Theatre Arts

Professor Domser; Associate Professors R. Miller, and E. van den Berg (Department Chair).

Areas of particular teaching interest: Professor Domser: design and technical production, theatre management; Professor Miller: interactive theatre, community-based and therapeutic theatre, playback theatre, acting, performance theory; Professor van den Berg: acting, directing, voice and movement.

The theatre arts program offers intensive study in three areas: 1) acting, 2) interactive theatre, and 3) production. Students choose primary and secondary areas of study, in addition to courses in theatre history and dramatic literature. Students may also focus within interdisciplinary majors in the following areas: interpersonal communication and interactive theatre (THE/COM); theatre, film and video production (THE/COM); dramaturgy, theatre history and literature (THE/ENG); and music and theatre (THE/ MUS). In addition, three minors are offered: in theatre arts, acting and interactive theatre.

The department offers an active season of performances, including: scripted performances directed by faculty and visiting artists from the Washington/Baltimore professional theatre; curricular performances for students focusing in acting; and community-based and playback theatre performances. Typically, a season will include four or five productions, including plays directed by faculty and visiting artists, student-directed plays or scenes, and a community- based performance.

Visiting professionals from the Baltimore/Washington area support the permanent faculty with specialized courses in performance, history and design.

The major in theatre arts prepares students for careers in the professional theatre, for graduate studies in theatre and applied theatre, and for a variety of other vocations which demand the interpersonal, creative, and interpretive skills developed by theatre majors.

Other Educational Options in Theatre Arts:

Dual majors with Communication (Interpersonal Communication and Interactive Theatre; Theatre, Film and Video Production), English, and Music (Musical Theatre); minors in Theatre Arts, Acting and Interactive Theatre.

Please see the Education section under Curriculum in this catalog for teacher certification requirements in Theatre Arts.

Please see the Dual Majors section for dual majors with Communication, English, and Music.

Majors are encouraged to begin their studies with the three core courses in Acting, Group Process in Interactive Theatre and Stagecraft. Subsequently, they will choose an intermediate course in two of these areas, and then pursue advanced work in one focus area, culminating in a relevant laboratory course, a senior laboratory course, and a capstone course (either Directing or Drama Workshop). In addition, they will take two intermediate courses in ‘texts and traditions’ and, in their junior year, complete the major requirement in writing.

Majors in Theatre Arts may reasonably expect to satisfy, in part or in whole, the College requirements in Creative Expression; Textual Analysis; and Social, Cultural and Historical Understanding. With careful selection of courses, they may also satisfy, in part or in whole, the requirements in International and Multicultural studies.

Departmental Honors

Students eligible for departmental honors may apply no later than one month before their date of graduation. An eligible student must have achieved a 3.5 grade-point average in all courses taken in the department, and in any other courses taken to meet a major requirement. Dual majors count only courses taken in Theatre Arts. The application will provide a description of the student’s work in the appropriate Senior Laboratory (Acting, Interactive Theatre, Production, Directing or Dramaturgy), with supporting materials and artifacts documenting the process and results of the project). If the faculty of Theatre Arts agrees that the work described represents exemplary work, and if the 3.5 grade-point average is maintained, honors in the department will be awarded upon graduation.