Caroline Jackson Smith, Chair of Theater, Professor of Theater and Africana Studies
Jeremy Benjamin, Lecturer in Lighting Design and Technology
Heather Anderson Boll, Assistant Professor of Theater
Heather Leigh Brown, Lecturer, Costumer
Roger Copeland, Professor of Theater and Dance
Justin Emeka, Associate Professor of Theater and Africana Studies
Chris Flaharty, Associate Professor of Theater; Costume Designer
Daniel James, Lecturer, Technical Director
Paul Moser, Professor of Theater
Joe Natt, Lecturer, Technical Director
Eric Steggall, Lecturer, Managing Director
Matthew Wright, Professor of Theater
The Theater Department offers students the opportunity to study acting, directing, design and production, theater history and criticism, and playwriting within the broader context of a liberal arts education. In addition to coursework, theater students can 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, promoting both cultural diversity and individuality. Students who graduate with a major in Theater will demonstrate:
1. A broad knowledge of global performance traditions and literature, including
- Extensive study of plays from a wide range of periods, movements, genres and cultural traditions
- The study of our American Theater tradition, including the present
2. Advanced analytical skills specific to theatrical processes, appropriate for both creative work and scholarship in our discipline, including
- Critical thinking and writing
- An ability to articulate ideas verbally and in written communiction
3. A broad knowledge of, and practical experience in, creating Theater, including
- The study of such sub-disciplinesas: playwriting, acting, directing, design, technical production, arts management, and dramaturgy
- The capacity to collaborate successfully on a Theater piece and communicate with artists and thinkers from other disciplines and within our own.
4. Evidence of the development of advanced technique/skills with at least one sub discipline, including
- Performance
- Directing
- Design
- Theater Scholarship
- Arts Management
- Technical Production
- Playwriting
5. The development of life skills through the exploration of technique and production processes, including
- An understanding of the depth of human experience in a variety of cultural and literary expressions
- An understanding of cultural sensitivity
- The development of emotional intelligence
- The development of empathy
6. A readiness to pursue graduate-level study or professional opportunities in the field, through successful preparation of audition materials, portfolio, curriculum vitae and other appropriate professional promotional materials
All 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, whether they elect to major, or not, are encouraged to enroll in intermediate and advanced-level courses in technique along with courses in production, history, and the aesthetics of theater. Students also have the opportunity to work closely with guests and artists-in-residence each year. Guest directors, playwrights, and other specialists may offer workshops lasting from a few days to one month.
The Theater Curriculum
The Theater curriculum offers courses in acting, directing, history, criticism, design, and production. In addition to class meetings, many courses have a laboratory component that involves students in the process of creating a theater production. The program also sponsors theater residencies from time to time, which have included workshops with specialists in stage combat, Le Coq, masks, Noh, Suzuki and Viewpoints.
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 Little Theater. 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 Department, 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. (e.g. directing, designing, or acting in a full length production, etc.) Applications for Senior Projects must be submitted to the Theater Department Administrative Assistant 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 LT 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. 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 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 and design research. Ms. Jackson Smith: acting; directing; writing/dramatic literature other performance projects. Mr. Moser: acting; directing. Mr. Steggall: Arts Administration. 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, or the equivalent, of off-campus study 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.
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