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Theater Arts

2018-19 General Catalog

J106 Theater Arts Center
(831) 459-2974
theater@ucsc.edu
http://theater.ucsc.edu/

Faculty | Course Descriptions

Program Description

The Theater Arts Department is a diverse group of scholars/artists united by a passionate belief in the value of the performing arts. Based on respect for the classical theater of all cultures, combined with a determination to challenge tradition and fashion, we educate our students in the history, theory, and practice of theater and dance to address fundamental issues by using the tools of body, voice, mind, and imagination. Seeking to attain the highest levels of intellectual and artistic integrity, and with a commitment to cultural diversity, we serve the research mission of UCSC, our audiences, and the students who will shape the theater of the future.

The Theater Arts Department combines drama, dance, critical studies, and theater design/technology to offer students an intensive program of theater as a unified field. The program stresses the inter-relation of all disciplines as essential to the successful practice of the theater arts in the 21st century. Graduates of the UCSC program typically pursue careers in professional theater and dance companies, in film and television, and in teaching at all levels—from university to high school to grade school. Many students go on to higher degrees at prestigious national programs. Others engage in careers in arts, administration, dramatic writing, and related fields.

The lower-division curriculum requires a range of practical work in the various concentrations and an interdisciplinary exposure to critical and historical studies. At the upper-division level, students are given the opportunity to focus on one or more areas of interest in limited-enrollment studios. At the same time, they are asked to expand their theoretical perspectives through confrontation with performance theory and focused coursework in critical studies. The impact of digital and new media on theater is also integrated into the curriculum.

A wealth of production opportunities is available to students. This includes major productions directed by faculty or distinguished visiting artists each quarter, productions directed or choreographed by students, and faculty-directed workshops. Undergraduate students are also given the opportunity to see their own writing, choreography, or developing concepts put into production in department-sponsored productions and annual festivals of student work. Although majors are given preference in studio courses, most courses and productions welcome non-majors as well. Opportunities to study and perform non-Western as well as Euro-American traditions are also a significant part of the program.

The stage and studio spaces available to students of theater arts allow for a breadth of training and performance opportunities. The Theater Arts Center contains a 500-seat thrust stage; a state-of-the-art experimental theater; a 200-seat proscenium theater; acting, directing, design and dance studios; costume, scene, and properties shops; a sound recording room; and a computer lab. Also, located at the base of the campus is our 150-seat Barn Theater.

Library holdings in theater literature and history are extensive, including a large slide collection and dance video archives; journals in current theater, design/technology, and dance; and recordings, films, videotapes, and CD-ROMs.

Program Learning Outcomes

Our program stresses dance, design, and drama as essential disciplines in the successful practice of theater arts in the contemporary world.

Graduates from the Theater Arts B.A. program should demonstrate the following:

  1. Foundations of Performance. Students should be able to identify and apply basic theatrical techniques in dance, design, and drama.
  2. Theatrical histories and theories. Students should be able to recognize and analyze performance works within the general culture and historical period that produced them.
  3. Performance experience. Students should be able to translate theater arts concepts into performance, participating in any theatrical endeavor with the rigor, discipline, and imagination necessary to make a meaningful contribution.
  4. Research proficiency. Students should be able to formulate personal research questions that expand their knowledge of theater arts, conducting independent research into the history and theory of at least one area of concentration.
  5. Creative practice. Students should be able to use theatrical practices and performance experiences to conceive, design, realize, and reflect on new performance projects.
  6. Appreciation of diversity. Students should be able to recognize and appreciate a wide variety of approaches, cultures, and styles in both past and contemporary performance practice.
  7. Communication and critical thinking. Students should be able to use critical vocabularies to communicate clearly about theater arts in written and oral forms.
  8. Collaborative skills. Students should be able to work confidently and effectively in groups on a common project.

Requirements to Declare the Major

Prior to petitioning for the major, students must have successfully completed three lower-division courses: one course from Theater Arts 61A, B, or C, and two courses chosen from Theater Arts 10, 20, 21A, or 30. Students are encouraged to complete these courses as early in their studies as possible so that the petition to major status can be accomplished no later than the end of sophomore year, as required by the university. Transfer students are encouraged to declare the major as soon as possible and may declare as soon as their first quarter on campus after meeting with the Theater Arts academic adviser. Transfer students may declare the major prior to having completed any theater arts courses. Transfer students must declare a major by the end of their second quarter, as required by the university.

Transfer Students

Transfer students may petition to have equivalent lower-division courses taken at other schools count toward lower-division major or minor requirements. Petition forms and information on courses and major requirements may be obtained at the department office, J106 Theater Arts Center. Transfer students are strongly advised to attend a UCSC Summer Orientation session for transfer students to plan the declaration of major process and/or to consult with a Theater Arts academic adviser, prior to enrolling in classes their first quarter if possible. Please see the Requirements to Declare the Major section in this document for major declaration information.

Major Requirements

The theater arts major requires seven lower-division courses, six credits of course 50, and eight upper-division courses (inclusive of a senior seminar project). Majors may organize their studies around a concentration in an area of interest in accordance with the requirements outlined below. The following six lower-division courses must be taken by all majors:

  • 10, Introduction to Theater Design and Technology
  • 20, Introductory Studies in Acting; or 21A, Acting Studio IA, Psychological Realism
  • 30, Introduction to Dance Theory and Technique
  • 61A, Ancient and Medieval Drama
  • 61B, Drama from the Renaissance to the Modern Age
  • 61C, Birth of the Modern: After the Renaissance
  • One lower-division 5-credit elective.
  • 50, Fundamentals of Theater Production (two-credit course; must be taken three times for a total of six credits)

The following upper-division courses must be taken to complete the major:

Eight, 5-credit upper-division theater arts courses:

  • 160, Dramatic Theories
  • Two upper-division studio courses
  • One elective
  • One faculty-directed theater arts production course (consult with the Department Adviser for details)
  • Two courses total from the following:
    • 161 and/or 163 series: History/Theory in Theater
    • 164, 165, 166, 167: History/Theory in Dance
    • 113, 116A: Design History
  • 185, Senior Seminar

The following do NOT satisfy theater arts major requirements:

  • 45 Student Production
  • 55A and 55B Barnstorm
  • 139 Random
  • 158 Chautauqua
  • 190 Group Project
  • 198 Independent Studies
  • 199 Independent Studies

Credits earned via a study abroad program, such as the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), or other off-campus programs are considered on a case-by-case basis by the department chair. Students should consult with their department and college advisers before planning studies outside of UCSC.

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

Students of every major must satisfy that major’s upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement. The DC Requirement in theater arts is met by completion of the required courses 160 and 185.

Theater Arts Major Planners

The following are two recommended academic plans for students to complete during their first two years as preparation for the theater arts major. Plan One is a guideline for students who are committed to the major early in their academic career; Plan Two is for students who are considering the major.

Plan One

Year Fall Winter Spring
1st
(frosh)		 THEA 20 or 21A Gen ed THEA 10
THEA 61A THEA 61B Gen ed
College core Gen ed Gen ed
2nd
(soph)		 Elective THEA 30 THEA 61C
Gen ed THEA 50 Gen ed
College core Gen ed Gen ed
Lower-div elec
(declare major)		    

Plan Two

Year Fall Winter Spring
1st
(frosh)		 Gen ed THEA 30 THEA 10
Gen ed Low-div studio THEA 61C
College core Gen ed Gen ed
2nd
(soph)		 THEA 20 or 21A THEA 50 THEA 50
THEA 61A THEA 61B Gen ed
Gen ed Gen ed Gen ed
Lower-div elec
(declare major)		    

Transfer Student Planner

Two-year academic plan, fall admission. Courses shown in bold are only offered in the quarter noted.

Transfer Student Planner

Year Fall Winter Spring
3rd
(junior)		 THEA 61A (TA)
–fall only		 THEA 61B (TA)
–winter only		 THEA 61C (TA)
–spring only
THEA 20 or 21A (IM)
–acting interest
or
THEA 10 (IM)
–technical interest		 THEA 30 (PR-C) THEA 20 or 21A (IM)
–acting interest
or
THEA 10 (IM)
–technical interest
[Faculty-directed
production]		 Lower-div elective THEA 160
–Spring only
THEA 50 (2 credits) THEA 50 (2 credits)
4th
(senior)		 THEA 185–
Fall only		 Upper-div studio Upper-div elective
Upper-div studio Upper-div
History/Theory
Upper-div
History/Theory
THEA 50 (2 credits)

Comprehensive Requirement

Theater arts majors are responsible for successfully completing course 185, Senior Seminar.

Minor Requirements

Students earn a minor in theater arts by completing eight courses (seven 5-credit courses and one 2-credit course) comprising a background in the theory and practice of the theater arts as well as a focus on drama, theater design/technology, or dance. The course requirements are listed below. There is no comprehensive requirement for the minor.

  • Theater Arts 61A or 61B or 61C
  • One quarter of the 2-credit course 50
  • One course in the student’s area of focus chosen from: 10, 20, 21A, 30, or 40
  • Three upper-division History/Theory courses chosen from the following: 113, 116A, 161 Series, 163 Series, 164, 165, 166, 167
  • Two upper-division studio courses, one of which may be a faculty-directed production

The following do NOT satisfy theater arts minor requirements:

  • 45 Student Production
  • 55A and 55B Barnstorm
  • 139 Random
  • 158 Chautauqua
  • 190 Group Project
  • 198 Independent Studies
  • 199 Independent Studies

Transfer students are advised to check with the department office to determine which courses can be articulated from a community college.

The Dance Minor

Students earn a minor in dance by completing eight courses (three lower-division and five upper-division) comprising a background in the theory and practice of dance. The course requirements are listed below. There is no comprehensive requirement for the minor.

Lower-division courses:

  • one 5-credit course in dance foundations (30, 33C or 36); one course (varying units) in cultural forms (including but not restricted to 22, 31A, 31C, 37, 80Z)
  • one quarter of the 2-credit course 50

Upper-division courses:

  • one 5-credit course in dance foundations (130, 131C, 135, or 136); one course in History/Theory (164, 165, 166, or 167)
  • three 5-credit elective courses planned in consultation with a faculty or a department adviser

The following do NOT satisfy the dance minor requirements:

  • 45 Student Production
  • 55A and 55B Barnstorm
  • 158 Chautauqua
  • 190 Group Project
  • 198 Independent Studies
  • 199 Independent Studies

Lower-division courses may be double counted for (used toward) both the theater arts major and dance minor, but separate upper-division courses must be taken to satisfy the major and minor requirements.

The Theater Arts Master of Arts Program

The Theater Arts Department offers a 12-month Master of Arts (M.A.) in Theater Arts degree, which serves as a bridge from undergraduate work to professional work in a range of performance-related fields. It can also place students in an excellent position to pursue further graduate academic work, such as an M.F.A. or Ph.D.

The Master of Arts degree combines intellectually rigorous coursework with challenging artistic practice. Like our undergraduate curriculum, our graduate program integrates the study of ancient and modern theater texts and practices, and it examines diverse approaches to performance. It encourages collaboration, initiative, and cross-disciplinary thinking.

Students are required to complete 40 credits for the M.A. in Theater Arts. This includes three graduate seminars (Theater Arts 290A, 290B, and 290C), for a total of 15 credits. These courses are required of all M.A. candidates, regardless of their area of emphasis. Students must also complete Theater Arts 293, a 10-credit performance research project that includes a professional internship project. Students may take this course in any quarter in the academic year, though it is advised that the internship portion be completed during the summer before the regular M.A. program begins. This work will be supervised and assessed by a theater arts faculty member.

Students must also complete the 5-credit Theater Arts 295 course, Group Critique; 5 credits of an Independent Study (Theater Arts 297); and the 5-credit Theater Arts 299, Capstone Thesis. M.A. Students may also take an upper-division undergraduate or graduate course in another department as an elective. These courses must be approved by the graduate committee and graduate director.

There are no teaching requirements for graduate students in the Theater Arts M.A program; however, students are encouraged to act as teaching assistants, as positions are available, at UC Santa Cruz.

For additional information, please visit the department website or contact the Theater Arts Department and the UCSC Graduate Division.

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Revised: 07/15/18