Graduate Courses

A chronological study of the historical development of theatre from its beginnings through the Restoration period. Emphasis will be on historical research and dramatic literature.

Study of selected theories of dramatic criticism from Aristotle to the present.

This course is designed to provide graduate MFA directing students with methodologies for exploring dramatic literature's masterpieces with a focus on creative solutions to the directing challenges that works from a variety of historical time periods pose.

This course is designed to help prepare the student to undertake the teaching of acting at the college level.  The student will observe and participate actively in the teaching of a University of Portland acting course, as well as, having regular mentoring sessions with the course's instructor.

An advanced course in acting designed to challenge the student as an actor and director. The course uses material from Shakespeare as the acting texts for the course and addresses work on classical texts, acting style, and period context for his plays. The course includes both vocal and physical work. It also explores the directing of Shakespeare.

A graduate course that helps students develop a personal creative process for conceptualization and collaboration necessary in theatrical production. Students will explore proper production procedures and techniques. Finally, students will practice approaches to writing about conceptual ideas for thesis projects.

This course introduces students to the MFA in Directing program, and focuses on directing technique. It addresses analysis and conceptualization of a play for production; stage composition, picturization, and movement; collaboration; and production planning.

This course will focus on more specialized projects related to a director's production preparation; production styles, creating dramatic adaptations, selecting translations, and script editing.

This course is designed to supervise students through the major steps in the production process. This course allows student directors to acquire production laboratory experience prior to the thesis production project.

This MFA core course is designed to give directors a variety of script analysis strategies for use in preparing a production.  Students explore the value of the chronological, character, and audience-based analysis structures and apply them to dramatic literature.  In addition, action based analysis will be used for interpretation of individual scenes within particular dramas.

Study of theatrical singing and acting techniques as applicable to all varieties of musical theatre pieces.  Students must participate in various performances prepared by the class.  In this combined undergraduate and graduate student pool, graduate students will be expected to take on more challenging pieces and to provide mentoring to those undergraduates who require it.

Participation in the production process in the University's theater program. The graduate student will serve as an assistant director, designer, dramaturge, or stage manager on a production.

This workshop/seminar course for graduate directors will focus on professional topics and directing craft. THTR 572 and THTR 573 are not sequenced and may be taken in either order.

This workshop/seminar course for graduate directors will focus on professional topics and directing craft. THTR 572 and THTR 573 are not sequenced and may be taken in either order.

This course provides a professional development opportunity through an internship with an organization outside of the University. The student seeks out and obtains an internship with the guidance and advice of the Graduate Program Director. (IP grade allowed.)

Individualized programs which focus on a specialized area in theatre. These are available only when developed through a contractual agreement between the student and a supervising faculty member.

This course is the capstone production for the graduate directing student application of the full directing process from conceptualization to finished produced production. Student will defend the final production in front of the entire theater faculty.

Graduate directing students will work under an advisor in the creation of a thesis that documents the research and directing process for their produced Thesis Production. Students will defend the final draft of paper in front of the entire theater faculty. (IP grade allowed.)