CCSU Department of Theatre Undergraduate Program


The Undergraduate Program page is undergoing revisions.  Please check back frequently for updates.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees with specialization in Acting, Dance, Design-Technical, Directing, Educational Theatre, and Bachelor of Arts degree in General Theatre are offered by the Department of Theatre. Beyond, or in conjunction with course work, students have the opportunity to participate in at least four major campus productions a year (three mainstage and a musical produced in conjunction with the Student Government Association). Design students work in lighting, sound, costumes or scenery for mainstage productions. In addition to the Black Box Theatre, the Thaddeus L. Torp Theatre was renovated in 1999 and provides a state-of-the-art, 400 seat, proscenium-style University Theatre allowing a greater scope in the design and production of the mainstage season, and frees up the black-box theatre for student directed productions. This will allow more student-faculty collaboration with non-traditional theatrical styles. Internships with area theatres are available.

For further information please call (860) 832-3150 or email johnsonlani@ccsu.edu.

CCSU Department of Theatre 2005-2007 Course Catalog

Courses:

TH 101 PERFORMANCE PRACTICUM (1) 
Provides an hour per week for students to coordinate production activities for all theatre department shows.  These activities might include backstage work, publicity, performance or direction.  This hour will also include regular workshops on topics relevant to the theatre industry.  Course to be repeated 6 times for majors, 3 times for minors.  

TH 110 INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE (3)
Introduction to theatre as a social institution. Students are required to attend Theatre Department productions. Study Area I

TH 111 STAGECRAFT (3)
Constructing and rigging scenery for different stages. Two lectures and average of two hours laboratory work per week. Study Area I

TH 115 PLAY PRODUCTION (1)
Open to all students who enjoy working on plays. Students may elect to work in stagecraft, lighting, sound, scene painting or properties, costuming, front-of-house management or performance. An average of three hours laboratory work per week is required. May be repeated for maximum of 6 credits.

TH 117 LIGHTING (3)
Lighting techniques in modern theatre practice. Two lectures per week. Study Area I

TH 121 COSTUMING (3)
Brief history of costume and constructing costumes. Introduction to design principles. Two lectures and average of two hours laboratory work per week. Study Area I

TH 126 MAKEUP I (2)
Laboratory course in stage makeup. Crew assignments on theatre productions are normally required. One two-hour session per week. Fall.  Study Area I

TH 135 SPEAKING-VOICE DEVELOPMENT (3)
Development of a more relaxed and vibrant speaking voice in dramatic performance through analysis of each student’s non-clinical voice-use problems followed by drills and body-voice exercises to free body, breath and vocal tract. Spring. Study Area I

TH 143 THEATRE GAMES AND IMPROVISATIONS (3)
Theatre games and improvisations to build concentration, relaxation, imagination and the ability to react, leading to heightened awareness and confidence in both exercises and very brief scenes. Exploration of the theatrical moment. Study Area I

TH 145 ACTING I (3)
Concentration, relaxation, and freeing the imagination, body and voice.  Improvisational exercises for exploration and discovery in relation to acting fundamentals.  Students are required to audition for mainstage productions, if only for the audition experience.  Study Area I 

TH 211 RENDERING AND DRAWING FOR THE STAGE (3)
Prereq.: TH 111 and 121. Studio course covering the various media for drawing and rendering stage and costume designs. The emphasis will be in developing student skills in drawing and rendering with watercolor, gouache, pen and ink. Irregular.

TH 213 SCENE PAINTING I (3)
Laboratory/studio course in the techniques of painting scenery for the stage. Meets two hours twice each week. Irregular.

TH 217 SCENO-GRAPHIC TECHNIQUES (3)
Prereq.: TH 111. Laboratory/studio course in various methods of graphic presentations of stage sets and designs, including measurements and specifications. Meets one hour each week. Spring. (E)

TH 222 HISTORY OF FASHION (3)
Study of the history of dress stressing the influences of culture upon fashion and original period research for the theatre. Spring. (E) Study Area I [I]

TH 246 ACTING II (3)
Prereq.: TH 145. Emphasis on basic techniques of acting; introduction to scene study and characterization. Fall. Study Area I

TH 251 STAGE MANAGEMENT (2)
Prereq.: TH 111 and 253 or permission of instructor. Study of function, duties and methods of operation of the stage manager, to include a study of the Actor’s Equity Association contract.

TH 253 SCRIPT ANALYSIS FOR THE THEATRE (3)
Reading and analysis of plays from various periods and countries. Focuses on text analysis from viewpoint of theatre artists: director, actor, designer. Fall. Study Area I

TH 275 AMERICAN THEATRE TODAY (3)
Survey of theatre in America, with special focus on current developments. Topics include: organizational structure, social and cultural objectives, economics issues, artistic trends, theatre education, multi-culturalism and new plays. May include field trips (ticket charge required), guest speakers and research on selected subject. Spring. (E) Study Area I AMS

TH 316 SCENE DESIGN (3)
Prereq.: TH 111 and 217 and departmental permission. Designing scenery for various kinds of stages and plays. Work on ground plans and elevations, perspective drawing and finished design. Fall. (E)

TH 318 LIGHTING DESIGN (3)
Prereq.: TH 111, 117. Lighting design and layout for the proscenium, open and arena stages. Special emphasis on design problems, equipment and control systems. Spring. (O)

TH 327 MAKEUP II (1)
Prereq.: TH 126 or prior permission of instructor. Advanced makeup projects with attention to mask building and prosthesis. Crew assignments on theatre productions are normally required. One two-hour session per week. Open to Theatre majors only. Fall. (E)

TH 330 DESIGN TUTORIAL (1)
Prereq.: Major or minor in Theatre and permission of instructor. Tutorial to solve skill problems through individual lessons and coaching with design major preparing to fulfill project requirements. May be repeated for a total of six credits.

TH 332 COSTUME DESIGN (3)
Prereq.: TH 121, 222 and permission of instructor. Designing costumes for various styles of plays. Work on design renderings and patterns for construction of costumes. Spring. (O)

TH 333 PERIOD STYLES (3)
An exploration of period styles through examination of stylistic elements from Egyptian through current day.  Styles of art, architecture, dance, theatre, music as well as trends inn culture will be studied for their effect upon artistic form.

TH 334 COSTUME CONSTRUCTION (3)
Prereq.: TH 121.  This course covers costume construction through the use of flat patterns, pattern drafting, tailoring and draping techniques.  Students will build costumes and learn about sewing techniques, dyeing fabrics, and costume accessories such as jewelry, masks, shoes, hats, armor and corsets.

TH 336 STAGE DIALECTS (3)
Survey of dialects for stage use with mastery of a select few. Dialect drills, practice and performance. Spring. (E)

TH 338 ADVANCED VOICE DEVELOPMENT (3)
Prereq.: TH 135. Expanding and developing range, flexibility and vibrancy of the speaking voice in dramatic performance. Development of effective articulation. Fall.

TH 347 ACTING III (3)
Prereq.: TH 338, 246 or permission of instructor. Performance considerations in scene study and character development, as well as self-scripted pieces. Two lectures and one two-hour lab per week. Spring.

TH 352 DIRECTING FOR THE STAGE (3)
Prereq.: TH 253. Principles of stage directing and practice. Emphasis on modern methods of directing and the use of its main elements such as space, time, sound, image and the actor. Spring. (O)

TH 375 HISTORY OF THEATRE I (3)
Theatre from Classical Greece to 18th Century, including physical theatre, audiences, acting style and other elements of production.  Spring.  (E)

TH 376 HISTORY OF THEATRE II (3)
Theatre from 18th Century to present day, including physical theatre, audiences, acting style and other elements of production.  Representative plays from standpoint of performance.  Fall.  (I)

TH 447 ACTING IV (3)
Prereq.: TH 347 and departmental permission. Performance considerations in scene study and role development, with emphasis on plays of varying styles and different periods. Fall. (O)

TH 456 SHAKESPEAREAN PRODUCTION (3)
Prereq.: TH 253 and 246, or permission of instructor. Analysis of selected plays from perspective of actor and director. Students act in and stage scenes as major requirements. Irregular.

TH 465 CREATIVE DRAMATICS FOR CHILDREN (3)
Trains teachers to develop the imagination, creativity and communication skills of children ages 5 through 12. Includes pantomime, theatre games, improvisation and formal theatre experience. Spring. 

TH 471 STUDIES IN TECHNICAL THEATRE (3)
Prereq: permission of instructor.

TH 472 STUDIES IN ACTING (3)
Prereq: permission of instructor.

TH 473 STUDIES IN HIGH IMPACT THEATRE (3)
Prereq: permission of instructor.

TH 474 STUDIES IN NY THEATRE WORKSHOP (3)
Prereq: permission of instructor.

TH 475 STUDIES IN LONDON THEATRE (3)
Prereq: permission of instructor.

TH 480 PROJECTS: DANCE (1-3)
Prereq.: Permission of instructor. Individual projects in choreography, research or production under the guidance of Dance/Theatre staff. Irregular.

TH 481 PROJECTS: SCENERY (1-3)
Prereq.: TH 316 and departmental permission. Individual projects in reading, research or production under guidance of member of Theatre staff.

TH 482 PROJECTS: COSTUMING (1-3)
Prereq.: TH 332 and departmental permission. Individual projects in reading, research or production under guidance of member of Theatre staff.

TH 483 PROJECTS: ACTING A (1-3)
Prereq.: TH 347 and junior standing and departmental permission. Individual projects in reading, research or production under guidance of member of Theatre staff.

TH 484 PROJECTS: ACTING B (1-3)
Prereq.: TH 483 and departmental permission. Individual projects in reading, research or production under guidance of member of Theatre staff.

TH 485 PROJECTS: LIGHTING (1-3)
Prereq.: TH 318 and departmental permission.  Individual projects in lighting design and production under guidance of member of Theatre staff.

TH 486 PROJECTS: SOUND (1-3)
Prereq.: departmental permission. Individual projects in sound design and production under guidance of member of Theatre staff.

TH 487 PROJECTS: RESEARCH (1-3)
Prereq.: TH 374 or departmental permission. Individual projects in reading, research or production under guidance of member of Theatre staff.

TH 488 PROJECTS: DIRECTING
Prereq.: TH 352 and departmental permission. Individual direction of student production under faculty supervision.

TH 489 STUDIES IN THEATRE/DRAMA (3)
Prereq.: Permission of instructor. Selected area of theatre and/or drama not covered in other courses. Topic varies. May be repeated for credit. Irregular. 

TH 490 SUMMER THEATRE WORKSHOP (3 or 6)
Prereq.: Permission of instructor. Students learn theatre by participating in a true summer theatre production program. The core of the production company is comprised of faculty directors and designers. Enrollees work side-by-side with this highly experienced core company, filling out the cast and production staffs as needed. The faculty of the program endeavors to utilize students according to their desires and abilities. May be repeated for additional credit. Summer.

TH 491 PROJECTS: TECHNICAL DIRECTION (1-3)
Prereq.: departmental permission.  Individual projects in technical direction under guidance of member of Theatre staff.

TH 492 PROJECTS:  THEATRE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
Prereq.: departmental permission.  Individual projects in using computer technology in a theatrical producion environment under guidance of member of Theatre staff.

TH 495 THEATRE INTERNSHIP (3-6)
Prereq.: Permission of department. Substantial work in approved area/regional theatre(s) offering experience or research opportunities unavailable on campus. May be repeated for a total of 12 credits. On demand.


©2007 CCSU Department of Theatre | 1615 Stanley Street | New Britain, CT 06053
(860) 832-3150 | For website issues, email
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