This course is an overview of the craft of acting for non-major students or theatre minors/majors. Emphasis is given to acting techniques, movement, voice, improvisation, ensemble work, listening skills, monologues, and scene work. The course is designed to build confidence and help students become more creative and comfortable speaking in public, giving presentations, and developing social skills that can be applied to all fields.

This is a course of study in unarmed theatrical combat. The emphasis on this course is on the development of proper technique, quality of movement with a focus on accuracy and safety as it applies to theatrical performance. The end of this course will come with the opportunity for certification with the Society of American Fight Directors by taking the Skills Proficiency Test, adjudicated by an SAFD Fight Master.

Stage managers are leaders, creative collaborators, and the primary point of contact in any theatre endeavor. This course provides an overview of the stage manager's roles and responsibilities within the production process from pre-production through strike and post-production review. The course provides opportunities for students to engage with best practices for effective and inclusive collaboration, communication, and organization of all production departments, from properties to set and lighting design. This practical course includes stage managing one production or concert within the Fine and Performing Arts, including rehearsals in McInnis Theatre, Eagle Great Room, and alternative rehearsal locations across campus. The course is also theoretical, as students cultivate their management style within the boundaries of industry standards and the ethical challenges of our times. Students reflect upon their biases that could present challenges to effective stage management. Throughout the course, the student is invited to consider how the Christian faith can inform and enrich our approach to the art and discipline of stage management.

Credit for significant technical or performative participation in Eastern Theatre production activities. This course may be taken more than once for credit. Graded on a P/F basis.

An introduction to the basics of technical theatre, including design principles, construction techniques, and stage management procedure and preparation.

A study of voice, designed with the stage performer in mind. It will explore the voice as an instrument of communication, as well as a part of the body as a whole. The Linklater Method will be used as a basis for instruction. This method incorporates the growing awareness of how the entire body and breath contribute to the making of sound. It helps to identify areas of tension which restrict vocal freedom, and seeks to provide tools and avenues of release. Attention will be given to posture, breathing, projection, sensitivity, articulation, phonetics, expression and communication of text. Students will also use poetry and classic texts through which they will discover the power of a free voice, and will use this power for more effective communication. Not a singing class.

Students will explore the history of theatre from ancient through modernity, with the goal of celebrating its diversity and understanding how it alters society. Students will analyze aspects of the Theatre Arts to discover strategies to make the given text come alive. Students will be required to create an original 10-minute plays based on a social justice issue thus adding to theatre's history.

This is a course of study in unarmed theatrical combat. The emphasis on this course is on the development of proper technique, quality of movement with a focus on accuracy and safety as it applies to theatrical performance. The end of this course will come with the opportunity for certification with the Society of American Fight Directors by taking the Skills Proficiency Test, adjudicated by an SAFD Fight Master.

The objective of this class is to help students tap into the psychological, physical and spiritual resources within them through the discipline of acting. Primary tools are personalized and scripted monologues, acting exercises and improvisations of increasing complexity, preparation and collaboration. This lab-style class requires a greater than normal commitment to attendance, participation and journal-keeping in addition to written performance critiques.

This course focuses on teaching the basics of truth-telling and communication using vocal music as its medium. Students will learn foundations of basic acting, character development, improvisation, collaborative communication, movement, physical awareness and expression and will apply these principles to vocal repertoire ranging from early opera to modern musical theatre. This is not a performance-based class as much as it is a process class; no final singing performance will be graded. However, the class will culminate in a performance.

This class teaches students fundamental techniques relating to the craft of on-camera acting. The class also covers practical lessons for on-set skills and behavior as well as basic principles of the business of TV and film

This theatre course will focus on creating a theatre collective while devising ones' own script and highlighting the director's process. In this creative effort, the student will create an original piece culminating in a performance in front of an audience. During class hours, the student will develop the steps of: casting, collaborating, rehearsing, improvising, writing, revising and developing one's own directing techniques by studying theatre masters. Outside of the class, the student will work on their original work and view live arts by contemporary practitioners in Philadelphia and the surrounding theatre community..

This advanced course will focus intensely on a particular style/playwright within an intense collaborative rehearsal environment. Actors and directors will choose projects, research, rehearse and perform them. Class will address physical and thematic hermeneutics, literary and dramaturgical analysis, rehearsal techniques, style, Shakespeare, conceptual/ improvisational approaches, adaptation, working with new plays from diverse playwrights.

The purpose of THEA 320 is to prepare acting students to serve as simulated clients (SC's) or standardized patients (SP's) in psychotherapeutic education and training. Partnering with graduate and undergraduate courses in psychology, counseling and social work, students will prepare to participate in improvised training scenes acting in the client role. The course requires the development of character backstory, improvisation skills, and basic understanding of psychological symptoms, their underlying causes and their presentation. The course is designed for acting students who would like to deepen their skills in character work and improvisation, and may wish to serve as simulated clients or standardized patients in training and research settings.

This course will examine texts/performances written by minority writers in an effort to facilitate discussions that explore what it means to be part of a culturally diverse society. It focuses on the historical and cultural contexts of diverse selections of theatre performances.

The Theatre Department does not currently offer a course in dramatic literature. As we prepare to apply for accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) we need to create a dramatic literature survey course. This proposed special topics couse will help fill in this educational gap as it covers contemporary British and American dramatic literature. This special topics version of the course also includes an optional two week study-abroad opportunity in Dublin, Ireland, at the Gaiety School of Acting.

The purpose of this course is to prepare acting students to serve as simulated clients (SC's) or standardized patients (SP's) in psychotherapeutic education and training. Partnering with graduate and undergraduate courses in psychology, counseling and social work, students will prepare to participate in improvised training scenes acting in the client role. The course requires the development of character backstory, improvisation skills, and basic understanding of psychological symptoms, their underlying causes and their presentation. The course is designed for acting students who would like to deepen their skills in character work and improvisation, and may wish to serve as simulated clients or standardized patients in training and research settings.

This advanced acting course focuses on strengthening acting skills using various acting techniques, such as Psychological Realism (Constantin Stanislavski), Psychophysical Action (Michael Chekhov), Emotional Recall (Lee Strasberg), Viewpoints (Anne Bogart), and Substitution/transference (Uta Hagen). Students will apply these techniques to scenes and monologues from various genres of plays. Students will also learn the "business of acting" and leave this course with audition pieces as well as feedback on resumes and headshots. Consistent attendance is mandatory in this lab-style course.

Students will gain practical training and experience in musical theatre performance. The course will focus on performance techniques and will emphasize skills necessary for successful presentation of a musical number. The course also presents an overview of the history of musical theatre. Prerequisite: THEA 115 or THEA 135.

Survey of theatre from its origins through the Renaissance with an introduction to various methods of script analysis. This course is the sequential first half of THEA 351, but may be taken independently.

Survey of theatre from the Restoration period to the present including various methods of script analysis. This course is the sequential second half of THEA 350, but may be taken independently or in reverse order.

The purpose of theatre field experience is to offer students the opportunity to observe and participate in professional work experiences in theatre and/or arts education. Participation must be in a setting appropriate to a student's interest in particular. Students will keep a log of hours and a journal of observations for a minimum of 40 hours per credit hour earned. Graded Pass/Fail.

This advanced course will focus intensely on a particular style/playwright within an intense collaborative rehearsal environment. Actors and directors will choose projects, research, rehearse and perform them. Class will address physical and thematic hermeneutics, literary and dramaturgical analysis, rehearsal techniques, style, Shakespeare, conceptual/ improvisational approaches, adaptation, working with new plays from diverse playwrights.

An advanced study of stage craft, including advanced design principles, construction techniques, style and special effects.

A senior level capstone experience in which students address the issues and professional opportunities of the contemporary theatre and the arts, with a focus on advanced acting skills, the business of acting, and integrating the Christian faith in the arts. Student will be challenged to creatively respond and engage with social justice issues using the arts. Specific subtopics will vary from year to year.