Theater Arts Department
- Course Descriptions
THR/HPE 002 Lifetime Sports—Introduction to Dance and Composition (.0 course)
This course offers an overview of various exercises and gives an introduction to a variety of movement styles, cultures of dance, and composition. Each class includes a rigorous, physical warm-up, mixing yoga, conditioning, and modern dance.
THR/HPE 005 Lifetime Sports—Modern Dance and Improvisation (.0 course)
Students will learn various phrases of movement incorporating floor exercises and will learn to travel through space using level, volume, and floor pattern. Improvisational techniques will be introduced and students will create short improvisational pieces. (NOTE: Students are allowed to use only one of THR/HPE 002, 003, 004, or 005 to fulfill the lifetime sports requirement.)
THR 116 Creative Drama: Acting and Improvisation
A study of theatrical movement, voice, mime, mask, improvisation, acting and storytelling with an emphasis on active participation, creation of an original performance, and reflective writing. This course is primarily designed for non-majors and does not fulfill credit toward the theatre arts major. Attendance at theatre productions required. Students will be required to pay for theatre production tickets.
FLM 216 Film Production I
This course demonstrates the basics of 16 mm filmmaking. The student will make short films that demonstrate the art and process of shooting in B/W.
THR 222 Introduction to Theatre
Introduction to Theatre is an examination of theatre as an artistic form and focuses on the appreciation and value of theatre in society. Focus on historical periods, plays, artists, basic concepts, and techniques of the play production process. Students attend and review stage productions. This course is primarily designed for non-majors and does not fulfill credit toward the theatre major.
THR 226 Movement for the Theatre
A study of the principles of movement used in the art of acting. Students will improve their use of energy, concentration, balance, control, clarity, timing and spontaneity through practical exercises. This course uses established theory and techniques in neutral mask, Asian martial arts, and physical and vocal characterization exercises. Students will examine various performance paradigms and see professional productions.
THR 228 Introduction to Stagecraft
An introduction to the backstage world of the theatre; its organization, crafts, and creative processes. Students will execute practical projects, attend theatre tours, see professional productions, and participate on the theatre department's fall production. Open to all students. Forty-hour lab requirement.
THR/FLM 230 Scenic Painting for Stage and Film
Scenic Painting is an introductory study of the art of scenic painting for the stage, film, and faux application. Through a series of foundational painting projects, reading assignments, informal lecture, discussion, and a final cumulative painting project students will develop the required skills and understanding of what it means to be a Scenic Artist and what role the Scenic Artist plays in artistry of theatre and film.
THR 232 Acting
An introduction to the art of acting. Focus on physical, mental, and emotional preparation, and exploration of the creative approach to scene and character study in American drama, culminating in a final performance. Students attend and review local professional productions.
THR 233 Acting for Camera
An exploration of acting principles and techniques as it enhances and applies to on-camera effectiveness. This co-taught studio course also includes technology elements which support acting on camera. (Alternate years)
THR/MUS 235 Skills of Music Theatre
An interdisciplinary approach to the topic using music and theatre techniques to develop the student's basic skills of music theatre. Concepts of diverse music-theatre forms are introduced. Course includes reading, writing, research, class discussion, exercises, small and large group participation, memorization, and public performance. Students will attend and review live productions. (Alternate years)
THR 245 Introduction to Asian and Asian American Theatre
A survey of the theatrical performance styles, aesthetic theories, and plays of traditional Asia and Asian American cultures. The course includes lectures, films, videos, and demonstrations by visiting performers. Attendance at local theatre productions required. Students will be required to pay for theatre production tickets.
THR 250 Script Analysis: Foundations of Theatre
This foundations class focuses on major principles and fundamentals of theatre literary analysis and research and uses performance, discussion, writing, and projects as ways to interpret a dramatic script for academic and artistic applications. Close readings of plays from various genres and in-depth research projects will enable students to learn and apply basic terminology for literary and artistic purposes.
THR/ART 265 Computer Drafting for the Stage and Architecture
Computer Drafting for the Stage and Architecture is an introduction to using AutoCAD LT for drafting on the computer. Students will learn how to use basic AutoCAD commands to input information, organize, layout and print 2-D drafting plates, with an emphasis on drafting for the theater and architecture.
THR 270 Black Theatre
Introduction to Black Theatre is an examination of the principles, major movements, and fundamentals of theatre by and about Black Americans. It examines the historical, political, and cultural context of Black Theater. This course will focus on and provide an overview of Black Theatre utilizing plays written by Black American playwrights.
FLM 312 Film Production II
The focus of this course builds on the lessons learned in COM 216 and adds the study of color photography and sound design. Though exercises and assignments the student will develop skills in scripting, shooting, and editing short films. (Prereq.: FLM 216)
THR/ENL 325 Playwriting
An introductory course in writing for theatre and performance. Students will learn the basics of dramatic structure, character development, and theatrical languages as well as techniques for the development of playscripts from idea to finished product. (Prereq.: ENL 111 or 112 or HON 111, and junior or senior standing, or consent of theatre department chair. THR 250 or ENL 226 recommended. Alternate years)
THR 328 Theatrical Design
Introduction to the design process for the stage. Each student will execute four design projects using a research based design process. Class will take theatre tours, host visiting artists, and have a practical involvement in two Augsburg College productions. Forty-hour lab required, materials needed. (Prereq: junior or senior status)
THR 350 Voice for Speech, Stage, and Screen
A study of vocal skills including tone production, breathing, placement, relaxation, resonating, articulating, listening, introduction to phonetics, and the vocal mechanism. This course will use established exercises and theories in several methodologies of vocal training. Theory and practice are combined in oral projects, reports and papers, voice tapes, and individual coaching. (Alternate years)
THR 361 Theatre History and Criticism I
An overview of theatre history, dramatic literature, and criticism from the classical Greek through the French Neoclassical period. Reading of plays, writing a research paper, and attendance at local theatre productions are required. Need not be taken sequentially with THR 362. (Prereq.: THR 250 and ENL 111 or 112 or HON 111. Fall: alternate years)
THR 362 Theatre History and Criticism II
An overview of theatre history, dramatic literature, and criticism from the English Restoration through contemporary performance. Readings of plays and attendance at local theatre productions are required. Need not be taken sequentially with THR 361. (Prereq: THR 250 and ENL 111 or 112 or HON 111. Fall: alternate years)
THR 365 Advanced Acting
This course provides students with performance skills and the ability to recognize differentiating clues that identify the style of a play. Through class exercises, scene study, and character analysis, students will gain insight into the performance demands of a specific style. Emphasis is on a variety of roles from the classics (Shakespeare, French neoclassicism, restoration comedy, realism, and non-realism), culminating in a public recital. (Prereq.: THR 250, THR 232, THR 362 or consent of instructor, and pass CT assessment or GST 100. Fall/Spring)
THR 366 Stage Direction
A study of the basic principles and skills of stage direction: directing concepts and methodologies, stage techniques, terminologies, script analysis; rehearsal planning and techniques; blocking, stage dynamics, working with actors, and the overall staging of a play. Theories of directing are also examined. (Prereq.: THR 362 and junior or senior standing)
FLM 420 Issues in Contemporary Cinema
This course will examine cultural, artistic, commercial, and theoretical concerns that occur in world cinema today. Our purpose is to help students both contextualize the cinema they see in appropriate and insightful ways, and to provide a sophisticated critical apparatus to help them read films as texts and to interpret the cinema's larger societal value and impact. (Prereq.: ENL 241 and junior/senior standing)
THR 495 Theatre Topics
Selected topics in theatre.
Internships and Independent Study Courses
THR 199 Internship
THR 299 Directed Study
THR 399 Internship
THR 499 Independent Study/Research
Theatre Practicum Courses
THP courses involve practicum teaching and learning in the context of play productions and are required for the theatre arts major/minor. All THP theatre practicum courses are taken for non-credit with Pass/No Pass grading. Evaluation by the faculty mentor will be based on: 1. successful and timely completion of practicum area for which student is registered; 2. positive and professional attitude and work ethic demonstrated by the student; and 3. demonstrated competency in practicum area. The positive evaluation of each of the areas must be sufficient enough to lead to a minimum grade of 2.0 in order to receive a P grade.
THP courses require:
- Consent and signature of instructor
- Supervision by theatre faculty
- A minimum of 30 hours of assessed participation by the student
- Registration for THP course for semester when practicum is completed
- Registration for practicum before deadline dates set by the registrar's office
Please note:
- All majors will complete at least one THP 123 unit in costumes.
- All majors will complete one THP 113 in lighting.
- THP courses may be repeated.
- Crew work required for classes/coursework does not count towards practicum.
- Work-study hours do not count towards practicum.
- Completion of THP 115 and 116 count as two and three practicum units respectively because of the extraordinary amount of time required of the student. All other THP courses count as one practicum unit each.
- Transfer students are still responsible for the full unit requirements (10 major/5 minor.) Five practicum units (major) or three units (minor) must be completed while at Augsburg, and units to be credited from previous schools should have program verification or a letter from a previous theatre adviser.
Theatre Practicum Courses–Areas
All theatre arts majors in all concentrations are required to complete 10 practicum units (THP) from the three established units.
Area One: Performance
THP 111/121/131/141/151 Theatre Practicum: Acting/Performance
1 Practicum unit (.0 course)
Participation as performer (or as orchestra member) in a main stage theatrical production; in a main stage dance performance or recital (for dance/licensure majors only); or substantial participation as an actor in a senior directing project, in final scenes for Stage Direction (THR 366), or in interpretive presentations at two Forensics tournaments (at least 30 hours coaching and competition).
Area 1 Performance
Each major will complete between one and five THPs from the performance area.
The Performance Area THPs are:
- THP 111 Fall Acting/Performance
- THP 121 Winter Acting/Performance
- THP 131 Spring Acting/Performance
- THP 141 Studio Acting/Performance
- THP 151 Misc. Performance
Area Two: Production
THP 113/123/133 Theatre Practicum: Set, Costumes, Lights
1 Practicum unit (.0 course)
Set or costume building, light hanging, for main stage production.
THP 114/124/134 Theatre Practicum: Running Crew
1 Practicum unit (.0 course)
Work on running crew for main stage production: light or sound board operation, dresser/costume crew; stage and production manager for final scenes from Stage Direction class.
THP 115/125/135 Theatre Practicum: Stage Management–small project
2 Practicum units (.0 course)
Assistant stage management for main stage production.
THP 116/126/136 Theatre Practicum: Stage Management–large project
3 Practicum units (.0 course)
Stage management for main stage production.
Area 2 Production
Each major will complete between four and eight THPs from the performance area.
The Production Area THPs are:
- THP 112, 122 or 132 House Management
- THP 113, 123 or 133 Set, Lights, Costumes Crew
- THP 114, 124 or 134 Running Crew
- THP 115, 125 or 135 Assistant Stage Manager
- THP 116, 126 or 136 Stage Manager
- THP 115, THP 125 and THP 135 Stage Manager–small project counts as two units
- THP 116 ,THP 126 and THP 136 Stage Manager–large project counts as three units.
Area Three: Artistic/Production Management
THP 117/127/137 Theatre Practicum: Artistic Assistance
1 Practicum unit (.0 course)
Assistant to the designer (scenery, lights, costumes, sound), assistant to the director (dramaturgy, choreography/assistant choreography for main stage production), or a substantial arts management project.
Area 3 Artistic/Production Management
Each major will complete one THP from this area.
The Artistic/Production Management Area THPs are:
- THP 117 Fall Artistic/Production Assistance
- THP 127 Winter Artistic/Production Assistance
- THP 137 Spring Artistic/Production Assistance
