Theatre & Dance Courses 10000s / 20000s / 30000s / 40000s
Foundation Courses
THTD 10000. Arts and Entrepreneurship (Art and Art History, Music)
This course will provide an introduction to and overview of the philosophy of entrepreneurship as well as the operational, management and "real life" aspects of launching and maintaining a non-profit arts organization in contemporary America. The course will explore general principles and theories of the following aspects: legal, organizational, mission, board development, branding and marketing, fiscal and budgetary, fund-raising, programming and strategic planning. It will also examine the issues that modern artistic and managerial leadership confront including intellectual property, first amendment issues, successors, capital campaigns, and institutional survival. Classes will focus on the student's conceptualization, formation, launch and management of a faux non-profit cultural organization. Fall. [AH]
THTD 10100. The Written Text (W)
The Theatre and Dance program at Wooster emphasizes the importance of analyzing texts in their various modes: the written text, the visual text and the physical text of the performer's body. These modes interact simultaneously with each other in the process of performance. This course specifically poses fundamental questions about the nature of written texts, and how they become transformed in the performance process. This understanding of texts is fundamental to both the enlightened theatre and dance audience member and to the work we do as actors, dancers, directors, choreographers, dramaturges, designers, technical personnel, and support staff. Annually. Spring. [AH]
THTD 10200. The Visual Text
The visual text, which includes the images created by the body, scenery, lighting, costumes, properties, film, and digital imagery, forms the ways in which the written text is performed. Students will focus on the following: how visual elements narrate the story; the basic tools and principles of design and the visual arts which communicate space, meaning, mood and emotion; and how visual communication in a performance context is culturally based and informed by historical and stylistic insight. The student is expected to develop a visual literacy and to apply this knowledge to both the understanding of how these elements create meaning and the development of creative visual representations of a text. Annually. Fall and Spring 2012. [AH]
THTD 10300. The Physical Text
An introductory level course intended to engage students in the study of movement as a primary text necessary for developing the art and craft of performance. Students will be introduced to the diversity of physical tools that shape movement of the performative body and how to analyze physical text with critical literary and cultural theory of Western and non-western performance systems. Annually. Fall. [AH]
THTD 10400. The Impulse To Create (Art and Art History, Music)
Creativity has been defined as "the process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts or associations." The impulse to create is at the core of entrepreneurialism, which can be defined as the transformation of incoherent elements into a tangible "something," to create art or a product or an event. Class discussion will range over diverse topics such as theories of creativity, student research into the sources of creativity for artists, innovators, inventors and creators, and experiential, in-class exercises exploring the students' own creative impulses. Spring. [AH]
THTD 12101. Performance Practicum
Performing in a faculty-directed theatre or dance production. Rehearsal and performance time must total a minimum of 40 hours. Only those students who are cast in faculty-directed productions should register for the Performance Practicum. Students cast in non-faculty directed productions may receive credit pending faculty approval through a student petition. (.25 course credit) Annually. Fall and Spring.
THTD 12102. Production Practicum
Practical experience in the production of a faculty directed play, musical or dance concert, including scene, costume or props design or construction; lighting design or execution; or serving on a stage or wardrobe crew. Non-faculty directed productions may receive credit pending faculty approval through a student petition. A minimum of 40 hours during the semester is required. Permission and arrangements through the instructor and the Department's Technical Director. (.25 course credit Annually. Fall and Spring.
THTD 12103. Stage Management Practicum
Practical experience in stage management of a faculty directed play, musical or dance concert, including serving as an assistant stage manger or assistant director. Non-faculty directed productions may receive credit pending faculty approval through a student petition. A minimum of 40 hours during the semester is required. Prerequisite: Permission and arrangements through the instructor and the Department's Technical Director. (25 credit). Annually. Fall and Spring.
History, Literature, Theory & Criticism
THTD 20100. Contemporary Dance History
This course explores the development of contemporary dance as an art form. Rich in diversity, the modern dance is world-conscious, concerned with social, cultural, and personal issues. Beginning with an introduction to late-nineteenth-century theatrical dance, this class will examine twentieth-century concert dance choreographers and their work as evidence of identity and change through dance literature, critical essays, and film. Alternate years. Not offered 2011-2012. [C, AH]
THTD 20200. Dance In World Culture
An introductory overview to selected dance traditions of the world. The course will examine such issues as the role of the physical text in dance, influences from other cultures, and culture-specific choices of the physical body. Students will gain understanding of how dance is embedded in the belief systems of the people who created it, how dance forms have changed and why, and develop skills in communicating about dance orally and in written form. Alternate years. Not offered 2011-2012. [C, AH]
THTD 24100. Latina/o Drama and Performance (Latin American Studies)
This course is an introduction to the history of Latina/o theatre and performance in the United States. By dismantling borders and opening up the public space of performance, students will explore topics related to identity and representation within the various Latina/o communities in the U.S. Analyzing a variety of performance genres and styles, the course examines how creative forms challenge dominant ideology and culture. Topics of emphasis include: immigration and diaspora, family and heritage, gender and sexuality, assimilation and resistance, violence, politics, and class struggle. Students will engage in historical, social, political, and cultural analyses of the theatre being created by Latina/os and the ways that their works bridge the gap between Latin America and the United States. Fall 2011. [C, AH]
THTD 24200. African American Theatre History (Africana Studies)
An overview of the history and literature of African Americans in theatre from the pre-Civil War era to the emergence of contemporary theatre. Students will compare images of blacks as created by both black and white playwrights and the effect of those images on social attitudes, through the reading and analyses of various plays. In addition, the lives and contributions of noted African American artists will be researched.. Not offered 2011-2012. [C, AH]
THTD 24300. Exploring India At Home and Abroad Through The Arts (South Asian Studies)
This interdisciplinary course provides students an opportunity to examine the rich history of the arts and culture of India both at home during the fall semester and abroad in a three-week field study experience during winter break. Through readings, discussions and guest lectures, the fall semester course, meeting one day per week, focuses on developing a foundational knowledge regarding the geography, religions, history, and cultural practices of India, as well as a more in depth awareness of the richness of the arts in their various forms. The three-weeks abroad provides students with a field experience where they will attend traditional January festivals in Chennai, engage in folk arts in the village of Dakshinachitra, interact with Indian artists and scholars in Kerala Kalamandalam University of Arts and Culture, and participate in a service-project in Wooster Nagar. Fall 2011. [C, AH]
THTD 24400. Origins Of Drama
This course introduces students to the origins of eastern and western dramas, focusing primarily on Europe, the U.S, and India, emphasizing the relationships between history, dramatic literature, and theory. Alternate years. Spring-2012. [AH] 1 credit
THTD 24500. Feminism and Theatre (Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies)
This course is designed to explore theories of feminism and gender issues in relation to dramatic literature from a wide range of time periods and perspectives. Emphasis will be placed on developing student appreciation of and critical responses to traditional and non-traditional forms of drama as they relate to women as bodies in performance; the relationship of the male gaze (in film and on stage) to both canonical and non-canonical works; and marginalized voices (e.g.; women of color). Every third year. Not offered 2011-2012. [C, AH]
THTD 24600. Realism and Beyond
This course traces the various theoretical movements found in the development of world theatre from the introduction of Realism to the present, emphasizing the relationships between history, theory, criticism, and dramatic literature. Alternate years. Not offered 2011-2012. [AH]
THTD 24800. Native American Performance (Film Studies)
The performance traditions within Native American cultures are extremely rich and diverse, embracing ritual, myth, spirituality, oral literature, art, music, dance, film, and, more recently, improvised and written scripts. A survey of this tremendous diversity would be impossible; accordingly, the course intends to indicate and suggest the diversity of recent Native performance in two ways: first, by focusing specifically on the range of recent performance practices of specific Native Alaskan and Native American peoples, and second, by the study of recent texts and performances by Native theatre groups, and performance artists such as Tomson Highway, William S. Yellow Robe, Drew Hayden Taylor, Chris Eyre, Marie Clements, and Hanay Geiogamah. Every third year. Not offered 2011-2012. [C, AH]
THTD 24900. Indigenous Film (Film Studies)
The course explores how indigenous cultures throughout the world have combined ritual, myth, oral literature, art, music, and dance with contemporary film. It will focus primarily on the films that have recently emerged from indigenous cultures of North American, Northern Europe Australia Africa, Asia and Polynesia. We will examine traditional culture, stories and performance practices as a means to gain awareness as to how a culturally specific indigenous film genre, free from colonial domination, develops its own voice and unique visual language. Alternate years. Spring 2012. [C, AH]
Topics
Intended to create a natural extension from 100-level foundation courses, THTD 30100-30103 Topics in the Written Text, THTD 30200-30209 Topics in the Visual Text, and THTD 30300-30308 Topics in the Physical Text educate students in a variety of areas pertaining to the many possible foci available in the performing arts: acting, dance, directing, design, writing, and/or history, as well as practical application to Film Studies when possible. Four 300-level Topics courses will be provided each year, two per semester, rotating emphasis upon the Written Text, the Visual Text, and the Physical Text as appropriate.
THTD 30100-30103. TOPICS IN THE WRITTEN TEXT (some sections cross-listed with Film Studies)
Prerequisite: THTD 10100 or permission of the instructor. [W, AH]
THTD 30200-30209. Topics In The Visual Text (some sections cross-listed with Film Studies)
Prerequisite: THTD 10200 or permission of the instructor [AH]
THTD 30300-30308. Topics In The Physical Text (some sections cross-listed with Film Studies)
Prerequisite: THTD 10300 or permission of the instructor. [AH]
Advanced Seminar
An Advanced Seminar course intended to engage students in theatre and dance through the written text, the visual text or the physical text as they connect to and reinforce the production program. Students will have an opportunity to experience the relationship between the classroom and the stage by being challenged with advanced theoretical and critical thinking that mingles with the skills inherent in production.
THTD 44100-44102. Advanced Seminar In The Written Text
Prerequisite: THTD 10100 and 30000. At the discretion of the instructor, prerequisites may be waived for students whose major has prepared them for the specific topic of a particular Advanced Seminar. Not offered 2011-2012.
THTD 44200-44201. Advanced Seminar In The Visual Text
Prerequisite: THTD 10200 and 30000. At the discretion of the instructor, prerequisites may be waived for students whose major has prepared them for the specific topic of a particular Advanced Seminar. Not offered 2011-2012.
THTD 44300-44304. Advanced Seminar In The Physical Text
Prerequisite: THTD 10300 and 30000. At the discretion of the instructor, prerequisites may be waived for students whose major has prepared them for the specific topic of a particular Advanced Seminar.
OFF-CAMPUS STUDY
THTD 39100, 39200. Individual Summer Study
This course is intended to provide the advanced theatre student an opportunity to develop professionally by accepting a Summer Internship or Apprenticeship with a recognized theatre or dance company. Students will submit a detailed course proposal to the departmental faculty at the beginning of the second semester prior to commencing summer study. The reputation and operational procedures of each theatre organization will be closely scrutinized by the faculty in order to assure a significant experience for the student. Special attention will be paid to the supervision and evaluation of the summer experience by a Theatre and Dance faculty member. Students must turn in a journal to the supervising faculty member at the conclusion of the course. (1 – 2 course credits) Prerequisite: permission of the department.
THTD 40700, 40800. Professional Theatre Internships
Internships with established professional theatres are included under this classification. Interns are assigned responsibilities by the host theatre, which they are expected to fulfill, and the theatre will make available other opportunities for observation and participation. The student's choice of theatre and its intern program must be approved by the department. Students choosing to study off-campus for a full semester are strongly encouraged to do so in either the Spring of their sophomore year or the Fall of their junior year to avoid conflict with the Junior Independent Study offered in the Spring only. S/NC course.
GLCA New York Arts Program
A semester of study and work in New York with professionals in various aspects of theatre and dance according to individual interest. Students live in a dormitory-type environment where they also attend a number of seminars. The major portion of time is spent on-the-job as an intern with a well-known artist or artists and companies. Prerequisite: recommendations by the department chairperson and adviser, and acceptance by the administrators of the program in New York. (four credits)
Download the entire Department of Theatre & Dance guidelines.
Looking for Junior or Senior Independent Study info? Go to the IS page →
