海角破解版

Graduate Studies

Theatre
2024-2025

Admission | Courses | Program | Requirements | Profile

Chairperson:听 Tammy L. Killian
Graduate Committee Chairperson and Coordinator: Carolyn Blackinton
Office:听 Browne Hall 101
Telephone: (309) 298-1543
E-mail: theatre@wiu.edu
Website:听 wiu.edu/theatre/
Location of Program Offering: Macomb

Graduate Faculty

Professors

  • Carolyn Blackinton, M.F.A., Florida State University
  • William T. 鈥淏illy鈥� Clow, M.F.A., Illinois State University
  • Tammy L. Killian, M.F.A., Florida Atlantic University
  • D. C. Wright, M.F.A., Boston University

Associate Professor

  • Steven House, M.F.A., Illinois State University

Associate Graduate Faculty

Associate Professors

  • Jason Conner, M.F.A., 海角破解版
  • Josh Wroblewski, M.F.A., University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Assistant Professors

  • Lysa Fox, M.F.A., California State University-Long Beach
  • Donald Laney, M.F.A., University of California-Irvine
  • Adam Lewis, M.F.A., 海角破解版
  • Hadley Kamminga-Peck, Ph.D., University of Colorado-Boulder
  • Rebel Mickelson, M.F.A., Southern Illinois University
  • Daniel Schmidt, M.F.A., University of Nevada-Las Vegas
  • Lisa Wipperling, M.F.A., Louisiana State University A&M

Learning Outcomes

For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes.

听Program Description

The Department of Theatre and Dance offers a program of graduate study leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree in the following areas of concentration: acting, directing, costume design, lighting design, and scenic design. The M.F.A. is a 62-hour program that takes three years to complete. A professionally oriented, terminal degree, it is designed to be a transition between collegiate training and the professional theatre and related careers. The program offers rigorous study through an individualized curriculum approach aimed at developing the student鈥檚 creative and intellectual growth. The program integrates the theoretical with the practical by combining technical preparation and intellectual endeavor with intensive application in designing, directing, and performing in theatre productions in the academic year.

听Admission Requirements

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 OR 3.0 or higher GPA for the last two years (60 s.h.) of undergraduate work

  • Either audition for or be interviewed by a committee of faculty members from the Department of Theatre and Dance.

As an audition/interview only graduate program, the M.F.A. program in Theatre and Dance requires remaining in 鈥済ood standing鈥� to enroll in Theatre and Dance courses. If, for any reason, you are no longer a candidate in the M.F.A. program you will be ineligible to enroll in further Theatre and Dance coursework. Undergraduate courses may be prescribed for individuals who are considered to have insufficient background in theatre. The Department of Theatre and Dance does not require the Graduate Record Examination.

听Degree Requirements

If the student requires no remedial coursework in theatre, a minimum of 62 semester hours is required for the MFA. Specific programs of study will be designed for each individual, based on previous experience and expertise. All students must successfully complete selected required courses in their area of emphasis. Depending upon that expertise and knowledge, the student may be required to take additional coursework or demonstrated competencies may substitute for some courses.

Upon acceptance into the MFA program, students are assigned an advisor (the area head of Acting, Directing, or specific Design area). The student will undergo a Graduate Review at the end of each semester in residence and must demonstrate sustained progress in order to be retained in the program.

Select one of the following areas of emphasis: 62 s.h.

A. Acting

THEA 470G Stage Combat: Unarmed (4)
THEA 472G Auditions (2)
THEA 477G Dialects (3)
THEA 545 Movement Lab: Warm Up (1)
THEA 546 Physical Characterization (2)
THEA 547 Advanced Movement I (3)
THEA 548 Advanced Movement II (3)
THEA 565 Advanced Voice Techniques I (2)
THEA 566 Advanced Voice Techniques II (1)
THEA 567 Advanced Voice Techniques III (3)
THEA 568 Advanced Voice Techniques IV (3)
THEA 576 Problems in Acting: Contemporary Texts (2)
THEA 577 Problems in Acting: Period Texts (2)
THEA 578 Problems in Acting: Comedy Texts (2)
THEA 579 Professional Summer Semester (9)
THEA 580 Theories of Acting and Directing (3)
THEA 587 Problems in Acting/Directing: The Score (3)
THEA 590 Analysis (3)
THEA 602 MFA Acting Project (4)
Departmental Electives (7)

B. Design

1. Core Courses

THEA 451G D茅cor (4)
THEA 534 Graduate Technical Theatre Practicum (1-3, repeatable to 18, minimum of 10 required)
THEA 590 Analysis (3)
THEA 602 MFA Project (4)
THEA 540 Visual Concepts for the Stage (3)

2. Primary Area of Emphasis

THEA 551 Graduate Scene Design (3, repeatable to 18)
or
THEA 552 Graduate Lighting Design (3, repeatable to 18)
or
THEA 553 Graduate Costume Design (3, repeatable to 18)

3. Secondary Area

THEA 551 Graduate Scene Design (3, repeatable to 18)
and/or
THEA 552 Graduate Lighting Design (3, repeatable to 18)
and/or
THEA 553 Graduate Costume Design (3, repeatable to 18)

4. Department and Directed Electives

ART 440G Studio Problems in Drawing (3)
THEA 496G Experiments and Topics in Theatre (1-3, repeatable to 6)
THEA 579 Professional Summer Semester (12)
THEA 600 Research and Projects in Theatre (1-6, repeatable to 6)

C. Directing

THEA 451G D茅cor (4)
THEA 481G Rehearsal Techniques (3)
THEA 532 Directing Studio 1 (3)
THEA 542 Directing Studio 2 (3)
THEA 555 Directing Studio 3 (3)
THEA 540 Visual Concepts for the Stage (3)
THEA 545 Movement Lab: Warm Up (1)

THEA 551 Graduate Scenic Design Studio (3)
or
THEA 552 Graduate Costume Design Studio (3)
or
THEA 553 Graduate Lighting Design Studio (3)

THEA 565 Advanced Voice Techniques I (2)
THEA 567 Advanced Voice Techniques III (3)

THEA 576 Problems in Acting: Contemporary Texts (2)
or
THEA 577 Problems in Acting: Period Texts (2)
or
THEA 578 Problems in Acting: Comedy Texts (2)

THEA 579 Professional Summer Semester (9)
THEA 580 Theories of Acting and Directing (3)
THEA 585 Directing Seminar (3)
THEA 587 Problems in Acting/Directing: The Score (3)
THEA 590 Analysis (3)
THEA 602 MFA Project (4)
Electives (7)

D. Technical Direction

1. Core Courses (44)

THEA 520 Advanced Stagecraft for the Theatre (3)
THEA 521 Automation for the Theatre (3)
THEA 522 Metal Working for the Theatre (3)
THEA 523 Introduction to Entertainment and Theatrical Rigging (3)
THEA 534 Graduate Tech Practicum (10)
THEA 554 Graduate Theatrical Technical Direction (15)
THEA 590 Analysis (3)
THEA 602 MFA Project (4)

2. Secondary Area (6)

THEA 551 Graduate Scene Design (3, repeatable to 6)
or
THEA 552 Graduate Lighting Design (3, repeatable to 6)
or
THEA 553 Graduate Costume Design (3, repeatable to 6)

3. Department and Directed Electives (12)

THEA 451G D茅cor (4)
THEA 496G Experiments and Topics in Theatre (1-3, repeatable to 18)
THEA 540 Visual Concepts for the Stage (3)
THEA 579 Professional Summer Semester (1-9, repeatable to 9)
THEA 600 Research and Projects in Theatre (1-6, repeatable to 6)

TOTAL PROGRAM: 62 s.h.

Application for Candidacy

All students are in pre-candidacy status until the end of their second semester. After at least 18 semester hours of graduate work at the University have been completed and before the completion of 30 semester hours, the student must file a Graduate Degree Plan with the Graduate Coordinator of the Department of Theatre and Dance. The student has to have a minimum GPA of 3.0, have removed all academic deficiencies and passed all graduate reviews up to that point. In determining the student鈥檚 qualifications for candidacy, the graduate faculty consider the student鈥檚 graduate and undergraduate record and other criteria stipulated by the department. After weighing all relevant factors, the graduate faculty may: (a) approve the Graduate Degree Plan, (b) defer action until certain specified requirements are met, or (c) refuse the applicant鈥檚 request. If approved, the Coordinator will forward the Degree Plan to the School of Graduate Studies. Approval of the degree plan signifies admission to degree candidacy.

Students who are not admitted to candidacy at the end of the second semester may be kept on pre-candidacy status for another semester or asked to leave the program. Once admitted to candidacy, all students will continue to undergo Graduate Reviews at the end of each semester and must demonstrate sustained progress in order to be retained in the program.

MFA Project

Each graduate student in theatre must present a final project in the area of specialty. After the student has been admitted to candidacy and the project proposal is approved, the student鈥檚 advisor will then form an MFA project committee consisting of three full-time theatre faculty members. Examples of final projects include the performance of a major role, directing, or designing a fully-staged University Theatre production. The project committee will review and evaluate the final project and a final oral defense of the project. Specific requirements for the MFA Projects are outlined in the Department of Theatre and Dance Graduate Handbook.

听Course Descriptions听

Theatre (THEA)

409G Playwriting I. (2) Designed to instruct in the basic principles of the art of playwriting: objectives, development of obstacles and incidents, characterizations, and climax. Prerequisite: ENG 180 and 280.

419G Playwriting II. (2) Continuation of Theatre 409G. Students who have achieved a basic level of proficiency in the art of playwriting are encouraged to further develop their skills. Prerequisite: THEA 409, ENG 180 and 280, or permission of the instructor.

451G Decor. (4) Survey of architectural elements, furnishings, decorative motifs useful to theatre designers: Prehistoric through Modern including Far Eastern styles.

456G Scene Painting. (2) Introduction to painting for the stage with an emphasis on materials, texturing techniques, and three-dimensional effects. Materials charge for course.

470G Stage Combat: Unarmed. (4) Students will learn safe, effective techniques for performing unarmed stage fights, falls, and rolls. Emphasis on acting the fight, safety, and realism. Prerequisites: THEA 170 and 172 or permission of the instructor.

472G Auditions. (2) Designed to prepare the advanced acting student in the techniques, opportunities, and procedures of auditioning, interviewing, and constructing r茅sum茅s for advanced training or career placement. Prerequisite: THEA 372 or 373.

473G Acting for the Camera. (3, repeatable to 9) Designed to incorporate skills learned in basic acting classes, emphasizing situations (in studio and on location) encountered by actors working in front of the camera. Prerequisite: Performance students: THEA 272 or permission of the instructor; Camera students: BC 110 or 361 or permission of the instructor.

474G Stage Combat: Armed. (4, repeatable to 12) Designed to teach safe, effective techniques for various weapons. Weapons could include broadsword, sword and shield, quarterstaff, rapier and dagger. Emphasis on acting the story and safety. Prerequisite: THEA 470 and/or permission of the instructor.

476G Advanced Techniques of Musical Theatre. (3) Continuation of THEA 471G. Further development of singing and acting abilities, enabling the student to fuse these talents and perform with greater success in the genre of musical theatre. Prerequisites: At least two acting classes, proficient music skills, and permission of the instructor.

477G Dialects. (3) Training in the dialects most frequently required in performance. Both American regional and foreign accents will be studied. Various techniques of acquiring skill will be introduced so that the individual may develop a personal working method. Prerequisite: THEA 171 and 172, or permission of the instructor.

481G Rehearsal Techniques. (3) The examination and practical application of techniques for the development of creative rehearsal environments, effective actor/director communication, and strategies for exploring the moment to moment dynamics of a scene. Prerequisite: THEA 382.

482G Independent Projects in Directing. (3) Supervised projects in directing for advanced students. Prerequisite: THEA 481 with a B or better.

492G Musical Theatre Auditions and Professional Preparation. (3) Designed to prepare students to be successful at professional musical theatre auditions and to provide them with practical skills and information related to show business (i.e.: agents, managers, union, negotiating, contracts, headshots, resumes, casting directors, etc.). Prerequisite: THEA 276.

496G Experiments and Topics in Theatre. (1鈥�3, repeatable to 12) Investigation and exploration of special projects or experiments which will immerse students in a specific topic, technique, or concept. Materials charge for course. Prerequisites: ENG 180 and 280.

497G Musical Theatre History. (3) History of musical theatre, primarily focusing on American Musical Theatre, from its defining influences and roots to the present. Topics to be covered include significant productions, composers, lyricists, librettists, choreographers, directors, designers, and actors. Prerequisite: THEA 101 or permission of instructor, and successful completion of ENG 180 and 280.

520 Advanced Stagecraft for the Theatre. (3) In this course students will build upon basic carpentry skills learned in THEA 150 and learn more complex construction techniques. The students will be expected to demonstrate mastery over each topic and complete the course as a qualified head carpenter. Materials charge for course. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in the Theatrical Technical Director concentration or permission of the instructor.

521 Automation for the Theatre. (3) Study of automation systems used in theatrical productions to move scenery and performers. The students will be taught the different components of prototypical automations, how to create them, and how to integrate them into a working system. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in the Theatrical Technical Director concentration or permission of the instructor.

522 Metal Working for the Theatre. (3) Study of the application of metal in scenic construction. The students will be taught when metal is appropriate in production, how to shape metal, and the different ways to weld metal together. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Theatrical Technical Director concentration or permission of the instructor.

523 Introduction to Entertainment and Theatrical Rigging. (3) Introduction to mathematical formulas necessary to calculating stress loads and identifying rigging points for entertainment applications. Rigging fundamentals and common practices will be explored and explained. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in the Theatrical Technical Direction concentration or permission of the instructor.

532 Directing Studio 1. (3) A survey of world theatre history and literature from its origins in antiquity through the 17th century, tracing the social, political, and economic conditions in which theatre has developed around the world, with additional focus on directing in each genre. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

534 Graduate Technical Theatre Practicum. (1鈥�4, repeatable to 18) Individual design and/or technical production activities at an advanced level under faculty supervision.

537 Professional Semester. (1鈥�9 hours, repeatable to 18) Designed to give graduate students the opportunity and the learning experience to practice their craft in a professional situation. Students may enroll in this course only with the approval of the theatre faculty.

540 Visual Concepts for the Stage. (3) An investigation of communication techniques used between directors and designers for production concepts which influence the process of lighting, set, and costume design.

542 Directing Studio 2. (3) A survey of world theatre history and literature form the 17th century to the 1930s, tracing social, political, and economic conditions in which theatre has developed around the world, with additional focus on directing each genre. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

545 Movement Lab: Warm Up. (1) This process-oriented course involves developing the actor's physical awareness, flexibility, ease, and use of self through the Alexander Technique and a daily routine of physical exercises. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

546 Physical Characterization. (2) This process-oriented course involves exploring a physical approach to acting through a study of the basic elements of movement (space, time, energy, etc.) an understanding of the mind/body connection, the essence theory of movement, and mask characterization. Prerequisite: THEA 545 or permission of the instructor.

547 Advanced Movement I. (3) This process oriented course is designed to provide students with experience in creating characters through movement and/or mask techniques, addressing the specific needs of the given character, text, and time period (i.e., those behavioral characteristics common to a character in a play). Prerequisite: THEA 546 or permission of the instructor.

548 Advanced Movement II. (3) This process oriented course is designed to help students develop their comedic abilities with a particular emphasis on the physical aspects of comedy. Students will explore comedy stylings from the past (i.e., Chaplin, Keaton, Commedia dell Arte) and create their own comic characters. Prerequisite: THEA 547 or permission of the instructor.

550 Design for the Theatre. (3鈥�9, repeatable to 36) A study of scenic, costume and lighting design; their theory and application. Survey material, studio and lab work in design, rendering, style and concept, history, construction and execution will be covered. Emphasis on the development of individualized skills.

551 Graduate Scenic Design Studio. (3, repeatable to 18) This course will progress the graduate student through a solid foundation of techniques needed as a professional scenic designer followed by designing a variety of dramas, musicals, operas, and other entertainment industry applications. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in the Theatre Design Program or permission of the instructor.

552 Graduate Costume Design Studio. (3, repeatable to 18) This course will progress the graduate student through a solid foundation of techniques needed as a professional costume designer followed by designing a variety of dramas, musicals, operas, and other entertainment industry applications. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in the Theatre Design Program or permission of the instructor.

553 Graduate Lighting Design Studio. (3, repeatable to 18) This course will progress the graduate student through a solid foundation of techniques needed as a professional lighting designer followed by designing a variety of dramas, musicals, operas, and other entertainment industry applications. Prerequisites: Graduate standing in the Theatre Design Program or permission of the instructor.

554 Graduate Theatrical Technical Direction. (3, repeatable to 15) Study of skills used by technical directors to engineer theatrical scenic designs. Students will be taught how to take a scenic design from paper rendering to fully realized production, be given stagecraft instruction, and taught foundations of structural engineering. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in the Theatrical Technical Direction concentration or permission of the instructor.

555 Directing Studio 3. (3) A survey of world theatre history and literature from the 1930s to the present, tracing the social, political, and economic conditions in which theatre has developed around the world, with additional focus on directing in each genre. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

565 Advanced Voice Techniques I. (2) Training and experience in techniques used for an effective voice in performance. Exploration of the anatomical aspects of voice to gain kinesthetic control and awareness with the body. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

566 Advanced Voice Techniques II. (1) This is a laboratory course designed to develop vocal skills needed by the actor in developing performances in the stage and electronic medias. The course will focus on expressiveness with the aim of developing interesting and varying vocal characterizations. Prerequisite: THEA 565.

567 Advanced Voice Techniques III. (3) A laboratory course designed to enhance the actor鈥檚 vocal skills through the exploration of various vocal placements and articulation of sounds that are necessitated by standard stage speech. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in acting or directing, or permission of the instructor.

568 Advanced Voice Techniques IV. (3) This laboratory course will identify the stylistic demands of Heightened Text plays and to develop within the actor the analytical knowledge and vocal skills necessary to meet those stylistic challenges. Prerequisite: THEA 567.

576 Problems in Acting: Contemporary Texts. (2) Designed to explore the specific problems the actor encounters with modern and contemporary scripts. Extensive work with improvisations, scenes, and monologues from American and British playwrights. Prerequisite: THEA 587 or permission of the instructor.

577 Problems in Acting: Period Texts. (2) Designed to explore the special problems the actor encounters with scripts from various historical periods. Extensive scene study with emphasis on Shakespeare and other verse texts. Prerequisite: THEA 587 or permission of the instructor.

578 Problems in Acting: Comedy Texts. (2) Designed to explore the special problems the actor encounters with modern and historical comedic scripts. Extensive work in improvisation, structured scenarios, and scene study. Prerequisite: THEA 587 or permission of the instructor.

579 Professional Summer Semester. (1鈥�12, repeatable to 12) Practical work in all aspects of production during intensive rehearsal and performance in a summer stock theatre experience. Faculty approval required.

580 Theories of Acting and Directing. (3) The investigation of prominent acting and directing theories and their practitioners; to determine their place in theatrical history and their application of contemporary productions.

582 Pre-Candidacy Directing Practicum. (3, repeatable to 6) Designed to diagnose and solve problems encountered by the first year director, with emphasis on establishing and clarifying a personal directing method. Students will work closely with an advisor in the pre-production work and rehearsals for a production that will be mounted in the studio.

585 Directing Seminar. (1, repeatable to 3) Investigation of topics and issues relating to the various elements of directing such as techniques in composition, developing tempo鈥憆hythms, approaches to casting, and directorial ethics. Prerequisite: Acceptance in the directing program.

587 Problems in Acting/Directing: The Score. (3) The technique and practice of scoring play scripts for actors and directors. Format will include theory, vocabulary and practical application.

590 Analysis. (3) The course investigates the nature and structure of dramatic forms, and the characteristics of major styles. Interpretation will include literary, performance, and production aspects of the scripts.

600 Research and Projects in Theatre. (1鈥�6, repeatable to 6) Independent research. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Chairperson.

602 MFA Project. (4, repeatable to 8 if the student is working in two approved areas of concentration.) The completion of an approved Master of Fine Arts project in one of the following areas of concentration: acting, directing, scene design, costume design, or lighting design. Enrollment in course permitted only during the academic term when the project is realized. Prerequisite: Written permission of the academic advisor.