Student Responsibility to Keep Informed
The Department of
Theater Arts makes special demands on students enrolled in the B.F.A.
programs because of the professional nature of the training programs.
Specific rules and policies are published in the Guide for Actors in
the Theater Arts Department and the Guide for Design and Production
Students in the Theater Arts Department. Students are responsible for
understanding and following all rules and policies set forth in these
documents.
Repeated Courses
Theater arts B.F.A.
students may repeat a liberal arts course taken at Rutgers in
accordance with the regulation stated in the Academic Policies and
Procedures chapter of the Mason Gross School of the Arts section of
this catalog.
Scholastic Standing
For theater arts
majors, a grade of D or F in a core course is grounds for dismissal.
The first C in a core course results in artistic probation; the second
C in a core course is grounds for dismissal. In the general theater
arts requirements, any F may result in dismissal. A general theater
arts requirement in which a D is received must be retaken and a grade
of C or better must be achieved. A course may only be retaken
once.
Casting and Production Assignments
The
Department of Theater Arts requires students, depending on production
assignments or casting, to be available for work or rehearsals at times
when classes are not in session. Students are required to perform the
roles or take the production positions assigned to them by the faculty.
General Theater Requirements
All students, regardless of concentration, must take the following courses:
07:965:311-312 Theater History (3,3)
07:965:398 Basic Theater Texts (3)
07:965:408 Script Analysis (3)
07:966:123 Theater Practice (1 for each of two terms)
07:966:215-216 Scenic Art (3,3) ***
The total theater program must consist of at least 84 and as many as 92
credits. Theater arts students must also complete a minimum of 36
credits of liberal arts requirements (see the Degree Requirements
chapter) for a minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
All students begin with an introductory year that provides a foundation
in theater and includes expository writing and other liberal arts
courses, as well as specially designated theater courses relating to
the student`s area of interest. Students begin intensive theater study
as sophomores.
Design and production and management students
in the junior and senior years may not schedule any classes for the
fourth period on Wednesdays. This period is reserved for departmental
production meetings.
In addition to the general theater
requirements, students must enroll in and complete one of the three
following concentrations.
Acting Concentration Core Requirements
The B.F.A. in acting provides concentrated study in acting and a
well-rounded background in theater arts that prepares students for a
career in acting for the stage and in film and television. The core of
the program is acting, voice, speech, and movement, and includes a
three- to five-day per week vocal and physical warm-up.
The
first year is spent exploring and mastering fun- damental concepts. The
program consists of the acting core courses, theatrical makeup, and
theater practice. Sophomores take the acting core courses and
participate in performance ensemble, a yearlong, process-oriented class
in which the students, using research methods, improvisation, theater
games, and ensemble techniques, create their own original theater
piece. Theater history is also part of the sophomore year course work.
The entire junior year is spent studying abroad at Shakespeare`s Globe
Theater in London, England, in a one-of-a-kind conservatory experience
(see "Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare`s Globe in London" below).
During the rigorous senior year, class time is spent in the refinement
of the actor`s craft, integrating all aspects of the four-year training
program and preparing for the "business of the business." Classes
include acting for the camera and auditioning, meeting with top agents
and casting directors, and preparing for the spring showcase and senior
projects. The senior production season begins with a classical
production in the fall, followed in the spring by an actor`s showcase,
and culminates with senior projects, a festival of student-produced
performances.
B.F.A. acting students are eligible for casting in all departmental productions, beginning in their second year of study.
Due to the rigor of the acting program, the faculty recommends that any
remedial mathematics course work, i.e., elementary algebra, be
completed prior to enrollment at Mason Gross.
Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare`s Globe in London
Mason Gross School of the Arts offers the only conservatory training
program in the nation whose actors spend a full year abroad. Rutgers
B.F.A. acting and design students train with leading teachers and
practitioners in the field, studying acting, design, and classical
text. Designers show their work to distinguished London designers and
intern in major London theaters. Actors have the opportunity to perform
on the stage of the Globe Theater, a faithful reproduction of the
open-air space, designed in 1599, where Shakespeare worked and for
which he wrote many of his greatest plays. In addition to Rutgers
Conservatory at Shakespeare`s Globe in London distinguished full-time
faculty, guest artists from the London theater and cultural scenes
participate in special workshops. Participants and sponsors have
included such artists as Dame Judy Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, and Sir
Derek Jacobi. Please consult the Mason Gross School of the Arts web
site at www.masongross.rutgers.edu for further details on courses and
credits.
Design Concentration Core Requirements
First-year B.F.A. students preparing to specialize in costume,
lighting, and scenic design take introductory course work that includes
theater and visual arts courses. All design students must take a core
drawing class two hours per week. The design program begins in the
sophomore year with courses in drafting, costume history, rendering,
properties, stagecraft, introduction to lighting, and the history of
architecture and decor, providing solid grounding in technical and
craft skills. The junior and senior years are devoted to intensive
study and practice in design. The program is dedicated to a
comprehensive education and practice in all areas of design. Students
in the program use New York City museum and theater resources during
biweekly field trips as part of their training.
First (Introductory) Year
07:081:121 Drawing Fundamentals I (3)
01:082:105,106 Introduction to Art History * (6)
01:355:101 Expository Writing I * (3)
07:966:105 Drawing Practice (two terms) (1)
07:966:123 Theater Practice (two terms) (2)
07:966:215-216 Scenic Art (6)
07:966:300-301 Introduction to Design (6)
liberal arts courses (6)
Total Credits = 33 Sophomore Year
07:965:311-312 Theater History (6)
07:966:105 Drawing Practice (two terms) (1)
07:966:245-246 History of Architecture and Decorative Arts (4)
07:966:247-248 Costume History and Rendering (4)
07:966:251-252 Fundamentals of Drafting (4)
07:966:305 Introduction to Stage Lighting (2)
07:966:307 Production Properties (2)
07:966:323 Theater Practice (two terms) (2)
07:966:339 Stagecraft (2)
07:966:390 Costume Construction Techniques (1)
liberal arts courses (6)
Total Credits = 34 Junior Year
07:965:398 Basic Theater Texts (3)
07:966:105 Drawing Practice (two terms) (1)
07:966:243-244 Elements of Design (4)
07:966:411 Production Techniques (two terms) (2)
07:966:422 Production Design Projects (2)
Design electives A (listed below) (6)
Design electives B (listed below) (1)
liberal arts courses (12)
Total Credits = 31 Senior Year
07:965:408 Script Analysis (3)
07:966:105 Drawing Practice (two terms) (1)
07:966:411 Production Techniques (two terms) (2)
07:966:422 Production Design Projects (two terms) (4)
Design electives C (listed below) (9)
or 07:966:492 Design in London (12)
liberal arts courses (6)
Total Credits = 37 Design Electives
Design Electives A
07:966:309-310 Drawing and Designers (2,2)
07:966:335-336 Costume Design I (3,3)
07:966:343-344 Fundamentals of Lighting Design (2,2)
07:966:345-346 Theatrical Rendering Techniques (2,2)
07:966:361 Sound Technology (2)
07:966:362 Sound Technology Practicum (BA)
07:966:423 Stage Management (3)
07:966:455-456 Seminar in Costume History (3,3)
Design Electives B
07:966:273 Theatrical Makeup (1)
07:966:316 Scene Painting (2)
07:966:389-390 Costume Construction Techniques (1,1)
07:966:447-448 Draping (3,3)
07:966:451 Tailoring (3)
07:966:468 Computer Drafting (BA)
Design Electives C
07:966:309-310 Drawing and Designers (2,2)
07:966:313-314 Set Design I (3,3)
07:966:462 Costume Design II (3)
07:966:464-465 Lighting Design I (3,3)
08:966:563-564 Theater Techniques (2,2)
08:966:637-638 Drafting and Theater Technology:
Advanced Project (BA,BA)
Design Electives C
A design program is part of Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare`s Globe
in London and may be elected for the fall term of the senior year. This
12-15 credit design program is in residence at Shakespeare`s Globe
Theater.
All graduating design students must present a
portfolio of their work at the penultimate and final portfolio review
sessions in their senior year. This portfolio must include a current
résumé. The portfolio must be prepared with faculty guidance beginning
in the second term of the junior year.
Production and Management Concentration Core Requirements
The production and management program is designed for students
interested in preparation for careers in stage management, theater
management, costume technology, and technical direction. During the
sophomore year of the program, students undertake serious exploration
of their special interest areas with courses in stagecraft, stage
management, costume history and rendering, or production properties.
Intensive study and practice in the student`s specialty begins with the
junior year, which is individually structured in consultation with a
specialty adviser.
First (Introductory) Year
01:082:105,106 Introduction to Art History * (6)
01:355:101 Expository Writing I * (3)
07:966:123 Theater Practice (two terms) (2)
07:966:215-216 Scenic Art (6)
07:966:271-272 Basic Acting (6)
liberal arts courses (9)
Total Credits = 32 Sophomore Year
07:965:311-312 Theater History (6)
07:966:323 Theater Practice (two terms) (2)
07:966:423 Stage Management (3)
Theater arts specialty courses and electives (listed below) (12)
liberal arts courses3
Total Credits = 26 Junior Year
07:965:398 Basic Theater Texts (3)
07:965:421 Directing (3)
07:966:364 Theater Management (3)
07:966:411 Production Techniques (two terms) (2)
07:966:424 Stage Management Seminar (3)
theater arts specialty courses (10)
liberal arts courses (9)
Total Credits = 33 Senior Year
07:965:408 Script Analysis (3)
07:966:411 Production Techniques (two terms) (2)
theater arts specialty courses (21)
liberal arts courses (3)
Total Credits = 29 Specialty Courses
Students elect a specialty in consultation with a specialty adviser and
take courses from those in the following lists. Courses marked with a
dagger are required. Some courses are specified for the sophomore or
junior years.
Stage Management Specialty
01:198:110 Introduction to Computers and Their Application (3)
07:206:201 Elementary Labanotation (3)
**07:965:421,422 Directing (3,3)
07:966:300 Introduction to Design (3)
**07:966:305 Introduction to Stage Lighting (2) (sophomore)
**07:966:307 Production Properties (2) (sophomore)
**07:966:339 Stagecraft (2) (sophomore)
**07:966:343-344 Fundamentals of Lighting Design (2,2)
**07:966:361 Sound Technology (2) (sophomore)
**07:966:362 Sound Technology Practicum (BA)
07:966:365 Theater Management Practicum (3)
07:966:389 Costume Construction (1)
07:966:422 Production and Design Projects (BA)
**07:966:424 Stage Management Seminar (three terms) (9)
08:966:609-610 Stage Combat (1,1)
Technical Direction Specialty
01:198:110 Introduction to Computers and Their Application (3)
**07:966:245-246 History of Architecture and Decorative Arts (2,2) (junior)
**07:966:251-252 Fundamentals of Drafting (2,2) (junior)
07:966:300 Introduction to Design (3)
**07:966:305 Introduction to Stage Lighting (2) (sophomore)
**07:966:307 Production Properties (2) (sophomore)
07:966:313-314 Set Design I (3,3)
**07:966:316 Scene Painting (2)
**07:966:339 Stagecraft (2) (sophomore)
**07:966:343-344 Fundamentals of Lighting Design (2,2)
07:966:359-360 Directed Study (BA,BA)
**07:966:361 Sound Technology (2) (sophomore)
** 07:966:362 Sound Technology Practicum (BA)
**07:966:389-390 Costume Construction Techniques (1,1) (sophomore)
07:966:422 Production and Design Projects (BA)
07:966:464-465 Lighting Design I (3,3)
Costume Technology Specialty
07:965:396 Internship/Theater (3-6, BA)
**07:966:245-246 History of Architecture and Decorative Arts (2,2) (sophomore)
**07:966:247-248 Costume History and Rendering (2,2) (sophomore)
**07:966:251-252 Fundamentals of Drafting and Theater Techniques (2,2) (sophomore)
**07:966:273 Theatrical Makeup (1)
07:966:300-301 Introduction to Design (3,3) (first year)
07:966:305 Introduction to Stage Lighting (2) (sophomore)
**07:966:307 Production Properties (2) (sophomore)
07:966:316 Scene Painting (2)
07:966:335-336 Costume Design I (3,3)
07:966:339 Stagecraft (2) (sophomore)
**07:966:389-390 Costume Construction Techniques (1,1)
**07:966:422 Production and Design Projects (BA)
**07:966:447- Draping (3,3)
**07:966:451 Tailoring (3)
**07:966:455-456 Seminar in Costume History (3,3)
08:966:563-564Theater Technique I (BA,BA)
