Theatre

With this emphasis, you will study set, costume, lighting, and sound design, as well as practicing makeup and the craft of theatre. 

All are crucial roles in creating a vibrant and successful production. But before you can be admitted, you must supply a portfolio for review. The review process takes place each March.

Please note, before you can be assigned as a production designer or an assistant designer, you must complete all required coursework and meet the standards set by the design/technology faculty.

Admission to the Design/Technology emphasis occurs in of the fourth semester of residency, or the first week in March, whichever comes later. 

BA Design/Technology Degree Progress Plan
BS Design/Technology Degree Progress Plan 

2. Performance Emphasis 

Want to increase your on-stage performance abilities?  How about exploring directing?  With the performance emphasis, you can increase your understanding of what it takes to deliver a great performance, and how to give one yourself.

Performance students must audition for admission into the performance emphasis, which takes place each March. You must audition to be admitted to any acting class beyond Acting I. Auditions take place immediately prior to the University course registration deadline.

Admission to the performance emphasis occurs in the second semester of residency or the first week in March, whichever comes later. Freshmen/transfer students seeking admission to the performance emphasis must formally apply to the faculty for admission. 

BA Performance Degree Progress Plan
BS Performance Degree Progress Plan 

3. Theatre Studies 

The theatre studies emphasis is flexible and allows you to seek a broader experience in theatre that combines courses from all emphasis areas. This emphasis will offer you a well-rounded education and will prepare you for:

• pursuing directing, stage management and arts management careers
• pursuing a graduate degree
• teaching

Students may declare the Theatre Studies emphasis in their second semester of residency. 

Note for all students: All students may reapply or re-audition for an emphasis following the completion of one full semester’s work, or the following March, whichever comes later. 

BA Theatre Studies Degree Progress Plan
BS Theatre Studies Degree Progress Plan 

To complete this minor, you must take the following 22 units:  

• TH 101 (3 units)  
• TH 130 (3 units)
• TH 331 or TH 451 (3 units)
• TH 122 or, TH 123 or, 124 (3 units)
• TH113: Production Practicum (1 credit hour)
• 9 units of approved TH courses, of which 3 units must be in upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses

However, in the emphases above, there are required auditions to maximize the education experience for all students. If you would like to emphasize in performance or design/technology, you will be required to turn in portfolios, be interviewed, or audition. 

If you can’t decide on an emphasis, you will automatically become a Theatre Studies major for one semester and may re-audition for an emphasis following the completion of one full semester’s work (summers are not included) after the interview/audition. If you are not admitted following a second audition/interview, you may continue as a Theatre Studies major or as a theatre minor.

Auditions

If you want to be considered for admission to the performance emphasis, you must audition. These auditions are held in March each year. Two one-minute, contrasting monologues are standard for these auditions.

Productions 

Performance emphasis students are required to audition for all departmental productions. Moreover, students are required to accept and fulfill roles assigned to them through the audition process.

A student who reneges on production responsibilities after casting or assignment without the express consent of their adviser or a viable excuse deemed family or personal in nature is subject to administrative dismissal from the program. 

With very few exceptions, students are typically cast in only one mainstage production per semester.

Portfolios/Interviews

If you want to emphasize in Design and Technology, you must present a portfolio of all design and/or technology work at the departmental portfolio review and interview held in March of each year.