined to ascertain problems and techniques of adaptation. Adaptation by each student of a short work of prose fiction for the stage. Open only to M.F.A. playwriting students.
08:966:592-593Movement: Corporeal Styles (1,1) Complete and practical study of the human body as an expressive instrument. Study based primarily on "corporeal mime," a technique developed by Etienne Decroux. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.
08:966:594-595The Actor's Craft: Scene Study (2,2) Advanced study of interpretation and characterization. Open only to M.F.A. directing students.
08:966:596-597Speech II (1,1) Continuation of 08:966:505-506 Speech I.
08:966:599Special Topics in Theater Arts (BA) Individually designed projects in research or creative activity. Prerequisite: Approval of topic proposal by a senior theater arts faculty member.
08:966:601Analysis of Classical Text (2) Analysis of Shakespearean texts for actors. Work includes scansion and the analysis of various prose and verse forms and variations used by Shakespeare. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.
08:966:602Dialects (1) Study of major dialects such as standard British, Cockney, and southern American. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.
08:966:603-604Dramatic Literature (1.5,1.5) Yearlong class in dramatic literature studying one play per week from all periods. Required for all second-year M.F.A. theater arts students.
08:966:607-608The Actor's Craft: Style (2,2) Previous training applied to problems in period style and language. Open only to M.F.A. directing students.
08:966:609-610Stage Combat (1,1) Physical aspects of stage violence from unarmed fighting to the use of weapons. Emphasis on safety and cooperation between actors. Open only to M.F.A. acting, directing, and stage management students.
08:966:611-612Acting Styles (3,3) Previous training applied to problems in period style and language. Open only to third-year M.F.A. acting students.
08:966:613-614Movement Styles (3,3) Recreating three epochs in their dances, clothes, language, and music: Edwardian, baroque, and Elizabethan. Costume and museum fee. Open only to third-year M.F.A. acting students.
08:966:615-616Voice and Speech Styles (1,1) Speech, rhythm, and projection techniques appropriate to specific periods examined, such as those in the ages of Shakespeare and Molière and in the Jacobean and Restoration periods. Open only to third-year M.F.A. acting students.
08:966:617-618Voice Production (1,1) Exploration of the elements that free the actor`s vocal instrument: breathing, range relaxation, and singing. Open only to third-year M.F.A. acting students.
08:966:619-620Directing: Thesis Preparation (N1,N1) Research and preproduction planning for final production project. Open only to third-year M.F.A. directing students.
08:966:621-622Scene Design II (3,3) Design projects tailored to individual needs. Concentration on productions of scale and complexity beyond departmental scope. Portfolio development emphasized. Prerequisites: 08:966:551-552.
08:966:623-624Costume Design II (3,3) Individual design projects focusing on problem areas. Coordinated with current productions. Portfolio presentation emphasized. Prerequisites: 08:966:555-556.
08:966:625-626Lighting Design II (3,3) Advanced theoretical and practical lighting problems examined. Coordinated with current productions. Prerequisites: 08:966:561-562.
08:966:627,628Theater Technique II (BA,BA) Continuation of 08:966:563-564 Theater Technique I. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:629Scene Painting II (2) Continuation of 08:966:557 Scene Painting I. Prerequisites: 08:966:557.
08:966:630Designer/Director Relationship (1) Directors meet with designers enrolled in 08:966: 521-522 Elements of Design to explore the collaborative process in the creation and exploration of design ideas. Open only to M.F.A. design and directing students.
08:966:631-632Set Design Projects (BA,BA) Assignments as scenic designers, assistant scenic designers, property masters, or scenic artists for departmental productions. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:633-634Costume Design Projects (BA,BA) Assignments as costume designers or assistant costume designers for departmental productions. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:635-636Lighting Design Projects (BA,BA) Assignments as lighting designers, assistant lighting designers, or master electricians for departmental productions. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:637-638Drafting and Theater Technology: Advanced Projects (3,3) Theater technology projects, including advanced drafting and design. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:639-640Directing: Advanced Projects (BA,BA) Continuation of 08:966:533-534 Directing Project with production of a full-length play at Jameson Studio Theater.
08:966:641Costume Technology Practicum (6) Course work varies according to individual needs. Focus on a specific costume craft such as dyeing, painting, jewelry, or millinery. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:642Ensemble (2) Workshop in creative expression to give insight into the creative process. Emphasis on extending the actor`s instrument and creating a working bond among M.F.A. candidates. Open only to M.F.A. acting, directing, and playwriting students.
08:966:643-644Auditioning (1,1) A practical class to help actors bridge the gap between academic and professional theater. Emphasis on cold reading, monologues, and a better understanding of the business of "show business." Open only to M.F.A. acting students.
08:966:645-646Theatrical Rendering Techniques (2,2) Development of traditional rendering techniques for scenery and costumes, focusing on, but not limited to, watercolors.
08:966:647-648Draping (3,3) Development of skills needed to evolve patterns from designers` sketches and use of those patterns to produce finished garments. Prerequisites: 08:966:559-560 or permission of instructor.
08:966:649-650Costume Construction Projects (BA,BA) Specific assignments in costume construction coordinated with departmental productions. Open only to M.F.A. design students.
08:966:651Tailoring (3) Construction techniques for tailored garments with particular reference to men`s wear. Prerequisites: 08:966:559-560 or permission of instructor.
08:966:652-653Computer Drafting (3,3) Introduction to basic computer drafting as practiced in the profession, including familiarity with standard programs for theatrical drafting, perspective, and lighting applications.
08:966:654Stage Management Projects (BA) Supervised stage management projects. Open only to M.F.A. stage management students.
08:966:655-656Seminar in Costume History (3,3) In-depth study of period clothing, with emphasis on primary research sources. Activity fees. Prerequisites: 08:966:525-526.
08:966:657Directed Study: Advanced Design (BA) Advanced classwork in scenic, costume, or lighting design. Prerequisite: Corresponding design II classes.
08:966:658Directing: Professional Practicum (2) Field trips to study practice at League of Resident Theaters (LORT) playhouses on the eastern seaboard. Conferences with artistic personnel and analyses of productions and performances. Activity fees. Open only to M.F.A. directing students.
08:966:659-660Period Dance (1,1) Study and practice of period dance styles. Dances will be incorporated into movement styles salon performances.
08:966:661-662Study Style (1,1) Study of movement and period acting styles by watching period films. Course taken for Pass/No Credit grade.
08:966:663Directed Study: Advanced Directing (BA) Advanced directing projects for third-year directors.
08:966:695,696Seminar: Topics in Theater (BA,BA)
08:966:697,698Workshop: Topics in Theater (BA,BA)
08:966:699Internship in Theater (BA)
08:966:703-704Performance Projects: Theater Arts (BA,BA) Thesis.
08:966:800Matriculation Continued (0)
08:966:877Teaching Assistantship (BA)
 
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