Theater Courses

Winter 2024▲

See complete information about these courses in the course offerings database. For more information about a specific course, including course type, schedule and location, click on its title.

Introduction to Theater

THTR 100 - Mish, Robert W.

An introduction to drama and the theater arts, including a brief historical survey, selected examples of dramatic literature, and a sequence on theater disciplines such as acting, designing, and directing.

University Theater

THTR 109 - Levy, Jemma A.

Participation in a university theater production for a minimum of 40 hours. A journal recording the production process is required. May be repeated for degree credit with permission. Maximum seven credits for students with a major or minor in theater, eight credits for others.

Introduction to Entertainment Technology

THTR 131 - McLaughlin, Michaela D. (Delaney)

Have you ever been wowed by a show’s lights, costumes, set, or video? This course takes you ‘behind the curtain’ to understand the backstage technology used to create productions in Theater, Dance, and Film. Through hands-on exercises students will be introduced to the tools, materials, and techniques for creating the scenery, costumes, props, painting, lighting, sound, and video for productions. Students participate as run crew 40-50 hours for one of the department productions during the term as well as complete the co-requisite lab course THTR 132. No prior theater experience is required.

Laboratory for Introduction to Entertainment Technology

THTR 132 - McLaughlin, Michaela D. (Delaney)

An introduction to modern technical practice involving three hours of laboratory work per week. A practical course, emphasizing skills for creating scenery, costumes, props, painting, lighting, sound, and video elements for Theater, Dance, and Film productions. The student applies the methods and theories discussed in class to work on actual productions. Laboratory co-requisite course for THTR 131.

Intro to Acting: Foundations of Collaboration

THTR 141 - Levy, Jemma A.

Are you interested in being a lawyer?  A teacher?  A politician?  A journalist?  A marketing professional?  Or anyone whose job or social life requires interaction with other people?  (Or do you secretly want to be a star of stage or screen?)   In this class you will learn new ways to be a creative thinker and problem solver, a clear communicator, a savvy listener, and a great storyteller by connecting with others, playing games, and performing scenes.

Theatrical Outsiders

THTR 213 - Sandberg, Stephanie L.

While most of us think of theatre as primarily a source of entertainment, over the course of its history, theatre has been a civic duty, a political undertaking, a source of propaganda, a religious act, a means of rebellion, and a lascivious sin. In many of these iterations, the stories it has chosen are those of people who are different, or special, or who don’t fit in. This course explores how definitions of “outsiders” continue to shift and how the treatment of them has varied in response to historical, cultural and societal changes. In looking at the stories of outsiders that both theatre and film present, we will ask how and why these stories continue to fascinate audiences, build theories about what purpose is served in telling these stories, and explore how these ideas might affect our own community and those who may feel like outsiders here.

Writing for the Screen and Stage

THTR 222 - Sandberg, Stephanie L.

This course focuses on the creating dramatic works for the stage and the screen. Students learn how to create a core message and idea; from that foundation, they practice building strong plot, bold characters, effective dialogue, and descriptive writing for these visual mediums. Writing techniques, structure, and styles will be taught through readings, lectures, in-class writing exercises, small group activities, and student presentations.

3D Printing & Digital Fabrication for Theater

THTR 238 - Collins, Owen

3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing and prototyping. This course is an introduction to Digital Fabrication and concentrates of how to craft practical objects for use in theatrical production. Students will develop a systematic approach to envisioning digital designs, publish them electronically, and execute physical versions through iterative development, in order to achieve a successful stage prop. No prior theater or computer knowledge is required. Lab fee.  

Topics in Performing Arts: The Psychology of Design

THTR 290C - McLaughlin, Michaela D. (Delaney)

A study of how visual and non-visual stimuli affect intended audiences and how designers can use this knowledge to benefit their work. Students will explore concepts such as physical presentation, scenic/architectural design, lighting design, and sound design and how they can be molded in a way to best convey products and stories depending on the intended audience reaction. Students will use cultivated research skills to gain a further understanding of design concepts, historical period design, and psychological influences throughout their projects in this class.

Topics in Performing Arts: Cosplay

THTR 290D - Wislar, Elizabeth

COSPLAY is designed to introduce students to the specialized skills and craft materials needed to create dynamic costumed characters. Course time will be spent in discussion, research, designing, and creating through hand-building and technological techniques (such as 3D modeling and printing). This course explores the history, culture, and accessibility of Cosplay, while also interrogating the intersections of global dress and the sociocultural and socioeconomic aspects of time periods, locations, and colonization.

Scene Painting and Scenic Art

THTR 337 - Collins, Owen

This course is an exploration and application of the methods and materials used in painting and finishing scenery for the theater. The course covers both historical and current scene painting techniques, as well as the tools and paints that have been developed to support those techniques. Outside projects are required.

Creating Meaning

THTR 342 - Levy, Jemma A.

Shakespeare is OLD and DEAD.  Why do students still study his plays and theatre companies still perform them?  Does he have anything left to say to us?  Is his work relevant to the world we live in now?  This is an acting class for the lovers and the haters, the readers and the performers.  First we will explore ways to perform Shakespeare’s texts for a modern world while exploding preconceived notions about them.  Then we will use contemporary devising techniques to create and perform our own new work using Shakespeare as a jumping off point.

University Theater IV: Capstone

THTR 471 - Collins, Owen

Participation in a university theater production for a minimum of 50 hours. A journal recording the production process and a portfolio documenting the student's productions at Washington and Lee University are required.

Fall 2023▲

See complete information about these courses in the course offerings database. For more information about a specific course, including course type, schedule and location, click on its title.

Introduction to Theater

THTR 100 - Mish, Robert W.

An introduction to drama and the theater arts, including a brief historical survey, selected examples of dramatic literature, and a sequence on theater disciplines such as acting, designing, and directing.

University Theater

THTR 109 - Mish, Robert W.

Participation in a university theater production for a minimum of 40 hours. A journal recording the production process is required.

Script Analysis for Stage and Screen

THTR 121 - Sandberg, Stephanie L.

Same as FILM 121. The study of selected plays and screenplays from the standpoint of the theatre and screen artists. Emphasis on thorough examination of the scripts preparatory to production. This course is focused on developing script analysis skills directly applicable to work in production. Students work collaboratively in various creative capacities to transform texts into productions.

Speak/Persuade/Influence

THTR 125 - Levy, Jemma A.

From courtrooms to comedy clubs, novels to movie theatres, stages to TV screens to corporate boardrooms, the use of direct address (acknowledging the actual presence of an audience by speaking directly and specifically and in response to them) has been part of performative human communication as long as we've been communicating. This course will study direct address in many of its forms in preparation for practicing it in our own public performance. Students will learn to read an audience, use persuasive rhetoric, choose body language and make vocal adjustments to present the "character" that will best persuade or influence their audience, and gain confidence in speaking in front of others.

Introduction to Entertainment Technology

THTR 131 - Collins, Owen

Course introduces students to the backstage technology used to create productions in Theater, Dance, and Film. Through hands-on exercises students will be introduced to the tools, materials, and techniques for creating the scenery, costumes, props, painting, lighting, sound, and video for productions. Students participate as run crew 40-50 hours for one of the department productions during the term as well as complete the co-requisite lab course THTR 132.

Laboratory for Introduction to Entertainment Technology

THTR 132 - Collins, Owen

An introduction to modern technical practice involving three hours of laboratory work per week. A practical course, emphasizing skills for creating scenery, costumes, props, painting, lighting, sound, and video elements for Theater, Dance, and Film productions. The student applies the methods and theories discussed in class to work on actual productions. Laboratory co-requisite course for THTR 131.

Stage Acting 1

THTR 141 - Levy, Jemma A.

An introduction to acting for the stage. In this hands-on class, students learn and develop physical and vocal techniques for text-based and improvisational performance, focusing on relationships, objectives, and actions. Work includes in-class scene presentations from modern scripts.

Production and Stage Management

THTR 209 - McLaughlin, Michaela D. (Delaney) / Davies, Jenefer M.

Production and stage management are essential leadership roles for all performance organizations. Students will begin to develop a personal management style necessary to manage and run theater, dance, and film productions. Students will explore methods and skills required to manage productions through hand-on exercises. The course offers students greater understanding of the artistic and organizational best practices for running creative performance organizations, while focusing on the collaborative communication essential to an inventive and safe environment.

Introduction to Performance Design

THTR 251 - Collins, Owen

An introduction to the history, fundamentals and aesthetics of design for theater and dance with an emphasis on the collaborative nature of the design disciplines. Design projects are required.

Lighting Design

THTR 336 - McLaughlin, Michaela D. (Delaney) / Davies, Jenefer M.

A study of the practice of stage lighting, focusing on styles of production, historical methods and artistic theory. Culminates in a light design for a public theatrical production.

Spring 2023▲

See complete information about these courses in the course offerings database. For more information about a specific course, including course type, schedule and location, click on its title.

Study Abroad in Swedish Theater

THTR 204 - Evans, Shawn Paul

This course provides a broad impact on student's cross-cultural skills and global understanding, enhancing their worldview. Students have the opportunity to acquire critical intercultural knowledge, appreciation of cultural and social differentness, and exposure to perspectives critical for global leadership. The course focuses on examining cultural differences between Sweden and United States through the exploration of the arts; however, because of the size of the class students are encouraged to examine Swedish culture from their own disciplinary interest.