THTR - Theater

Introduction to theatre design concepts and principles, art techniques and design tools used in creating theatre.  Exploration of art media, drawing, painting, drafting, and presentation as it relates to theatrical design through script analysis, conceptualization, design techniques and communication of ideas.

Supervised participation in two phases of the production process working backstage on scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, stage management or house management.  Required of all Sophomore Theater Majors and includes a written self evaluation and oral review. (Grade of "IP" is allowed.)

This course is a chronological study of theatre's major artistic, literary and social developments from its ancient origins up to the present day.  Emphasis will be on readings from landmark works of dramatic literature and the individuals that have shaped the history of theatre.

This course is designed to give students a foundation of primary sources that have influenced our sense and expectations of modern theatre. The course will explore major acting and design theories, along with modern philosophies of performance, direction, and design. Works will include those of Stanislavski, Robert Edmond Jones, Brecht, and others.

This course explores the fundamentals of acting for both majors or those anticipating theater-related degrees. Includes the study of relaxation, concentration, imagination, and physical and psychological awareness. Focuses on the basic tenets of Stanislavski's acting system. (For majors and minors only.)

Continuation of DRM 321. Focuses to a greater extent on Stanislavski method of acting. Continues to assist the actor with a process for character development while stressing actor interaction through basic scene work taken from realistic plays.

This course explores the fundamentals of the acting process to the beginning student.  The student will practice a variety of acting methods, and learn the necessity of script work and analysis.  The student will work on discovering the physical, vocal, and psychological aspects of the character and apply them to specific dramatic texts using scene study and performance.

Course involves the study of stage directing techniques. Includes text analysis, the visual elements of composition, picturization, and movement, as well as the communicative skills needed in working in this collaborative art form.

Course is designed to help students incorporate the significant elements of vocal production into their acting. The process then proceeds one step further by applying these skills to dialect work. Class will focus on correct pronunciation using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

Course is designed to introduce the student to various types of combat used on stage (i.e. hand-to-hand, rapier/dagger, broadsword). Also introduces different movement techniques and incorporates movement to enhance character work.

Introductory course for Theater majors that gives the student a foundation in the basic techniques, tools, and materials of construction for both scenery and costumes for the stage. (Non-majors by permission of instructor.) Fee: $40.

An introductory study of the principles of stage lighting and sound design for theatrical productions.  Emphasis will be on both the design and technology necessary to create designs use stage lighting and sound equipment.  Students will use a variety of tools to create both practical and theoretical projects.  Previous theatre experience is not required.

An introductory study in the theories and skills of scenic design for the theatre.  Skill work includes beginning drawing, drafting, perspective and watercolor rendering.  Class also will focus on visual research skills and script analysis as it pertains to creating a scenic environment.  No previous design skills necessary.

Study of theatrical singing and acting techniques as applicable to all varieties of musical theatre pieces. Students are expected to participate in various performances prepared by the class. Open to all students with instructor's permission.

Survey of costume history, rendering, and design techniques.  Students will be expected to apply the historical and technical elements to renderings of specific theatrical periods and works.  No drawing or painting experience necessary.

Introductory course in the basic principles of the art and techniques of theatrical makeup.  Emphasis will be on both creative design and execution using a range of methods, mediums and styles. Fee: $65.

Supervised participation in two phases of the production process working backstage on scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, stage management or house management.  Required of all Junior Theater Majors and includes a written self evaluation and oral review. Required of Theater minors. (Grade of "IP" is allowed.)

Students will investigate the deep structures of dramatic literature through the lens of their chosen emphases (e.g., directing, acting, design, history, theology, scholarship) in order to realize these texts’ potential for live performance. For purposes of this course, participants will become dramaturgs, the most recent creative addition to the American theater.

This course is an in depth study and analysis of specific works of William Shakespeare (and other playwrights) that are currently being produced at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Students will spend the first portion of the term studying the plays and theatrical practice that they then go see performed in Ashland helping synthesize Shakespeare's plays with actual theatrical practice. Taught 2nd summer term. Fee: $350

An in-depth examination of theatre’s artistic, literary and technological advances during the Renaissance period in Western Europe, with an emphasis on the works of Elizabethan and Jacobean playwrights.

This course provides student with an in depth study of the dramatic literature of Western Civilization's early works.  Looking at the antecedents in Egypt and tribal Greece before moving into the masterpieces of Greece's golden age that have influenced two millennia of theatre, the works of the Hellenistic age and the drama of the Roman empire.

This course covers an in depth study of American Dramatic Literature from its foundations in Colonial America up through Modern American plays. Students will look at the works of O’Neill, Williams, Odets, Miller, Shepard and Mamet as well as the influence and impact of African American and Native American performance on American drama.

An advanced course designed to help the student integrate skills learned in previous acting classes, including vocal and physical work, and to develop new skills. 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.

This course prepares the student for the rigors of graduate school auditions.  The course focuses on building the audition portfolio from selection of contrasting pieces to obtaining professional head shots and developing an effective resume.  It will also prepare students for the entire audition process.

Study of the aesthetics and techniques involved in the  written dramatic form for stage. Emphasis upon writing, workshop critiques and discussion of student's plays.

Study of the aesthetics and techniques involved in the written dramatic form for video and film production.  Emphasis upon writing, workshop critiques and discussion of student's screenplays.

This course is designed to prepare the student for the entire professional auditioning process. It focuses on selection and performance of monologues, prepared auditions, cold readings, commercial and film auditions. It also covers creating appropriate resumes, getting the best head shots, and the details of getting a theatrical agent and working in union and non-union situations.

Surveys the history of fashionable dress from Ancient Egypt through the nineteenth century. Besides chronicling the changing styles, the class will explore the meaning of fashion in the broadest social context as it relates to the arts, theatre design and its function in society. The course will use an interdisciplinary approach examining fashion through a variety of research and sources.

This course focuses on the theories and practice of stage, production, and artistic management.  Topics include rehearsal management, budgeting, schedule work, costing, unions and season selection as they apply to both the educational, community and professional theatre.

Advanced course in study in lighting design that includes designing for thrust, arena, musicals, and dance.  Work with projections, automated equipment and CADD.  Sound work includes computer editing and cueing for theatrical production.

A course in stage design where students will be introduced to the more advanced practices of stage design, model building, and drafting. Students will apply learned theories and skills to several projects and written presentations.

This course introduces students to the history and style approaches to major decorative design periods from the Greeks to Moderns.  Students will apply style history to Scenic Art and Decorative Art projects that include mural painting, scrim painting, upholstery and fabric crafts.

Students will participate in advanced discussions and projects in textiles, color palettes, silhouettes, and costume fashion research. These concepts will be implemented in formal costume design projects utilizing a variety of dramatic styles.

This course is designed to encourage students to master construction techniques through building their own designs.  Pattern drafting, tailoring, and fabric manipulation will be emphasized.  Students will be expected to provide fabrics and notions for most projects. (Sewing skills required.)

Course introduces students to the diverse issues involved in managing a theatre company.  It begins with a history of the issues leading up to the regional theatre movement and includes an examination of the manager's role, budgeting, marketing, fundraising, the role of a board of directors, as well as an understanding of the modern context/trends/needs of artists which management supports.

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.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Qualified students are assigned to the management office or production team of a local theatre production company or closely affiliated arts organization for work experience. Placement is arranged through the faculty member assigned as program director. Students may receive an IP (In Progress) grade until the completion of their internship.

Capstone course is required for all Senior Theater majors.  Each student, in consultation with faculty mentor, designates a specific project to act as the culmination of their degree program.  Projects are in the areas of performance, directing, design, and advanced construction.  Documentation of the project includes a self evaluation and a public presentation to students and theater faculty. (Grade of "IP" is allowed.)

Research, study, or original work under the direction of a faculty mentor, leading to a scholarly thesis document with a public presentation of results. Requires approval of thesis director, department chair, dean, and the director of the honors program, when appropriate.

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.

This course is meant to provide the graduate director with an opportunity to direct a one-act play in a studio setting with undergraduate actors.

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 is designed to prepare the student to undertake the design and preparation of college-level theatre courses without the benefit of pre-existing syllabi or resources. The student will be lead through the course design and syllabus writing process, starting from a brief course description to a complete syllabus and course assessment form.

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.

Credit arranged.

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.)

Registration for any graduate student who has received the grade of IP in Thesis 599 is required while the thesis is in progress. Fee: $50.