Please note: This is NOT the most current catalog.

Theatre

http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/theatre/

Chair, 2008-09: Brian Bjorklund, design and production

Faculty, 2008-09: Todd Edwards, design and production; Dona Freeman, acting; Gary Gisselman, acting, directing; Karen Peterson Wilson, theater, voice/phonetics, oral interpretation; William Sonnega, theater, media studies; Jeanne Willcoxon, acting, theatre history

The St. Olaf Department of Theatre takes for its subject matter all aspects of making theater. It produces a season of plays whose focus is the liberal arts curriculum rather than a typical theater company’s season of plays. All classes focus on the making of dramatic art. Classes in history and theory, no less than those in acting, directing, and design, approach the problems and difficulties of making production their central issue.

The activities and skills necessary for learning about and making theater are well suited to learning about and contributing to lives of worth and service. The basic theater activity is making things: play scripts, sets, costumes, characters, and the complete works of which these are a part. The theater skills are leading, following, reading, writing, talking, drawing, building, acting, performing, and making arrangements. We place these skills in the service of our conception of theater as a way of knowing. Our courses, along with the rest of the college curriculum, develop an appreciation of the need for moral choice, an imagination that constructs and examines alternatives, and an understanding of creativity as a reality in the world and an agency of community and change. We think of the program as a kind of laboratory for a serious and productive life. This is what we mean when we call the study of theater at St. Olaf a liberal arts major.

In contemporary culture, theater and the entertainment industry overlap, with the result that public approbation and artistic success have become difficult to separate. Our program emphasizes process as well as public performance so that students can, without the confusing interference of popular acclaim or criticism, learn to judge their own work according to principles derived from the art itself. And as part of the fine arts at St. Olaf, we also emphasize collaboration and the interdisciplinary nature of theater.

The St. Olaf College Theatre Department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THE MAJOR

https://www.stolaf.edu/committees/curriculum/ge/learning-outcomes.html

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE THEATRE MAJOR

The major requires a minimum of nine courses, of which two must be from Level I, two from Level II and three from Level III, plus four practicum quarter credits. All majors must register with the department chair as soon as they declare the major. Course Requirements: Theatre 110, 130 or 131, 150 or 250, 232, 270, 271, 352, 379 or 380, plus one additional course selected from: Theatre 338, 379, 380, 394, 398. All students must enroll in four practicum classes, of which at least one must be Theatre 233 and at least two must be Theatre 253, the fourth practicum class being a choice of either 233 or 253.

Note: Changes in the requirements for the major have been proposed, check with the theatre office to see if these will affect you.

THEATER TEACHING LICENSE

St. Olaf offers a K-12 teaching license in theater. Contact Brian Bjorklund, Theatre department chair or Mark Schelske, Education department chair, for further information.

COURSES

100 Oral Interpretation

This performance class is designed to develop a student's understanding, analysis, and presentation of poetry, drama, and prose. Offered every year.

110 Introduction to Theater

A broad-based introduction to the art and craft of theater, this course focuses on the roles of actor, director, playwright and designer, as well as aspects of theater history and works of great dramatic literature. Students attend performances on campus and in the Twin Cities and integrate them with readings, lectures, and discussions. A ticket fee is required. Offered each semester.

115 Acting for the Non-Major

This studio course is designed as an overview of the acting process for the non-major: basic acting theories, rehearsal techniques, improvisation, history and styles. Students explore and practice exercises, scene work and audition material. The course requires trips to professional theaters in the Twin Cities. A ticket fee is required. No prerequisites. This course does not fulfill the acting requirement for the major. Offered each semester.

120 Public Speaking

Students learn and apply principles of speech composition and analyze speeches to understand effective methods. They demonstrate their knowledge in classroom speeches.

130 Introduction to Acting

This studio course is centered on training the actor's instrument and developing basic acting skills including characterization, vocal production, physical and emotional connection, motivation and ensemble work. Exercises, improvisation, monologue and scene work will all be explored. This course requires trips to professional theaters in the Twin Cities. A ticket fee is required. Offered each semester.

131 Acting for the Lyric Stage

This studio course focuses on the techniques of acting and singing for the musical theater. Students learn the basics of voice, movement, improvisation and characterization in class exercises, prepared scenes, solos and duets. Offered Spring Semester.

133 Producing Theater: Introductory

This course studies theater performance through the full-scale mounting of a production during the month of January, followed by public performances at the beginning of Spring Semester. Students enroll in the class through either an acting audition or a production position interview held in late October or early November. No previous experience is necessary. Selected participants are notified prior to Interim registration. Details about the audition/interview and scripts are available by calling the Theatre Department Office, x3240. Offered during Interim.

140 Introduction to Design for Performance

The attributes of the things we see and hear in the performances that we attend contribute strongly to our experience as an audience. This course considers the elements and principles of design and their application to performance work. Students study the performance space, scenery elements, costuming, lighting and shadow, and the aural experience that the audience encounters during a performance. Problem-solving, collaboration, and design development are included in project work. Materials fee. Offered Fall semester.

150 Scenery and Costume Production

This course focuses on the practices, techniques and materials used in the design and production of scenic and costume elements for stage performance. Course includes projects in costume production, scenery production, visual research, technical drawing, and costume and scenery design. A course fee is required. Open to majors and non-majors. No prerequisite required. Offered Fall Semester.

200 Voice and Phonetics

This course focuses on training the speaking voice, with an emphasis on clarity and flexibility of voice usage. Students learn how to use the phonetic alphabet to improve their speech.

210 Plays and Playwrights

Throughout history, playwrights have represented the human condition in a wide variety of forms and styles, with intentions ranging from the profound to the absurd. This course surveys approximately 24 works of dramatic literature in exploring how playwrights employ structure, character, and narrative in creating live performances.

230 Intermediate Acting

A studio course for the student with previous acting experience. Through scene and monologue work students explore text and character analysis as well as the requirements of major theatrical period styles. Students perform regularly throughout the semester. The course requires trips to professional theaters in the Twin Cities. A ticket fee is required. Prerequisites: Theatre 110, and 130 or 131. Offered Fall Semester.

232 Beginning Stage Direction

This studio course focuses on the fundamentals of stage direction. Students develop skills of play selection, audience analysis, text interpretation, working with actors (including improvisational and technical approaches to voice and movement), stage picturization and blocking, design considerations, and the process of casting and rehearsals. A series of scenes are prepared and presented during the semester focusing on individual elements of stage direction. Prerequisites: Theatre 110, and 115 or 130 or 131. Offered Fall Semester.

233 Theater Practicum: Acting, Directing, Dramaturgy (0.25)

This theater practicum involves the student in the conceptual and practical processes of artistic creation and performance production in theater. Students study current theory and practice as well as historical approaches to performance problems. Lab sessions include creative projects and practical problem-solving in assistant directing, acting or dramaturgy as part of the St. Olaf Theatre season. First-year students are encouraged to enroll. This course may be repeated; only four total registrations allowed. Registration is by audition or interview only. Offered each semester.

234 Producing Theater: Advanced

Designed for the student with previous course work and production work in theater, this course studies theater performance through the full-scale mounting of a production during the month of January, followed by public performances at the beginning of Spring Semester. Students enroll in the class through either an acting audition or a production position interview held in late October or early November. Selected participants are notified prior to Interim registration. Details about the audition/interview and scripts are available by calling the Theatre Department Office, x 3240. Offered during Interim.

250 Lighting and Sound-Design and Production

The design and production of lighting and sound in theater, dance, music and general presentation work plays a significant role in the experience of these events. This course introduces the production problems of lighting and sound and includes design projects in both lighting and sound. Course fee required. Open to all majors and non-majors. No prerequisite required. Offered Fall Semester.

252 Drawing and Painting for Theater

This studio course covers drawing and painting as it relates to theater design and production work. Students engage in exercises and project work in perceptual drawing, scene painting, and technical drawing. Course fee is required. No prerequisite. Open to all majors and non-majors. Offered periodically. Inquire in the Theatre Department office, x3240.

253 Theater Practicum: Design, Technical (0.25)

This theater practicum involves the student in the conceptual and practical processes of stage performance. Class sessions include and practical problem-solving and hands-on experiences for productions which are part of the St. Olaf Theater season. Experiences in scenery, props, costumes, lighting, sound, and publicity are available. Contact the Theatre Department Office for specific details. The theater practicum 253(a) is offered each semester; practicum 253(b) - covering computer-aided design and drawing (CADD) - is offered Fall Semester. First-year students are encouraged to enroll. This course may be repeated; only four total registrations allowed.

270 History of Theater up to 1700

Examines theatrical activities, from theater's origins to 1700, from three interrelated perspectives 1) theater as social history, 2) theater as dramatic literature and 3) theater as performance; i.e. the result of creative decisions made by playwrights, actors, directors and designers. Prerequisite: Theatre 110. Offered Fall Semester of 2008-2009 and Fall Semester of 2010-2011.

271 History of Theater since 1700

Examines theatrical activities, in the period 1700 to the present, from three interrelated perspectives 1) theater as social history, 2) theater as dramatic literature and 3) theater as performance; i.e. the result of creative decisions made by playwrights, actors, directors and designers. Prerequisite: Theatre 110. Offered Fall Semester of 2009-2010 and Spring Semester of 2010-2011.

275 Writing for Performance

This course introduces students to the art and craft of writing for stage and screen. As a workshop, the course encourages students to work out unique solutions to the aesthetic and practical challenges confronting dramatic writers of a one act play or short screenplay in light of historical, theoretical, and critical materials. The course emphasizes the technical elements of dramatic writing, the vocabulary of the writer, and the nature of the writing experience, from germinal idea to marketing the completed script. Prerequisite: Theatre 110 or permission of instructor.

294 Internships

Prerequisite: At least three previous courses in department.

298 Independent Study

Prerequisite: At least three previous courses in department.

338 Intermediate Stage Direction

A studio course focusing on the artistic decision-making process of stage direction, script analysis, directorial concepts, production designs and hands-on directing experience building on the skills developed in Theatre 232 (Intro to Stage Direction). Students direct a one-act play as the final project for the course. Prerequisite: Theatre 232, 352, 270 or 271. Offered Spring Semester.

352 Design for Theater

This course studies and analyzes the concepts, principles and techniques of doing visual designs for stage performances, focusing on scenery and costumes. Students will complete design projects, drawings, renderings and scenic models. Course fee required. Prerequisite: Theatre 150 or 250. Theatre 253 Theatre Practicum in computer-aided design and drawing (CADD) recommended. Offered Spring Semester.

379 Topics in Interpretation and Theater

An in-depth investigation of a selected topic through readings, bibliography, reports and projects. Students may register for the course more than once, provided a different topic is studied. Prerequisite: Theatre 110. Some topics courses may require additional prerequisites. Please inquire in the Theatre Department office before registering. Offered every year.

380 Topics with EIN

Sample topic: Who Owns the Arts: Censorship, Sponsorship, and Artistic Freedom

An investigation into the relationship between theater and society through study of various issues in theater arts including censorship, funding, arts advocacy and arts education. Issues of contemporary ethical concern will be discussed and analyzed through a variety of historical and contemporary normative perspectives. Prerequisite: Theatre 110; completion of BTS-T. Please inquire in the Theatre Department office about schedule of offering.

394 Internship

Prerequisite: at least five previous courses in department.

396 Directed Undergraduate Reseach: Topic Description

This course provides a comprehensive research opportunity, including an introduction to relevant background material, technical instruction, identification of a meaningful project, and data collection. The topic is determined by the faculty member in charge of the course and may relate to his/her research interests. Prerequisite: Determined by individual instructor. Offer based on department decision.

398 Independent Research

Prerequisite: at least five previous courses in the department.

258 Theater in London (abroad)

A full immersion in the art of theater, students will attend approximately 22 performances at London and Stratford theaters. The course will include the reading of play texts, dramatic criticism, group discussions and backstage tours. England, a theatrical center of the English-speaking world, enables students to experience a wide variety of theatrical performances ranging from traditional to modern. Excursions to Stratford-upon-Avon, Stonehenge, Canterbury and Oxford offer additional cultural perspectives.