HEA 400 Production (1
to 2 Credit hour per semester)
Practicum for support of major department productions in all areas.
Roles in department productions may fulfill requirement.
THEA 401 Stage Management (2 Credit hours)
The study of the theories and skills required to successfully stage
manage a theater production.
Prerequisite: THEA 217, THEA 218a and consent of instructor.
THEA 402a Play Directing. (3 Credit hours)
Introduction to directing. The history of the director; the evolution
of the director into a position of predominance in modern theater
hierarchy. The function of the director; and examination of theoretical
viewpoint. Textual analysis; establishing the groundwork for the
director’s approach to production. Prerequisite: junior standing,
THEA 217 and THEA 311a or consent of instructor.
THEA 402b Play Directing (3 Credit hours)
The principles of play direction including play selection, analysis
and patterning of auditory and visual elements of production. Directing
of a one-act play.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
THEA 403a Advanced Movement for the Actor (3 Credit hours)
Advanced studies in stage movement with special attention to period
styles.
Prerequisite: THEA 303a, THEA 317a, and THEA 317b
THEA 403b Advanced Voice for the Actor (3 Credit hours)
Advanced studies in voice with special attention to stage dialects.
Prerequisite: THEA 303b & THEA 317a.
THEA 404 Theater Management (3 Credit hours)
Discussion of legal and financial aspects concerning the professional
and community theaters of the United States. Consideration of and
practice in managerial activities of an educational theater including
administration, purchasing, accounting practices, direct sales,
publicity, promotion and public relations.
THEA 406 Properties and Crafts for the Stage (3 Credit hours)
Studio work in traditional and non-traditional crafts for theatrical
events, including life masks, upholstery, puppetry, stage furniture
and special effects.
Prerequisite: THEA 218a or consent of instructor.
THEA 407 Scene Design (3 Credit hours)
Theory and practice of the technical and artistic aspects of scene
design.
Prerequisite: THEA 218a, THEA 309, THEA 409, or consent of instructor.
THEA 408 Model Making (3 Credit hours)
Craft of scenic model making for the stage and other dramatic media.
Prerequisite: THEA 218a or consent of instructor.
THEA 409a Scene Painting (3 Credit hours)
Studio work in lining, paneling, tromp l’oeil ornament and
drapery.
Prerequisite: THEA 218a or consent of instructor.
THEA 409b Advanced Scene Painting (3 Credit hours)
Advanced studio work in scene painting, including dye painting,
transparencies, color mixing and mural work.
Prerequisite: THEA 409a or consent of instructor.
THEA 410 Children’s Theater (9 Credit hours)
Theory and practice in performing theater for children. Class activities
include lectures on various aspects of production as well as producing
a touring children's play for local area schools.
Prerequisite: audition or interview.
THEA 411a Playwriting—The short play (3 Credit hours)
Principles of dramatic structure as they apply to the writing of
a short play… through class discussion, analysis of short
plays, and the writing of specific projects and exercises, students
will write at least 2 drafts of 20 – 30 minute complete plays.
Individual plays may be considered for production in the theater’s
program for new plays.
Prerequisite: THEA 311a for Theater Majors, or consent of instructor.
THEA 411b Playwriting—The Full-Length Play (3 Credit hours)
Principles of dramatic literature as they apply to the writing of
a full-length (90-120 minute) play. Typical well-made patterns are
studied, along with experimental forms and variations. Some discussion
of marketing plays is included.
Prerequisite: THEA 411a or its equivalent or consent of instructor.
THEA 414 Costume Design (3 Credit hours)
History of western costume from Greek to Renaissance and its adaptation
to stage use. Theory and practical application of design and color.
Prerequisite: THEA 218c or graduate standing.
THEA 417 Advanced Acting (3 Credit hours per semester, maximum
2 semesters)
Utilization of the actor’s process in the performance of various
theories and styles of acting. May be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisite: THEA 317b.
THEA 418 Introduction to Lighting Design (3 Credit hours)
Investigation of stage lighting design, theory and professional
practice. Special attention to color theory and its application
to stage lighting. Four hours lecture/laboratory.
Prerequisite: THEA 218b, THEA 309, graduate standing, or consent
of instructor.
THEA 419 Advanced Stagecraft (3 Credit hours)
Advanced study of principles and procedures of scenic construction
and stage rigging. Includes scene shop organization, materials,
and specialized stage equipment; preparation for professional technical
direction. Lecture and laboratory to be arranged.
Prerequisite: THEA 218a, THEA 218b, THEA309, THEA 407, or graduate
standing.
THEA 420 Senior Seminar (2 Credit hours)
Students are provided an opportunity to integrate their previous
training in theater and to assess it. Students are exposed to information
skills and strategies necessary for survival in the professional
world. Mandatory Pass/Fail. Not for graduate credit.
Prerequisite: consent of department and concurrent enrollment in
THEA 421.
THEA 421 Senior Project (1 Credit hour)
Preparation of any of the following based on the student’s
area of interest: a portfolio, script, critical research paper,
design, acting recital or direction of a short play. Projects are
chosen and prepared under the supervision of a theater faculty member.
Mandatory Pass/Fail. Not for graduate credit.
Prerequisite: consent of department and concurrent enrollment in
THEA 420.
THEA 450 Topical Seminar (3 – 9 Credit hours)
An intensive examination and application of selected areas of interest.
Topics will vary and may include such areas as stage management,
audition and interview, current political theater.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
THEA 454 American Theater (3 Credit hours)
The development of American theater from colonial times to the present.
Includes a study of the American musical theater from preminstrels
through contemporary music drama.
THEA 500 Introduction to Research Methods (2 Credit hours)
An introduction to the principles and methods of the various types
of research in theater. The student may elect to focus on the research
demands of a selected area of interest within the degree program
pursued. One objective is the formulation of a research problem
and a prospectus.
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
THEA 501 Contemporary Developments (3 Credit hours)
A survey of the significant developments in theater and related
arts from the beginning of the 19th century to the present through
the study of documentary material, critical works, and selected
plays. Individual reports, guest lecturers and lectures provide
focus on selected areas. Required reading encompasses a broad spectrum
of subjects.
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
THEA 502 Advanced Directing (3 – 9 Credit hours)
Emphasis on practical directing problems and concerns of individual
students through research, rehearsal and performance. Includes survey
of directing theories and practices with laboratory application
of directing techniques.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
THEA 503 Professional Development (1 hour per semester)
A regular weekly meeting of all graduate students in the Playwriting
Program: working on new scripts, discussing relevant professional
interests, help in marketing, etc.
THEA 504 The Comic Theater (3 Credit hours)
A study of comedic drama, theory, and criticism as applied to types
of comedy with a focus on interpretation for the theater practitioner.
Individual reports are assigned.
THEA 505 The Tragic Theater (3 Credit hours)
An examination of tragic drama and criticism as related to the societies,
which produced such drama. Individual reports are assigned.
THEA 506 Spectacle: The Vision of Theater (3 Credit hours)
Discussion and evaluation of the role and responsibility of theater
artists to promote audience understanding of the visual through
application of design and directing principles. Exploration and
examination of the style and meaning of communication between members
of a production team in today’s theatre through group projects.
THEA 507 Advanced Scene Design (3 Credit hours)
Advanced consideration of principles of scene design. Scenography
as a dynamic force in theater and related media worldwide.
Prerequisite: THEA 407 or consent of instructor.
THEA 510 Production Design Seminar (2 – 8 Credit hours)
Exploratory workshop experience in rendering techniques, creative
problem solving, design aesthetics, and production philosophies.
To be taken by graduate production design students each semester
in residence with exceptions by consent of instructor.
THEA 511 Playwriting Workshop (3 – 6 Credit hours)
A practical laboratory course in which playwriting students will
have one or more original plays presented in staged readings or
modified productions. Plays will be directed by graduate acting/directing
students and designed by graduate design students also enrolled
in course. The workshop gathers a performance group for the presentation
of the new plays. Student playwrights are expected to constantly
improved their work before and after presentation, to attend rehearsals,
to work closely with directors and actors. Plays will be evaluated
in critique sessions.
Prerequisite: graduate standing and consent of instructor.
THEA 514 Advanced Costume Design (3 Credit hours)
Advanced consideration of principles of costume design. Theory and
history of costumes from Renaissance through early 20th century.
Practical applications of methods and procedures in designing costumes.
Prerequisite: THEA 414 or consent of instructor.
THEA 518 Advanced Lighting Design (3 Credit hours)
Expansion and refinement of the visual imagination of the lighting
designer. Investigation of theatrical applications of lighting for
dance, opera, performing arts, architecture, advertising and landscaping.
Prerequisite: THEA 218a, THEA 218b, THEA 309 and THEA 418.
THEA 522 SIU Summer Theater (1 – 12 Credit hours)
Practical experience in summer stock play production. Performance
or technical work in SIU Summer Theater only. Maximum of six hours
per summer.
Prerequisite: audition and consent of instructor.
THEA 526 Seminar in Theater Arts (3 - 12 Credit hours, maximum
4 topics)
Special topics of interest to advanced students. Department and
instructor determine subject. Areas: (a) Performance/production.
(b) Theory, criticism, and playwriting. Seminar in same area may
be taken twice.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
THEA 530 Independent Study (1 – 12 Credit hours)
Independent research on selected problems. A maximum of three credit
hours may be taken for a single project.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
THEA 550 Topical Seminar (2 – 6 Credit hours, maximum 3 topics)
In-depth studies of topics of special interest to advanced students
concerning individual or groups of playwrights, directors, designers,
and their techniques and theories. Topic is determined in advance.
Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
THEA 560 Professional Work Experience (1 – 21 Credit hours)
Credit may be granted for professional work experience prior to
acceptance into the program.
Prerequisite: approval by departmental graduate committee required.
Graded S/U only.
THEA 561 Theater Internship (1 – 12 Credit hours)
After completion of the M.F.A. core curriculum and basic courses
in student’s specialization, credit may be granted for internship
at professional theaters, training programs, or studios.
Prerequisite: prior approval of departmental graduate committee
required. Graded S/U only.
THEA 599 Thesis (1 – 6 Credit hours)
Minimum of three hours to be counted toward a Master’s degree.
THEA 600 (1- 36 Credit hours, 1 to 16 per semester, maximum)
Dissertation. Minimum of 24 hours to be earned for the Doctor of
Philosophy degree.
