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Dr. Justin P. Cowan, Chair cowanj@wcsu.edu VPA 017, Westside campus (203) 837-8476
Joni Johns Lerner, Assoc. Chair lernerj@wcsu.edu VPAC 236, Westside campus (203) 837-9206
Victoria Hunter, Department Secretary Hunterv@wcsu.edu VPA 143, Westside campus (203) 837-8404 (203) 837-8912 (fax)
Faculty
J. Cowan, Chair, Musicianship, MT Rep, MT History, Musical Director J. Lerner, Associate chair, Costume Design, Costume Technology, Costume History, Evolution of Fashion D. Gagnon, Theatre History, Intro to Drama, Senior Portfolio T. Swetz, Technical Direction, Technical Theatre I & II T. Howard, Musical Theatre Coordinator, MT Workshop, Acting, Audition Techniques, Director P. McDaniel, Directing E. Popiel, Costume Design, Scenic Design, Scenic Art, Puppetry, Theatre Design Fundamentals S. Trapani, Acting, Directing, Playmaking with Children, Devised Theatre, Theatre History
Adjunct Faculty
M. Bartoli, Acting, Voice and Diction A. Bennett, Sound Design/Technology G. Bennett, Audio Engineer C. Bolan, Acting, Voice and Dictation, Audition Techniques M. Bolan, Applied Voice S. Cally, Lighting Design A. DePoto, Playmaking with Children, First Year Experience, Children’s Theatre Production M. Freedman, Set and Costume Design P. George, Director, Scene into Song K. Geraghty K. Hansen, Production Lab Supervision J. Hickok, Meisner Techniques, Performance Techniques C. Huffman J. Jossick H. Katcher-Striano, Introduction to Theatre M.A. Lamb, Choreography I. Lerner A. Lobelson M. Long J. Mason M. Newton E. Parkinson, Musical Theatre-Dance, Ballet, Choreography J. Powell, Applied Voice J. Turey
Overview
The Department of Theatre Arts provides a strong theoretical and practical approach to the study of the art and craft of theatre. Students who major in Theatre Arts prepare for graduate studies and/or careers directly related to performance, design/technology, management and dramaturgy. Students also combine theatre studies with other majors and/or minors such as Music, Art and Media, to enhance work opportunities within the entertainment industry.
In addition to its academic functions, the department serves the campus and community by offering diverse theatrical performances including musicals, traditional plays and plays for children. Connections to the greater theatre community are promoted through sponsorship of professional training workshops and performances of guest artists.
Our proximity to New York City (one hour to mid-town Manhattan) gives us an opportunity to make excellent use of its vast resources. The theatre faculty maintains close ties with professional organizations, activities and research facilities within the area, and opportunities are regularly planned to introduce students to the professional environment.
Mission
The theatre department keeps consistent with the university’s mission to serve as an accessible and responsive intellectual resource for the people and institutions of Connecticut. The department provides a thorough, modern education in the theory, skills and technology of theatre production and performance that is tailored to the individual student’s background and career objectives.
The department believes in fostering a diverse student environment with an emphasis on professionalism and a commitment to excellence.
Objectives
To accomplish this mission the Department of Theatre Arts:
Learning Outcomes for General Education
As per NAST standards and the stated goals for this degree, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with options in Design Technology, Performance, Theatre Arts Management or Theatre Studies and in the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre degree program are expected to demonstrate the following competencies upon graduation:
General Education
General Education at Western Connecticut State University combines course-based competencies with opportunities to explore a wide range of disciplines outside of a student’s major. The university has identified 10 competencies that support academic success and prepare students for life-long learning. There are shared learning outcomes for each competency, which are embedded in courses across the curriculum.
Competencies may be satisfied in the major, minor or any other area of interest. There are no rules about how many competencies can be satisfied in the major. The only rules are:
With this approach, the university has created the opportunity for students to develop essential skills and habits of mind in disciplines where they are most engaged with the material. It is important that students explore ideas from several areas of curriculum outside their major, but without an arbitrary limit on that exploration.
Transfer Admissions
All students wishing to transfer into any degree program in theatre at WCSU must meet the criteria listed for each program, including those currently attending institutions holding articulation agreements with WCSU. All applicants will be assessed in the areas of their selected option for matriculation and appropriate prerequisite placement in courses within the major.
Transfer Review Process and Transfer Articulation Policy (TAP)
Western Connecticut State University, as part of the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU), accepts credits for non-theatre courses as per the Transfer Articulation Policy for students with an earned Associates Degree. Information regarding this specific classification of transfer credits can be found at the CSCU website. For the 2016-2017 academic year there are no approved “pathways” for community college students to utilize TAP and seamlessly enter Western’s Department of Theatre Arts at the junior level.
Awarding of Credit
Credit Hour: A semester hour of credit is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
Degree Programs in Theatre Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts Musical Theatre
Minor Theatre Arts
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN THEATRE ARTS (B.A.)
This degree is appropriate for students who wish to study theatre within the broader context of a liberal arts education and to emphasize areas of concentration such as performance, design/technology, theatre arts management or theatre studies. Students are encouraged to explore breadth and variety in their educational pursuits to enhance their understanding of the world around them and to give them greater career versatility as a graduate.
Requirements:
Students must complete all general education requirements, the courses and credits listed below by option and additional free electives to total a minimum of 120 semester hours, including foreign language.
Student Standing
Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0, with 2.5 in courses used to satisfy major requirements. Courses with grades lower than “C” will not be accepted as meeting the requirements for the major.
Course Restrictions
For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.
Major Core Requirements (37 SH):
THR 100 Introduction to Theatre Production Lab (FY) or THR 300 Theatre Production Lab THR 181 Acting I: An Introduction THR 182 Technical Theatre I THR 201 Playmaking with Children or THR 289 Children’s Theatre Practicum THR 202 Technical Theatre II or THR 306 Costume Technology II THR 279 History of Theatre or THR 286 Theatre History II THR 283 Scenic Design or THR 383 Methods of Scenic Art and Craft THR 284 Costume Technology THR 289 Playmaking with Children or THR 390 Play Production THR 300 Theatre Production Lab –– (1 SH for 6 semesters) THR 382 Directing I or THR 390 Play Production THR 387 Devised Theatre Workshop THR 490 Senior Portfolio –– Theatre Arts
Options (select one) –– Required in addition to general education and theatre arts core.
B.A. Theatre Arts: Design/Technical Option (15 SH)
Description: This BA in Theatre Arts is appropriate for students who wish to study theatre within the broader context of a liberal arts education and to emphasize areas of concentration such as performance, design/technology, theatre arts management or theatre studies. Students are encouraged to explore breadth and variety in their educational pursuits to enhance their understanding of the world around them and to give them greater career versatility as a graduate.
Degree Requirements All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Required Courses in the Major: 52 SH.
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad2021/academic-programs-degrees/
Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Theatre Arts: Design/Technical Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
* All Bachelor of Arts degrees at WCSU require that students complete a language at or above the elementary II level. Students who have completed three years of a foreign language at a minimum of a C average in high school have met this requirement. However, they must still complete at least one Intercultural Competency course.
B.A. Theatre Arts: Theatre Studies Option (15 SH)
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Theatre Arts: Theatre Studies Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
B.A. Theatre Arts: Performance Option (15 SH)
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Theatre Art- Performance Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
B.A. Theatre Arts: Management Option (15 SH)
Sample Four Year Plan: BA Theatre Arts-Management Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN MUSICAL THEATRE (B.F.A.)
Description: This degree offers students knowledge of and training in all aspects of musical theatre within a liberal arts context in order to compete for employment opportunities in the entertainment industry where musical talent is utilized.
Required Courses in the Major: 80 SH.
Sample Four Year Plan: BFA Musical Theatre Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
Admission Auditions for Musical Theatre Degree Program
The Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre degree is a specialized degree offered in collaboration with the Department of Music. Set within a liberal arts context, this degree provides students with knowledge of, and training in, all aspects of musical theatre in order to compete for employment opportunities in the entertainment industry where musical theatre is utilized. Students will develop the following skills:
Students wishing to pursue a degree in Musical theatre in the Department of theatre Arts must adhere to the following criteria for admission:
Information regarding audition dates and specific audition requirements can be found online or by contacting the Department of Theatre Arts at (203) 837-8250.
Minor in Theatre (18 S.H.)
Eighteen semester hours in theatre which must include at least 12 semester hours above the 100-level and at least 3 semesters of THR 300. Emphasis must be on Theatre Arts.
