Theatre Course Descriptions

ENGL-214.  Classic Theatre: The Humanities in Drama.  3 Hours.  This course is a study of drama and literature by European authors of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries to be developed around a selection of 13 televised plays, augmented by textual materials and readings. 

THTR-160.  Theatre Appreciation.  3 Hours.  This course is a basic approach to the what, why and how of theatre.  The course provides an introduction to the history of the theatre as reflected in architecture, design, playwriting and acting of the major periods. 

THTR-161.  Stagecraft.  3 Hours.  This is an introduction to theatre arts of design, acting, direction and business through laboratory experience mixed with lecture.  Students will work on construction and operating crews, handle business details under supervision and generally participate in the operation of college theatre. 

THTR-162.  Workshop in Theatre Design.  3 Hours.  This course offers practical experience in areas of play production other than directing, acting and construction.  Areas are properties, publicity, makeup, costuming and house management.  

THTR-163.  Theatre Production.  1 Hour.  Credit is earned by participation in school theatrical and assigned crew presentations and granted upon recommendation of instructor of dramatics.  May be taken for credit four times.  Prerequisite:  Required of all Theatre Scholarship students. 

THTR-164.  Fundamentals of Acting I.  3 Hours.  This course is a beginning acting class for majors and non-majors in theatre.  Students will learn and perform two contrasting monologues during the course of the class.  The course is designed to further acting skills in several areas, including characterization, body movement, make-up, costuming, voice and stage techniques.  An acting recital will be held during finals and open to the public. 

THTR-165.  Directing Project.  2 Hours.  This course offers practical experience in the area of play production.  It is designed to provide the student training in directing techniques.  Practical application of the presented theatre principles will be required.  Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. 

THTR-166.  Improvisation.  3 Hours.  This is a theatre course designed to provide the student training in body movement, voice techniques, stage presence, spontaneity and acting techniques.  Practical application of the presented theatre principles is required. 

THTR-167.  Stage Movement.  3 Hours.  This course is designed to further acting skills in regards to stage movement.  These acting skills include characterization, body movement, voice and stage techniques. 

THTR-168.  Theatre Internship.  1-2 Hours.  This course consists of practical work experience in the theatre performance, or technical theatre in the sceneshop of the college theatre.  Students and their job supervisors will report on the students' hours worked and their experiences in technical or performance theatre, emphasizing the development of workplace skills.  The course will present ideas and practical knowledge as well as provide the how's and why's of technical and performance theatre positions.  Prerequisite:  Permission of instructor. 

THTR-175.  Theatre Appreciation: Honors. 3 Hours.  This course is an introductory approach to the what, why and how of theatre.  The course focuses upon an introduction to the history of theatre as identified in architecture, design, playwriting and acting of the major periods.  It also focuses on application of theatre criticism and theory of plays through written analysis.  It is designed to foster a more challenging, sophisticated level of skill development and theoretical understanding of theatre concepts by using field trips, guest artists, written papers, review, play readings and theatre history lectures.  This class uses teaching strategies that focus upon the skills of Honors students.  Prerequisite: Student must be a member of the CCC Honors Program. 

THTR-200.  Playwriting.  3 Hours.   This course is an introductory class for beginning and experienced writers of plays, for theatre majors and those students studying to be playwrights.  Students will learn specific techniques, practical exercises, candid exploration of famous plays and methods from award-winning playwrights during the course of this class.  This course is designed to work with the basic building blocks of dramatic structure, study the exploration of developing character, analyze the elements of good dialogue writing, research the different methods of how to get plays published and explore different marketing tools to make a play a best seller.  A playwright’s recital of original work from the class will be held during finals and open to the public. 

THTR-220.  Voice and Diction.  3 Hours.  This course is a study of vocal mechanisms, phonetics and related exercises to improve articulation, pronunciation and expressive intonation.  The course also covers the International Phonetic Alphabet and its uses in vocal performance.  Prerequisite:  Fundamentals of Acting I. 

THTR-264.  Fundamentals of Acting II.  3 Hours.  This course is designed to further acting skills in several areas, including characterization, body movement, make-up, costuming, voice and stage techniques. 

THTR-265.  Stagecraft II.  3 Hours.  This is a course designed to further stagecraft skills in several areas, including design of a setting, experience construction methods and techniques and business through laboratory mixed with lecture.  Students will work on construction and operating crews, handle business details under supervision and participate in the operation of the college theatre.  Prerequisite: Stagecraft. 

THTR-266.  Improvisation II.  3 Hours.  This is a theatre course designed to provide the student advanced training in body movement, voice techniques, stage presence, spontaneity, acting techniques and character development.  Practical application of the presented theatre principles is required.  Prerequisite:  Improvisation. 

THTR-270.  Acting Styles.  3 Hours.  This course is an advanced class for majors in theatre.  Students will learn and perform three period monologues and scenes during the course of the class.  It is designed to help the student work with verse, including characterization, body movement, voice and stage techniques.  An acting recital will be held during finals and open to the public.  Prerequisite:  Fundamentals of Acting I and Fundamentals of Acting II.