The Theater concentration engages students in rigorous seminar classes while they actively hone their craft through innovative acting, directing, and playwriting work. Foundational courses in theater history, theory, and dramatic literature are part of the program, which emphasizes civic engagement and global perspectives on theater along with a focus on media and performance. Theater students take courses with students from the Dance, Music, and Visual Arts concentrations.
Students take courses in the following areas:
Acting and Directing The Lang theater program offers a distinctive integrated approach to the study of acting. Sample course titles: Acting Fundamentals, Advanced Acting, Acting for the Camera, Solo Performance, Collaboration, Acting Shakespeare, and Voice and Speech. Courses in directing are designed to complement course offerings in theater history, theory, and dramatic literature. Students also take courses in movement, dance, and physical improvisation through the Lang dance program. Students can also take elective dramatic arts and movement and dramatic literature courses offered by The New School for Public Engagement.
Playwriting This curriculum is one of the Lang Theater concentration's special strengths. Theater students can also take screenwriting courses offered by the Culture and Media program. Note: Students interested in creative writing who wish to specialize in playwriting as a primary genre must complete the course requirements of the Arts program Theater concentration.
Dramatic Literature, Theater History, and Theater Theory Courses in theater history and& dramatic literature provide a strong grounding in historical and contemporary world drama, including critical theory and analysis. Some sample course titles are: History of World Theater, Dramatic Literature, and Theater Theory.
In all concentrations of the Arts major, students must receive grade of C or higher in all courses taken to meet the requirements for the major or minor in the Arts.
CONCENTRATING IN THEATER
The Theater concentration requires 12 courses—plus the Senior Capstone—as follows:
- Two foundational courses in theater practice
- Acting Fundamentals
- Introduction to Playwriting
- Introduction to Directing
- One theater history course
- One theater theory course
- One production course
- One dramatic literature course
- Two theater electives chosen from courses with subject code LTHR or other approved courses cross-listed with other programs or divisions
- Three Integrative Arts courses identified by subject code LINA (code LAIC before Fall 2010)
- ULEC 2320 Aesthetics or another designated course in aesthetics
- Senior Capstone project, either the Senior Seminar* or an Individual or collaborative independent project
*The Senior Seminar in Theater is a collaborative senior workshop directed by a full-time faculty member, which culminates in a staged performance. In addition to performing, students take on production roles such as costume design, publicity, set design, dramaturgy, and fundraising. In recent years, the Senior Seminar in Theater has produced Reza Abdoh's The Law of Remains, Tennessee William's Camino Real, Chekhov's Three Sisters, and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.
ARTS IN CONTEXT CONCENTRATION
Students in the Arts major who are interested in studying theater may also choose the Arts in Context concentration, where they can combine structured study of dramatic arts with a liberal arts subject. For example, a student can combine theater studies with theater criticism and journalism courses offered by the Literary Studies program. Other majors and areas of study such as Psychology, Urban Studies, and Social Inquiry also provide Arts in Context options for theater studies.
MINORING IN THEATER
Students not majoring in The Arts may have the option to elect an academic minor in Theater. Students interested in completing the minor should review the minor curriculum below and speak with the Theater program coordinator before declaring.
- Two Integrative courses (such as ULEC 2320 Aesthetics and most courses designated as LINA)
- Four courses that satisfy the theater concentration requirements (including at least one introductory, two intermediate, and one advanced course) distributed as follows:
- One production course
- One theory course
- Two history or dramatic literature courses
