May 19, 2024  
2022-2023 Westminster College Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Westminster College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions


 

Theatre

  
  • THE 101 - Introduction to Theatre

    Semester Hours: 4

    An examination of the process by which dramatic literature becomes theatre. The course examines the forms of comedy, tragedy, and their offshoots as well as the elements of theatre-structure, character, language, scenography-and the styles of theatre with an emphasis on modernism and post-modernism. This course does not meet major requirements. Meets Visual and Performing Arts Intellectual Perspective requirement (VP).

    Intellectual Perspective: VP
  
  • THE 102 - Introduction to Acting

    Semester Hours: 4

    Concentrates on approaches to acting and analysis of scenes from an actor’s point of view. The laboratory section concentrates on scene work, monologue exercises, and improvisation. Meets Visual and Performing Arts Intellectual Perspective requirement (VP).

    Intellectual Perspective: VP
  
  • THE 111 - Stagecraft I

    Semester Hours: 4

    An introduction to the fundamentals of technical theatre, THE 111 provides the student with the knowledge of modern stagecraft and the theater plant and with practical experience in handling tools and materials essential to constructing, painting, assembling, dressing, and shifting stage scenery. Students will construct the scenery for departmental productions. Lab and participating as part of the crew for the current main stage productions required. Meets Visual and Performing Arts Intellectual Perspective requirement (VP).

    Intellectual Perspective: VP
  
  • THE 112 - Stagecraft II

    Semester Hours: 4

    A continuation of THE 111  Technical Production with advanced study of technical aspects of play production. Theory will be emphasized as well as discussion of scenography. Students will construct the scenery for departmental productions. Lab required.

    Prerequisite: THE 111  or consent of the instructor.
  
  • THE 151 - Voice and Diction

    Semester Hours: 4

    Theory and practice in the basic techniques of developing a clear and expressive speaking voice. Breath control, proper phonation, full resonance and projection, and articulation will be covered as well as exercises for improving use of pitch, timbre, and vocal quality.

  
  • THE 199 - Experimental Course

    Semester Hours: 1-4

    Experimental course.

  
  • THE 201 - Script Analysis

    Semester Hours: 4

    A basic study in interpretation: How does a script “mean?” Fundamental skills in “discovering meaning” are developed by examining different models for analysis and synthesis, exercises in interpretation, and the directing of short scenes.

  
  • THE 202 - Advanced Acting

    Semester Hours: 4

    A seminar/laboratory study. The seminar segment will concentrate on more advanced study of approaches to act. The laboratory segment is designed to increase effective use of concentration, observation, sensory awareness, and emotional truth on stage.

    Prerequisite: THE 102 .
  
  • THE 211 - American Dramatists

    Semester Hours: 4

    This entry-level course introduces students to significant, often groundbreaking dramas by the most acclaimed American playwrights of the 20th century: Eugene O’Neill, Philip Barry, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, John Guare, Sam Shepard, David Mamet, August Wilson, Tony Kushner, and Suzan Lori-Parks, among others. Students will explore varying use of dramatic content and structure across time and through major American themes, as well as the ever-changing understanding of theatrical convention and innovation. Meets Humanity and Culture Intellectual Perspective requirement (HC).

    Intellectual Perspective: HC
  
  • THE 212 - Shakespeare’s Plays

    Semester Hours: 4

    An introductory course in the drama and stagecraft of the undisputed Titan of English literature, William Shakespeare. Students will analyze and discuss Shakespeare’s achievement in poetic and theatrical presentations of popular stories for the Elizabethan stage. The syllabus will draw from five to six plays, ranging from comedy to history play to tragedy to romance, and lessons may incorporate screenings of notable films, stage, and TV productions, in their entirety or choice selections. Meets Humanity and Culture Intellectual Perspective requirement (HC).

    Intellectual Perspective: HC
  
  • THE 213 - African American Drama and Film

    Semester Hours: 4

    This class will explore African-American culture from the days of slavery through the present, examining African-American playwrights’ characters and personal lives, and by exploring the historical climate at the time the texts were written. Meets Humanity and Culture Intellectual Perspective requirement (HC).

    Cross-Listed: FS 124 , ENG 124 
    Intellectual Perspective: HC
  
  • THE 214 - British and Irish Drama

    Semester Hours: 4

    An introductory survey of the seminal dramatic literature constituting the British theatrical tradition, from the English Renaissance (Shakespeare and his cohort), through Restoration, Enlightenment and Victorian traditions, to contemporary political and avant-garde drama. The course syllabus will share space with representative 19th- and 20th-century Irish plays by major dramatists such as Wilde, Shaw, Synge, Yeats, Beckett, Friel, McDonagh, and Walsh. Students will acquaint themselves with a range of plays, playwrights, performance spaces, dramaturgical conventions, and acting methods of these periods to understand the role and impact of theater in British and Irish popular culture. When possible, the class will attend a stage production of such plays.

    Cross-Listed: ENG 127 
  
  • THE 215 - Soldiers on Stage

    Semester Hours: 4

    Over the semester, students will be introduced a variety of entertainments provided for the American military since the early 20th century. While discovering different live performances for troops offered by civilians or soldiers as well as analyzing dramatic scripts that feature soldier and/or veteran characters, students will also be re-viewing Americana’s history at both times of war and peace. Videos, audio clips, archival materials, guest lecturers, and independent research projects will be supplemented by service-learning projects coordinated with nearby active U.S. military bases and/or veteran organizations.

    Intellectual Perspective: ST
  
  • THE 221 - Survey of American Musical Theatre

    Semester Hours: 4

    This course explores musical theater in America and its relation to the continually changing social milieu by examining selected productions, their creators, and performers. The course follows a chronological organization in order to trace the development of musical theater as it has developed through the 20th century. The goal of this course is to help you appreciate, analyze and evaluate musical theater. Viewing thirteen videos of musical theater (most adapted to film) along with required readings and one live performance will provide the groundwork for studying the history, development, and contemporary manifestations of this particular art form.

    Intellectual Perspective: VP
  
  • THE 225 - Theatre and Social Engagement

    Semester Hours: 4

    In this highly participatory course, students will engage the social issues of the day using various interactive performance methods, including Playback Theatre and Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed techniques. The course culminates in the creation of an original devised production that addresses a local social issue and is produced in collaboration with an under-represented segment of the local community. Meets Social Thought and Tradition Intellectual Perspective requirement (ST).

    Intellectual Perspective: ST
  
  • THE 251 - Oral Interpretation

    Semester Hours: 4

    A study of the methods of creating for a listening audience an interpretation of the printed page. Attention is focused upon literary form, imagery, inflection, word stress, and other factors which influence listener response and understanding, and also which aid in the effective expression of one’s own ideas. Meets Visual and Performing Arts Intellectual Perspective requirement (VP).

    Intellectual Perspective: VP
  
  • THE 255 - Playwriting

    Semester Hours: 4

    The playwriting course will look at the challenges of writing play scripts by studying and writing scripts. After exploring language as action, building characters, non-verbal communication through writing scenes, we will work at structuring and writing one-act and two-act plays.

    Cross-Listed: WRI 355 
  
  • THE 299 - Experimental Course

    Semester Hours: 1-4

    Experimental course.

  
  • THE 301 - Theatre Practicum

    Semester Hours: 1

    Major assignments in departmental productions: acting, directing, stage managing, lighting, sound.

  
  • THE 302 - Theatre Practicum

    Semester Hours: 1

    Major assignments in program productions: acting, directing, stage managing, lighting, sound.

  
  • THE 303 - Theatre Practicum

    Semester Hours: 1

    Major assignments in program productions: acting, directing, stage managing, lighting, sound.

  
  • THE 304 - Theatre Practicum

    Semester Hours: 1

    Major assignments in departmental productions: acting, directing, stage managing, lighting, sound.

  
  • THE 305 - Theatre Practicum

    Semester Hours: 1

    Major assignments in program productions: acting, directing, stage managing, lighting, sound.

  
  • THE 306 - Theatre Practicum

    Semester Hours: 1

    Major assignments in program productions: acting, directing, stage managing, lighting, sound.

  
  • THE 311 - Workshop: Stage Movement

    Semester Hours: 1

    A variety of specialized topics will be presented by theatre professionals. Topics may include but are not limited to costuming, make-up, publicity, art’s management, children’s theatre and playwriting. The student will attend two six-hour weekend sessions or four three-hour evening sessions. Grading is S/U.

  
  • THE 314 - Professional Workshop

    Semester Hours: 1

    A variety of specialized topics will be presented by theatre professionals. Topics may include but are not limited to costuming, make-up, publicity, art’s management, children’s theatre and playwriting. The student will attend two six-hour weekend sessions or four three-hour evening sessions. Grading is S/U.

  
  • THE 321 - Principles of Theatrical Design

    Semester Hours: 4

    This is an introductory course to performance design. The material covered will be primarily hands-on projects designed to provide students the chance for self-expression as it relates to stage design. Skills to be covered will be sketching and drawing, painting, drafting, and model building.

    Prerequisite: THE 111 .
  
  • THE 322 - Scenography

    Semester Hours: 4

    This course studies the theoretical and practical elements of scenography. Through the study of the design theories and script analysis, students will explore the areas of lighting, scenic, costume, and sound design.

  
  • THE 370 - Theatre History I

    Semester Hours: 4

    History of theatre and its relationship to the arts and sciences: Greek, Medieval, Renaissance and the Age of Reason. Major emphasis of study focuses on the correlation between the physical stage, the theatrical conventions, and the playscripts of the period. Meets Humanity and Culture Intellectual Perspective requirement (HC).

    Intellectual Perspective: HC
  
  • THE 371 - Theatre History II

    Semester Hours: 4

    History of theatre and its relationship to the arts and sciences: Romantic Period and the Modern/Post-Modern World. Major emphasis of study focuses on the correlation between the physical stage, the theatrical conventions, and the playscripts of the period.

    Intellectual Perspective: HC
  
  • THE 399 - Experimental Course

    Semester Hours: 1-4

    Experimental course.

  
  • THE 404 - Directing for Theatre

    Semester Hours: 4

    The course explores the elements comprising an approach to directing for the theatre. Elements include script analysis, stage composition, picturization, and techniques in working with actors. The course is hands-on. Students work from a study script as well as other scripts of their choice.

    Prerequisite: THE 102 .
  
  • THE 410 - Advanced Topics

    Semester Hours: 1-4

    Advanced Topics

  
  • THE 499 - Experimental Course

    Semester Hours: 1-4

    Experimental course.

  
  • THE 590 - Field Experience/Internship

    Semester Hours: 1-4

  
  • THE 620 - Independent Study

    Semester Hours: 1-4

  
  • THE 660 - Honors Research

    Semester Hours: 1-4

    Prerequisite: Honors status and departmental approval.
  
  • THE 670 - Honors Research

    Semester Hours: 1-4

    Prerequisite: Honors status and departmental approval.
  
  • THE 680 - Honors Research

    Semester Hours: 1-4

    Prerequisite: Honors status and departmental approval.
  
  • THE 690 - Honors Research

    Semester Hours: 1-4

    Prerequisite: Honors status and departmental approval.