Department of Theatre and Dance
KU Theatre and Dance: Educating the Changemakers of Tomorrow, Today
The Department of Theatre and Dance is a creative, diverse and inclusive educational environment that serves as an inspirational learning incubator for the next generation of scholars, performers, dancers, designers and technicians in theatre, performance, and dance. Our faculty and professional staff support our students to identify and cultivate their unique contributions to an increasingly global world. All of our undergraduate and graduate programs are grounded in the philosophy that artists are critically thinking, self-starting and entrepreneurially engaged artist-scholars. Our students work intensively on acquiring analytical, creative, and technical skills in our classrooms, theatre labs, and dance studios. Our holistic academic training of our students helps them to make the intellectual and practical connections between theory and practice needed to be competitive professionals in academic and professional theater environments. Our outstanding faculty and professional staff offer individualized attention to each student in a safe environment that inspires students to take risks and to explore the vast array of academic and creative choices available at a top-tier research university. Our phenomenal alumni have gone on to practice, teach, and create at the highest level of the profession in professional and academic settings.
University Theatre and the University Dance Companies
The classroom meets the stage in the University Theatre and the University Dance Companies. KU Theatre and Dance students, faculty and professional staff work together to create ten fully produced shows each year, from dramas and concert dance to musicals and operas in alternating years. In our fully-equipped facilities, students are required to engage in all aspects of production onstage and backstage. Students have opportunities to continue study year-round working with union actors, choreographers, directors, and designers with our critically acclaimed Kansas Repertory Theatre (KRT) and the Summer Dance Intensive, in partnership with the Lawrence Arts Center.
Internationally Recognized Faculty Scholars and Artists
The faculty of the Department of Theatre and Dance is creative artists and researchers working in the areas of theatre stagecraft, choreography, performance, design, dramatic literature, dramaturgy, and pedagogy, as well as the historical, literary, and cultural study of theatre, dance, and performance. Our faculty includes award-winning teachers, scholars, and artists working in professional theatre and dance, authoring books and establishing nationally and internationally recognized research and outreach programs.
Support for Students
The Department of Theatre and Dance offers students financial aid in the form of dozens of scholarships, awards, and teaching assistantships each year to graduate and undergraduate students. Friends of the Theatre (FROTH), a community group dedicated to supporting the mission of the University Theatre, provides a fantastic support network for our student shows and curricular enrichment opportunities. Donors to the Dance Division endow support for guest choreographer residencies each semester and special opportunity funds. Once students graduate our program, they join an extensive network of theatre and dance alumni and Professional Advisory Board members that work in all aspects of academe, the entertainment industry, and non-profit organizations.
Undergraduate Degrees
Dance
The BFA in Dance focuses on advanced technical training and preparation for a career in professional performance. An audition is required for entry in the BFA program. The BA in Dance provides rigorous studio training in a liberal arts environment, and allows students to double major in other disciplines. The BA in Dance does NOT require an audition for entry. Instead, students must complete an evaluation at the end of their sophomore year to complete the degree program.
Degrees offered:
- B.A.
- B.F.A.
- Minor in Dance
Performance
The Performance concentration prepares theatre majors for a career as a professional actor. Through small-class studio courses and department productions, our program provides talented performing artists with a solid foundation in acting, movement, voice and speech, improvisation, and musical theatre. Both the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) require 40 hours. The primary distinctions between the B.A. and the B.G.S. degree are the foreign language requirement (required of the B.A. but not the B.G.S.) and 18 hours junior/senior concentration or minor (required for the B.G.S but not the B.A.).
Degrees offered:
• B.A.
• B.G.S.
Theatre, Culture, and Society
This concentration is designed for students interested in studying the cultural and social underpinnings of theatre and performance along with courses in acting, directing and design and with participation in University Theatre production. The TCS concentration provides the critical, analytical, and historical education that is the foundation of a liberal arts degree. Both the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) require 40 hours. The primary distinctions between the B.A. and the B.G.S. degree are the foreign language requirement (required of the B.A. but not the B.G.S.) and 18 hours junior/senior concentration or minor (required for the B.G.S but not the B.A.).
Degrees offered:
• B.A.
• B.G.S.
Theatre Design
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Theatre Design is intended as general preparation for the professional designer of scenery, costumes or lighting working in theatre and film or as preparation for graduate studies. Students learn through small-class studio courses, laboratories, and involvement in productions in the University Theatre.
Degrees offered:
• B.F.A.
Theatre Minor
Theatre welcomes non-majors who wish to learn about acting, drama, design, theatre history, and technical theatre through the completion of a minor.
Graduate Programs
Our M.F.A., M.A., and Ph.D. programs in Theatre and Dance are unique for combining intensive study of theatre and performance with the production training necessary for theatre and dance careers in higher education and the professional sector. Our graduate students are immersed in an integrated environment that synchronizes theory and practice and prepares artists for academic and professional careers. Currently, our M.A. and Ph.D. degrees are focused on Theatre and Performance Studies. Graduate students interested in a dance focus in this area are encouraged to apply.
Master of Fine Arts in Scenography
The M.F.A. in Scenography is a three-year integrated program of study leading to a Master of Fine Arts degree, the terminal degree for professionals working in design for theatre, dance, film, and television. Scenography classes are at the core of the curriculum and students will develop a portfolio in a wide variety of theatrical and performance genres. Students will design in both the large Crafton-Preyer proscenium stage and the Inge black box theatre. Opportunities exist to work with new technologies in theatre design, including Virtual Realities.
Degrees offered:
• M.F.A.
Master's and Doctoral Degrees in Theatre Studies
The master's and doctoral programs in Theatre and Dance combine rigorous study of theory, criticism, and history with production work in a collegial atmosphere. MA students admitted are usually coming directly from a four-year college experience with minimal professional experience and intense academic study. Doctoral students can expect to develop expertise in current methodologies, such as those derived from or applicable to contemporary historiography, semiotics, post-structuralism, performance studies, post-modernism and cultural studies. Production practice areas include but are not limited to Acting, Directing, Dance, and Dramaturgy. The research of our faculty ranks us in the top ten among a selection of major institutions in the 2015 Faculty Productivity Index by Academic Analytics. The department is an organizational member of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and home to the prestigious Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism.
Degrees offered:
• M.A. or Ph.D.
Departmental Funding
The Department recognizes that financial support during the graduate years is crucial to student success. Through a combination of university awards, departmental teaching assistantships, tuition assistance, student employment, fellowships, and travel grants, we are able to provide almost all of our students with some level of support. Graduate Students in the department may be supported in their careers by a limited number of departmental teaching assistantships, typically awarded to M.F.A and Ph.D. students. More information regarding funding is available on the Graduate Financial Aid portion of the department website.
Advising
During the first year of enrollment, students must meet with the Director of Graduate Studies once per semester. Returning students will meet one time during the year with the Director of Graduate Studies to determine progress to degree. Advising of students is also conducted by individual faculty members who act as mentor and advisers of students who have interest in their specialty research areas.
Non-Degree Seeking
Students who are interested in enrolling in graduate level coursework in the Department of Theatre and Dance without formal admission to a graduate program at KU are encouraged to apply for graduate non-degree seeking student status. See the department's Non-Degree Seeking page for more information.
Courses
This is a 6 week online course designed to identify what is unique about the KU Dance experience, and to introduce students to the requirements for a BA or BFA degree. The course examines issues of academic integrity, informs students about academic support available to them, familiarizes students with the expectations of a dance major and suggests career opportunities for dance majors. Students complete five modules: Getting Started, Programs and Degrees, Academic Integrity and Support, Expectations and Career Pathways to provide a foundation for academic success in the major.
Classical and modern approaches to the language of ballet for beginners. May be repeated for credit. Does not count toward the dance major requirements.
Dance technique for beginners with precedents in the movement vocabularies of Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Merce Cunningham, and the seminal choreographers of modern dance. May be repeated for credit. Does not count toward the dance major requirements.
Dance technique for beginners based on elements of Latino, African, popular and classical jazz dance forms. May be repeated for credit. Does not count toward the dance major requirements.
The introductory-level course in a series of four composition courses (DANC 150, 250, 350 and 550). Includes basic exploration of improvisation: movement studies for solo figure, movement themes for duet, trio, and larger groups; and dances for non-traditional performing spaces both indoors and outdoors. Students will learn fundamental ingredients of dance (space, time, weight, and energy flow) and how to organize them into short compositional forms such as ABA, verse/refrain, or narrative. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
A limited-enrollment, seminar course for first-time freshmen, addressing current issues in Dance. Course is designed to meet the critical thinking learning outcome of the KU Core. First-Year Seminar topics are coordinated and approved by the Office of First-Year Experience. Prerequisite: First-time freshman status.
An introduction to the analysis and use of rhythms and the compositional forms of music for dance.
Classical and modern approaches to ballet technique for low intermediate dancers. May be repeated for credit. Counts toward the B.A. in Dance and Dance Minor requirements. Prerequisite: DANC 101 or consent of instructor.
Dance technique for low intermediate dancers with precedents in the movement vocabularies of classical modernists and contemporary choreographers of dance. May be repeated for credit. Counts toward the B.A. and the Minor in dance requirements. Prerequisite: DANC 103 or permission of instructor.
Dance technique for experienced beginners based on elements of Latino, African, popular and classical jazz dance forms. May be repeated for credit. Counts toward the B.A. and Minor in dance requirements. Prerequisite: DANC 105 or consent of instructor.
The intermediate course in a series of four composition courses (DANC 150, DANC 250, DANC 350 and DANC 550.) Includes more complex exploration of improvisation; movement studies for solo figure, movement themes for duet, trio, and larger groups; and dances for non-traditional performing spaces both indoors and outdoors. Students will further develop the ingredients of dance (space, time, weight, and energy flow) and how to organize them into studies including compositional forms such as ABA, verse/refrain, or narrative. Prerequisite: DANC 150 or consent of instructor.
This course focuses on the dance and movement vocabulary uniquely associated with musical theatre productions, as well as a variety of popular dance styles from the 1920s to the present. Performance techniques for the stage are emphasized.
The Sophomore Review of all majors in the BA program in Dance provides an assessment of student progress in the degree. Transfer students to the BA program participate in the year following their admission to KU. The review process consists of:verification that students are making academic progress: Students should have an overall GPA of 2.0; a self-evaluation composed of written responses to a series of questions about their own artistic, technical and discipline-specific academic progress in the program; a faculty evaluation comprised of written feedback on each students artistic, technical and discipline-specific academic progress in the program; and participation in at least one speedback session prior to the end of the second year. Speedback is a feedback process modeled on the speed dating format. All majors sit with faculty members for 5-minute intervals to receive individual feedback. Students engage with professors with whom they have been in technique class or rehearsal for the current year. There are no prerequisites for entry into the course. The completion of the course will be a prerequisite for enrollment in DANC 550 Senior Project.
An introduction to pointe and classical partnering work for the intermediate/advanced female ballet dancer, with equal emphasis on pointe technique and style, and on classical repertory for couples. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
The exploration of classical ballet partnering (pas de deux) including supported poses, lifts, turns, and their coordination between the partners. For men only. Women enroll in Pointe and Pas de Deux, DANC 307. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Advanced level technique in classical and modern approaches to the language of ballet. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Instructor consent.
Dance technique for intermediate/advanced dancers with precedents in the movement vocabularies of classical modernists and contemporary choreographers of dance. May be repeated for credit. Counts toward the B.A., B.F.A., and the Minor in dance requirements. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Dance technique for intermediate dancers based on elements of Latino, African, popular and classical jazz dance forms. May be repeated for variable credit. Prerequisite: DANC 105 or consent of instructor.
Basic fundamentals of hip-hop dance. Students will learn basic steps for choreography and freestyle based on all urban street styles. They will learn the origins and history of the hip hop movement and all urban street styles through lectures and class participation.
Introduces the principles of tap dance including rhythm, clarity of sound, syncopation and weight shift. Emphasis is placed on proper execution of basic tap technique, step knowledge, weight distribution, and the development of basic rhythm and syncopation skills. The course will be based on "stomp tap" and "rhythm tap", working with/without the music to make clear patterned sounds.
A dance repertory, performance and production class. Emphasis is on the development of skills for performing and/or producing dance concerts. Admission by audition only. May be repeated for credit.
This course examines dance forms from throughout the world and how they relate to the times and cultures in which they evolved. Dance forms such as African, East Indian classical, European court dance, ballet, modern, and jazz will be studied through readings, master classes, live performances, videotapes, and films. Prerequisite: 200-level English course.
The advanced course in a series of four composition courses (DANC 150, DANC 250, DANC 350 and DANC 550.) Includes in-depth development of improvisation: movement studies for solo figure, movement themes for duet, trio, and larger groups; and dances for non-traditional performing spaces both indoors and outdoors. Students will develop increasingly complex studies of dance (space, time, weight, and energy flow) including compositional forms such as ABA, verse/refrain, or narrative. Prerequisite: DANC 250 or consent of instructor.
Basic concepts of neuromuscular and skeletal education through the use of specific imagery (ideokinesis). Based on the work of Mabel Todd, Lulu Sweigard, and Irmgard Bartenieff, the emphasis is on body connectedness and dynamic alignment. The aim is to realize full movement potential in the most efficient way through intrinsic body awareness. Injury prevention is addressed by introducing principles of conditioning (strength, flexibility, endurance) and factors leading to injury such as muscular imbalances or postural deviations.
Advanced level technique in classical and modern approaches to the language of ballet. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Intermediate/advanced hip hop dance. Students will learn intermediate/advanced hip hop skills, combinations, and choreography. Greater focus will be placed on intermediate/advanced steps, isolations, and body control. Prerequisite: Hip Hop Fundamentals or permission of instructor.
Intermediate/advanced tap dance. A continuation of the principles introduced in Tap Fundamentals including rhythm, clarity of sound, syncopation and weight shift. Proper execution of intermediate/advanced tap technique including step knowledge, weight distribution, and the development of rhythm and syncopation skills is emphasized. Prerequisite: Tap Fundamentals or permission of instructor.
This is a hands-on course exploring digital video technology for dance. Students are introduced to video and website production as well as the time management skills necessary to engage the multi-faceted project that is dance video. We will cover video techniques for recording dance; video editing; collaborating with national and international sites and artists; and self-promotion and marketing strategies with video and websites. The final project will be the creation of a video website for each student. No previous video editing experience is required. Prerequisite: Basic computer literacy.
Classical East Indian dance has an extensive movement vocabulary that emphasizes the coordination of rhythmic foot patterns with intricate hand gestures. Students will learn the mudras (hand gestures) and their significance and integration within each dance. Readings will include excerpts from the Natya Sastra and other treatises of East Indian dance and culture.
Through research and reconstruction, students will examine major topics in dance history, such as the meaning and function of dance in pre-industrial societies, communal and court dance in Europe from the 14th to the19th centuries, and the transformation and development of dance as a theatre art in the modern world. Texts by dance historians and treatises by dancing masters will be supplemented by readings from fields, such as anthropology, philosophy, art history, and literature, that indicate the different ways of approaching the history of dance.
Designed to provide an overview of key areas in career preparation in the arts, including resume writing, audition skills, professional speaking, grant writing and development, publicity and marketing strategies, developing relationships with presenters and funders, and audience education. Through readings, class discussion, guest lectures with professionals, and projects based on real-life scenarios, students develop tools to further their careers in the arts. This focused study also provides individuals with the direction and means to employ their training in the field of performing arts administration and management at many different levels. This course prepares students for their entry into the professional arts marketplace.
Using the basic compas (rhythmic structures) of Flamenco, we will explore the different components of flamenco dance technique: floreo (spiraling fingers), brazeo (arm movements), palmas (rhythmic hand-clapping), marcaje (marking, or movement through space), vueltas (turns) and zapateado (footwork). We will cultivate an awareness of flamenco's unique posture, learn the structure of the different rhythmic forms and introduce the possibilities for personal expression and improvisation.
Investigation of a special topic or project in aesthetics, dance history, movement analysis, production, or a creative project. A maximum of six hours may be counted toward graduation. Prerequisite: At least seven hours of credit in dance courses.
Methods and materials designed to address the needs of teaching artists across genres of dance (ballet, modern/contemporary, jazz, creative movement) among children, adults and special populations. Lessons are prepared and tested in the classroom among peers. Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor.
Supervised experience in teaching beginning level dance technique in the styles of ballet, jazz, or modern dance. Different approaches are analyzed, discussed, and tested in the studio. Prerequisite: Intermediate level of dance technique in the style of the practicum.
Teaching ballet, modern, or jazz dance technique to children or adults with faculty supervision in an academic or community program. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
In-depth research project in dance theory or history, or choreography project involving the complete development and presentation of a dance idea. Prerequisite: Performance option: DANC 320, DANC 350, DANC 290 (for BA students only) and permission of the dance division. Research option: DANC 340, DANC 370, DANC 375, DANC 460, DANC 462, DANC 290 (for BA students only) and permission of the dance division.
A study of current developments in dance with an emphasis on performance or research. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing or consent of instructor.
Directed study in some aspect of aesthetics, dance history, movement analysis, production, or an advanced creative project. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Courses
Designed to help students by means of experience with theatre as well as study about it to achieve an understanding of its cultural role in contemporary society, to develop a sensitive and informed appreciation of its art, and to make it an integral part of their cultural lives. Lectures, discussion groups, special interest groups, theatre attendance.
One crew assignment in a University Theatre & Dance production qualifies for 1 credit hour. May be repeated for credit.
Designed to free the beginning actor, develop creativity and imagination. Fundamentals of improvisation technique and skills through physical work, deep listening and focus. Ensemble building emphasized with exercises and games, the work will progress to sketch writing and performance.
Fundamental techniques in acting. Practice in character creation, body language, and effective stage speech.
The techniques in application of make-up for specific characterizations, both straight and character. Study of the structure of the face and hands for stage make-up. Should be taken concurrently with THR 106, if possible.
Emphasis on drafting, model building, and presentational techniques for the theatrical designer or art director. Some work in computer drafting for the designer-technician. Lecture and laboratory periods.
This course offers a unique approach to public speaking grounded in theatre practice and performance studies. A combination of speech assignments and theatre exercises teaches students to integrate body and mind while speaking across social, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries.
A limited-enrollment, seminar course for first-time freshmen, organized around current issues in Theatre. May not contribute to major requirements in theatre. First year seminar topics are coordinated and approved through the Office of First Year Experiences. Prerequisite: First-time freshman status.
One crew assignment in a University Theatre & Dance production qualifies for 1 credit hour. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: THR 101.
The study of roles and scenes from plays. Practice in character analysis, creation of roles, rehearsal of scenes, and ensemble work. Prerequisite: THR 106.
Beginning Studies in Musical Theatre Performance: practical application of voice, acting and movement techniques for musical theatre, solo and group performance.
A foundation course; introduction to phonetics; training in Standard American Stage Speech; articulation skills; resonance and voice placement.
A foundational course in discovering ease and efficient use of the body in a performance context, developing non-verbal communication and partnering skills, and establishing the connection of movement to voice production. Trains actors in proper warm-up technique, alignment and balance, physical safety, and basic tumbling skills.
Conceptualization and visualization of the elements involved in creative design for theatre, dance, television, and film.
Introduction to the planning, construction, and mounting of scenery for theatre, television, and film. Concentration on the technical organization of scenic production. Lecture, discussion, and laboratory periods.
Introduction to techniques of costume construction, including study of fabrics, color, fundamentals of pattern making, and draping of costumes for theatre, television, and film. Concentration on the technical organization of costume production. Lecture, discussion, and laboratory periods.
Introduction to the planning and execution of lighting for theatre, television, and film. Concentration organized any given semester to study particular subject matter or to take advantage of special competence by an individual faculty member. Topics change as needs and resources develop. Class discussion, readings, and individual projects.
One crew assignment in a University Theatre & Dance production qualifies for 1 credit hour. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: THR 201.
Course organized any given semester to study a particular subject matter or to take advantage of special competence by an individual faculty member. Topics change as needs and resources develop. Class discussion, readings, and individual projects.
This course is designed for the study of special topics in Theatre at the junior/senior level. Credit for coursework must be arranged through the Office of KU Study Abroad. May be repeated for credit if content varies.
Advanced projects in acting. Character and scene analysis, scoring the role, rehearsal, and performance. Prerequisite: THR 206.
Supervised study with an approved theater company or project. May be repeated for credit. No more than six hours may be applied to the B.A. or B.G.S. degrees. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and at least seven hours credit in the department.
This course provides knowledge and methods enabling students to conduct in-depth study of dramatic scripts. Emphasis is given to the analysis skills appropriate to practitioners of stage and screen arts.
The study of diverse physical acting techniques, and an investigation into creating a character through manipulation of the acting instrument. Actor training in performance neutrality, mask work, age, and gender distinctions. Prerequisite: THR 213 and permission of instructor.
Stage Management is an introduction to the job and responsibilities of a professional stage manager. Through a general examination of what a stage manager does throughout the process of running a show, students gain basic knowledge of every facet of the skills needed from pre-production to final performance. Through a combination of integration and application, with a strong focus on problem solving, the course introduces students to much of the backstage logistical and otherwise unseen work that makes theater possible.
Study of the costume design process with beginning problems in textual analysis, style, historical research, and preliminary and finished methods of design presentation. Concentration on developing fundamental design skills and awareness. Prerequisite: THR 215.
Study of the lighting design process with beginning problems in textual analysis, style, historical research, with preliminary and finished methods of design presentation. Concentration on developing fundamental design skills and awareness. Prerequisite: THR 116 and THR 215, or permission of instructor.
A study of the origin and development of continental African theatre and its affinity to the Levant. Traditional, colonial and contemporary dramatic theories and experiments will be examined in play selections. (Same as AAAS 355.)
A historical study of Black Theatre in the U.S.A. from its African genesis to its contemporary Americanness. Epochs in African-American dramaturgy will be critically examined. (Same as AAAS 356.)
This seminar focuses on theatre art production under extreme situations. Do artists have a moral obligation to bear witness to genocide and war? Lectures, historical and theoretical readings, play texts, dance performance, and films provide students with a context within which to explore such issues as: the function of the performing arts under duress; the artist's role under and in response to atrocity; and how art aids us to explore the human condition. Class discussion, readings, and individual projects. This course is offered at the 300 and 600 level with additional assignments at the 600 level. Not open to students with credit in JWSH 645 or THR 645. (Same as JWSH 345.) Prerequisite: THR 308 or instructor permission.
Interdisciplinary examination of popular culture oriented around a specific genre or theme. Objects of study may include popular forms of live performance such as musicals or vaudeville, as well as media-based performances (radio, television, film, internet). Specific topic to be studied changes as needs and resources develop. May be repeated for credit for different topics.
Majors are assigned to stage manage or assistant direct a University Theatre production, or to take related workshops in stage management or assistant directing. May be repeated for credit
This course prepares students for all types of audition experiences. It includes study in techniques of prepared auditions, cold readings, interviews, and the musical audition for actors. Emphasis is placed upon developing resumes and photo portfolios as well as concentrated study in professional contracts, unions, and agent acquisition. Prerequisite: THR 206.
This course is designed for the study of special topics in performance techniques involving advanced skills for the actor at the junior/senior level. Specific topic to be studied changes as needs and resources develop. May be repeated for credit for different topics. Prerequisite: THR 306. Theatre major or minor students.
Study of the illusion of violence in a dramatic context and the special skills necessary for creating believable and safe stage fights. Actor training in armed and unarmed combat, including one or more of the following: rapier and dagger, broadsword, and quarter staff. Prerequisite: THR 313 and permission of instructor.
The course develops an understanding of the postcolonial concept and its different manifestations in theatre and drama across nations and cultures. It approaches postcolonialism as a way of reading theatre, and as a genre within theatre by exploring how the "colonial project" has reconfigured the concept, content, and context of theatre in both colonized and colonizing cultures. In addition to the study of postcolonial playwrights and their works, the course is also an introduction to postcolonial theory and its critics. (Same as AAAS 429.)
Individual creation of an original product that integrates theatre knowledge and skills. Selected in advance with advice, approval, and supervision by an instructor. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor, senior level status, and 3.5 GPA in Theatre and 3.25 GPA overall at the time of enrollment.
Individual creation of an original product that integrates theatre knowledge and skills. Selected in advance with advice, approval, and supervision by an instructor. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and junior or senior level status.
A study of acting techniques appropriate to the requirements of the camera. Emphasis is placed on developing audition skills necessary to compete for roles in dramatic features, corporate videos, and commercials. Actors acquire skills essential to the transition from stage to camera. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Offered as an initial approach to play directing, this course introduces students to practical and theoretical aspects of the craft of stage directing. Prerequisite: THR 308.
This is an advanced voice and speech course for actors aiming to further increase their command over tone, rhythm, pacing, and diction. Their range and power will be extended. Through discovery of the demands of a variety of classical texts, the actor will be challenged both in verse and in prose to develop the skills necessary to fully interpret that material. Prerequisite: THR 212.
Holistic production design, including lighting, scenery, and costumes, for classic theatre scripts. Contrasts historical styles of production with styles for contemporary spaces and audiences. Projects tailored to the needs and level of the students. This course is offered at the 500 and 700 level with additional assignments at the 700 level. Not open to students with credit in THR 720. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Holistic production design, including lighting, scenery, and costumes, for modern theatre scripts. Examines modern styles of production. Projects tailored to the needs and level of the students. This course is offered at the 500 and 700 level with additional assignments at the 700 level. Not open to students with credit in THR 721. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
A survey of Western style from ancient Egypt to the Restoration. Focus is placed on developing a comprehensive understanding of the stylistic relationships between art, architecture, clothing, decor, manners, and social and political history. Prerequisite: Nine hours in theatre/design/technical courses or consent of instructor.
Continuation of THR 520, from the Restoration to the present day. Prerequisite: Nine hours in theatre/design/technical courses or consent of instructor.
Study of developments in world theatre and drama from the ancient world to the eighteenth century. Prerequisite: THR 308.
Study of developments in world theatre and drama since the eighteenth century. Prerequisite: THR 308.
Historical approach to the development of theatre and performing arts in the United States. Prerequisite: THR 308.
Seniors collaborate as a theatre company to create an original production that integrates several of the following areas: improvisation, playwriting, acting, directing, dramaturgy, design, technical production, and stage management. Collaboration of group project approved in advance with advice, approval, and supervision by at least one instructor. Prerequisite: Senior level and consent of at least one instructor.
Individual studio activity. Course content to be determined by the student under the supervision of a faculty member. May be repeated for credit in subsequent semesters. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
A survey of theories, history, literature, criticism, production methods, and audience research about theatre performed by adults for children and adolescents. Emphasis is on child development and community outreach. Prerequisite: THR 308 or consent of instructor.
Holistic production design, including lighting, scenery, and costumes, for musical theatre, opera, and dance. Examines development and changes in design styles in the evolution of musical theatre, opera, and dance and the special requirements of these forms. Projects tailored to the needs and level of the students. This course is offered at the 600 and 800 level with additional assignments at the 800 level. Not open to students with credit in THR 820. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Holistic production design, including lighting, scenery, and costumes, for contemporary scripts. Examines contemporary episodic scripts written for the stage that are based on a filmic structure, the special problems of these kinds of scripts, and the respective problems of designing for theatre and film. Projects tailored to the needs and level of the students. This course is offered at the 600 and 800 level with additional assignments at the 800 level. Not open to students with credit in THR 821. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Holistic production design, including lighting, scenery, and costumes, for experimental scripts/scenarios. Examines experimental approaches to a variety of script/scenarios, including mixed-media production. Projects tailored to the needs and level of the students. This course is offered at the 600 and 800 level with additional assignments at the 800 level. Not open to students with credit in THR 822. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
This seminar critically explores myths in dramatic literature from ancient to contemporary times, using select authors from different cultures. Analysis of the works will be based on both conventional and post-structuralist theories and specific emphasis will be on myths that have been adapted cross-culturally and/or in different time perspectives.
This seminar focuses on theatre art production under extreme situations. Do artists have a moral obligation to bear witness to genocide and war? Lectures, historical and theoretical readings, play texts, dance performance, and films provide students with a context within which to explore such issues as: the function of the performing arts under duress; the artist's role under and in response to atrocity; and how art aids us to explore the human condition. Class discussion, readings, and individual projects. This course is offered at the 300 and 600 level with additional assignments at the 600 level. Not open to student with credit in JWSH 345 or THR 345. (Same as JWSH 645.) Prerequisite: THR 308 or graduate standing, or instructor permission.
Course organized any given semester to study particular subject matter or to take advantage of special competency by an individual faculty member. Topics change as needs and resources develop. Class discussion, readings, and individual projects.
Research reading and presentation of reports on specific subjects related to the students major area of specialization. May be repeated up to a total of six credits on petition. Prerequisite: Instructor Consent.
This course is designed for the study of special topics in Theatre. Credit for coursework must be arranged through the Office of KU Study Abroad. May be repeated for credit if content varies.
Study with an approved theatre company. Emphasis may be in one or all of the following areas: acting, directing, stage management, technical theatre, promotion management. No more than six hours may be applied to an M.A. degree. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Offered as an advanced course in play directing. Theory is combined with practical application to explore the craft of directing using a variety of styles in classic and contemporary theatre. Lecture and laboratory periods.
Individually supervised directing of theatre pieces for public presentation. In special cases, credit may be given for musical direction, dramaturgy, choreography, or stage management. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
To be taken by M.F.A. candidates during those semesters in which they are assigned to design one or more elements in a production to be mounted on one of our stages. Weekly critique and discussion of solutions to practical design problems from conception through execution. May be repeated for a total of no more than six hours credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Holistic production design, including lighting, scenery, and costumes, for classic theatre scripts. Contrasts historical styles of production with styles for contemporary spaces and audiences. Projects tailored to the needs and level of the students. This course is offered at the 500 and 700 level with additional assignments at the 700 level. Not open to students with credit in THR 518. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.
Holistic production design, including lighting, scenery, and costumes, for modern theatre scripts. Examines modern styles of production. Projects tailored to the needs and level of the students. This course is offered at the 500 and 700 level with additional assignments at the 700 level. Not open to students with credit in THR 519. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
A study of the development of Russian theatre and dramatic literature from 1898 to the present. Lectures and readings in English. (Same as SLAV 762.)
Major emphasis is placed upon the principles of research, bibliographical data, and research methods useful in theatre and performance studies. The course should be taken at the beginning of the graduate student's program.
Preparation for faculty careers in theatre and related fields, including issues of research, teaching, and service. At least three hours per semester will be devoted to training in responsible scholarship. May be repeated for credit.
Individually supervised advanced directing of theatre pieces for public presentation. In special cases, credit may be given for musical direction, dramaturgy, choreography, or stage management. Prerequisite: Instructor consent.
Readings, lectures, discussions and papers on acting and directing theory; is concerned with the divergence between presentational and representational acting methods and the emergence of directing art.
Holistic production design, including lighting, scenery, and costumes, for musical theatre, opera, and dance. Examines developments and changes in design styles in the evolution of musical theatre, opera, and dance and the special requirements of these forms. Projects tailored to the needs and level of the students. This course is offered at the 600 and 800 level with additional assignments at the 800 level. Not open to students with credit in THR 618. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Holistic production design, including lighting, scenery, and costumes, for contemporary scripts. Examines contemporary episodic scripts written for the stage that are based on a filmic structure, the special problems of these kinds of scripts, and the respective problems of designing for theatre and film. Projects tailored to the needs and level of the students. This course is offered at the 600 and 800 level with additional assignments at the 800 level. Not open to students with credit in THR 619. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Holistic production design, including lighting, scenery, and costumes, for experimental scripts/scenarios. Examines experimental approaches to a variety of script/scenarios, including mixed-media production. Projects tailored to the needs and level of the students. This course is offered at the 600 and 800 level with additional assignments at the 800 level. Not open to students with credit in THR 620. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Directed research and experimentation in theatre. Limited to eight hours credit toward the Master's degree.
A graduate seminar devoted to selected historical, theoretical, or critical issues in theatre. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Theories of Race and Performance is an inter-textual graduate course that explores interdisciplinary scholarship on race and performance. It seeks to translate these theories into practical application in various visual, audio and performance texts in popular culture. The course is divided into modules aimed at gaining an understanding of the shifting meaning of race over time and its relationship to ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, nation, and power. How do we perform our identities? How is race constructed and maintained through performance? To begin to answer these questions, we will examine the ways in which racial identities are created through performance.
Advanced study in the history of critical theory relating to dramatic literature, theatre, and performance.
This course focuses on the advanced study of research methods, subjects, interpretative paradigms, theoretical frameworks, and philosophies of history employed in contemporary approaches to writing and teaching theatre history.