2010-2011 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.
Theatre Arts
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Department Head: To be determined
Location: Chase Fine Arts Center 232
Phone: (435) 797-3046
FAX: (435) 797-0086
E-mail: theatre@usu.edu
WWW: http://theatre.usu.edu/
Undergraduate Advisors:
General Theatre Arts Studies Program:
Colin B. Johnson (history, literature), University Reserve 232, (435) 797-3046, colin.johnson@usu.edu
Theatre Design and Technology Emphasis:
Bruce L. Duerden (light design, tech), Fine Arts Center 148, (435) 797-3026, bruce.duerden@usu.edu
Shawn Fisher (design, technical generalist), Fine Arts Center 139D, (435) 797-2120, shawn.fisher@usu.edu
Dennis Hassan (set design), Fine Arts Center 138, (435) 797-3024, dennis.hassan@usu.edu
Nancy E. Hills (costume design), Fine Arts Center 229A, (435) 797-3049, nancy.hills@usu.edu
Acting Emphasis:
Kevin Doyle (acting, directing), Fine Arts Center 139A, (435) 797-3022, kevin.doyle@usu.edu
Lynda Linford (acting), Fine Arts Center 226A, (435) 797-3050, lynda.linford@usu.edu
Adrianne Moore (voice, directing, acting), Fine Arts Center 230, (435) 797-3023, adrianne.moore@usu.edu
Theatre Education Emphasis:
Colin B. Johnson (history, literature), University Reserve 232, (435) 797-3046, colin.johnson@usu.edu
Graduate Program Coordinator:
Shawn W. Fisher, Fine Arts Center 139D, (435) 797-2120, shawn.fisher@usu.edu
Degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Master of Arts (MA), and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Theatre Arts
Undergraduate programs: BA—General Theatre Arts Studies (Directing, History and Dramatic Literature); BFA—Acting; Theatre Design and Technology (costume design, lighting design, scenic design, sound design, stage management, theatre technician); and Theatre Education
Graduate specializations: MFA—Advanced Technical Practice, Design (scenery, costume, lighting)
Undergraduate Programs
Objectives
The primary mission of the Department of Theatre Arts is to offer a flexible program with the following objectives:
- To prepare students for professional work in performance, various types of theatre design, and technical practice with producing theatre organizations;
- To prepare students for graduate study and other advanced study and training in theatre or other disciplines;
- To prepare students for careers as theatre instructors in secondary schools and to provide service courses in support of the language arts curriculum of the State of Utah for elementary education majors;
- To sponsor public performances in which students can practice the art and craft of theatre and interpretive/narrative performance. These productions enhance the cultural life of the University community and region;
- To teach appreciation and service courses contributing to the University Studies Program.
Production Groups and Theatres
The Theatre Arts Department sponsors the following production groups and divisions: Utah State Theatre and Old Lyric Repertory Company (summer). Facilities used for performances by these groups include the 660-seat thrust stage Morgan Theatre in the Chase Fine Arts Center, the 370-seat proscenium Caine Lyric Theatre in downtown Logan, and a flexible 90-seat Studio Stage. Facilities also include a costume shop, scenery shop, sound studio, design studio, dance and movement laboratory, and storage areas.
Requirements
Departmental Admission and Scholarship Requirements
Admission requirements are the same as those described for the University. Students in good standing may apply for admission or transfer to the program. Note: Students wishing to transfer into the department must first meet with and be officially accepted by the department head or his representative, and must have a minimum 2.75 GPA (on a scale of 4.0) regardless of credit amount transferred. Students are encouraged to declare a theatre arts major early and consult an advisor early in the semester, as the professional BFA degree requires a minimum of three full years to complete. All students currently enter the department as BA degree majors. Admission to specialized BFA programs by audition, interview, or portfolio review, subsequent to admission to the department, is explained below. Students must maintain an average 2.75 minimum GPA in all theatre classes required for graduation. No grade of less than a B- is accepted in any required theatre class, and no required classes, regardless of department, may be taken on a pass-fail basis.
Sample Four-year Plans
Sample semester-by-semester four-year plans for students working toward bachelor’s degrees within the Department of Theatre Arts can be found at: http://www.usu.edu/degreeplans/
Students should consult with their advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual needs and interests.
Production Responsibilities
Because the production programs of the department are some of the most important training tools of the discipline, all majors and teaching minors are required to participate in them. A permanent theatre participation record is maintained for each student, and successful completion of crew and performance assignments is a requirement for graduation.
As a capstone experience to their university careers, all majors, except those in the General Theatre Arts Studies BA program, are required to complete a project or recital appropriate to their area of emphasis in their senior year.
Financial Support
Scholarships, grants-in-aid, and work-study opportunities are available through the University. In addition, the department offers talent awards and tuition scholarships to its own majors. These are generally for one semester of in-state tuition and may be applied for each semester by continuing students. Several auditions and interviews are scheduled during the year, both on-campus and at regional theatre conferences and festivals. The department offers special work grants through its production program for qualified, skilled students. There are a number of named scholarships awarded to students qualifying under specific conditions. Contact the Theatre Arts Department for more information.
Departmental Honors
Students who would like to experience greater academic depth within their major are encouraged to enroll in departmental honors. Through original, independent work, Honors students enjoy the benefits of close supervision and mentoring, as they work one-on-one with faculty in selected upper-division departmental courses. Honors students also complete a senior project, which provides another opportunity to collaborate with faculty on a problem that is significant, both personally and within the student’s discipline. Participating in departmental honors enhances students’ chances for obtaining fellowships and admission to graduate school. Minimum GPA requirements for participation in departmental honors vary by department, but usually fall within the range of 3.30-3.50. Students may enter the Honors Program at almost any stage in their academic career, including at the junior (and sometimes senior) level. The campus-wide Honors Program, which is open to all qualified students regardless of major, offers a rich array of cultural and social activities, special classes, and the benefit of Honors early registration. Interested students should contact the Honors Program, Main 15, (435) 797-2715, honors@usu.edu. Additional information can be found online at: http://www.usu.edu/honors/
Additional Information
Major requirement sheets, which provide detailed information about requirements for undergraduate programs within the Theatre Arts Department, can be obtained from the department, or accessed online at: http://www.usu.edu/majorsheets/
Graduate Programs
Admission Requirements
All students making application to the MFA program who cannot audition or interview with a member of the theatre arts faculty must submit a resume and a portfolio with renderings, designs, photographs appropriate to the specialization, and any special letters of reference not included with the formal application to the School of Graduate Studies.
The Miller Analogies Test (MAT) may be substituted for the more standard GRE, although the department does not recommend the MAT for international students.
Students who have received their undergraduate training at other institutions or in a discipline other than theatre will be expected to meet a proficiency equivalent to that of USU Theatre Arts graduates. This may require the student to complete the following minimum 20-credit program, which will not count toward the graduate degree:
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- Elective Theatre Arts courses in one program area
The student will be given credit for any equivalent courses taken within seven years prior to the date of admission.
Students accepted into the program must begin during the fall semester. The nature of the discipline and the program require that students maintain a continuous residence at the campus during the first two years of study.
Financial Assistance
Teaching and general assistantships are awarded by the department. Assistantships are generally in the area of production, depending on theatre needs and the skills of applying students, and are renewable for up to three years. Application should be made directly to the department by February 1. Graduate students are not guaranteed financial assistance during their initial year of residence. Several other grants and forms of support are available on a competitive basis. Fellowships may supplement assistantships when funding is available.
Career Opportunities
The MA degree is a general, nonterminal degree designed to train students for further doctoral work in the discipline and to serve as a career upgrade for secondary school teachers. Students interested in teaching dramatic literature and theatre history and criticism at the postsecondary level should plan to use the MA as a step toward further PhD studies. Some two-year colleges employ MA graduates in teaching positions; however, almost no four-year colleges do so.
The MFA is designed for students pursuing careers in educational, professional, and regional theatres, or, in some cases, further doctorallevel work. It is regarded by most university and college administrations as a terminal degree for individuals with academic appointments as acting instructors, designers, and technicians. The department makes no guarantee that its training will qualify its graduates to pass examinations administered by the theatrical trade unions or otherwise meet requirements for guild membership. MFA graduates are qualified to seek employment with regional and professional theatres, regardless of the guild or trade union status of these organizations.
Additional Information
Specific details about each of the foregoing programs are outlined in documents available through the department. Requirements are subject to change. Internet e-mail requests should be sent to: luann.baker@usu.edu.
Theatre Arts Faculty
Department Head
Craig D. Jessop, Music and Theatre Arts departments
Professors
Kevin Doyle, acting, directing
Colin B. Johnson, theatre history and criticism, film
Professors Emeritus
W. Vosco Call, acting and directing
Sidney G. Perkes, scene and costume design
Associate Professors
Bruce L. Duerden, technical theatre, lighting
Shawn W. Fisher, design, technical generalist
Dennis Hassan, scene design
Nancy E. Hills, costume design
Lynda Linford, acting
Adrianne Moore, voice, acting, directing
Associate Professor Emeritus
Arthur Y. Smith, interpretation, theatre education
Technical Director
Matthew Stowe
Costume Shop Manager
Amanda Profaizer
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