Donald Yanik, Chair; George Scranton; Andrew Ryder

The mission of the Department of Theatre is to educate, train, and prepare theatre artists of character and competence who will engage and transform the culture through faithful use of their creative gifts and talents.

The study of theatre provides students with opportunities to explore personal values, develop personal skills and acquire techniques of insight and critical reasoning—all within a distinctive philosophical and artistic environment.

Students in theatre are exposed to a sizable body of dramatic literature, theory and historical study, leading to the development of an informed perspective of the role of theatre as a social, spiritual and artistic institution. The experience is a liberalizing one, designed to allow the student to explore and develop her/himself as both an individual and artist.

By the nature of the art itself, the production and performance process is inherent to undergraduate theatre study. Many of the courses offered by the department focus on skills associated with performance, play writing, directing, designing and technical theatre crafts.In addition to the classroom experience, and extensive production program is maintained. The performance schedule is divided among mainstage, studio, laboratory and touring productions, titles selected to reflect a wide range of dramatic forms and styles. Special emphasis is given to plays that deal with positive values and the relationship between theatre and the Christian faith.

Career Opportunities

The curriculum of the theatre program is designed both to prepare interested students for graduate studies and to serve as a groundwork for the placement of committed Christians in the culture-shaping world of the professional theatre. Career opportunities for theatre majors extend beyond acting into other specialties such as setting, lighting and costume design, stage management, promotion and publicity, play writing, directing, and business management.

Additionally, the skills acquired as a major--skills of self-knowledge, communicative social interaction, presentation of self, personal discipline, risk-taking, cooperative group effort , sensitivity to others--are important to many career applications other than those allied specifically with the theatre.Theatre majors find that they are prepared through their art to serve especially well in those careers associated with working with the public.

  Current course descriptions and time schedule are available in the SPU online catalog.

Admission to the Theatre Major

Formal admission to a major in theatre is accomplished at the end of the first quarter of the sophomore year, or in the case of transferring students beyond the sophomore level, in the second quarter of residence. To qualify for admission as a major in the theatre program, the student is required to have completed 12 credits of work (including TRE 1720 Stagecraft and TRE 1340 Acting One) with a 2.5 GPA in theatre and to complete and submit for the theatre faculty's approval an application for admission.Application should be made through the Office of Fine Arts on forms available there.

Requirements for the Theatre Major

(70 credits; 30 upper-division)

Students majoring in the study of theatre must fulfill the following requirements: earn a minimum of 70 credits in theatre studies and applications, with a minimum of 30 upper-division credits and must demonstrate a growing ability in theatrical criticism, artistic awareness, and personal theatrical skills.

Theatre majors must successfully complete a senior project in acting, directing, design or play writing. This project must include both an approved prospectus and some form of public demonstration made during the student’s senior year. The senior project, developed with advisor consultation and approved by the theatre faculty, is expected to be the independent work of a mature student artist. It is considered the culmination of the student’s undergraduate training and must be of substantial merit, reflecting an informed artistic sensitivity and philosophy.   (Up to 3 credits of TRE 4961 Special Projects may be accumulated in the completion of this requirement.)

General Core

TRE 1930/3930  Performance Practicum (2)*....... 2

Electives may be chosen in such a way to provide for emphases in Performance or Production.

Requirements for the Theatre Major, Performance Emphasis

Requirements for the Theatre Major, Production Emphasis

Requirements for Theatre Education, K-12 Teaching Endorsement

TRE 4899 CAPSTONE: The Arts and Religious Experience is strongly recommended (fulfills the eighth course required in the Common Curriculum).

TRE 1720 Stagecraft......... 5

TRE 1810 Playscript Analysis........... 3

TRE 1340 Acting I: Fundamentals (5)

or, alternately 1310 The Actor’s Art (5)..................... 5

TRE 2420  Theatre and Drama: Tragedy (5)

     or TRE 2421  Theatre and Drama: Comedy (5)...................... 5

TRE 3710  Play Directing........... 5

TRE Electives 12

Total...............35

A maximum of 8 credits of practica offerings may be applied toward the minor;any number toward the B.A. degree.