2018-2019 UG Catalog

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Hardin-Simmons University 2018-2019
DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE
Department Head
Larry Wheeler
325-670-1511
HSU Box 14864
FACULTY
F. Larry Wheeler, M.A.B.S., Associate Professor, Technical
Director
Victoria Spangler, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Artistic
Director
Objectives - The Department of Theatre serves to prepare
students for teaching at the secondary level or for graduate
level study in theatre. It provides undergraduates with the
opportunity to examine various theories and styles of the
theatre offering opportunities to experience creatively and
critically the artistic skills of this discipline.
It is the mission of the Department of Theatre to provide the
serious student of theatre a Christian environment in which to
reflect the ideas, dreams, and conflicts of humanity and to
provide perspectives from which understanding and insight
might be gained for a more meaningful life through the art of
the theatre. It is the purpose of the department to lead
students to achieve originality, creativity, imagination, and
perception with practicality to enable them to perform all tasks
in the theatre and life with more self-confidence.
Departmental goals are (1) to establish and support a viable,
substantial, and well-rounded undergraduate theatre
program; (2) to conscientiously encourage theatre students to
explore all career options in theatre including teaching,
directing, performance, design, technical theatre and arts
management; (3) to help the student realize his/her potential
in becoming an intelligent, responsible citizen as well as a
creative, responsive adult.
In addition to the required coursework, a Theatre Diagnostic
Examination is required of all theatre majors during the final
semester of their senior year. The graduating theatre major
will take an examination administered by the department to
measure overall intellectual proficiency on all facets of his/her
theatre education.
Students are encouraged to present a final project during their
senior year. This capstone experience will be in the form of a
performance, directing project, or demonstration of skills
acquired in light, scenic or costume design depending on a
student’s area of expertise. This public
performance/demonstration project will be developed
independently, and is not intended to satisfy requirements for
any required course, but may be applied to an elective course
if desired.
Theatre majors and minors are expected to participate in the
Department of Theatre productions in Van Ellis Theatre (Refer
to the Departmental Handbook).
Major: The Theatre department offers the Bachelor of Fine
Arts, the Bachelor of Arts, and the Bachelor of Behavioral
Science degrees. The B.F.A. is considered a professional
degree and an industry/academic standard. It is superior to
the B.A. or B.B.S. in Theatre for those theatre majors who
wish to pursue graduate school (the M.F.A.) and also provides
more courses and in-depth preparation for those going into
the work force. The B.F.A. in Theatre requires the student to
choose one of five tracks: Musical Theatre, Acting, Stage
Management, Theatre Education, or Design/Technology.
B.F.A. degrees in Acting, and Design/Technology require a
senior showcase. For specific requirements leading to all five
tracks, please refer to the degree plans following this portion
of the catalog. For BFA Musical Theatre Majors: The
Sophomore Barrier in voice will be assessed at the end of the
second semester of Voice 2121. The BFA Musical Theatre
voice student must be able to demonstrate the following: good
breath management and support techniques; the ability to
sing with musical accuracy in a tone and style appropriate to
the repertoire; the ability to establish and maintain character
with strong, active objectives; and an effective delivery of
physical expression in performance inclusive of focus,
gesture, posture, and movement. Students pursuing voice
studies for a BFA degree must demonstrate the ability to sing
in belt, mix, and legit (classical) styles. The Sophomore
Barrier may be attempted no more than three times. After the
third attempt the student will no longer be able to continue in
the BFA Musical Theatre track.
Minor: A minor in theatre is offered to students pursuing a
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Behavioral Science degree.
Requirements for this minor are listed at the end of this
section.
The Department of Theatre is a member of the Texas
Educational Theatre Association, Texas Non-Profit
Theatre Association, Kennedy Center American
Collegiate Theatre Festival, International Collegiate
Theatre Festival, Festival of New American Musicals and
has a student chapter of the Alpha Psi Omega National
Dramatic Fraternity.
Teacher Preparation Program - Students seeking teacher
certification in theatre should refer to the Irvin School of
Education section of this Catalog for Texas certification
requirements. Required courses for a Grade 8-12 standard
certificate include the following: 43 semester credits
consisting of THEA 1333, 2303, 2334, 2335, 3337, 3338,
3339, 4303, 4337, 4341, 4345, 4346, 4372 (BFA only) and
four semester credits from 1131, 1132, 1133, 1134. A student
who is seeking certification must meet with the HSU
Certification Officer in Abilene Hall as soon as he/she declares
theatre as a teaching field. All students seeking certification
must be formally admitted to the HSU Teacher Preparation
Program, preferably during the sophomore year. Admission
requirements can be obtained in the office of the Dean of the
College of Human Sciences and Educational Studies located
in Abilene Hall.
Courses in Theatre (THEA)
1131, 1132, 1133, 1134 Theatre Workshop
1301 Theatre Appreciation
1333 Introduction to Theatre
2099 (1-4 credits) Special Topics
2111, 3111, 4111 Voice Diction & Dialects
2112, 3112, 4112 Theatrical Choreography/Dance
2303 Voice and Diction
2312 Movement for the Actor
2334 Acting I
2335 Stagecraft
2337 Stage Management
3099 Special Topics (1-4 credits)
3336 Theatre Mask and Make-Up
3337 Theatre Lighting
3338 Costume Design
3339 Scene Design
3341 Acting Shakespeare
3342 Acting: Period Styles
3343 Acting: Realism
3344 Acting: Auditioning
3345 Acting: TV and Camera
3360 History of American Musical Theatre
4099 (1-4 credits) Special Topics
4301 Independent Study
4303 Modern Drama
4337 Directing
4338 Directing II
4341 Theatre Management
4345 Theatre History: Greeks to the 18th Century