Theater

Basic Structure of the Department

• Courses in Theater fall into two categories: 1) History/Literature/Criticism and 2) Production/Performance.
• The department offers a major, minor, or modified major in Theater.
• Within the major or minor, students may concentrate in acting, directing, dance, design, technical production, playwriting, stage management, or theater history and criticism.
• The department annually stages about 20 productions, which provide opportunities for students onstage and backstage.
• The department sponsors a Foreign Study Program to London in partnership with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, one of the world’s leading theater conservatories. The program is offered in alternating summer terms (next in summer 2010). THEA 60: Classical Performance I, and THEA 61: Classical Performance II, are taught by the LAMDA faculty. These are intensive courses in classical theater training focused on acting, (including improvisation), movement (including movement theater, clown and historic dance), and voice (including poetry, prose, solo and choral singing). This typical British conservatory experience is designed for students interested in acting, directing, playwriting, design, stage management, dramaturgy or criticism. THEA 62: Plays in Performance- Perception and Analysis, is taught by the Dartmouth instructor with guest speakers. It involves attendance at an average of two to three productions per week in London and a weekly seminar. See the Off-Campus Programs Office for information (including prerequisites and required courses) and application.

Information for the First-Year Student Who Plans on Pursuing Studies in Theater

• A major in Theater comprises a balance of history/literature/criticism courses and production/performance courses. The two prerequisites for the major are:
  • THEA 1: Introduction to Theater Studies: How Performance Happens
  • THEA 40: Technical Production

Other Information

• Students interested in Theater either as a course of study or as an extra-curricular activity are encouraged to get involved in a student production. Participation in Theater department productions is open to all students. For information students should consult the department’s Blitz Bulletin, monitor the bulletin board in “Shakespeare Alley” – the Theater department hallway in the Hop, or speak with Maggie Devine-Sullivan in the Theater department office.
• THEA 29: Dance Studies in Performance, carries one course credit for three consecutive and combined terms of participation in the course. A student enrolls in THEA 29 as part of his/her official course load in the first term (fall), and receives a grade for credit upon completion of the final term (spring). Up to three course credits for THEA 29 may be counted toward the degree.
• It is possible to take up to five dance courses for academic credit. Students may apply the dance courses to an area of concentration for the Theater major and minor.

Current Enrollments, Class Size, and Distributives

The ORC

The Departmental home page

Major and Minor requirements