The Theatre Arts program is housed in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance.

All students pursue a general theatre program although some elect an emphasis in performance, directing, design, or theatre history, literature and criticism.

Lower Division Requirements:

24 semester hours:

Required Courses:

THEA 111 Introduction to Theatre Performance: A study of acting, directing and writing techniques that create the theatre event.

THEA 120 Basic Stagecraft: A practical study of modern theatrical practice with the purpose of developing the student's awareness of the many aspects of a theatre production.

THEA 220 Introduction to Basic Scene, Lighting and Costume Design: A practical study of the elements and principles inherent in theatrical design for the purpose of developing the student's awareness to design in the world around them.

THEA 240 Western Theatre History and Literature I: A study of the theatre (literature, playhouse, performance conventions) of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, the Medieval world, the Renaissance and the Elizabethan period.

THEA 245 Western Theatre History and Literature II: A study of the theatre (literature, playhouse, performance conventions) from the 17th century to the 20th century.

THEA250 Theatre Practicum: Crew: Participation in production in Theatre and Dance presentations.(2 semesters)

And 6 hours of lower division electives chosen from the following:

THEA 112 Voice and Movement for the Stage: A practicum designed to develop and practice movement skills to free the natural voice for the actor.

THEA 210 Scene Study and Presentation: Concentrated approach to scene analysis and presentation. Emphasis on further development and integration of acting skills in voice, movement, interpretation, and characterization for performance.

THEA 212 Genre Performance Workshop: An intensive study of the vocal, physical, and textual elements of selected styles and genres: Chekhov, Brecht, Shakespeare, or musical theatre.

THEA 221 Visual Communication, 2D: This course refines the sense of color and design by enhancing the students' responsiveness to visual form, organization and structure. By learning basic sketching and painting techniques in a variety of media, this course examines methods and procedures for effective communication and realization of visual concepts.

THEA 222 Visual Communication, 3D: This course applies various scenographic techniques used in the stages of planning and executing a setting for the theatre. It seeks to bring together selective portions of descriptive geometry, pattern making, model construction and the graphics of perspective in an exploration of drafting techniques.

THEA 225 Basic Stage Make-up: The art and application of stage make-up.

THEA 251 Theatre Practicum: Performance: Participation in performance in theatre presentations. Admission by audition only.

THEA 252 Workshop: Playwrights and Actors: The development of new scripts through several possible stages of interaction between actors and writers, leading to staged readings and/or workshop productions.

THEA 298 Special Studies

THEA 299 Independent Studies

Upper Division Requirements

30 semester hours:

Required Courses:

THEA 370 Directing for the Theatre I: An introduction to directing as the synthesizing art of the theatre. The director is considered as an artist and a craftsman.

THEA 45O Theatre Practicum: Crew: Participation in production in Theatre and Dance presentations. (3 semesters)

THEA 490 Senior Thesis Project: Preparation and presentation of performance or research thesis.

9 semester hours chosen from the following:

THEA331 Classical Spirit in Drama: An exploration of classical drama throughout major periods.

THEA 336 Romantic Spirit in Drama: An exploration of the romantic drama throughout major periods.

THEA 341 Realistic Spirit in Drama: An exploration of the realistic drama throughout major periods.

THEA 346 Avant Garde Spirit in Drama: An exploration of the avant garde drama throughout major periods.

THEA 347 African Spirit in Drama: An exploration of African theatre and theatre of the African diaspora in the United States, the Caribbean and elsewhere.

THEA348 Asian Spirit in Drama: An exploration of the Asian drama throughout major periods.

THEA 349 Hispanic Spirit in Drama: An exploration of theatre of the Spanish language in the Western Hemisphere and in Europe, as well as theatre of the Latin traditions in the United States.

THEA 430 Special Author/Genre Seminar: Study of Shakespeare, Voices of Diversity, or other topics in selected authors and/or dramatic genres.

THEA 435 Special Period Seminar: Study of 20th and/or 19th Century American Drama, Modern British Playwrights, 17th and 18th Century Comedy, or other topics in theatre history.

12 semester hours chosen from the following:

THEA 300 Theatre in Los Angeles: Theatre-going and appreciation designed for the potential audience member through firsthand meetings with theatre artists and attendance at Los Angeles productions.

THEA 312 Voice Development: The development of the full range of expressiveness in the speaking voice.

THEA 320 Intermediate Scenic Design: This course examines the theory and practice of scene design and manipulation of stage space. Special emphasis is placed on the development of a "point of view" toward the production of the play as related to all aspects of theatrical design.

THEA 321 Intermediate Lighting Design: This course examines the theory and practice of lighting design. The core of this course is a series of "discovery" projects using minimal resources to explore the use of light in the theatre. Through exploration students will discover a variety of approaches to developing a successful lighting design.

THEA 322 Intermediate Costume Design and Construction: This course examines the craft of designing, planning and constructing costumes including beginning pattern drafting.

THEA 324 Intermediate Technical Theatre:This course illustrates the array of accepted responsibilities that are needed to operate a scene shop efficiently. Construction techniques, drafting, problem solving, estimating, scheduling are among a few topics covered.

THEA 362 Performance Training I: a pre-professional training program, teaching the composite skills of acting in an integrated and concentrated manner and covering such topics as textural analysis for performance, voice and movement for the stage, styles in acting and audition and cold reading. Admission by consent of Chair and Instructor.

THEA 364 Performance Training II: See THEA 362.

THEA 366 Acting for the Camera: This course explores the elements of acting for camera work in television and film.

THEA 375 Directing for the Theatre II: Continuation of THEA 370, with emphasis on advanced theory and practicum.

THEA 398 Special Studies

THEA 399 Independent Studies

THEA 400 Playwriting: An introduction to the techniques of writing one-act plays for the theatre.

THEA 422 Advanced Costume Design: Advanced study in theatre costume construction including pattern making, advanced sewing techniques, and millinery.

THEA 425 Scene Painting:This course is a guide to the tools and techniques used in modern scene painting.

THEA 426 Advanced Scenic and Lighting Design: This course is an advanced study of scene design and lighting design for the theatre with emphasis on their roles as creative members of a collaborative team.

THEA 451 Theatre Practicum: Performance: Participation in performance in Theatre presentations. By audition only.

THEA 452 Advanced Workshop: Playwrights and Actors: The development of new scripts through several possible stages of interaction between actors and writers leading to staged readings and/or workshop productions.

THEA 462 Performance Training III: A pre-professional training program, teaching the composite skills of acting in an integrated and concentrated manner and covering such topics as textual analysis for performance, voice and movement for the stage, styles in acting and audition and cold reading. Admission by consent of Chair and Instructor.

THEA 464 Performance Training IV: See THEA 462. Admission by consent of Chair and Instructor.

THEA 498 Special Studies

THEA 499 Independent Studies


For more information about the Theatre Program contact us at: cbritto3@lmu.edu