Theater (THR)

FACULTY: Holonbek*, Kritzer, Leiseth, Morrissey, Wilhelmson, Winther (*department chair)

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

THR 1050 STAGECRAFT 4 Cr.
Introduction to the technical aspects of theatrical production, including design interpretations, use of tools and equipment, building materials, construction and painting techniques, stage lighting equipment and procedures. Theoretical class work supplemented by weekly crew assignments on a stage production. Offered annually.

THR 1110 INTRODUCTION TO THEATER 4 Cr.
(This course does not count toward the theater major, except by permission of department chair.) Foundation in theater and drama for the nonmajor beginning student. Orientation to the dramatic tradition through consideration of plays and playwrights from the Greeks to the present; history of theatrical customs, traditions and conventions as they affect modern stage design, acting, directing, costumes, makeup and criticism. Experience seeing and analyzing CSC/UST and Twin Cities play productions and in play production. Offered annually. Also offered in Weekend College. Open to first-year, sophomore, junior and senior students.

THR 2140 BEGINNING ACTING 4 Cr.
Provides a foundation for acting through examination of the research process essential to achieving physical and psychological characterization. Emphasis is on theory and its practical application to the performance. Offered alternate years.

THR 2150 BEGINNING DIRECTING 4 Cr.
Introduction to the theory and craft of directing a production. Areas of emphasis include play selection, analysis of script, casting, blocking, characterization and rehearsal techniques. Prerequisite: THR 1050.

THR 2170 PRODUCTION DESIGN 4 Cr.
Interpreting the play for understanding of design in the theater. Translation of written and verbal concepts into elements of line, mass, form and color as they relate to the problems of proscenium and non-proscenium staging. Emphasis variable. Offered every third year. Prerequisite: THR 1050.

THR 2180 ACTING FOR THE CAMERA 4 Cr.
A laboratory course focusing on the differences between stage acting and acting for the camera. Emphasis on theory and the practical application of working with monologues, commercials, soap operas and scenes for the camera. You gain knowledge and experience of operating the cameras and working within a TV studio.

THR 2210 THEATER AND DRAMA: CLASSICAL THROUGH RENAISSANCE 4 CR.
The history and analysis of theater forms and drama of the world, from ancient rituals to the 17th century. Read plays, study relationships between the plays and audiences, performers, production methods and theories of various periods. Offered alternate years.

THR 2220 WORLD THEATER AND DRAMA: 1700-PRESENT 4 Cr.
Study the plays and practices of 17th through 20th century world drama and theater. Emphasis on social developments such as the Enlightenment, and artistic movements, such as realism and anti-realism. Offered alternate years.

THR 2230 AMERICAN THEATER AND DRAMA 4 Cr.
Development of theater and drama in the United States from its 17th century roots to the present, with special attention to theater as an expression of different cultural groups within the United States. Offered alternate years.

THR 2310 DANCE FOR MUSICAL THEATER 4 Cr.
Foundation in techniques and styles of dance and choreography for musical theater.

THR 2530 CREATIVE DRAMATICS AND CHILDREN’S THEATER 4 CR.
The combination of creative dramatics and children’s theater enables you to investigate techniques of teaching drama to children. Course provides a framework for understanding children’s needs and the psychology of play. Second half of the course is devoted to producing a children’s play or several final production projects. Also offered as EDUC 2530. Offered annually.

THR 2590 INTRODUCTION TO THE ART OF FILM 4 Cr.
Analysis of the structure and social impact of film as an art form; extensive use of films in class. Concentration on the fiction, documentary and animated film. Offered annually.

THR 2600 HISTORY OF FILM: THE SILENT ERA 4 Cr.
Examines the growth of popular film, from the 16th century Italian camera obscura to Thomas Edison’s kinetoscope; from early French experiments in projection to the Nickelodeon peepshow; from D.W. Griffith to the Russian and German contribution to the rise of Hollywood and the first talkies. Selected films will be studied in class and independently. Offered alternate years, rotating with THR 2610.

THR 2610 HISTORY OF FILM: THE SOUND ERA (1926 TO PRESENT) 4 CR.
Study of the ways in which such innovations as sound, color, wide-screen and present-day computer technology continue to change world cinema. The impact of war and peace, economic conditions, nuclear-age politics, and the emergence of third-world and feminist cinema are examined. Selected films are studied in class and independently. Offered in alternate years, in rotation with THR 2600.

THR 3140 ADVANCED ACTING 4 Cr.
Study and practice in the art of developing characterization through research and performance of scenes. Examination of conventional acting styles. Work with properties and costuming and methods of rehearsals that lead to a final acting project. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: THR 2140 or permission of instructor.

THR 3150 ADVANCED DIRECTING 4 Cr.
Study of directing theory and practice from Stanislavsky to contemporary. Practical directing experience through preparation of scenes and one-acts. Offered alternate years. Subject to approval by the chair of the theater department, credit for Advanced Directing may be fulfilled by registering for an independent study as an associate director on any major departmental production. (Consent of faculty director also is required.) Prerequisite: THR 2150 or permission of instructor.

THR 3340 VOICE: MUSICAL THEATER EMPHASIS 1 Cr.
Designed for students participating in the Music Theater program. Repertoire emphasizes literature from operetta and musical comedy. One 50-minute lesson per week. Jury examination and a minimum of a half-fourth recital are required. (See also MUS 2330.) Prerequisite: Successful entrance audition.

THR 3590 FILM THEORY AND CRITICISM 4 Cr.
An approach to film text as a constructed weave of images, sounds, speech, music and writing tracing the patterns and forces by which film produces its meanings and effect for spectators. Study of the impulses of the structuralist and semiotic movements which have combined since 1970 with those of feminism, Marxism and psychoanalysis. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: Any beginning film course or permission of instructor.

THR 3600 INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL FILMMAKING 4 Cr.
The course makes available to each class member all necessary equipment, but assumes no prior knowledge of camera use, editing, sound recording, animation or projection. These areas are covered in the class through specific assignments and projects. Offered in alternate years.

THR 4120 DRAMA THEORY AND CRITICISM 4 Cr.
Study in abstract and applied dramatic theory. Selected major playwrights and the bodies of criticism that surround their works are closely examined in relation to various theoretical systems from Aristotle through the postmodern. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: A theater history course.

THR 4602 or 4604 INTERNSHIP 2 or 4 Cr.
Structured out-of-class learning experience that takes place on or off campus and includes a substantial work component. An internship involves you in a particular profession in an exploratory way to test career interests and potential. Prerequisites: Faculty sponsorship and approval by department chair.

THR 4850 SENIOR SEMINAR 4 Cr.
Seminars invite you to explore a particular issue in greater depth. You undertake a major research project under the supervision of the instructor. Discussion and sharing among the participants of the seminar are emphasized. When offered, the specialized content area is highlighted in a subtitle, and the relevant prerequisites are listed in the course schedule.

THR 4952 or 4954 INDEPENDENT STUDY 2 or 4 Cr.
Project may build upon experience gained in any course in the department. See appropriate instructor. Prerequisites: Instructor and department chair permission.

THR 4992 or 4994 TOPICS 2 or 4 Cr.
The subject matter of the course is announced in the annual schedule of classes. Content varies from year to year, but does not duplicate existing courses. Recent offerings: Costume and Makeup Design, Lighting and Sound Design, Playwriting and Voice and Movement for Actors.

URL: http://minerva.stkate.edu/academiccatalog0709.nsf/pages/theater
This page was created on 05/08/2007 and last updated on 05/09/2007.
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