THEA - Theatre and Dance

This institutional credit course is required for all first-year students with a declared major in theatre. By providing an overview of academic policies, campus resources, and general graduation guidelines, the seminar is designed to help students succeed in their university endeavors. In addition, the seminar will focus on building skills in preparation for completing the major requirements. This course does not count toward the total hours required for graduation.

Survey and critical appreciation of theatre. The study of the theatrical experience, so as to give the student an understanding, awareness and respect of the history, talents, skills and traditions that go into the practice of live theatre. Attendance at GCSU theatre productions required.

This course was previously listed as THEA 1105 Theatrical Heritage.  Students may not earn credit for both THEA 1100 and THEA 1105.

The study of the theatrical experience, so as to give the student an understanding, awareness and respect of the history, talents, skills and traditions that go into the practice of live theatre. Attendance at GCSU theatre productions required.

Effective Fall 2024, this course will be replaced by THEA 1100 Theatre Appreciation. THEA 1100 will automatically fulfill any requirement that previously required THEA 1105. Students may not earn credit for both THEA 1100 and THEA 1105.

Prerequisite: Theatre major or minor restriction. Overview of the department and preparation for a successful academic career at GC. Students will gain practical experience in audition/portfolio techniques and resume writing.

Prerequisite: Must be a Theatre major/minor or have instructor's permission. Basic principles of scenic, lighting and sound materials and equipment; methods of construction and handling of scenery, lighting and props; basic theatre safety and equipment maintenance. Participation in GC theatre productions and lab hours required. Required of majors prior to taking higher-level courses.

40 lab hours performed during the semester.

Prerequisite: THEA 1160. Theatre design with an emphasis on basic design principles and aesthetics. Beginning exercises in scenic, lighting, properties, sound, and costume design. Introduction to various artistic media and techniques. Participation in GC theatre productions and lab hours required. Required of majors prior to taking higher-level courses.

40 lab hours performed during the semester.

Prerequisite: Must be a Theatre major/minor or have instructor's permission. Instruction in the basic techniques of stage costume construction and Costume Shop operation. Practical experience is gained through the application of learned techniques in laboratory work and working on University theatre production. Participation in academic theatre productions and lab hours required.

40 lab hours performed during the semester.

Prerequisite: Must be a Theatre major/minor or have instructor's permission. Introduction to acting techniques and characterization methods, with an emphasis on stage movement and vocal work in application to limited text. Participation in GC theatre auditions required. Required of majors prior to taking higher-level courses.

This participatory course emphasizes lab study in group improvisational acting, theatrical, dynamics, performance and role-playing, particularly as employed toward problem-solving and social change. Theorists such as Brazilian Augusto Boal and Jacob Moreno will be considered in discussion and performance. Students will expand their acting potential and ability to work creatively in social groups by developing group theatrical presentations based on personal ideas related to problem themes. Critiques of ideas and performances are an essential component of this course.

Prerequisite: ENGL 1101. Analyzing, researching, and interpreting dramatic works, leading to an understanding of how interpretation translates to production choices for theatre production. Required of majors prior to taking higher-level courses. Attendance at GC Theatre productions required.

A basic introduction to stage lighting and related technologies, electrics and the production process.

Corequisite: THEA 2225L. This course introduces students to the broad spectrum of theatrical costume work. Studenst will explore the various jobs available in a professional costume shop and gain an introductory understanding of the costume design process. This course is required of all theatre majors.

Corequisite: THEA 2225. This lab provides hands-on application of information learned in THEA 2225 and focuses primarily on the sewing aspect of costuming. Studenst will work on costumes for theatre productions in addition to lab projects. This course is required of all theatre majors.

Prerequisites: THEA 2150, 1300, or permission of the instructor. Participation in GC theatre auditions required. A continuation of the principles explored in THEA 1300, with a greater emphasis on scene work, text, and character development.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor required. Credit earned for performance work in one mainstage theatre production. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor required. Credit earned for production work on one mainstage theatre production. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: THEA 1200 or permission of the instructor. A mandatory theatre practicum for second-year students designed to hone and expand upon basic theatre production skills. Participation in GC Theatre productions required.

Prerequisite: Permission of department. Consideration of topics in which courses are not otherwise offered, but for which there is a current need at the freshman/sophomore level. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: THEA 2150 or permission of the instructor. Attendance at GC Theatre productions required. A comprehensive study of the theatre from its origins through the seventeenth century, with emphasis on how theatre has reflected the changing cultures of each era.

Prerequisites: THEA 2150 or permission of the instructor. Attendance at GC Theatre productions required. A comprehensive study of the theatre from the eighteenth century to the present, with emphasis on how theatre has reflected the changing cultures of each era.

Prerequisites: THEA 2225 and 2225L. In this class students will learn to research and identify period silhouettes and design styles of clothing from various cultures and historical periods. Students will also gain an understanding of how changes in technology and cultural awareness influence fashion.

Prerequisite: THEA 1200 or permission of the instructor. Problems in theatre graphics, techniques application, script interpretation, scenic design and style, drafting technique, perspective, color theory, and rendering and model building. Participation in GC theatre productions and lab hours required.

Prerequisite: THEA 1200 or permission of the instructor. Problems in script interpretation, equipment selection, lighting design and style, drafting technique, paperwork, color theory and fundamentals of electricity. Participation in GC theatre productions and lab hours required.

Prerequisite: Must be a Theatre major/minor or have instructor's permission. A practical course in which the technical theatre skills used for millinery, mask making, corset building, painting, dying, and general craft construction are taught in a laboratory setting. Participation in GC theatre productions and lab hours required.

Prerequisite: THEA 1200 or permission of the instructor. Participation in GC theatre productions and lab hours required. Problems in script interpretation, period plays, theatrical style, fabric selection and color theory.

Prerequisites: THEA 2150 and THEA 2300. Participation in GC theatre auditions required. A continuation of the principles explored in THEA 2300, with a greater emphasis on modern text, and delving deeper into characterization.

Prerequisites: Improvisation for Social Change (THEA 1310), Acting I (THEA 1300), or any introductory course in Health or Sociology or permission of the instructor. Theatre as Social Change is an interdisciplinary course expressing the power of theatre with participants in the community. The course is based on principles from sociology, community research and social justice. Core course content includes archival stories, oral histories, surveys, film documentaries, self-reflection, social research skills, and theatre of the oppressed techniques. Students will work with a community partner to harness the power of the performing art of theatre to effect positive change on one or more social issues.

Prerequisites: THEA 1300, 2150, and permission of the instructor. Attendance at GC Theatre productions required. Principles and practice of directing for the stage, including play analysis, pre-production, casting, problem solving, staging, picturization, and rehearsal techniques.

Prerequisite: THEA 3350 and permission of the instructor. Attendance at GC Theatre productions required. To develop further hands-on directing skills beyond the introductory level. This course will emphasize interaction with actors in the directing process, which will result in the performance of scenes. The course will go beyond the two-person scenes, and define an individual directorial voice and style.

Prerequisites: THEA 1160 (Stagecraft) and THEA 1220 (Costume Construction). A practical course of study about the function, responsibilities and processes of successful stage management. Participation in GC Theatre Productions is required.

This course focuses on the study of theatre in the classroom using the art and craft of Creative Dramatics. Theatre is used as a tool for teaching across the curriculum and is taught as a discreet art form. Skills covered include but are not limited to: puppetry, mask work, improvisation, theatre games, story telling and play making. The course is a major component and required of Education majors and credential seekers and is an elective for the Theatre major. This is an activity based course.

Prerequisite: Must be a theatre major/minor or permission of the instructor. Theory, design and practice in the art of stage makeup. The course focuses on the development of make up skills necessary for the practicing theatre artist. Attendance at GC Theatre productions required.

Prerequisites: ENGL 2208, or permission of the instructor. A practical study of the techniques and craft of writing scripts for the stage, screen, or broadcast media. (Cross-listed as ENGL 4011.)

Prerequisite: THEA 2150. Students will develop hands-on dramaturgy skills beyond the introductory level. This course will emphasize preparation for interaction with the entire production team in the dramaturgy process.

Prerequisite: THEA 3205. The study of advanced theatrical scenic design theory and practice, including research, sketch and rendering, scaled models, and construction and painting techniques. Participation in GC theatre productions and lab hours required.

Prerequisite: THEA 3215. The study of advanced theatrical lighting design theory and practice, including research, plot and rendering, and design execution. Participation in GC theatre productions and lab hours required.

Prerequisite: THEA 3225. The study of advanced theatrical costume design theory and practice, including research, sketch and rendering, and design execution. Participation in GC Theatre productions and lab hours required.

Prerequisite: THEA 2225 and THEA 2225L. In this class, students will utilize and build upon skills learned in Intro to Costume todevelop costume patterns, construct garments, and the basic techniques of costume crafts. Students may also construct and alter garments for use in theatrical performances.

Prerequisites: ENGL 2110 or IDST 2305, or permission of the instructor. A study of selected topics, genres, or issues in Shakespeare; may be linked with Shakespearean production staged by the Departments of Music and Theatre. (Cross-listed as ENGL 4226.)

Prerequisites: ENGL 2110 or IDST 2305, or permission of the instructor. A study of the development of English drama from the Middle Ages through the early modern period. (Cross-listed as ENGL 4228.)

Prerequisite: THEA 3300. Participation in GC Theatre auditions required. Intensive study of acting styles from various periods and movements.

Prerequisite: THEA 1300. By experimenting kinesthetically and using a set of analysis tools, students will seek out the acting clues Shakespeare has embedded in his language and apply them in the rehearsal and performance of monologues and scenes.

Prerequisites: THEA 1300 and THEA 2150. Principles and practice of performing solo for the stage, including analysis, ethnographic research, and weekly performances. Special attention to performing toward social change. Issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status are explored daily.

Prerequisites: THEA 1300 and THEA 2300. Students will be introduced to the basics of film language/grammar, and the technical demands on the actor in the medium. They will apply and adapt their actor process and preparation through regular practice on camera with feedback.

Prerequisite: THEA 3350 and permission of the instructor. Attendance at GC Theatre productions required. To develop further hands-on directing skills beyond the introductory level. This course will emphasize interaction with actors in the directing process, which will result in the performance of scenes. The course will go beyond the two-person scenes, and define an individual directorial voice and style.

Prerequisites: ENGL 2110, 2120, or 2130, or IDST 2305. A study of selected modern plays in English. (Cross-listed as ENGL 4440.)

Prerequisite: Permission of the department Chair. A summing up of all the student has learned, through discussion of issues in theatre practice, and a project demonstrating the student's mastery of a theatrical work.

Prerequisites: THEA 2930 and permission of the instructor. Credit earned for performance work on one mainstage production. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: THEA 2935 and permission of the instructor. Credit earned for non-performance work on one mainstage production. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Tutorial investigation of a topic of special interest. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Consideration of topics in which courses are not offered otherwise, but for which there is current need. Subject matter varies. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisite: Approval by the department Chair. An individually designed and planned learning experience involving off-campus field experience and study in the private or public sector. This course is repeatable for credit.