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Students who are considering a major in theater should realize that the program demands a great commitment of both time and energy. The department offers an opportunity to pursue a rigorous and serious training program within a liberal arts setting. This requires many hours of study and work in the studios, classrooms, shops, theater, and offices. A good deal of the production work done occurs during the evenings and during weekends.

The focus of the program is on training rather than on production alone. The extensive production program enables students to test out ideas and techniques encountered in the studio and classroom.

Courses within the department afford training in the basic demands of the discipline — physical and vocal control, technique in acting and directing, technical and design skills — as well as the opportunity for advanced study, practical production experience, study abroad, and off-campus professional internships. The liberal arts requirements enable the student to better understand the moral, intellectual, and political context in which any artist practices.

All theater majors take certain basic courses in each of the department's areas of study. For the best possible training, students in the upper divisions are urged to concentrate in performance, directing, design and technical theater. Students with specific interests that fall outside these concentrations such as stage management, playwriting, arts administration, or dramaturgy may develop a specialized course of study in consultation with faculty advisors in the department. A complete list of courses is available in the college catalogue.

A. The following ten courses:

 

No.	Course Title	Credits
TH103	Introduction to Theater  (Fall Only)	4
TH129	Theater Production (try to complete by the end of the Sophomore year)	2
TH130	Introduction to Design (try to complete by the end of the Sophomore year)	2
TH229	Theater and Culture (Fall Only - complete by Fall of Junior year)	3
TH230	Theater and Culture (Spring Only - complete by end of Junior year)	3
TH231	Directing for the Theater	3
TH250	Production Seminar	1-4‡
TH235	The Skidmore Theater Company	1*
TH335	The Skidmore Theater Company	2**
TH333 or TH334 or TH341	Director as Collaborative Artist or Special Studies in Theater History and Theatre or History of American Theatre	3
Total		24-27

‡Production Seminar

• May be taken for 1, 2, 3 or 4 credits in any given semester
• May be taken for a maximum of 6 credits during a student's career
• Enrollment is predicated on the fact that a student has been cast in a production or has been assigned a significant staff position
• The choice of credits will be determined by both the student and the faculty member leading the seminar class and will reflect the anticipated time commitment as well as the student's course load
• Whenever involved in a Seminar Production as an actor or in a significant staff position, consider registering for this course immediately after casting is complete.

*TH235 may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. Many Theater student take this course each semester in the first three years at Skidmore.

**TH335 may be repeated for a maximum of 4 credits. Many Theater students take this course both semesters of the Senior year.

B. At least one course in dramatic literature from the following list: Total 3 Credits

EN 215, EN225, EN 339, EN 343, EN 345, EN 346, EN 359, FF 318, FG 356, FS 321, CL 222, CL223. Students may request permission of the Department to substitute other courses that have a significant dramatic literature component.

C. At least eighteen additional semester hours in the Theater Department Total 18 Credits

GRAND TOTAL                  45-48 Credits

TH377 SENIOR SEMINAR (1) is strongly recommended for all students who plan to pursue a professional career and/or graduate training in the theatre.

1. COLLEGE-WIDE REQUIREMENTS (refer to the Skidmore College Catalogue for details)


Of the total 120 semester hours required, college-wide requirements account for anywhere from 29 to 54 semester hours. This range is a function of testing, demonstrated proficiency, and course choices.
These requirements reflect the core of a liberal arts education. They are vital to the development of the theater artists. When you choose to major in Theater, an appropriate faculty advisor (given your concentration) can help you to make the best choices for your electives and all-college requirements outside of the Theater Department. These might relate directly or indirectly to your theater interests or they may simply be courses that seem to interest you for one reason or another.

Note:

• TH 228 (Stage Lighting) offered in alternate Springs fulfills the all-college QR2 requirement
• TH 334 (Asian Theater) generally offered every other year, fulfills the all-College non-Western Culture requirement.
   
2. GENERAL THEATER REQUIREMENTS 27-30
   The Department of Theater believes that all students majoring in theater must study at least the fundamentals of all aspects of the art form and develop and understand a common vocabulary. This enables the theater artist to better communicate with collaborators and better understand the their needs and concerns.     * These courses may be repeated for credit at the discretion of the department.
    

   TH 103, Introduction to Theater	4
   TH 129, Design and Production	2
   TH 130, Introduction to Design	2
   TH 229, Theater and Culture I	3
   TH 230, Theater and Culture II	3
   TH 231, Directing for the Theater	3
   TH 250, Production Seminar*	1-4
   TH 235, The Skidmore Theater Company*	1
   TH 335, The Skidmore Theater Company*	2
   TH 333, Director as Collaborative Artist or TH334, Special Studies in Theater History and Theory or TH341, History of American Theater	3
   Total	24-27 credits

   One course in dramatic literature	3 credits
   Suggestions:
   EN 215	Drama
   EN 339	Modern European Drama
   EN 345	Shakespeare: Comedies, Histories, Romances
   EN 346	Shakespeare: The Tragedies
   EN 359	Modern British and American Drama
   CL 222	Greek Tragedy
   CL 223	Greek and Roman Comedy
   FF 318	French Dramatic Literature
   FG 356	Theater in the German-Speaking World
   FG 321	Studies in the Spanish-American Drama
   F(G, F, I, S) 363	Special Studies in a Genre (with permission)
   EN 225	Intro. to Shakespeare
   GO 351B	Shakespeare's Political Wisdom

   
   
3. Theater Elective Requirements - a MINIMUM of 18 Credits


In addition to the required theater courses, each major must complete at least 18 semester hours of theater electives. Recommended electives are listed under each concentration. These electives may be adjusted in consultation with appropriate faculty members.

It should be noted that, depending on the concentration, the number of credits involved in the following recommended electives exceed 18.

Most Theater students who seek a life in the theater choose to take between 55 and 60 total credits in Theater. This is of significance when compared to the 30-36 credits for most undergraduate Bachelor of Arts programs in Theater and 90 credits in Bachelor of Fine Arts programs in conservatories.

At Skidmore, students in some of the Pre-Professional Bachelor of Science programs (Theater, Management & Business, Art, Education, Exercise Science, Dance, Social Work and Education) tend to take 40 to over 60 credits in the major.

Although Senior Project (TH376) is optional, it is required to be eligible for Departmental Honors and is taken by most Theater majors.

Acting:

• Introductory Level (Ideally, these should be completed by the end of the First Year)
  • TH104 Introduction to Acting (3)
  • TH198 Movement for the Theater (2)
  • TH101 Voice and Speech in the Theatre (2)
• Intermediate Level (to be completed during the Sophomore and Junior years)
  • TH203 Intermediate Acting [physical approaches: Suzuki & Viewpoints] (3)
  • TH204 Intermediate Acting [ Stanislavski-based approaches] (3)
  • TH242 Acting Shakespeare (3)
  • TH211 Voice for the Actor (2)
  • TH251 Special Topics (1-2) [Audition Workshop, Text Analysis, Acting for the Camera, etc.]
• Advanced Level (to be taken in the Senior year)
  • TH303 Acting Styles (3)
  • TH304 Special Studies in Acting (3)
  • TH251 Audition Workshop [spring only] (2)
  • TH377 Senior Seminar [Career Development; for seniors; fall only] (1)
• NOTE: Acting students should seriously consider taking advantage of the opportunities to study singing in the Music Department, as well as Yoga and Dance in the Dance Department.

Directing:

• TH104 Introduction to Acting (3)
• TH203 Intermediate Acting [physical approaches] (3)
• TH204 Intermediate Acting [ Stanislavski based-approaches] (3)
• TH251 Directing Workshop (2)
• TH332 Advanced Directing (3)
• TH333 The Director as Collaborative Artist (3)
• TH371,372 Independent Study (3)
• TH375 Advanced Directing Practicum (3)
• TH377 Senior Seminar [Career Development, fall only] (1)

Design and Technical Theater:

• TH216 Stage Design: From Page to Stage (4)
• TH228 Stage Lighting (4)
• TH238 Costume Design(3)
• TH337 Advanced Directing (3)
• TH305 Special Studies in Design & Technical Theater(3)
• TH371,372 Independent Study (3)
• AR131 Visual Concepts (4)
• AR133 Drawing (4)
• TH377 Senior Seminar [Career Development, fall only] (1)
• NOTE: Design students are encouraged to take as many Studio Art and Art History courses as possible during their undergraduate careers.

Theater Management and Administration: The College is working on developing a minor in Arts Administration by Fall 2009. Students interested in pursuing theater management & administration would have a Theater major and an Ats Administration minor. The minor will likely consist of two new arts administration courses and a number of course in the Management & Business Department. In addition to the Theater major requirements, the following electives are recommended to students interested in administration.

• TH341 History of American Theater (3)
• TH333 Director as Collaborative Artist (3)
• TH299 Professional Internship in Theater (3 or 6) [an administrative position in a theater company]*
• TH399 Professional Internship in Theater (3, 6 or 9) [an administrative position in a theater company]*
• MB107 Business Organization & Management (4)
• MB214 Foundations of Marketing (3)
• MB224 Foundations of Organizational Behavior (4)
• MB234 Foundations of Accounting (4)
• MB337 Advertising and Promotion (4)
• TH377 Senior Seminar [Career Development, fall only] (1)
• NOTE: Depending upon interests, students might consider taking the additional courses in accounting (MB235, MB307 and MB308). * TH229 & TH399 credits are limited to 12.

Stage Management: In addition to the required Theater courses, stage management students are encouraged to take the following courses:

• TH228 Stage Lighting (4)
• TH216 Stage Design: From Page to Stage (4)
• TH238 Costume Design(3)
• TH337 Advanced Directing (3)
• TH299 Professional Internship in Theater (3 or 6) [an administrative position in a theater company]*
• TH399 Professional Internship in Theater (3, 6 or 9) [an administrative position in a theater company]*
• NOTE: * TH229 & TH399 credits are limited to 12.

Dramaturgy: In addition to the required Theater courses, dramaturgy students are encouraged to take the following courses:

• TH341 History of American Theater (3)
• TH333 Director as Collaborative Artist (3)
• TH334 Special Studies in Theater History and Theory (3)
• As many dramatic literature courses as possible in the English, Classics and Foreign Languages Departments (a minimum of 3 courses beyond the single course required for the major)

HONORS: Departmental honors are based on a quality point average of 3.5 in all major courses, satisfactory completion of Senior Project (TH376), and high quality work on other departmental projects.

INTERDEPARTMENTAL MAJOR: In conjunction with the Department of Exercise Science, Dance, and Athletics, the Theater Department offers a major in dance-theater. See Interdepartmental Majors.

THE THEATER MINOR: A minor in theater is available for students interested in a general education in theater but not necessarily intensive training in a single concentration. 23 semester hours are required: TH103, TH129 or TH130, TH104 or TH231, TH229, TH230, TH235, TH250; one 300-level course in theater beyond the introductory level; and one course in dramatic literature outside the department.

Those students interested in combining a study of theater with art, dance, literature, or music should consult with the Theater Department and their advisors in the formulation of a self-determined major.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE CURRICULUM

PRODUCTION COURSES

INDEPENDENT STUDY

FIRST-YEAR PLANNING

INTERNSHIPS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT

STUDY ABROAD and OFF- CAMPUS STUDY

ADVISING

 

 

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 Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theatre
Phone: (518) 580-5430  |  Fax: (518) 580-5444  |  kmendenh@skidmore.edu