School of Theater
Kantner Hall
Vincent Cardinal, Director
The undergraduate theater experience at Ohio University is a blend of intensive training in a selected area of concentration, core theater studies, and liberal arts experiences leading to a professionally oriented Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, or to a more general liberal-arts-oriented Bachelor of Arts degree through the College of Arts and Sciences.
The theater is not an island unto itself; it exists as a part of and because of a larger world. For this reason, advisors in the School of Theater strive to help theater majors satisfy the university General Education Requirements in a manner that encourages them to understand and contribute to the larger world. In addition, all undergraduate majors devote a portion of their theater studies to an examination of the literature and history of theater, the role of theater in society, and the relationship of theater to other art disciplines.
Production activities in the School of Theater are considered essential to the total curriculum planning of a major. Majors register each quarter for a credited production assignment. In the first year of training, you will participate in productions through technical and management assignments, while your second, third, and fourth years include opportunities to participate as a performer, advanced technician, designer, or managerial assistant.
Ongoing individual advising between you and your faculty advisor is an extremely important aspect of the training programs in the School of Theater. Your progress is evaluated quarterly by your advisor and faculty in your training area. If progress is considered unsatisfactory at the end of any quarter, you may be placed on probation, recommended for transfer to another sequence or degree within the school, required to modify your program, or denied further enrollment as a degree candidate in the School of Theater. You must earn a grade of C or better in each theater class required for your major.
Other specific requirements and expectations relating to production and curriculum are distributed to all incoming students upon their arrival. Because the school�s curricula are under revision, be sure to consult an advisor in the School of Theater for current information.
A minor or second major is possible in some cases if you have used careful advising procedures and made intelligent use of all elective and university General Education Requirement course options. In addition, highly motivated and talented students can pursue their degree work in the School of Theater through the Honors Tutorial College, if the tutorial mode of instruction is appropriate for the individual student.
Admission Requirements
Once you have been admitted to Ohio University, you may enter the School of Theater as a general theater major. For scholarship consideration, auditions and interviews are conducted during the fall and winter quarters of each year for students considering entrance the following fall. You are assigned a faculty advisor when you enroll.A general theater major who has successfully completed the introductory coursework will be accepted into one of the degree programs. Students audition, interview, or present portfolios for entry into the performance, theater arts and drama, or production design and technology programs. Students for whom the B.A. program, offered through the College of Arts and Sciences, is appropriate are encouraged to apply.
Theater Core Courses (Required of all B.F.A. majors)
Intro and Orientation to Theater as a ProfessionActing (2 courses)
Elements of Performance
Design Princ. for the Stage
Practical Elements of Stagecraft
Theater History (survey, 3 courses)
Directing
Theater History (seminar, two courses)
Playwriting
Two seminar courses from the THAR 470 series 8
Practicum
Freshman Two 100-level practica (winter, spring) 6
Sophomore Three 200-level practica (fall, winter , spring) 6
Junior Two 300-level practica 6
Senior Three 400-level practica (fall, winter, spring) in area of emphasis 6
Minimum total practicum credits: 24
All majors are required to enroll for Lunchbag Theater Seminar each quarter of residence.
Total: 67
Liberal Arts Requirements for Theater Majors
In addition to the Tier I, II, and III requirements, all majors in the School of Theater are required to take two English courses at the 200 level or above. Two Shakespeare courses are strongly advised and may be required in a specific program. (Tier I junior composition does not fulfill this requirement.)Electives
Distribution of elective hours will vary depending upon degree requirements of a particular area. You are encouraged to use your elective choices in a manner that expands upon the liberal arts experience, particularly with choices in the areas of literature, philosophy, history, and psychology. If you are in acting, you also are advised to strengthen your personal talents in the areas of music, dance, and art.Theater Performance (Acting) Major
Major code BF5161
(Admission by application and audition only)The B.F.A. in theater performance is a rigorous program fostering creative, cognitive, and artistic skills. It is intended to advance the education and training of motivated, curious, self-reliant, adaptable theater artists capable of dealing with all aspects of theater and contributing to the relationship between theater and society. Theater and performance serve as the basis of the undergraduate fine arts education. Theater is approached technically as craft and art, but also as a way of looking at, interpreting, organizing, and expressing one's ideas and thoughts. We seek serious, disciplined students interested in demanding technical training, who want the art of theater and performance to be at the core of their education.
Formal application and audition into the Theater Performance Program (TPP) takes place during the sophomore year. Transfer students from other programs and institutions are accepted provided they can meet the requirements of the program, the school, and university General Education.
In addition to the university and theater core requirements, you are required to include additional electives from a broad range of areas ant to maintain minimum academic and artistic standards. Tier II classes can be counted toward meeting these requirements. The B.F.A. in performance fosters diversification within the theater study and in disciplines essential to a liberal education. Careful and consistent faculty supervision and advising are an integral part of the program.
Preparation for Admission to TPP
Freshman and sophomore performance classes emphasize preparation and examination, i.e., preparation for the audition into the TPP and examination of your skills, interests, and talents. Assisted by an assigned faculty advisor, you may select coursework designed to allow broad exposure to diverse courses in the university while building a strong foundation in acting.Before applying to the Theater Performance Program, you should complete the bulk of the Tier I and II university requirements as well as the freshman and sophomore components of the theater core, which include 18 credits of acting. You may be able to take additional courses in acting, voice, and movement to increase your skills and knowledge in acting principles. After your freshman year (or first quarter of residency in the case of a transfer student), you are eligible to audition for all school productions. Subsequent coursework in acting is available to theater majors who do not join the performance program.
Theater Performance Program
The B.F.A. in theater performance offers a diverse program adaptable to the varied interests and talents of students. Essential to the curriculum and the program are rigorous technique instruction and an emphasis on international and intercultural theater, including the possibility of overseas internships. Complementing a faculty of working professionals are an important visiting artist program and a developing internship program that includes internships in the United States and abroad. In your senior year, you are required to complete your practicum requirements in acting. The culminating experiences of the B.F.A. degree program are three quarters of acting practicum and the senior project, a paper or presentation supplementing a senior practicum role, internship, or other performance-related experience.There is constant communication among the faculty to evaluate your progress, confirm individual progress decisions, and resolve any issues germane to your success in the program. If you are struggling academically or programmatically, you may receive a letter of concern or be placed on probation. Continued concern indicates doubt about the appropriateness of your continuation in the TPP.
Performance studio courses are the core of the program. You are required to complete at least 34 credit hours of studio work, although most students do more. Through advice and approval of the program head (in consultation with the TPP faculty), you will follow a studio sequence that includes performance research and readings, improvisation, Chekhov, Shakespeare, voice, corporeal mime, mask, movement theater, and international performance.
Summary of Requirements
Theater Performance Studios 34 (min)THAR 415 Acting Practicum 6 (min)
THAR 418 Senior Project 1
THAR 237 Makeup 1
Total TPP Minimum Requirements 42
Additional Electives
You are required to include electives in your program plan and are encouraged to choose from the areas listed below. Your advisor will monitor the progress of this requirement.Foreign Language/Culture
Third World Culture, International Studies
Philosophy, including, but not limited to, philosophy of art
Anthropology/ Political Science/History
Literature (nondramatic)
Music and Music History
Studio Art and Art History
Theater Arts and Drama
Major code BF5164-Directing
Major code BF5166-Dramaturgy
Major code BF5167-Management
Major code BF5165-Playwriting
(Depending on the area of emphasis, admission requirements may include an interview, writing samples, a letter of recommendation, or the successful completion of introductory courses.)
The theater arts and drama program offers a broad-based theater education that stresses theater as a collaborative art. In addition to courses within the area of emphasis, students accepted into theater arts and drama must take a wide range of courses in a variety of other areas that may include advanced acting, theatrical design, literature, English, history, and art history. This range of required courses is designed to provide a strong foundation for individualized study in the chosen area of emphasis: directing, dramaturgy, management, and playwriting.
During the first two years, you are encouraged to complete much of the theater core and university General Education Requirements to gain a broad exposure to all areas of the theater. At the end of your sophomore year, you choose an area of emphasis and then interview for entry into the theater arts and drama program. The playwriting and dramaturgy emphases require writing samples; the directing and management emphases require satisfactory completion of introductory courses in the field plus a letter of recommendation from the instructor of those courses.
Once accepted into the program, you will have the opportunity for practical theater experience in your area of emphasis while continuing broad but focused studies in other areas. Your progress toward graduation is evaluated at the end of your junior year. This evaluation plus the satisfactory completion of a senior project in your area of emphasis will demonstrate progress toward graduating and acheivement in your area of emphasis. Careful and consistent year-round faculty supervision and advising are also integral parts of the program.
Upon the fulfillment of all university, theater core, and program requirements, you will graduate with a major in theater arts and drama with an emphasis in your chosen area of concentration. This degree is designed to prepare you for further training, whether in graduate school or an entry-level position in professional theater.
In addition to university and theater core requirements, you are required to complete the following courses:
Directing Emphasis: 56 credits
THAR 179 Thea. Arts & Drama
Wksp.
2
THAR 279 Thea. Arts & Drama
Wksp.
2
THAR 379 Thea. Arts & Drama
Wksp.
2
THAR 233 Theatrical Design
Skills
3
THAR 313 Acting
4
THAR 413 Acting
4
THAR 216 Body Training
2
THAR 217 Voice Training
2
THAR 320 Directing I 4
THAR 420 Directing II
4
THAR 425 Practicum in
Directing
4
THAR 426 Stage
Management 3
THAR 438A Historical Bases of Design I 4
or THAR 438A Historical Bases of Design II
AH 211 History of Art: Prehistoric to Early Christian 4
or AH 212 History of Art: Early
Christian to Renaissance
or AH 213 History of Art: Baroque to Present
ENG Courses above 300 4
At least two of the following four:
ENG 200 Intro to Literature
4
ENG 204 Intro to Lit: Classical Trad. 4ENG 205 Intro to Lit: Romantic Trad. 4
ENG 206 Intro to Lit: Modern Trad. 4
Dramaturgy Emphasis: 58 credits
THAR 179 Thea. Arts & Drama Wksp. 2THAR 279 Thea. Arts & Drama Wksp. 2
THAR 379 Thea. Arts & Drama Wksp. 2
THAR 350 Playwriting 3
THAR 450 Advanced Playwriting 3
THAR 320 Directing I 4
THAR 479 Ind. Studies in Theater History and Criticism 6
ENG 307J Writing and Research in English Studies 4
THAR 470 Tragedy 4
or THAR 471 Comedy
or THAR 472 Forms of Drama
or THAR 477 American Theater and Drama
THAR 438A Historical Bases of Design I 4
or THAR 438A Historical Bases of Design II
AH 211 History of Art: Prehistoric to Early Christian 4
or AH 212 History of Art: Early Christian to Renaissance
or AH 213 History of Art: Baroque to Present
HIST 121 Western Heritage: Classical Age 4
or HIST 122 Western Heritage: Medieval Legacy
or HIST 123 Western Heritage: Modernity
ENG Courses above 300 4
At least two of the following four:
ENG 200 Intro to Literature
4
ENG 204 Intro to Lit: Classical Trad. 4ENG 205 Intro to Lit: Romantic
Trad. 4
ENG 206 Intro to Lit: Modern Trad. 4
Management Emphasis: 53 credits
THAR 179 Thea. Arts & Drama Wksp. 2THAR 279 Thea. Arts & Drama Wksp. 2
THAR 379 Thea. Arts & DramaWksp. 2
THAR 330 Elements of Technical Direction 4
THAR 402 Theater Management 4
THAR 426 Stage Management 3
THAR 409 Ind. Studies in Admin. 6
ACCT 101 or 201 Financial Accounting 4
MKT 301 Marketing Principles 4
MGT 430 Management Systems-Decision Making 4
ECON 103 Prin. of Microeconomics 4
MGT 200 Intro to Management 4
THAR 405 Practicum in Mgt. 4
or THAR 427 Practicum in Stage Mgt.
At least two of the following three:
THAR 230 Stagecraft: Scenery 3
THAR 231 Stagecraft: Lighting 3
THAR 232 Stagecraft: Costume 3
Playwriting Emphasis: 52 credits
THAR 179 Thea. Arts & Drama Wksp. 2THAR 279 Thea. Arts & Drama Wksp. 2
THAR 379 Thea. Arts & Drama Wksp. 2
THAR 233 Theatrical Design Skills 3
THAR 313 Acting 4
THAR 350 Playwriting 3
THAR 450 Advanced Playwriting 3
THAR 451 Playwriting Workshop 3
THAR 459 Ind. Studies in Playwriting 6
THAR 438A Historical Bases of Design I 4
or THAR 438A Historical Bases of Design II
THAR 470 Tragedy 4
or THAR 471 Comedy
or THAR 472 Forms of Drama
or THAR 477 American Theater and Drama
Production Design and Technology
Major code BF5162
(Interview and portfolio review by the end of the sophomore year required for admission)The B.F.A. in production design and technology is available with an emphasis on the environmental aspects of performance. Design and technology in scenery, costumes, lighting, properties, sound, and makeup are taught in a series of courses and special projects throughout the four-year curriculum. Productions are prepared under the close personal advisement and participation of the production faculty and staff. Qualified students are challenged with major creative responsibilities.
During the first two years, you are encouraged to complete theater core and general education requirements. In consultation with your advisor, you may also enroll in selected production design and technology courses at the 200 level and above. At the end of your sophomore year, you interview and present your portfolio for admission as a production design and technology major.
In addition to the university and theater core requirements, you are required to complete the following:
THAR 230 Stagecraft: Scenery 3
THAR 231 Stagecraft: Lighting 3
THAR 232 Stagecraft: Costume 3
THAR 233 Theatrical Design
Skills 3
THAR 338 History of Costume 4
or THAR 438A Hist. Bases of Design I
or THAR 438B Hist. Bases of Design II
THAR 431 Lighting Design II 4
or THAR 432 Costume Design II
or THAR 434 Scene Design II
At least two of the following three:
THAR 331 Theory of Lighting 4
THAR 332 Costume Design I 4
THAR 334 Scene Design 4
A minimum additional15 credits selected from production design and technology classes numbered 300 and above, or areas related to production design and technology approved by your advisor.
Total: 43
Minor in Theater
Minor code ORTHAR
Required Core Courses: 13-14
THAR 110 Intro to Performance 4THAR 170 The Theater Exper. 4
or THAR 172 Elem. of Performance or 3
 Practicum 6
(minimum of 3 experiences; at least 1 in PD&T or Mgt)
At least one course (not less than 3 credits) in each of the following groups:
- THAR 130, 131 (3)
- THAR 210; 218A, B, C; 179, 279, 379 (4)
- THAR 270, 271, 272; 470 series (4)
Total required groups: 11
Electives: 5-6
Chosen from any available courses in the School of Theater.Total: 30
Theater
See "Theater" in the College of Arts and Sciences section.
University Publications and Computer Services revised this file ( https://www.ohio.edu/catalog/98-99/colleges/thear.htm
) August 2, 1999.
Please e-mail comments or suggestions to " ucat@www.ohiou.edu ."