Department of Theatre

Main Page Content

Department of Theatre

1103 Tower Fine Arts Building
(585) 395-2478

Chairperson: Richard St George; Associate Professor: St George; Assistant Professor and Scenic Designer: P. Gibson Ralph; Technical Director/Lighting Designer: Gary T. Musante; Costume Designer: Gail Argetsinger; Production Manager: Michael Krickmire.

• Requirements
• Courses

Synthesizing liberal studies with career-oriented theatre and drama training, the Department of Theatre is dedicated to the preparation of students for successful acting and technical theatre careers in professional and semi-professional venues, while simultaneously enriching the cultural life of the College and surrounding community through the public presentation of quality theatre productions. Theatre education is relevant in many applications and, not surprisingly, a theatre background is useful to and enriching for people in many different occupations.

At SUNY Brockport, theatre classes and productions are open to any student, whatever his/her major or interest.

Suggested career areas in theatre:

• Actor/Actress
• Arts Administrator
• Business Manager
• Costume Designer
• Critic
• Director
• Drama Therapist
• Lighting Designer
• Lighting Technician
• Make-up Specialist
• Producer
• Property Specialist
• Scene Designer
• Sound Designer
• Stage Manager
• Teacher
• Technical Director
• Wardrobe Mistress

Two academic programs are available: (1) major in theatre, BA or BS; (2) minor in theatre. The major in theatre is 43 credits: 25 credits in the major core and 18 credits in the track core. Theatre majors are also required to complete 15 credits of non-theatre courses as corequisites.

Interviews Auditions for Admission into the Department of Theatre

The Department of Theatre at SUNY Brockport offers the following selection of tracks for the BA/BS degree in Theatre: Acting, Design Technologies and General Theatre. To be accepted into the Acting track, candidates must take part in both the interview and audition process described below. Candidates wishing admittance into the Design Technologies track must participate in both the interview and portfolio review described below. Selection into the Acting or Design Technologies tracks will be made by theatre faculty conducting the above. A third track, in General Theatre, does not require a interview, audition or portfolio review. Interested students should contact the Chairperson of the Department of Theatre for specific information about where and when these interviews, auditions and portfolio reviews will be scheduled.

Stage Management Requirement

All theatre majors are required to serve as a stage manager or assistant stage manager. This requirement can be fulfilled by stage-managing one of the following productions while enrolled in the required course, THE 308 Theatre Production Management:

1. Faculty-directed shows
2. Second Season shows
3. Special projects (plays or scenes assigned from appropriate directing and/or acting classes)
4. Senior projects
5. Mini-tour

Production/Audition Participation Requirement

1. All theatre majors, minors, and IARC-theatre specialty students must participate in the production program of the department.
2. All theatre majors, minors, and IARC-theatre specialty students are urged to participate in auditions for faculty-directed productions based on departmental guidelines.

¹ This course must be taken before declaring a major in Arts for Children.

² This course must be taken by all IARC majors at the conclusion of program of study.

³ Prerequisite: THE 281.

⁴ Prerequisite: An introductory art course or instructor's permission.

⁵ Prerequisite: MUS 105 or instructor's permission.

1. All Arts for Children-Theatre specialty students must participate in the production program of the department.
2. All Arts for Children-Theatre specialty students are required to participate in auditions for faculty-directed productions based on departmental guidelines.

Theatre Courses

THE 101 Acting Practicum (B). Allows students to develop an understanding of the theatre production process through a practicum experience in acting. 1 Cr.

THE 102 Lighting Practicum (B). Allows students to develop an understanding of the theatre production process through a practicum experience in stage lighting. 1 Cr.

THE 103 Directing Practicum (B). Allows students to develop an understanding of the theatre production through a practicum experience in directing. 1 Cr.

THE 104 Sound Practicum (B). Allows students to develop an understanding of the theatre production process through a practicum experience in sound. 1 Cr.

THE 105 Painting Practicum (B). Allows students to develop an understanding of the theatre production process through a practicum experience in painting scenery. 1 Cr.

THE 106 Costume Practicum (B). Allows students to develop an understanding of the theatre production process through a practicum experience in costume design and construction. 1 Cr.

THE 107 Stage Crew Practicum (B). Allows students to develop an understanding of the theatre production process through a practicum experience as part of a stage crew. 1 Cr.

THE 111 Introduction to Theatre (A,F). Allows students to develop an understanding of the basic elements and unique characteristics of the theatre arts. Studies representative dramatic master pieces. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

THE 124 Voice and Diction (A). Provides a basis for improving the voice, including proper breathing, resonance, phonation, and articulation. Emphasizes elimination of regional accents, proficiency in articulation of vowel, diphthong and consonant sounds, and increased awareness of variety in pitch, inflection and volume. Includes study of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). 3 Cr.

THE 201 Theatre Arts (A,P). Provides an introduction to theatrical production, including basic analysis of the playscript, developing artistic concepts, translating concepts into workable plans, and methods for executing plans. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

THE 202 Stagecraft (B). Familiarizes students with the theatre technician's tools, areas of theatre, and factors that comprise production work in scenery construction. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

THE 221 Acting I (A,P). Provides an introduction to the methods of acting, with emphasis on basic techniques. Also provides for the development of the human instrument through various physical, emotional, and psychological methods of training. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

THE 232 Improvisational Theatre (A,P). Covers principles and techniques of improvisation as an art form, and fundamentals of ensemble-playing, characterization and play-making (creation of scenarios). Explores the effect of the dramatic process on communication skills and human development. 3 Cr. Every Semester.

THE 234 Physical and Vocal Training (A). Prerequisite: THE 124. Provides a basic introduction to the coordination of the voice and body as an instrument of communication. Emphasizes proper body alignment and efficient vocalization, including relaxation techniques, proper breathing and resonance exercise, and exploration of the mind-body voice as a unified entity. 3 Cr.

THE 235 Stage Lighting I (A). Prerequisite: THE 202. Introduces the use of various types of lighting equipment. Studies basic design and color theory and practice. Requires students to serve as lighting crew for departmental productions. 3 Cr.

THE 236 Theatre Graphics (B). Prerequisite: THE 202. Covers the use of standard drafting equipment; drawing of two- and three-dimensional projections; and application of drafting skills to theatre projects. 3 Cr.

THE 244 Costume Construction (A). Studies theories and procedures in the stage costume process, including costume design, construction, patterns, fabric, shop organization. Allows students to acquire basic se wing skills, as well as practical backstage experience. 3 Cr.

THE 281 Creative Drama (B). Covers theories of creative drama. Provides discussion and demonstrations of the process mode art form, application to child development and to curriculum, and micro teaching units with lab class emphasizing improvisation exercises and story dramatization. 3 Cr.

THE 308 Stage Management Practicum (B). Allows students to develop an understanding of the theatre production process through a practicum experience in management. 1 Cr.

THE 314 History of Theatre I: Classical Through Renaissance (A,U). Surveys the origin and development, production techniques, acting styles, and significant plays from the classical period through the Renaissance. Also includes the discussion of aesthetics, rituals, functions, and theatre traditions of non-western cultures: India, China, Japan, Korea, Africa, Latin America, etc. 3 Cr. Fall.

THE 315 History of Theatre II: Romanticism through Modern (A,U). Covers the development of theatre and drama from the 19th century to the present. 3 Cr. Spring.

THE 319 Play Analysis (A,U,W). Studies selected plays from the directorial point of vie w. Includes analysis of themes, characters, structures, and styles; discussion of women 's perspectives based on the plays written by women; understanding characteristics of the plays written by ethnic minority writers; and critique of productions. 3 Cr.

THE 322 Acting II (B,U). Prerequisite: THE 221. Provides continuing work in acting, with an emphasis on character development and analysis through scene work and discussion. 3 Cr.

THE 323 Acting III (B,U). Prerequisite: THE 322. Provides advanced work in acting techniques, characterization and script analysis; and continuing work on basic physical tools of voice and movement. 3 Cr.
THE 332 Scene Design I (A). Prerequisite: THE 236. Allows students to develop and communicate a visual metaphor for a play, and use the basic elements of design and the principles of composition. Analyzes design and explores our age in the history of theatrical design, both Western and Oriental. 3 Cr.

THE 333 Scene Design II (B). Prerequisite: THE 332. Requires students to translate a visual metaphor into a design for the stage, communicate that design to others via the graphic process, develop and use a unit list to mount a production, and learn the verbal and visual sources necessary to understand a play. 3 Cr.

THE 334 Scene Painting and Rendering (B). Prerequisite: THE 333. Allows students to match colors by mixing different kinds of paint, copy and enlarge paintings for stage purposes, develop painter's elevations, and render a design. 3 Cr.

THE 336 Stage Lighting II (B). Prerequisite: THE 235. Provides an advance study of lighting design and practice. Includes draft lighting plots and related paper work. Requires students to learn to program computer control board. May provide practical design assignments. 3 Cr.

THE 338 Technical Production (A). Covers the operation of basic shop equipment; basic construction techniques for building platforms, step units, flattage, and two-dimensional scenery; and theoretical knowledge applied to theatrical production. 3 Cr.

THE 341 History of Costume (A). Covers the history of clothing from Classic to modern times, using primary source material. Allows students to evaluate costumes and adapt costume forms for stage use. Requires preparation of personal library of sources. 3 Cr.

THE 345 Stage Makeup (A). Covers techniques in stage makeup, including uses and characteristics of makeup materials and methods of application, character analysis and design of realistic, old age, caricature, and fantasy styles. 3 Cr.

THE 347 Costume Design I (A). Covers the fundamentals of costume design: design principles, character analysis, and use of historical source material; analysis of how clothing reveals character and motive; and selection of colors, forms, fibers, and weaves appropriate to the mood, style, period, and interpretation of a play. 3 Cr.

THE 348 Costume Design II (A). Explores techniques and styles in designing film, theatre and dance costumes, involving a variety of historical, contemporary, and non-traditional theatre pieces. Allows students to design/assist workshop and lab theatre productions in order to apply theory to practical experience. Emphasizes portfolio presentation, research, and design criticism. 3 Cr.

THE 351 Directing (A). Prerequisites: THE 221 and 314 or 315. Prepares students for directing, including intensive analysis of the playscript, development of the ground plan, basic principles of composition, picturization, and movement. 3 Cr.

THE 353 Children's Theatre (A). Covers dramatic literature for young audiences, representative forms and theatres, historical perspective and current trends. Includes theory and practice. 3 Cr.

THE 363 Playwriting (A,U). Cross-listed as WMS 363. Covers principles of playwriting. Requires preparation, with class discussion and critiques, of an original one-act play. Includes optional rehearsed reading. 3 Cr.

THE 365 Puppet Theatre (A). Covers the historical roots of puppetry and its relationship to other arts, especially theatre; and designing, constructing, and manipulating various kinds of puppets. 3 Cr.

THE 399 Independent Study in Theatre (A). Prerequisite: Instructor's permission. To be defined in consultation with the instructor-sponsor and in accordance with the procedures of the Office of Academic Advisement prior to registration. 1-3 Cr.

THE 400 Theatre Viewing (A,U). Provides students with the tools and opportunity to critically analyze, evaluate and appreciate theatre productions. Students view several professional theatre productions and participate in backstage tours and discussion with artistic staff. 3 Cr.

THE 401 Research in Theatre (A). Prerequisite: Junior or senior status. Covers research methods used in theatre. Requires students to design and formulate a project in the area of their specialization in theatre which will be completed in THE 402, including necessary research and a written proposal for the project. 1 Cr. Every Semester.

THE 402 Senior Project in Theatre (A). Prerequisite: Senior status. Requires preparation and execution of a research project. 2 Cr. Every Semester.

THE 414 American Theatre (A,U,W). Covers the development of American theatre from Colonial period to present time, particularly theatre architecture, production techniques, scene design, styles of acting, producers, plays, and playwrights. 3 Cr.

THE 420 Theatre and Dilemmas of Society (A,I). Explores the role played by the theatre in raising consciousness towards significant social, political, educational, religious, and technological developments. 3 Cr.

THE 422 Acting IV (B,U). Prerequisite: THE 323 or instructor's permission. Provides intensive study and practice of specific acting techniques as they pertain to various periods, including Elizabethan, Restoration, and others selected by instructor. 3 Cr.

THE 426 Improvisational Studio (B). Prerequisites: THE 232 and instructor's permission. Provides advanced work in giving dramatic structure to ideas and stories. Requires performance for and leader ship of groups of various ages in improvisation. 3 Cr.

THE 430 Children's Theatre: Mini-Tour (B). Prerequisites: THE 281, 353, and/or instructor's permission. Covers methods for development and performance of plays for children in non-theatre spaces and the genre of plays suitable to the specific project. Requires performing in an ensemble, developing skills in group and individual improvisation, material suitable for presentation to a child audience, working with a child audience, and touring production for child audiences. 4 Cr.

THE 450 Field Experiences in Theatre (A). Prerequisite: Instructor's permission. Allows students to identify methods, techniques, and procedures involved in the project being studied, perform these functions and/or observations, and plan a design for implementing the project in a different situation. 6-12 Cr.

THE 483 Creative Drama Practicum (B). Prerequisite: THE 281. Examines current theories in creative drama in United States and England. Requires research and preparation of appropriate activities as part of training leaders, and 20 hours of independent work in an educational institution or community agency. 3 Cr.

THE 490 Special Topics in Theatre (A). Covers topics such as non-Western theatre, dramatic theory and criticism, and contemporary trends in theatre. The exact nature of the topic and instructional methodology are defined by the instructor. 3 Cr.

THE 499 Advanced Independent Study in Theatre (A). Prerequisite: Instructor's permission. To be defined in consultation with the instructor-sponsor and in accordance with the procedures of the Office of Academic Advisement prior to registration. 3 Cr.