Theater Major Requirements
2024 - 2025 Catalog
Theater major leading to BA degree
A major in theater leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree requires completion of at least 35 credits in theater as follows:
- Performance: THTR 109, 121 (FILM 121), 141
- Technology. One course chosen from THTR 131, 236, 238
- Literature: Two courses chosen from THTR 212, 213, 297; DANC 240
- Design: One course chosen from THTR 251, 253, 336
- Synthesis: One course chosen from THTR 209, 222 (FILM 222), 361; DANC 220
- At least 12 additional credits chosen from among the following, including at least nine credits chosen from theater, dance or film courses:
DANC 120, 190, 202, 215, 220, 225, 230, 233, 240, 250, 292, 330, 340, 390
FILM 109, 195, 196, 222 (THTR 222), 233, 236, 255
THTR 100, 125, 131, 132, 202, 203, 204, 209, 210, 212, 213, 221 (FILM 221), 222 (FILM 222), 236, 238, 239, 241, 242, 245, 251, 253, 290, 297, 336, 337, 338, 342, 361, 397, 401, 402, 403, 421, 422, 423, 453, 493
CLAS 215
ENGL 202, 231, 242, 252, 319, 354
FREN 397 (when topic is appropriate)
GERM 335, 332
GR 301, 303
ITAL 295 (when topic is appropriate)
LIT 225, 235
MRST 286
MUS 210
SPAN 398 (when topic is appropriate) - Capstone Experience: THTR 471 (1) or THTR 493-493 (6)
- Performance:
- THTR 109 - University Theater
Credits 1 Prerequisite instructor consent 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.
- THTR 121 - Script Analysis for Stage and Screen
(FILM 121)
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 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.
- THTR 141 - Intro to Acting: Foundations of Collaboration
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 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.
- Technology:
- THTR 131 - Introduction to Entertainment Technology
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Corequisite THTR 132 - Laboratory for Intro to Entertainment Technology 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.
- THTR 236 - Special Effects for the Theater
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Do you like practical effects from films? Do you like to find creative solutions to problems? In this hands-on, project-based course, students apply the process of iterative design and use critical thinking to provide ingenious solutions to solve the artistic effects required to tell stories in theater. Starting with textual analysis of given scripts, students develop the parameters required for various effects, and through a process execute practical rehearsal and final effect solutions for a show. No prior theater experience is required. Lab fee.
- THTR 238 - 3D Printing & Digital Fabrication for Theater
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 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.
- Literature:
- THTR 212 - Reimagining the Classics
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 This course examines classical theatrical texts throughout history, from their original context of creation in the ancient world and cultures through to modern adaptations in their contemporary context. We ask the questions, "How and why are these texts a part of the dramatic canon of civilization?" and "What ties these works together across centuries and cultures?" Through exploration of the texts, students will learn about how the stories have transformed throughout theatre history in response to new audience demands and shifting cultural values and needs.
- THTR 213 - Theatrical Outsiders
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 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.
- THTR 297 - Special Topics in Theater History
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 This course explores selected theatre and performance traditions of a selected time-period and/or culture and/or a topical emphasis. Students will examine how theatre is created and performed and how it is used as an entertainment form as well as how it is used to advance ideas. Special emphasis is up to the professor. May be repeated for credit if the topics are different.
- DANC 240 - Revolutionary Dancers
FDR HA Credits 3 This course is a study of the manifestations of American modern dance from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. Students explore the relationship between dance and developments in U.S. culture and study the innovators of the art form and their techniques, writings, and art works through readings, video and lectures.
- Design:
- THTR 251 - Exploration of Performance Design
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Have you ever loved the costumes in a movie? Or the scenery in a musical? This course breaks down the fundamentals and aesthetics of design in performance. This project based course gives students the chance to create their own designs with an emphasis on how design tells a story. Students will develop their own systematic approach and aesthetic through peer critique. No prior theater or drawing experience is required. Lab fee.
- THTR 253 - Digital Production
FDR HA Credits 3 Digital technologies and multimedia interaction are increasingly utilized to produce, enhance, and innovate theatrical production. Students examine and experiment with various digital technologies as they relate to theater and dance performance. Students create digital audio, video, design rendering, and animation projects for theatrical performances.
- THTR 336 - Lighting Design
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 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.
- Synthesis:
- THTR 209 - Production and Stage Management
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 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.
- THTR 361 - Stage Directing 1
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite THTR 141 An introduction to directing for the stage. In this hands-on class, students learn and develop basic techniques for integrating work with scripts, performers, and designers into a cohesive stage performance. Students direct scenes from realistic modern or contemporary plays, focusing on collaboration, clarity, imagination, and analysis to create stage pictures and character relationships that tell a specific story on stage. The class culminates in invited classroom performances.
- DANC 220 - Dance Composition
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 A studio course exploring the craft and art of creating dance performances in a variety of styles and contexts. Images, text, music, improvisation and the elements of time, space and energy are examined as sources for dance material leading to individual andgroup choreography.
- THTR 222 - Writing for the Screen and Stage
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 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.
- At least 12 credits chosen from among the following including at least nine credits chosen from theater, dance, or film courses:
- DANC 120 - Fundamentals of Contemporary Modern Dance Practice
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 This course is an introduction to individual and ensemble artistic expression in contemporary modern dance within the context of modern dance history. Attention is given to educating the body to move with specificity and to develop rhythm, spatial, and effort awareness. No dance experience required.
- DANC 190 - Special Topics in Dance
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 An introductory studio course that include selected studies in dance with a focus on history, choreography, performance or production. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.
- DANC 202 - Dance Europe
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 4 Contemporary modern dance is an art form that explores questions about the body, identity, and globalization. Choreographers experiment with their craft by examining the way in which we relate to the world around us. The globalization of dance leads to cultural interchange and critical thinking about our place in a larger society and includes an exchange of styles and ideas and a cultural reflection on how and why dance is made. Globalism creates a rich artistic atmosphere and contributes to a wide variety of styles. Students travel to the four centers of contemporary modern dance in Europe: Paris, London, Amsterdam, Brussels. We explore contemporary aesthetics of particular regions, how culture influences movement choices, and the new ways in which European audiences are adapting to new forms of expression.
- DANC 215 - World Dance Technique
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 2 This dance class reflects the world dance form that is the specialty of the dance artist-in-residence. The basic dance techniques of that specific form are taught and movement is tied to the historical narrative of the country.
- DANC 220 - Dance Composition
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 A studio course exploring the craft and art of creating dance performances in a variety of styles and contexts. Images, text, music, improvisation and the elements of time, space and energy are examined as sources for dance material leading to individual andgroup choreography.
- DANC 225 - Contemporary Modern Dance Practice
Credits 2 This studio course is devoted to refining effort/shape values and phrasing in contemporary modern dance technique. Students investigate combinations, deconstruct movement phrases, and practice listening to the body by connecting movement phrases with kinesthetic experiences.
- DANC 230 - Musical-Theater Dance Technique
Credits 2 A studio exploration of choreography in musical theater from the 1940s to the present. Composition, theme, and form are discussed in concert with practical work in restaging historically significant musical dance choreographies. Of particular interest are the choreographers' styles and the many dance techniques prevalent in musical theater. May be repeated for up to six degree credits.
- DANC 233 - Movement for Actors
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 This course exams an array of methods that provide a vocabulary for thinking about, acting upon, and talking about movement and gesture and the physical integration of voice, breath, speech, and movement. We explore Alexander Technique and create an awareness of physical habits of 'misuse' and transform them by focusing on breathing and vocal work. Students examine viewpoints as a method for vocabulary to discuss work and as a tool for creating it. Laban Movement Analysis looks at these same concepts as a language for interpreting and documenting human movement. Class meetings include lecture, studio work, and individual projects.
- DANC 235 - Head to Toe
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 4 The theory and practice of creating a lecture/demonstration-style performance based on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) for elementary students. This class spends time researching recent scholarly writings on the brain, neural wiring and how pairing movement with traditional educational concepts can help young children to learn better. Students then use these principles to create a lecture/demonstration for local 4th- and 5th-grade students, including meeting and discussing ideas with local principals, setting up performances, creating a concert that ties to Virginia SOLs in English, Science or Mathematics, making costumes, sets or other production elements, choreographing and performing the material. Students also prepare an evaluation of the production and create literature to leave with the teachers so that the basic principles used to create the performance can be continued if desired.
- DANC 240 - Revolutionary Dancers
FDR HA Credits 3 This course is a study of the manifestations of American modern dance from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. Students explore the relationship between dance and developments in U.S. culture and study the innovators of the art form and their techniques, writings, and art works through readings, video and lectures.
- DANC 250 - Aerial Dance Techniques
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite instructor consent This course examines a unique array of techniques from across the aerial arts and a diversity of experimental approaches to movement in the air. The history of the form as well as lineage of style and current techniques are expressed through lecture, studio work, required readings and videos, masterclasses, performances, and written responses. Course fee required. May be repeated for up to nine degree credits.
- DANC 292 - Ballet Technique
Credits 2 This studio course is devoted to the practice of classical ballet technique and to the exploration of classical and contemporary ballet in performance. This course may be repeated for degree credit for up to six degree credits.
- DANC 330 - Experiential Anatomy
FDR HA Credits 3 Prerequisite Instructor consent A study of human motion as it relates to the locomotor and physical activities of the dancer. The course covers the planes of the body; vocabulary of the skeleton; and specific muscles, their actions, and how they relate to the dancer's body. Injury prevention through alignment and proper movement is considered, as well as the reversal of body alienation. Attention is given to the application of course information to technique class and performance.
- DANC 340 - Contemporary Dance Observation and Analysis
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite instructor consent The observation and analysis of live and recorded contemporary dance focusing on the work of emerging and established choreographers. Exploration of methods for describing the moving body in space. Emphasis is placed on the written and verbal critique of contemporary dance in performance.
- DANC 390 - Special Topics
Credits 3-4 Selected studies in dance with a focus on history, choreography, technique or performance. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.
- THTR 100 - Introduction to Theater
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 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.
- THTR 125 - Speak/Persuade/Influence
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 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.
- THTR 131 - Introduction to Entertainment Technology
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Corequisite THTR 132 - Laboratory for Intro to Entertainment Technology 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.
- THTR 132 - Laboratory for Introduction to Entertainment Technology
Credits 1 Corequisite THTR 131 - Introduction to Entertainment Technology 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.
- THTR 202 - London Theatre
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 4 Prerequisite instructor consent An intensive exposure to English theater and the current season in London. In addition to a full schedule of theater attendance, the course includes a study of theater training, production techniques and representative styles and periods of English drama. A Spring Term Abroad course.
- THTR 203 - Preparation for Study Abroad: Swedish Theater
Credits 1 During the weekly class meetings, students examine the historical, social, political, and artistic qualities that make Sweden unique, arming them with knowledge for their time in Sweden. Studying abroad, which promotes encountering cultural difference and, hopefully, crossing cultural boundaries, can be expected to be uncomfortable and even incomprehensible some of the time. As a result of this course, students will be open to exploring and enjoying those cultural differences. This course is designed to enable students to participate successfully in the Spring term study abroad course in Sweden.
- THTR 204 - Study Abroad in Swedish Theater
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 4 Prerequisite instructor consent 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.
- THTR 209 - Production and Stage Management
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 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.
- THTR 212 - Reimagining the Classics
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 This course examines classical theatrical texts throughout history, from their original context of creation in the ancient world and cultures through to modern adaptations in their contemporary context. We ask the questions, "How and why are these texts a part of the dramatic canon of civilization?" and "What ties these works together across centuries and cultures?" Through exploration of the texts, students will learn about how the stories have transformed throughout theatre history in response to new audience demands and shifting cultural values and needs.
- THTR 213 - Theatrical Outsiders
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 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.
- THTR 221 - Writer in Residence Seminar
Credits 1 Prerequisite instructor consent A one-credit intensive seminar course in playwriting/screenwriting taught by a guest arist-in-residence and focusing on a specific topic.
Or
- FILM 221 - Writer in Residence Seminar
Credits 1 Prerequisite instructor consent A one-credit intensive seminar course in playwriting/screenwriting taught by a guest arist-in-residence and focusing on a specific topic.
- THTR 222 - Writing for the Screen and Stage
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 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.
- THTR 236 - Special Effects for the Theater
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Do you like practical effects from films? Do you like to find creative solutions to problems? In this hands-on, project-based course, students apply the process of iterative design and use critical thinking to provide ingenious solutions to solve the artistic effects required to tell stories in theater. Starting with textual analysis of given scripts, students develop the parameters required for various effects, and through a process execute practical rehearsal and final effect solutions for a show. No prior theater experience is required. Lab fee.
- THTR 238 - 3D Printing & Digital Fabrication for Theater
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 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.
- THTR 239 - Total Theater
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 4 Prerequisite 3 credits in Dance or Theater A practical study of design, directing, production and acting problems in a specific style of dramatic literature, culminating in a public theatrical production. Additional fee required. Laboratory course. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.
- THTR 241 - One-Act Performance
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite THTR 141 This studio course offers students the opportunity to perform in one or more short, one-act performances culminating in a public presentation. The focus of the course will be on clear oral and physical communication, improvisation, textual analysis, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. No prior acting experience is necessary.
- THTR 242 - Musical Theater
FDR HA Credits 3 Students learn, through study of seminal texts and video clips of performances and interviews with performers, a basic history of the American musical theater as an art form, combining the talents of composers, lyricists, directors, choreographers, set and costume designers, and others. Students research musical dramatic literature and apply musical and acting skills in the development and performance of excerpts from distinctive musicals of various eras. Students develop constructive, critical methods in the process of practicing and viewing musical theater performance.
- THTR 251 - Exploration of Performance Design
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Have you ever loved the costumes in a movie? Or the scenery in a musical? This course breaks down the fundamentals and aesthetics of design in performance. This project based course gives students the chance to create their own designs with an emphasis on how design tells a story. Students will develop their own systematic approach and aesthetic through peer critique. No prior theater or drawing experience is required. Lab fee.
- THTR 253 - Digital Production
FDR HA Credits 3 Digital technologies and multimedia interaction are increasingly utilized to produce, enhance, and innovate theatrical production. Students examine and experiment with various digital technologies as they relate to theater and dance performance. Students create digital audio, video, design rendering, and animation projects for theatrical performances.
- THTR 290 - Topics in Performing Arts
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3-4 Prerequisite instructor consent Selected studies in theater, film or dance with a focus on history, criticism, performance or production. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different. Prerequisite may vary with topic.
- THTR 336 - Lighting Design
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 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.
- THTR 337 - Scene Painting and Scenic Art
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 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.
- THTR 338 - Costume Design
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 A study of stage costuming with emphasis on design and construction. The course includes lecture and lab sessions.
- THTR 342 - Creating Meaning
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite instructor consent 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.
- THTR 401 - Directed Individual Study
Credits 1 Prerequisite Instructor consent This course permits the student to follow a course of directed study and reading in order to widen the scope of experience and to build upon concepts covered in other courses. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.
- THTR 402 - Directed Individual Study
Credits 2 Prerequisite Instructor consent This course permits the student to follow a course of directed study and reading in order to widen the scope of experience and to build upon concepts covered in other courses. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.
- THTR 403 - Directed Individual Study
Credits 3 Prerequisite instructor consent This course permits the student to follow a course of directed study and reading in order to widen the scope of experience and to build upon concepts covered in other courses.
- THTR 421 - Directed Individual Research
Credits 1 Prerequisite Instructor consent Students enrich their academic experience by pursuing advanced study in a specialized area of film and visual culture. Permission to undertake directed individual research is a privilege granted to those students who have demonstrated their ability to work with little supervision. The student wishing to undertake this class must develop a three- to five-page written proposal that includes the problem or issue to be addressed, an outline of the proposed methodology to be used in executing the research, and a statement of the intended outcome with a schedule for completion. Student must be secure approval for the research by the faculty adviser of the project. May be repeated for up to 12 credits
- THTR 422 - Directed Individual Research
Credits 2 Prerequisite Instructor consent Students enrich their academic experience by pursuing advanced study in a specialized area of film and visual culture. Permission to undertake directed individual research is a privilege granted to those students who have demonstrated their ability to work with little supervision. The student wishing to undertake this class must develop a three- to five-page written proposal that includes the problem or issue to be addressed, an outline of the proposed methodology to be used in executing the research, and a statement of the intended outcome with a schedule for completion. Student must be secure approval for the research by the faculty adviser of the project. May be repeated for up to 12 credits
- THTR 423 - Directed Individual Research
Credits 3 Prerequisite instructor consent This course permits the student to follow a program of specialized applied research in order to widen the scope of experience and to build upon concepts covered in other courses.
- THTR 453 - Internship
Credits 3 Prerequisite instructor consent After consultation with a theater faculty member and a representative of a departmentally approved theater or dance company, students submit a written description of a proposed summer internship with the company. Specific conditions of the internship and of required on-campus, follow-up projects must be approved by the department. Credit is awarded after completion of the required on-campus, follow-up projects.
- THTR 493 - Honors Thesis
Credits 3 Prerequisite instructor consent An advanced theater course that serves as a capstone to the major. Theater majors selected by the department conduct advanced theater research and individual artistic preparation, contribute artistically to the department's performance season, and produce a significant written thesis under the guidance of a thesis adviser.
- FILM 109 - Film Performance Laboratory
Credits 1 Prerequisite instructor consent Participate as a writer, actor, cinematographer or technician in a faculty supervised film production.
- FILM 195 - Topics in Film Studies
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3-4 Prerequisite completion of FDR:FW requirement Selected topic in film studies, focused on one or more of film history, theory, production, or screenwriting.
- FILM 196 - Topics in Film and Literature
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3-4 Prerequisite completion of FDR:FW requirement Selected topics in film and literature.
- FILM 222 - Writing for the Screen and Stage
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 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.
- FILM 233 - Introduction to Film
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite completion of FDR:FW requirement Same as ENGL 233. An introductory study of film taught in English and with a topical focus on texts from a variety of global film-making traditions. At its origins, film displayed boundary-crossing international ambitions, and this course attends to that important fact, but the course's individual variations emphasize one national film tradition (e.g., American, French, Indian, British, Italian, Chinese, etc.) and, within it, may focus on major representative texts or upon a subgenre or thematic approach. In all cases, the course introduces students to fundamental issues in the history, theory, and basic terminology of film.
- FILM 236 - Science Fiction & Fantasy: From Page to Screen and Beyond
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 4 Film, almost from origins, has been fascinated by the evocation of fantasy worlds and by the effort to imagine and represent future worlds filled with technological marvels.(Film is, of course, a medium obsessed by its own technological improvements from sound and color to 30 and virtual reality.) From such major directors as Lang and Kubrick to Lucas and Spielberg, science fiction has attracted some of the finest and most innovative directors. In this course, we study major examples of this phenomenon along with the technological history and philosophical speculations contributing to it.
- FILM 255 - Seven-Minute Shakespeare
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 4 Prerequisite completion of both the FDR:FW and FDR:HL requirements After intensive collective reading and discussion of three Shakespeare plays in the first week, students organize into four-person groups with the goal of producing a seven-minute video version of one of the plays by the end of the term, using only the actual text of the play. The project requires full engagement and commitment, and includes tasks such as editing and selecting from the text to produce the film script, creating storyboards, casting and recruiting actors, rehearsing, filming, editing, adding sound tracks and effects. We critique and learn from each other's efforts.
- CLAS 215 - Ancient Drama and Its Influence
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 In this course we study ancient tragedy and comedy, both Greek and Roman, and look, too, at the cultural forces shaping ancient drama and some of the influence on later drama and thought. In addition to later plays that hail from ancient drama, we consider some philosophical interpretations of the significance of drama, and, in particular, tragedy.
- ENGL 202 - Creative Writing: Playwriting
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 4 A course in the practice of writing plays, involving workshops, literary study, critical writing, and performance.
- ENGL 231 - Drama
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite completion of FDR:FW requirement An introductory study of drama, emphasizing form, history, and performance. Organization may be chronological, thematic, or generic and may cover English language, western, or world drama. In all cases, the course introduces students to fundamental issues in the interpretation of theatrical texts.
- ENGL 242 - Individual Shakespeare Play
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 4 Prerequisite completion of FDR:FW requirement A detailed study of a single Shakespearean play, including its sources, textual variants, performance history, film adaptations and literary and cultural legacy. The course includes both performance-based and analytical assignments.
- ENGL 252 - Shakespeare
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite completion of FDR:FW requirement Same as MRST 252. A study of the major genres of Shakespeare's plays, employing analysis shaped by formal, historical, and performance-based questions. Emphasis is given to tracing how Shakespeare's work engages early modern cultural concerns, such as the nature of political rule, gender, religion, and sexuality. A variety of skills are developed in order to assist students with interpretation, which may include verse analysis, study of early modern dramatic forms, performance workshops, two medium-length papers, reviews of live play productions, and a final, student-directed performance of a selected play.
- ENGL 319 - Shakespeare and Company
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite an English course numbered between 201 and 295 and another English course numbered between 222 and 299 Focusing on the repertory and working conditions of the two play companies with which he was centrally involved, this course examines plays by Shakespeare and several of his contemporary collaborators and colleagues (Jonson, Middleton, Fletcher). Attentive to stage history and the evolution of dramatic texts within print culture, students consider the degree to which Shakespeare was both a representative and an exceptional player in Renaissance London's show business.
- ENGL 354 - Contemporary British and American Drama
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite an English course numbered between 201 and 295 and another English course numbered between 222 and 299 This course examines both the masterpieces and undiscovered gems of English language theater from Samuel Beckett to the present. The course investigates contemporary movements away from naturalism and realism towards the fantastical, surreal, and spectacular. Student presentations, film screenings, and brief performance exercises supplement literary analysis of the plays, though no prior drama experience is presumed.
- GERM 332 - Performing German
FDR HA Fine Arts Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite GERM 261 or GERM 261 placement Writing, memorization, rehearsing and public performance of plays in German.
- GR 301 - Tragedy
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite GR 202 or GR 300 placement A study of the Greek dramatists through close textual analysis; readings from ancient and modern theatrical writers and theories.
- GR 303 - Old and Middle Comedy
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite GR 202 A study of the comic tradition in general and of Greek comedy in particular. Readings in Greek and English from Aristophanes and from the corpus of ancient and modern comic plays.
- LIT 225 - Poetry and Drama of Japan in Translation
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite completion of FDR:FW requirement This course is designed to introduce students to the poetry and theater of Japan's premodern era. We examine classical themes and poetic art forms, and read from the vast canon of Japanese poetry. Readings cover major poets such as Hitomaro, Komachi, Teika, Saigyo, Sogi and Basho. The second part of the course offers a close study of the four traditional dramatic art forms of Japan: Noh, Kyogen or Comic Theater, Puppet Theater, and Kabuki. Students experience the performative aspect of the Noh theater by learning dance movements and song/chant from the play Yuya . The final part of the course demonstrates how classical theater has influenced modern playwrights and novelists.
- MRST 286 - Preparation for Shakespeare in Performance
Credits 1 Prerequisite instructor consent Students receive an introduction to Shakespeare's verse in performance; read and analyze scripts from some of the plays to be observed during spring term; and engage in a team-building workshop and the creation of walking tours of modern London, each built around a particular cultural theme. The course consists of six two-hour meetings.
- MUS 210 - Vocal Pedagogy
Credits 3 Prerequisite instructor consent This course focuses on the basic functions of vocal production and strategies for teaching healthy singing. Designed for music and theater majors and advanced non-majors. One term of applied voice study.
And the following courses when the topic is appropriate
- FREN 397 - Séminaire avancé
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite 3 French courses numbered between 200 and 299 The in-depth study of a topic in French literature and/or civilization. Recent offerings include: La Littérature francophone du Maghreb; La littérature Beure; La France sous l'occupation; Les femmes et l'écriture au XVIIe siècle; Les écrivains du XXe siècle et la diversité culturelle; L'affaire Dreyfus. Students are encouraged to use this course for the development of a personal project. May be repeated for degree credit when the topics are different.
- ITAL 295 - Topics in Italian Culture
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite ITAL 163 A second-year topics course focusing on issues and texts related to Italian literature and culture. All discussion, writing, and exercises are in Italian. May be repeated for degree credit with permission and if the topics are different.
- SPAN 398 - Spanish-American Seminar
FDR HL Literature Distribution Credits 3 Prerequisite SPAN 240 and SPAN 275 A seminar focusing on a single period, genre, motif, or writer. Recent topics have included "Spanish American Women Writers: From America into the 21st Century," "20th Century Latin America Theater," and "Past, Memory, and Identity in Contemporary Argentina's Cultural Products." May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.
- Capstone Experience:
- THTR 471 - University Theater IV: Capstone
Credits 1 Prerequisite instructor consent 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.
or
- THTR 493 - Honors Thesis
(+THTR 493) for total of 6 credits
Credits 3 Prerequisite instructor consent An advanced theater course that serves as a capstone to the major. Theater majors selected by the department conduct advanced theater research and individual artistic preparation, contribute artistically to the department's performance season, and produce a significant written thesis under the guidance of a thesis adviser.
Required courses:
One course chosen from:
Two courses chosen from:
One course chosen from:
One course chosen from: