Apr 26, 2024

Course Catalog 2015-2016

Course Catalog 2015-2016 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Theater

Matthew Wright, Chair of Theater, Professor of Theater
Jeremy Benjamin, Lecturer in Lighting Design and Technology
Heather Anderson Boll, Assistant Professor of Theater
Heather Brown, Lecturer and Costume Shop Manager
Justin Emeka, Assistant Professor of Theater and Africana Studies
Chris Flaharty, Associate Professor of Theater; Costume Designer
Caroline B. Jackson Smith, Professor of Theater and Africana Studies
Daniel James, Lecturer, Technical Director
Christopher McCollum, Visiting Assistant Professor
Paul Moser, Professor of Theater
Joseph P. Natt, Lecturer; Technical Director
Eric Steggall, Managing Director/Lecturer

The Theater Department offers students the opportunity to study acting, directing, design and production, and areas of critical inquiry such as theater history, literature and criticism within the broader context of a liberal arts education. In addition to coursework, theater students acquire practical experience in all aspects of the theater by participating in departmental productions. Because the performing arts are collaborative by nature, the department fosters a strong sense of community while respecting both cultural diversity and individuality. The major objectives of the department are:

To provide critical understanding and enhanced appreciation for theater arts and their relationships to other areas of liberal arts learning.
To provide concentrated preparation in theater for students wishing to pursue advanced studies or professional careers.
To provide practical experiences in all aspects of production.
To encourage interdisciplinary artistic collaboration and studies across other academic disciplines.

The introductory level courses are open to all students interested in broadening the scope of their education or who are majoring in a related field and wish to use theater as a resource. Students wishing to pursue more intensive involvement in theater are encouraged to enroll in intermediate and advanced-level courses in technique along with courses in production, history, and the aesthetics of theater. Students may also have the opportunity to work closely with guests and artists-in-residence. Guest directors, playwrights, and other specialists may offer workshops or classes lasting from a few days to a full semester.

Oberlin College Theater (OCT) Season

Each year, the Theater Department produces a season of theatrical offerings that includes three faculty or guest-directed Mainstage productions in Hall Auditorium, and several student-directed projects in the LABseries. Casting in all of these productions is open to all Oberlin College students. Smaller scale productions such as the Directing Class One-Act Festival are intended to provide a bridge between the classroom experience and fully mounted productions. In addition to productions that are sponsored by the Theater and Dance Program, students have the opportunity to participate in productions sponsored by other departments and student theater organizations such as Oberlin Student Theater Association (OSTA) and Oberlin Musical Theater Association (OMTA).

Senior Projects and Honors

Seniors majoring in theater are strongly encouraged to pursue a senior “capstone” project that will serve as the culmination of their undergraduate studies. Usually, the senior project will evolve directly from the student’s concentration (see below, Areas of Concentration) within the major. Applications for Senior Projects must be submitted to the Theater program secretary by April 1st of the student’s junior year. If the project requires assignment of space in Little Theater or an alternative venue, the project application must be accompanied by a LABseries application, available from Janice Sanborn in the Theater office.

The Honors program is designed to offer a few exceptional theater majors the opportunity to undertake a full year (i.e. two semester) creative and/or scholarly project under the close supervision of a faculty sponsor. These students will be invited by the faculty, from the pool of Senior Project applicants. In order to qualify for Honors status, applicants must

Possess a proven ability to successfully complete a significant scholarly/research project, as evidenced through course work and/or submission of a significant sample of scholarly writing
Have a minimum GPA of 3.65 both overall and within the department

Winter Term

Winter Term provides an opportunity for students to engage in projects sponsored by the faculty in acting, directing, design, and theater research. Normally, several on-campus Winter Term theater productions are in rehearsal during the month of January. Guest artists are often brought in to work with students in areas such as physical theater, stage combat, voice, and acting. In addition, students use this time to become active in various alumni and off campus theater-related internships.

The Oberlin Professional Theater Intensive (OPTI) is a Winter Term opportunity offered in alternating years (offered next in January 2016) in which a select group of students travels to New York for approximately two weeks to participate in workshops, seminars and master classes conducted by Oberlin alumni and affiliated artists with proven careers in the Theater industry. Past workshop leaders include Bill Irwin, Judy Kuhn and Maude Mitchell. Students will also attend a variety of performances in which alumni are involved. Selection for this opportunity is conducted through a rigorous audition process in the fall prior to the OPTI experience. Preference is given to third and fourth year students, but spaces may be available for younger students, and all are encouraged to attend auditions.

The following faculty members are available to sponsor Winter Term projects, as indicated. Ms. Anderson Boll: acting; directing. Mr. Copeland: history and criticism in theater; playwriting; performance. Mr Emeka: acting; directing. Mr. Flaharty: costume design; makeup; design research. Ms. Jackson Smith: acting; directing; writing/dramatic literature; other performance projects. Mr. Moser: acting; directing. Mr. Wright: acting; directing.

Major and Non-Major Off Campus Study

Many students majoring in theater elect to take advantage of the numerous study away programs available in the field. Oberlin has several designated Affiliated Programs, including:

The Great Lakes College Association Arts in New York program
National Theater Institute at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
Trinity/La Mama Performing Arts Program in New York
Spring Semester at NYU’s Tisch School Of The Arts
The British American Drama Academy

Before credit is awarded for off-campus study, students must obtain tentative prior approval the Chair of Theater and the Associate Dean of Studies. After the study is completed, the student must supply evidence of satisfactory participation. A maximum of four full courses of off-campus study, or the equivalent, may be applied to the major in Theater. Please visit the Study Away Office for additional information about the above-listed programs, as well as others that might be of interest.

Theater Major

It is recommended that those students intending to pursue a career and/or advanced studies in the field of Theater or related performing arts consider declaring a major in Theater. The major program of study is designed to allow students the flexibility of pursuing general theater studies while focusing on a particular emphasis within the Theater curriculum, such as acting, directing, critical inquiry, or production/design.

Students who intend to major in theater must first secure a faculty advisor. This should be an instructor in your area of intended concentration and would ideally be someone with whom you’ve already successfully completed intermediate level coursework. For example, students wishing to declare a Theater major with a concentration in Acting would first successfully complete THEA 200: Introduction to Scene Study, and ask an acting instructor to be their advisor. You’ll then schedule an appointment with your advisor and work closely with them to design an individualized plan of study and acquire the necessary approvals.

Areas of Concentration

Because of the wide range of subdisciplines within the field of Theater, it is helpful for the student to guide his/her course of study by focusing on one or two specific areas of concentration. Within our program, we have delineated these areas of concentration: Acting, Directing, Critical Inquiry, Production/Design and Stage and Arts Management. It must be remembered, however, that these are merely areas of study and that, by majoring in Theater, it is expected that students may take courses in all of these areas, while focusing on one. We believe that, in order to excel at any one area within the broad field of Theater, it is essential to acquire a working knowledge of all areas.

Required Production Crew: THEA 199

Theater Majors must fulfill 2 (two) THEA 199 assignments, and must fulfill at least one 199 assignment prior to declaring a Theater major.

This is a non-credit bearing requirement
These production crew assignments include all Theater Department productions (both Mainstage and LABseries), or major Dance Department concerts, limited to ODC, Fall Forward, and Spring Back.
199s do not include Operas, other capstones or extra-curricular productions.
Because this requirement is intended, in part, to broaden our students’ backstage experience, the two 199 assignments should be for two different kinds of crew positions (for instance, they should not both be for operating the light board).
Students may count Stage Management or Assistant Stage Management of a Theater Department production for 1 (one) 199, provided they are not also receiving THEA 312 Stage Management Practicum credit.
100% attendance, punctuality and commitment are required for all 199s (and are neither negotiable or optional);
Any student failing to satisfactorily complete a 199 assignment will not receive credit.
The staff supervisor will determine the number and kinds of positions for each show at the beginning of each season, allowing any interested majors to sign up well in advance.
Because these assignments often conflict with departmental casting, it is recommended that students fulfill BOTH 199’s before the end of their third year
Procedure: At the beginning of each semester, the staff supervisor will announce a mandatory meeting at which 199 assignments will be distributed. Students must attend this meeting in order to receive a 199 assignment for a given semester.

Special Exceptions and Substitutions

IN VERY SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, a Theater major in their third or fourth year who finds it impossible to fulfill a 199 around the year’s rehearsal or class schedules may petition the department for pre-approval by shop staff for a special substitution of 30 hours of tech crew work. Upon approval

hours will be predetermined by the appointed shop supervisor, based on what is useful to the professional staff
job(s) will be specified
it should be noted that approval is contingent upon the petitioner’s proven ability to perform the proscribed task.

Additionally, there may be special exceptions granted in instances when a student is recruited to work on a special project or performance by a faculty supervisor. Examples of this are students who have been approached to serve crew for Dance Department productions such as Dance Diaspora or Essence.

Theater Major Requirements (10 full courses) to include:

1. Two full courses in Western Theater History: THEA 252, THEA 253

2. Two full courses (or equivalent) in Performance, chosen from:

THEA 100 Acting 1
THEA 200 Acting 2
THEA 208 Directing 1
THEA 210 Movement For Actors (half course)
THEA 268 Black Arts Workshop
THEA 269 Voice For The Actor (half course),
THEA 270 Speech and Dialects (half course).

3. Two full courses (or equivalent) in Production and Design, chosen from:

THEA 172 Production Scenery
THEA 173 Production Costumes
THEA 174 Lighting Technology
THEA 212 Stage Management
THEA 222 Introduction To Design
THEA 232 Costume Design
THEA 236 Set Design

4. Two full courses (or equivalent) in Critical Inquiry chosen from:

THEA 254 Asian Theater
THEA 264 African American Drama
THEA 282 Shifting Scenes
THEA 302 Non-Literary Theater
THEA 309 Theater of the Millennium
THEA 317 Texts and Concepts
THEA 324 Concept of The Avant-Garde
THEA 333 Stage to Screen
THEA 349 Contemporary Drama

It should be noted that, in addition to the above-listed courses, there are many courses offered in a variety of departments that may be used in fulfilling this requirement. Consult your advisor if you wish to petition to have a course considered for inclusion in this category.

5. Two full courses (or equivalent) advanced level (300 or 400 level) Theater Electives in student’s
area of concentration

6. Two Production Crews (THEA 199) - 0 credits

Note: THEA 995 Private Reading, may not substitute for any major requirements.

Note: Courses in which a student has earned a letter grade lower than a C- or P cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the major.

Theater Minor (5 full courses) to include:

1. Two full courses in Western Theater History (THEA 252, 253)

2. One Production and Design elective (full or half course)

3. Two full courses at the intermediate or advanced level in the student’s area of interest

4. One Theater Crew (THEA 199) – 0 credits – experiences

CRITICAL INQUIRY COURSES*

PERFORMANCE COURSES

(Note: THEA 100:Acting 1 is a prerequisite for all 200-level Acting/Directing courses, THEA 200: Acting 2 is a prerequisite for all 300-level Acting/Directing courses)**