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THEATRE

McKinley Hall
206-281-2145

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The mission of the Department of Theatre is to educate, train, and prepare theatre artists of character and competence who will engage and transform the culture through faithful use of their creative gifts and talents.

The study of theatre provides students with opportunities to explore personal values, develop personal skills, and acquire techniques of insight and critical reasoning — all within a distinctive philosophical and artistic environment.

Students in theatre are exposed to a sizable body of dramatic literature, theory, and historical study, leading to the development of an informed perspective of the role of theatre as a social, spiritual, and artistic institution. The experience is a liberalizing one, designed to allow the student to explore and develop herself or himself as both an individual and as an artist.

By the nature of the art itself, the production and performance process is inherent to undergraduate theatre study. Many of the courses offered by the department focus on skills associated with performance, playwriting, directing, designing, and technical theatre crafts. In addition to the classroom experience, an extensive production program is maintained.

The performance schedule is divided among main stage, studio, laboratory, and touring productions, with titles selected to reflect a wide range of dramatic forms and styles. Special emphasis is given to plays that deal with positive values and the relationship between theatre and the Christian faith.

Career Opportunities
The curriculum of the Theatre program is designed both to prepare interested students for graduate studies and to serve as a groundwork for the placement of committed Christians in the culture-shaping world of the professional theatre.

Career opportunities for Theatre majors extend beyond acting into other specialties such as the following:

• Set design
• Lighting and costume design
• Stage management
• Promotion and publicity
• Playwriting and directing
• Business management

Additionally, the skills acquired as a major — skills of self-knowledge, communicative social interaction, presentation of self, personal discipline, risk taking, cooperative group effort and sensitivity to others — are important to many career applications other than those allied specifically with the theatre.

Theatre majors find that they are prepared through their art to serve especially well in those careers associated with working with the public.

Admission to the Theatre Major
Formal admission to a Theatre major is accomplished at the end of the first quarter of the sophomore year, or in the case of transferring students beyond the sophomore level, in the second quarter of residence. 

To qualify for admission as a major in the Theatre program, the student is required to have completed 12 credits of work with a 2.5 GPA in Theatre, which must include TRE 1720 Stagecraft and TRE 1310 Actor's Art or TRE 1340 Acting One. A student must complete the major requirements in effect when the student is admitted to the major.

A student must also complete and submit for the theatre faculty's approval an application for admission. Application may be made through (PDF).

Requirements for the Theatre Major

Students majoring in Theatre must fulfill the following requirements:

• Earn a minimum of 70 credits in Theatre studies and applications, with a minimum of 30 upper-division credits.
• Demonstrate a growing ability in theatrical criticism, artistic awareness, and personal theatrical skills.
• Successfully complete a senior project* in acting, directing, design, technical direction, or playwriting. This project must include both an approved prospectus and some form of public demonstration made during the student’s senior year.

A maximum of 12 credits of practica offerings may be applied toward the major; any number toward the B.A. degree.

TRE 4899 Capstone: Art and Religious Experience fulfills the eighth course required in the Common Curriculum.

*The senior project, developed with advisor consultation and approved by the theatre faculty, is expected to be the independent work of a mature student artist. It is considered the culmination of the student’s undergraduate training and must be of substantial merit, reflecting an informed artistic sensitivity and philosophy. (Up to 3 credits of TRE 4961 Special Projects may be accumulated in the completion of this requirement.)

Admission to the Theatre Minor
Formal admission to a Theatre minor is accomplished by the end of the sophomore year, or in the case of transferring students beyond the sophomore level, in the second quarter of residence.

The student is required to complete and submit for the approval of the theatre faculty an application for minor status. Application should be made through the Office of Fine Arts on forms available there. A student must complete the minor requirements in effect when the student is admitted to the minor.

Requirements for the Theatre Minor

Students earning a Theatre minor must fulfill the following requirements:

• Earn a minimum of 35 credits in Theatre studies and applications, with a minimum of 15 credits in upper-division credits.
• Demonstrate a growing ability in theatrical criticism, artistic awareness, and personal theatrical skills.

A maximum of 8 credits of practica offerings may be applied toward the minor; any number toward the B.A. degree.

TRE 4899 Capstone: Art and Religious Experience fulfills the eighth course required in the Common Curriculum.

Requirements for Theatre Education, K–12 Teaching Endorsement
55 credits; 28 upper-division

Students seeking a Theatre Education endorsement must also complete education courses and internship requirements for certification. See School of Education drama requirements below and in the School of Education section of this Undergraduate Catalog.

TRE 1310 The Actor’s Art

    or TRE 1340 Acting I Fundamentals 5
TRE 1720 Stagecraft 5
Co-requisite: TRE 1931 Production Practicum 2
TRE 1810 Script Analysis 3
TRE 1930/3930 Performance Practicum 2
TRE 2340 Acting II: Creating Character 5

    or TRE 3340 Acting III 3
TRE 2420 Theatre and Drama: Tragedy
    or TRE 2421 Theatre and Drama: Comedy 5
TRE 3710 Play Directing 5
TRE 3733 Scene Design and Technical Drawing 5
TRE 4770 Creative Dramatics 3
TRE 4899 Capstone: The Arts and Religious Experience 5
TRE 4911 History of the Theatre I

TRE 4913 History of the Theatre II 5
Total 55

School of Education Requirements

Integrated Studies Major With a Concentration in The Arts (For students seeking K-8 certification)

Students who are planning to obtain elementary school certification and are interested in theatre must major in the Integrated Studies major with a concentration in The Arts.

• The concentration consists of courses in art, music, and theatre.

• to this major is through the advisor for The Arts concentration, Professor Andrew Ryder (aryder@spu.edu).

• Further information on the Elementary Certification program is available in the School of Education section of the Undergraduate Catalog.

Requirements for Integrated Studies: The Arts Concentration
Requirements for Elementary Certification

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