Graduate Courses

08:966:501-502 Introduction to Graduate Study (3,3) A two-semester 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 the script translating into a living work on stage. Required for all first-year M.F.A. theater arts students.

08:966:503-504 The Actor's Craft I (2,2) Uses improvisation and scene work to build a truthful acting instrument. Open only to M.F.A. directing students.

08:966:505-506 Speech I (2,2) Exploration of all speech sounds in the world's languages. Increase experiential awareness of the actor's vocal tract and the actions of articulation, as well as developing greater flexibility and muscularity in speech. Acquire a sound working knowledge of phonetics as a foundation for learning accents and further work in speech.

08:966:507 Drawing Practice for Theater Design (2) Figurative drawing instructions, including still life, landscape, the human figure, and freehand perspective. Model fee.

08:966:509 Production Techniques (BA) Practical experience in various production shops to create technical aspects of theatrical production. Course is repeated. Open only to M.F.A. design and stage management students.

08:966:511-512 Acting I (4,4) Uses improvisation and scene work to build a truthful acting instrument. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:513-514 Movement 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.

08:966:515-516 Voice I (2,2) Using the two-part methodology of Fitzmaurice Voicework, this class encourages students to release habitual tensions that inhibit breath and sound, while safely supporting the voice, for a free expression of impulse.
Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:517 Introduction to Stage Lighting (1) 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.

08:966:518 Acting Performance I (3) Application of acting principles learned in the classroom to full stage production. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:519-520 Directing I (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.

08:966:521-522 Elements of Design (2,2) Sketching and rendering techniques and practice for theater designers. Freehand drawing and painting perspective, and model making for set design. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.

08:966:523-524 History 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.

08:966:525-526 Costume Rendering (1,1) Regular sessions drawing from models' period costumes. Model fee. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.

08:966:527-528 Fundamentals 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.

08:966:529-530 Fundamentals 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 semester. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.

08:966:531-532 Directed Study in Playwriting (6,6) Concentrated work in the theory and practice of playwriting. Completion of major dramatic writing projects each semester. Study of dramatic literature. Weekly group meetings supported by weekly individual tutorials. Open to M.F.A. playwriting students or with permission of instructor.

08:966:533-534 Directing Project (3,3) The directorial conception, casting, and rehearsal of a one-act play for a studio-level production at Jameson Studio Theater. Prerequisite: 08:966:519.

08:966:535-536 Stage Management (2,2) Systems and techniques of professional stage management. Open to M.F.A. design students or with permission of instructor.

08:966:537 Theater Management (3) Artistic direction and management of a working theater company. New York field trip. Activity fee.

08:966:538 Theater Management: Producing (3) Continuation of theater management with an emphasis on producing. Prerequisite: 08:966:537.

08:966:540 Teaching Shakespeare (BA) Course in conjunction with and in residence at Shakespeare's Globe in London.  Available to summer enrollees in the Globe's Teaching Shakespeare through Performance program.

08:966:541-542 Acting II (3,3) Advanced study of interpretation and characterization. Prerequisites: 08:966:511-512.

08:966:543-544 Movement II (2,2) Interpretation of music, poetry, and dramatic themes. Continued integration of voice and body. The course will help actors develop physical confidence and freedom, which will enable them to choose their responses without conflict or inhibition.
Prerequisites: 08:966:513-514.

08:966:545-546 Voice II (2,2) Development of 08:966:515-516  Voice I skills as appropriate for use in various styles of text. Prerequisites: 08:966:515-516.

08:966:547-548 Speech II (2,2) Continuation of 08:966:505-506  Speech I. Prerequisites: 08:966:505-506.

08:966:549-550 Directing II: 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  Directing I. 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.

08:966:551-552 Set 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.

08:966:553 Production 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.

08:966:554 Advanced Production Properties (BA)  Directed study in advanced property projects or upholstery.
Open only to M.F.A. design and stage management students, or with permission of instructor.

08:966:555-556 Costume 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 with permission of instructor.

08:966:557 Scene 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.

08:966:558 Actor Warm-up (.5) Development of a system of physical and vocal warm-ups for the actor. Course repeated. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:559-560 Costume 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.

08:966:561-562 Lighting Design I (3,3) Techniques for solving advanced lighting design and production problems. Role of lighting designer from conceptual meetings to crew organization and management. Prerequisites: 08:966:527-528.

08:966:563,564 Theater Technique I (BA,BA) Theater professionals conduct partial-semester 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.

08:966:565-566 Production Design: Sets (BA,BA) Supervised design of actual productions. Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:567-568 Production Design: Costumes (BA,BA) Supervised costume design for actual productions. Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:569-570 Production Design: Lights (BA,BA)     Supervised design and realization of production lighting. Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:571-572 Technical 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.

08:966:573 Script Analysis for Actors (2) Script analysis techniques for the actor in rehearsal. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:575 Directed Study: Theater Design (BA) Special topics in costume, set, or lighting design.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

08:966:576-577 Drawing 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.

08:966:578 Staging for Directors (2) Composition and picturization leading to scene work.
Open only to M.F.A. directing students.

08:966:579 Scene Study for Directors (2) Continuation of staging and scene study leading to scene work using behavioristic techniques.

08:966:580 Directing: 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 Script in Production (BA) Supervised work revising and perfecting a student-written dramatic script during an actual production. Open only to M.F.A. playwriting students.

08:966:582 Writing for Television (3) Technique and procedures for the creation of comedic and dramatic teleplays. Examination of how TV series are derived and run from season to season. Course repeated. Open only to M.F.A. playwriting students.

08:966:583-584 Sound Techniques for the Theater (2,2) Analysis of scripts for sound. Research and preparation of sound media for rehearsals and performance. Open to M.F.A. students in theater arts or with permission of instructor.

08:966:585 Playwright/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, rewriting, casting, and rehearsal evaluation. Scripts developed in readings and workshops. Open to M.F.A. playwriting, stage management, and directing students; or with permission of instructor.

08:966:586 Screenwriting (3) An introduction to writing for film. Students develop their own screenplays as they examine different styles and genres of the medium. Course repeated. Open only to M.F.A. playwriting students.

08:966:587-588 Directed Study in Stage Management (3,3) Advanced stage management problems analyzed, with particular attention to problems of human relations and management. Organization and calling of complex productions addressed. Prerequisites: 08:966:535-536.

08:966:589 Stagecraft (2) Building of complex scenic units. Experimental solutions to theatrical building problems.

08:966:590 Stagecraft Practicum (2) Supervised stagecraft and construction projects.

08:966:591 Dramatic 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. Open only to M.F.A. playwriting students.

08:966:592-593 Physical Theater (2,2) Complete and practical study of the human body as an expressive instrument. Study based primarily on the physical acting work of Michael Chekhov.
Open only to M.F.A. acting and directing students.

08:966:594-595 The Actor's Craft II (3,3) Advanced study of interpretation and characterization. Open only to M.F.A. directing students.

08:966:596-597 Acting Performance II (3,3) Continued application of acting principles in stage productions. Prerequisite: 08:966:518. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:598 Advanced Stage Lighting Technology (2) A seminar/lab course discussing and applying stage lighting practices. The course is focused on technologies used in entertainment lighting with attention on computer light boards, moving light, dimmers, and rigging.

08:966:599 Special Topics in Theater Arts (BA) Individually designed projects in research or creative activity. Prerequisite: Proposed topic approved by a senior theater arts faculty member.

08:966:602 Dialects (1) Study of major dialects such as standard British, cockney, and southern American. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:603-604 Dramatic Literature (1.5,1.5) Yearlong class in dramatic literature, studying one play per week from all different periods. Required for all second-year M.F.A. theater arts students.

08:966:605-606 Acting: Scene Study (1,1) Rehearsing toward a performance.

08:966:607 The Actor's Craft III (2) Previous training applied to problems in period style and language. Open only to M.F.A. directing students.

08:966:609-610 Stage 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.

08:966:611-612 Acting III (3,3) Previous training applied to problems in period style and language. Open only to third-year M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:613-614 Movement Styles: Alexander Technique I (1,1) Alexander Technique group work and individual tutorials. Open only to second-year M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:615-616 Voice III (2,2) Weekly tutorial and/or group sessions that address individual vocal concerns.
Open only to third-year M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:617-618 Speech and Voice Production (2,2) Advanced speech and voice applied.

08:966:619-620 Directing: Thesis Preparation (1,1) Research and preproduction planning for final production project. Open only to third-year M.F.A. directing students.

08:966:621-622 Scene 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.

08:966:623-624 Costume Design II (3,3) Individual design projects focusing on problem areas. Coordinated with current productions. Portfolio presentation emphasized. Prerequisites: 08:966:555-556.

08:966:625-626 Lighting Design II (3,3) Advanced theoretical and practical lighting problems examined. Coordinated with current productions. Prerequisites: 08:966:561-562.

08:966:627,628 Theater Technique II (BA,BA) Continuation of 08:966:563,564  Theater Technique I. Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:629 Scene Painting II (2) Continuation of 08:966:557  Scene Painting I. Prerequisite: 08:966:557.

08:966:630 Designer/Director Relationship (2) 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.

08:966:631-632 Set 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.

08:966:633-634 Costume Design Projects (BA,BA) Assignments as costume designers or assistant costume designers for departmental productions. Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:635-636 Lighting 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.

08:966:637-638 Drafting and Theater Technology: Advanced Projects (3,3) Theater technology projects, including advanced drafting and design. Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:639-640 Directing: Advanced Projects (BA,BA) Continuation of 08:966:533-534  Directing Project, with production of a full-length play at Jameson Studio Theater. Open only to M.F.A. directing students.

08:966:641 Costume Technology Practicum (BA) Coursework 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.

08:966:643-644 Auditioning (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.

08:966:645-646 Theatrical Rendering Techniques (2,2) Development of traditional rendering techniques for scenery and costumes. Focusing on, but not limited to, watercolors. Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:647-648 Draping (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 with permission of instructor.

08:966:649-650 Costume Construction Projects (BA,BA) Specific assignments in costume construction coordinated with departmental productions. Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:651 Tailoring (3) Construction techniques for tailored garments, with particular reference to menswear. Prerequisites: 08:966:559-560 or with permission of instructor.

08:966:652-653 Computer Drafting I (2,2) Object-based computer drafting.  Open only to M.F.A. design students. Prerequisite: 08:966:529-530.

08:966:654 Stage Management Projects (BA) Stage management projects on main stage productions, or production stage management of a semester season. Course repeated. Open only to M.F.A. stage management students.

08:966:655-656 Costume History (1,1) History of costume from 3100 BC to 1930 AD, taught through a series of slides and lectures.
Prerequisites: 08:966:525-526. Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:657 Directed Study: Advanced Design (BA) Advanced classwork in scenic, costume, or lighting design. Prerequisite: Corresponding design II classes.

08:966:658 Directing: Professional Practicum (2)     Field trips to study practice at League of Resident Theaters 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.

08:966:659-660 Advanced Dance Movement (2,2) Continuation of M.F.A. movement program. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:661-662 Classical Text/Style (2,2) Designed to help the actor experience the words of Shakespeare as thoughts in action, and develop the necessary skills to analyze the script for any occasion.
Open only to M.F.A. acting and directing students.

08:966:663 Directed Study: Advanced Directing (BA) Advanced directing projects for third-year directors. Open only to M.F.A. directors.

08:966:664-665 Video Auditioning (1,1) On-camera audition techniques. Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:666-667 Advanced Topics in Stage Management (BA,BA) Advanced study in stage management focusing on refinement of management and organizational techniques. Open only to M.F.A. stage management students.

08:966:668 Theatrical Makeup for Actors (1) Basic technique in makeup for the stage. Makeup kit required.
Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:669-670 Speech III (2,2) Group sessions and individual tutorials designed to address advanced speech and dialect choices for a variety of texts.
Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:671-672 Movement III (2,2) Designed to teach actors how to use the body to reinforce physical truth and the spoken word while performing.
Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:673-674 Movements: Alexander Technique II (2,2) One-on-one, hands-on tutorial work that frees personal habits of tension and inefficiency which impede the ease and power of our physical design.
Open only to M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:675-676 Seminar in Costume History (3,3) In-depth study of period clothing with emphasis on primary sources. Prerequisites: 08:966:525-526 or with permission of instructor.

08:966:677-678 Computer Drafting II (2,2) Line-based computer drafting.
Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:679 Computer Illustration I (2) Computer illustration using raster-based programs.
Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:680 Computer Illustration II (2) Computer illustration using vector-based programs.
Open only to M.F.A. design students.

08:966:690-691 Audition Techniques and Monologues (1,1) Monologue preparation and audition techniques, including cold reading. Open only to third-year M.F.A. acting students.

08:966:692 Advanced Production Properties (BA) Advanced techniques in property construction or upholstery. Materials fee. Course repeated. Prerequisite: 08:966:553. Open only to M.F.A. design and stage management students.

08:966:695,696 Seminar: Topics in Theater (BA,BA) Special topics in theater as offered.

08:966:697,698 Workshop: Topics in Theater (BA,BA) Special workshops and studio courses as offered.

08:966:699 Internship in Theater (BA) Internships in theaters and the entertainment industry.

08:966:703-704 Performance Projects: Theater Arts (BA,BA) Master of fine arts degree thesis projects in acting, directing, playwriting, stage management, and design.

08:966:800 Matriculation Continued (0) To continue matriculation after completion of coursework for the degree until final thesis is submitted.

08:966:877 Teaching Assistantship (BA) Registration for semester in which teaching assistantship is assigned. Not for degree credit.