Theater, B.A.
In accord with the University of Portland’s deeply held belief that education develops and enhances the whole person, the theater program prepares students for productive participation in local, national, and global society. Toward this goal, the program provides a comprehensive foundation of theater coursework with the ability to focus training in performance, design, management, directing, and dramaturgy. This comprehensive learning system of classwork and production experience provides students with direct access to performing arts careers, while also preparing students interested in other professions to acquire life skills such as problem solving, teamwork, and collaboration.
The bachelor of arts in theater is designed to provide students with an interdisciplinary engagement in the areas of performance, theater design and technology, history, playwriting, and dramaturgy. The comprehensive curriculum and laboratory learning offers students the opportunity for an entry level start to their professional theater career. Curriculum is not limited to theory in the classroom. The program strives to create safe and active learning environments in all course work and performances to help all students grow and thrive in the study and practice of theater making.
The theater program produces four main stage productions a year in the 280-flexible-seat Mago Hunt Center Theater and two to four student-produced and directed productions in the black box Blair Studio Theater. For further information, please visit the Theater Program's website.
The program also participates yearly in the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF.) All theatrical productions are entered to be evaluated by peers within the region. Student actors, designers, directors, and production managers are selected to present their work in the regional KCACTF gatherings where leaders are chosen to participate at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Program scholarships are available to new and transfer students through audition and interview. Scholarships are awarded only to declared theater majors and maintained through ongoing participation in theater program productions and yearly updated applications. Please contact the Theater Program Director to set up an audition or interview.
The University of Portland has been an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) since 2000.
Learning Outcomes for Theater Majors
Theater graduates of the University of Portland should be able to:
- Know the individuals who have influenced contemporary world theater and understand and articulate the fundamental theories and conventions that helped shape it.
- Identify the names and time periods of specific theater artists, playwrights and their work from the ancient Greeks to modern day.
- Describe the various theories and stylistic conventions that have shaped theater production from the time of the ancient Greeks to modern day.
- Demonstrate the fundamental skills and techniques required of a modern theater practitioner: performer, designer, director, dramaturg, or manager.
- Performer
- Be able to score a script for circumstances, acting relationships, objectives and actions.
- Use and produce effective vocal characteristics necessary for a theatrical production with correct pronunciations.
- Develop a personal approach to embody the emotional life and physical characteristics of a character in a theatrical production.
- Designer
- Be able to create visual sketches, models, drawings, diagrams to communicate their visual ideas and designs for theatrical production.
- Apply construction skills and technology to the process of turnings sketches, models, drawings and diagrams into 3-dimensional forms.
- Develop an aesthetic process that allows for personal artist vision and approach for theatrical design.
- Manager
- Be able to document and use effective communication as it applies to the model of creative theatrical process and production management.
- Apply the variety of skills and management theories necessary to work as a stage manager, a general manager, a development manager, a production manager and artistic manager in a professional theatrical organization.
- Develop an individual approach to managing an artistic process from conception to actual theatrical production.
- Work in an environment of collaboration in a variety of production experiences.
- Demonstrate skills necessary to act effectively in production assignments within the creation of several theatrical productions in positions both on and off stage.
- Document and evaluate the experience as it applies to the holistic process of theater production and its necessary collaboration.
- Apply critical thinking and analytical skills to dramatic literature as it applies to production; performance, design, direction, dramaturgy, and management.
- Performer
- Be able to research and analyze a script for character and period style as it applies to performance.
- Be able to score a script for understanding and approaching the plot, theme and the arc of action and apply it to production.
- Designer
- Be able to research and analyze a script for an aesthetic mood, character, period style, and required necessary elements to support the action of a production and its conceptual approach.
- Be able to create a visual form that supports the ideas presented by the playwright in terms of plot, theme and the arc of action and apply it to production.
- Manager
- Be able to research and analyze a script for management issues and challenges as they apply to the process and creation of a theatrical production.
- Be able to create a prompt book that incorporates the ideas of the playwright, director, designers and performers and apply this tool to production.
Capstone Experience
The senior capstone in theater is fulfilled with one of five types of projects: acting, directing, design, dramaturgy, playwriting and management. Students register for THTR 498. All projects allow students to demonstrate the development of their skills and a synthesis of their training in their chosen area of specialty. Students produce a written proposal for faculty approval, work with a faculty mentor to develop the project, and assess the strengths and weaknesses of the outcome of their projects through both a written evaluation and an oral presentation to the theater faculty and their peers. Details about capstones in each of the five areas are specified under THTR 498.
University Core Curriculum Requirements — 40 credit hours
All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.
See Core Curriculum Requirements
THTR 307 and THTR 412/413/414 are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.A. in Theater.
College of Arts and Sciences B.A. Requirements — 24-33 credit hours
See College Requirements, B.A.
Theater Major Common Requirements — 27 credit hours
| THTR 207 | Introduction to the Art of Theater | 3 |
| THTR 272 | Production Work and Review I | 1 |
| THTR 307 | A History of Theatre and Culture | 3 |
| THTR 321 | Acting Studio I: Performance Skills | 3 |
| THTR 333 | Directing I: The Director's Toolkit | 3 |
| THTR 350 | Theatre Technology and Safety | 3 |
| THTR 370 | Performance Practicum | 1 |
| and/or | |
| THTR 371 | Design/ Integrated Theater Practicum | 1 |
| THTR 372 | Production Work and Review II | 1 |
| THTR 412 | Histories of Gender and Performance | 3 |
| Or | |
| THTR 413 | Theatre for Social Change | 3 |
| Or | |
| THTR 414 | Race and Drama in the U.S. | 3 |
| THTR 498 | Senior Capstone Experience | 3 |
Select one of the following four emphases:
Performance Emphasis — 15 credit hours
Select one design elective from the following:
| THTR 351 | Light Design, Sound Design, and Technology | 3 |
| THTR 353 | Scenic Environment Design | 3 |
| THTR 363 | Beginning Costume Development and Analysis | 3 |
| THTR 365 | Theater Makeup Techniques | 3 |
Design/Technical Emphasis - 15 credit hours
Select three courses from the following:
| THTR 351 | Light Design, Sound Design, and Technology | 3 |
| THTR 353 | Scenic Environment Design | 3 |
| THTR 363 | Beginning Costume Development and Analysis | 3 |
| THTR 365 | Theater Makeup Techniques | 3 |
Select one production elective from the following:
Select one advanced design elective from the following
| THTR 451 | Advanced Light and Sound Design | 3 |
| THTR 453 | Advanced Scenic Environment Design | 3 |
| THTR 463 | Advanced Costume Design and Research | 3 |
Integrated Theater Emphasis — 15 credit hours
| THTR 351 | Light Design, Sound Design, and Technology | 3 |
| THTR 471 | Theater and Arts Management | 3 |
| THTR 497M | Integrated Theater Internship | 3 |
Select two electives from the following:
Basic Theater Endorsement for Education Certificate — 19 credit hours
The Basic Teaching Endorsement aligns with the UP School of Education curriculum for education majors as a secondary course of study. It is available only to students in the School of Education.
| THTR 207 | Introduction to the Art of Theater | 3 |
| THTR 307 | A History of Theatre and Culture | 3 |
| THTR 321 | Acting Studio I: Performance Skills | 3 |
| THTR 333 | Directing I: The Director's Toolkit | 3 |
| THTR 350 | Theatre Technology and Safety | 3 |
| THTR 372 | Production Work and Review II | 1 |
Select one design elective from the following:
| THTR 351 | Light Design, Sound Design, and Technology | 3 |
| THTR 353 | Scenic Environment Design | 3 |
| THTR 363 | Beginning Costume Development and Analysis | 3 |
Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours
Total Credit Hours: 120