Drama and Dance
Eldred Hall: Phone 216-368-4868; Fax 216-368-5184
Mather Dance Center: Phone 216-368-2854; Fax 368-6936
Ron Wilson, Chair

The Department of Theater Arts offers education and participation in all aspects of drama and dance with course offerings in acting, dance technique, choreography, stagecraft, costume, scene design, directing, and playwriting. Students have the opportunity to perform on stage as well as serve on the technical crews in dance concerts and mainstage theatrical productions each year. The high ratio of faculty to students ensures that students will be able to work closely with highly skilled professionals. The department treats all performances as educational experiences and welcomes the participation of all students regardless of their academic majors and career goals.

Ron Wilson, B.G.S. (Wichita State University)
Katharine Bakeless Nason Professor in Theater and Chair
Movement for the actor; acting; playwriting

Catherine Albers, M.F.A. (University of Minnesota)
Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Theater Studies
Acting; audition laboratory; business of the business; directing

Russ Borski, M.F.A. (Northwestern University)
Associate Professor
Stage and lighting design; visual text; portfolio; production

Joseph Fahey, Ph.D. (Ohio State University)
Visiting Assistant Professor
History; acting

Gary Galbraith, M.F.A. (Case Western Reserve University)
Associate Professor
Contemporary dance technique; choreography; dance history; production; artistic director of Mather Dance Ensemble

Shanna Beth McGee, M.F.A. (University of Georgia)
Associate Professor
Voice; acting;

John M. Orlock, M.F.A. (Pennsylvania State University)
Samuel B. and Virginia C. Knight Professor of Humanities
Acting; performance theory; playwriting; screenwriting;

Karen Potter, M.F.A. (Case Western Reserve University)
Associate Professor and Director of Dance
Contemporary dance technique; choreography; pedagogy

Jerrold Scott, M.F.A. (University of South Carolina)
Assistant Professor
Acting; speech; directing.

David Colacci, M.F.A. (Southern Methodist University)
Adjunct Associate Professor and Director of the Graduate Acting Program, The Cleveland Play House
Acting; script analysis

Dean R. Gladden, M.A. (Drexel University)
Adjunct Assistant Professor and General Manager, The Cleveland Play House
Urban Arts Administration

Peter Hackett, M.F.A. (University of California, San Diego)
Adjunct Associate Professor and Artistic Director, The Cleveland Play House
Script analysis; directing

Acting
Actor education in the Department of Theater Arts prepares majors for acting career opportunities in the American theater and in theater education. Graduates are currently employed nationally and regionally. The Graduate Acting Program collaboration between the University and The Cleveland Play House provides a unique alliance between one of the oldest theater programs in the United States and the nation’s first regional theater.

Stage Design and Technical Theater
Employment opportunities for stage designers and technicians continue to be ample; demand for the services of the talented, well-trained designer and technician is constant. One aspect of the job market is in college or university theater, where qualifications include the required M.F.A. degree or, in rare instances, equivalent professional experience. Careers also may be pursued in regional theater, as well as in areas of film, television, and industrial scenic design.

Dance Training Program
Graduates of the dance program are currently employed as modern dance company members (regionally and nationally), company directors/choreographers, dance production managers, and dance educators in state and private universities. Others have pursued specialized advanced training and work as dance therapists.

An undergraduate major in the department can lead to the Bachelor of Arts degree. The Bachelor of Arts program is a diverse course of study in all the basic crafts of the theater: acting, dance, design, costuming, playwriting, and theater history. The undergraduate program is designed to integrate the various elements of theater to prepare students to pursue their chosen field of specialization after graduation. This degree requires 42 to 60 semester hours in theater and is available with areas of concentration in acting, dance, general theater, dramatic writing and design/technical theater.

The Bachelor of Arts program in theater offers concentrations in general theater, acting, contemporary dance, or design/technical theater, and dramatic writing.

Websites:
Drama: http://www.cwru.edu/artsci/thtr/

Dance: http://Dance.cwru.edu

The following are the basic courses REQUIRED for all Theater majors.
(see listing for the course descriptions)

THTR 101, 102, 103, 123, 124 (121,122), 201. (18 hrs.)

At least 4 but not more than 8 hours of THTR 385/386 and 6 hours of English above the 300 level. The department strongly recommends Eng. 324 and 325.

GENERAL THEATER: (27 hrs.)
THTR 223, 224, 228, 229, 231 or 232, 329, 331, 375, 312 or 327

Total hours, not including THTR 385/386 - 45

ACTING: (31 hrs.)
THTR 228, 229, 231, 232, 306, 311 (1 hr.), 331, 375, 376, 223 or 224 or 352, 327 or 329.

Total hours, not including THTR 385/386 - 49

DESIGN/TECH: (30 hrs.)
THTR 105, 223, 224, 228, 229, 331, 352, 380, 327 or 329, 424 or 440

Total hours, not including THTR 385/386 - 48

DRAMATIC WRITING: (30 hrs.)
THTR 223, 228, 229, 312, 314, 316,327, 329, 331, 399

Total hours, not including THTR 385/386 - 48

All majors are encouraged to apply for Honors Studies, THTR 397 and 398, in their final year. This adds 6 hours to the total.

Concentration for the Minor
Hours: 18

Humanities Sequence (for the B.S.-based Engineering Core)
Hours: 9

Note: All sequences must include THTR 123 or 124 and TWO additional courses selected in consultation with advisor.

Sample programs:

DANCE
The following are the basic courses REQUIRED for all Theater/Dance majors.

(see listing for course descriptions)

THTR 101, 160, 103, 104, 121, 122. (18 hrs.)

At least 4 but not more than 8 hours of THTR 385/386 and 6 hours of English above the 300 level. The department strongly recommends Eng. 324 and 325.

Courses REQUIRED for Dance Concentration: (31-33 hrs.)

THTR 189, 190, 203 and 204 or 260 and 261, 416, 423, 303, 304, 451, and one of the following: 413, 414, or 415 and 455.

Total hours, not including THTR 385/386 - 49 - 51

All majors are encouraged to apply for Honors Studies, THTR 397 and 398, in their final year. This adds 6 hours to the total.

SUBSTITUTIONS MADE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVE

Concentration for the Minor
Hours: 18

THTR: 103, 104 (or 160, 161), 203, 204 (260 or 261), 303, 304.

SUBSTITUTIONS MADE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVE

HUMANITIES SEQUENCE (for the B.S.- based Engineering Core)
Hours 9

Sample Program in Dance:
THTR: 121, 122, and one of the following 103, 104, 160, 161

Majors wishing to graduate with Honors in Theater Arts must make WRITTEN application to the Head of Undergraduate Theater Studies no later than the final day of classes, second semester of their junior year. Students must have a minimum 3.25 overall gpa and a minimum 3.75 gpa in Theater Arts. Acceptance into the Honors program is contingent upon faculty support and recommendation by the head of Undergraduate Theater Studies and the department Chairperson. Those accepted register for THTR 397 and 398 (Honor studies) during their senior year, a total of 6 hours. The Honors project is defined as a production project in acting, dance, design, playwriting, directing, management, or educational outreach. A supporting paper discussing the concept, execution, and performance of the project must be filed with the Head of Undergraduate Theater Studies no later than one week following the project presentation. Preparation of the project will be supervised by a theater faculty member. This project may be accepted for Honors ONLY if it receives a grade of A from both the project advisor and the Head of Undergraduate Theater Studies. The grade of A must be received both semesters. Students who meet the criteria receive the notation "Departmental Honors in Theater Arts" on their diplomas. Information about the structure and specific requirements of the honors project is available from the head of Undergraduate Theater Studies.

Although the Department of Theater Arts Graduate Programs are geared toward the Master of Fine Arts degrees, the appropriate candidate may select or be encouraged to direct their graduate studies in pursuit of the Master of Arts degree, a 30 hour degree program. The focus of the studies may include similar course work to the Master of Fine Arts while also facilitating particular studies that may be enhanced or assisted by related studies both within the Department of Theater Arts as well as with other complementary studies in other departments. The candidate’s program of study will be uniquely designed by the primary faculty of the designated program (i.e. Acting, Dance or Design) within the Department of Theater Arts. As required by the School of Graduate Studies, a minimum grade point average of 2.75 must be maintained.

M.A. candidates must complete a minimum of 30 hours following a recommended program similar to the courses suggested below. Modifications may be suggested by the principle faculty advisor.

Recommended is Plan B with requirements including a non-performance, non-production topic approved by the primary program faculty. The thesis must be a substantial and contributive work with potential for publication or presentation. The M.A. thesis must be completed no later than one academic year beyond the completion of the course requirements.

The Master of Fine Arts degree, available with concentrations in acting and contemporary dance, is a terminal pre-professional degree with candidacy limited to students who wish to serve the professional theater. Candidacy for the Master of Fine Arts program requires either an undergraduate major in the field of theater arts, equivalent training and experience, or demonstrable potential for work in the theater arts at the Master of Fine Arts level. In addition, each candidate must provide evidence of technical skill and creative ability in his or her area of concentration.

At the end of each semester in residence, the student’s skill and creative ability are evaluated in light of their work in the department. Only students who have clearly demonstrated growth and excellence are permitted to remain in the program. The award of the Master of Fine Arts degree is contingent upon the student’s academic progress and upon the assessment on the part of the faculty that the candidate possesses the potential to serve the theater on a professional level.

Requirements for the Master of Fine Arts degree include:

Acting
In 1996 The Cleveland Play House and Case Western Reserve University joined forces to create a new program in professional actor training. The students begin their involvement with the Play House in their second year and in the third year become professional apprentices in the Play House Company.

The Marc A. Klein Playwriting Award
The Department of Theater Arts serves as the production agency for the Marc A. Klein Playwriting Competition, an annual national award designed to encourage and stimulate artistic growth among student playwrights, which features a cash prize of $1,000 and a full mainstage production. The Klein award has been responsible for the pre-professional production of a number of scripts that have moved on to Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theaters.

National Theater Institute
The Department of Theater Arts has an affiliation with the National Theater Institute, located in Waterford, Connecticut, for both their Moscow semester and the semester at NTI. This prestigious program gives our students the opportunity to be exposed to the best in concentrated theater training, as well as providing a different and unique cultural perspective. Full credit is available with no loss of scholarship aid. This is available for either semester. See the Director of Undergraduate Theater Studies for more information.

Junior Year Abroad
Many of our Drama students go abroad for either one semester at the BADA Program (British American Drama Academy) or a full year in many other programs. The BADA program is a conservatory based intensive in all aspects of actor training, with full credit transfer and no loss of financial aid. In Dance, there are opportunities for semesters abroad with the London Contemporary School of Dance and Yildiz University in Istanbul, Turkey. For more information on this and other programs, contact the Head of Undergraduate Theater Studies or the Academic Representative for Dance.

THTR 100. Introduction to Performance (3)
A course designed to provide the non-major or undeclared liberal arts major limited experience with a basic understanding of performance and the theater. Fundamentals in improvisation, vocabulary, and scene study are stressed. This course fulfills THTR 101 should the undeclared student select theater as his or her major or minor.

THTR 101. Acting I: Fundamentals (3)
This course is designed to expose the theater major or minor to the development of the actor’s basic tools. Relaxation, concentration, and improvisation are taught along with basic scene study work.

THTR 102. Acting II: Exploration of Craft (3)
This course continues the work begun in THTR 101 with emphasis on action, emotional life, and text analysis as the essential elements of the actor’s work. Prereq: THTR 101 and consent of department.

THTR 103. First-Year Modern Dance Techniques I (3)
Comprehensive perspective of theory established, through active participation, to serve individual development of normative movement principles in a broad spectrum of applications including theater movement dance, and sports. Content is directly and fundamentally serviceable to subsequent specialized training applications of the actor, dancer, musician, athlete, physiotherapist, and educator.

THTR 104. First-Year Modern Dance Techniques II (3)
Continuation of THTR 103.

THTR 105. Introduction to Stagecraft (3)
An introduction to scenic construction and painting, hands-on oriented to workshop skills.

THTR 121. Dance in Culture - Ethnic Forms (3)
A lecture class designed to introduce dance as an art form and the many roles it plays in a variety of cultures. Focus will be on ethnic forms and primal cultures.

THTR 122. Dance in Culture (3)
Introduction to an historical and cultural overview of many different forms of dance from various cultures specifically selected to encompass geographic diversity and represent different periods in history. Basic craft elements of the structures of dance will be introduced to provide a foundation for viewing dance and developing a personal aesthetic.

THTR 123. Theater in Culture: From Shaman to Steam Engine (3)
An introductory exploration of theater forms and practice from their origins in ritual to the scripts and staging of 19th century Europe. In addition to material presented in lecture/discussion format, the class will attend local University and professional theater productions.

THTR 124. Theater in Culture: From Steam Engine to Cyberspace (3)
Using selected dramatic texts from the 19th century to present day, the course explores the roles of production participants and audiences in their historical, cultural, and contemporary contexts. Material is presented in lecture/discussion format, augmented by live theater performances and audio-visual resources.

THTR 160. Introduction to Ballet Technique I (3)
This introductory-level course offers the beginning ballet student the basic tenets and principles of ballet technique. Classwork will involve strong emphasis on proper alignment of the body, dynamic timings, and a command of ballet terminology.

THTR 161. Introduction to Ballet Technique II (3)
Continuation of THTR 160. Prereq: THTR 160 or consent of department.

THTR 189. Improvisation I (1)
Movement and dance structures designed to engage responsivity in group dynamics applied to challenge specific technical components which include time, effort, shape and kinetic awareness. Prereq: THTR 103.

THTR 190. Improvisation II (1)
Continuation of THTR 189. Prereq: THTR 189.

THTR 201. Movement for the Actor (3)
The course focuses on developing a kinesthetic awareness of the body and its use as a theatrically expressive instrument. Exercises will encompass development of flexibility, strength building, alignment, motor skills, and concentration. Prereq: THTR 101 or THTR 102 or consent of department.

THTR 203. Second-Year Modern Dance Techniques I (3)
For the performing arts student, normative movement principles are formally extended in both theory and application to include individual correction, modification of adaptation as foundational preparation for the subsequent specialized training needs of the actor, dancer, and singer. Prereq: THTR 103 and THTR 104.

THTR 204. Second-Year Modern Dance Techniques II (3)
Continuation of THTR 203. Prereq: THTR 103 and THTR 104.

THTR 223. Introduction to Scenic Design (3)
An introduction to visual design for the stage through established theories and knowledge of the theater as a physical space. Approaches practical problems of scenic design as well as professional potential of the field.

THTR 224. Introduction to Lighting Design (3)
A "grounds up" guide to theatrical lighting for the stage. Focus made upon instrumentation, choices made in the design process, aesthetics of presentation. Combines theory with practical application.

THTR 228. Theater History I (3)
Acquaints the student with theatrical and dramatic realism in Europe, the United States, and Russia (1880s through 1960s).

THTR 229. Theater History II (3)
Modern periods in Western theater history, from the sixteenth century to the turn of the twentieth. The course investigates materials, texts, and artifacts of theaters from the Renaissance to the Modern era. Cross-listed as CMPL 229.

THTR 231. Acting III: Contemporary Technique (3)
An exploration of advanced contemporary acting technique based on the work of Michael Chekhov. Provides advanced acting students with the tools necessary to work effectively and consistently with contemporary texts, with emphasis placed on psychological gesture and geste. Prereq: THTR 101 and THTR 102 or consent of department.

THTR 232. Acting IV: Classical Technique (3)
An exploration of techniques to approach classical theater, with emphasis on the works of Shakespeare. Presents the challenges of working with heightened language, classical texts, and provides skills necessary to transfer modern acting methods to these more poetic plays. Prereq: THTR 102 or consent of department.

THTR 260. Second Year Ballet Technique I (3)
In-depth exploration of principles and foundations of ballet technique as preparation for the specialized training needs of dancers.

THTR 261. Second Year Ballet Technique II (3)
Continuation of THTR 260.

THTR 303. Third-Year Modern Dance Techniques I (3)
For the dance major and advanced non-major. Durational formalities of dance technique as a contemporary American art form structure the aesthetic and technical challenges of development. Prereq: THTR 204.

THTR 304. Third-Year Modern Dance Techniques II (3)
Continuation of THTR 303.

THTR 306. Acting V: Camera Technique (3)
Acting for the Camera class with emphasis on how it differs from onstage work. Interviews, scenes, and exercises will be used to highlight the differences and similarities. Emphasis on contemporary works. Prereq: THTR 231 or THTR 232 or consent of department.

THTR 311. Audition Laboratory (1)
A discussion and practicum exploring the problems faced by an actor in various audition situations. Development of an audition repertory for the actor for stage, video and film. Prereq: Senior Theater major or consent of department.

THTR 312. Playwriting (3)
Theory and practice of dramatic writing, in the context of examples, classic and contemporary. Cross-listed as ENGL 305.

THTR 314. Advanced Playwriting (3)
Theory and practice of dramatic writing with special focus on the craft of writing a full-length play. Prereq: THTR 312 or consent of department.

THTR 316. Screenwriting (3)
A critical exploration of the craft of writing for film, in which reading and practicum assignments will culminate in the student submitting an original full-length screenplay. Prereq: THTR 312.

THTR 327. American Theater and Playwrights (3)
Designed to provide students an overview of the development of theater in the United States and to familiarize them with the work and themes of selected American playwrights. Cross-listed as AMST 327.

THTR 329. Dramatic Literature (3)
Dramatic text analyzed in the context of theatrical production. Major analytical tools introduced.

THTR 331. Play Directing (3)
An examination of the fundamentals of directing a play, including history of the art, directoral text analysis, conceptual styles and approaches, and general problem solving. Course format is a combination of theoretical lecture and practical lab experiences, culminating in a directing project. Prereq: Upperclass status and permission of department.

THTR 334. Shakespeare: Histories and Tragedies (3)
(See ENGL 324.) Cross-listed as ENGL 324.

THTR 335. Shakespeare: Comedies and Romances (3)
(See ENGL 325.) Cross-listed as ENGL 325.

THTR 352. Costume Design and Construction (3)
Design and ornamentation of stage costumes and accessories. Laboratory. Prereq: THTR 123 and THTR 124 or consent of department.

THTR 375. Voice for the Stage I (3)
Development of the actor’s vocal instrument. Work in articulation, range, and flexibility. Prereq: Theatre major or consent of department.

THTR 376. Voice for the Stage II (3)
Continuation of THTR 375. Prereq: THTR 375.

THTR 380. Stage Management (3)
Designed to acquaint student with the numerous aspects of stage management.

THTR 385. Rehearsal and Production (1-3)
Practicum for students participating in production work in the Department of Theater Arts. Supervised laboratory experience in technical theater, construction techniques, scenery, costumes, lighting, and props; production; ticket office operations, promotion, publicity and public relations; house management; wardrobe responsibilities; stage management; assistant directing; and other production positions relating to the mainstage performances in Eldred Theater or Mather Dance Center. Students are recommended to take one credit hour per production, with a maximum of 8 credit hours allowed during their undergraduate career.

THTR 386. Rehearsal and Performance (1)
Practicum for students participating in performance in the Department of Theater Arts, relating to the mainstage productions at Eldred Theater or Mather Dance Center. This course may be repeated, for a maximum total of 2 credits.

THTR 397. Honors Studies I (3)
Individual projects in acting, design, dance, and directing. Prereq: Consent of department.

THTR 398. Honors Studies II (3)
Individual projects in acting, design, dance, and directing. Prereq: Consent of department.

THTR 399. Independent Study in Theater Arts (1-3)
Independent research and project work in areas of acting, design, voice, dance, theater history, playwriting, directing, theater pedagogy, or theater management.

THTR 401. Advanced Stage Movement I (3)
This beginning class focuses on developing flexibility, alignment, strength, concentration and basic motor skills and serves as a base for the remaining three semesters. Yoga and Tai Chi exercises are used to develop flexibility and a relaxation of the breath. Elements of Decroux based corporeal mime technique will strengthen the student’s physical instrument as well as address alignment problems. Motor skills (articulations, inclinations and design work) will be developed with Decroux, as well as LeCoq based exercise. This work will be accompanied by Tai Chi and Aikido based chi energy work to develop the actor’s concentration. Prereq: Must be candidate in M.F.A. Acting program.

THTR 402. Advanced Stage Movement II (3)
Continuation of THTR 401. The course focuses on simplifying and empowering motor activity by continuing to connect breath to action to discover relaxation within the given task, and beginning work in characterization. Strength, flow, energy and the shedding of intrusive mannerisms will be gained from a study of Tai Chi form, and LeCoq based neutral mask work. Following the neutral mask work, students will progress to character work through the use of Physical Acting techniques. Stage combat work continues. Prereq: THTR 401 or consent of department.

THTR 403. Advanced Stage Movement III (3)
The class focuses on expanding the actor’s physical and imaginative range which will enable students to support larger and bolder physical choices in characterization. Building upon the Neutral Mask work from the previous semester, the student will experience, through LeCoq based techniques, the Expressive Mask. Following this work, the students will experience the mask work of the commedia dell’arte and create and perform a commedia scenario. Stage combat work continues. Prereq: THTR 402 or consent of department.

THTR 404. Advanced Stage Movement IV (3)
This class gives the actor the advanced physical skills and techniques needed to encompass the demands of historical dramatic texts. The work will center around period movement for the theater. The actor will experience the philosophies of carriage and deportment; religious, scientific thought and art from particular historic periods most often encountered in the professional theater. Stage combat work continues. Prereq: THTR 403 or consent of department.

THTR 405. Improvisation I (1)
Movement and dance structures designed to engage responsivity in group dynamics applied to challenge specific technical components which include time and effort, shape, and kinetic awareness.

THTR 406. Improvisation II (1)
Continuation of THTR 405.

THTR 407. Fourth-Year Modern Dance Techniques I (1-3)
A logical progression of advanced technique. Performing skills assessed and developmentally stressed. Sections from repertory works learned. Prereq: THTR 303.

THTR 408. Fourth-Year Modern Dance Techniques II (1-3)
Continuation of THTR 407.

THTR 413. Choreography I (1-3)
Principles governing the dynamics of concrete and imaginistic space applicable to stage values defined, differentiated, and tested through applied studies. Exercising the dual role of choreographer/performer, the sequencing is designed to enlarge active perception of space values, spatial dynamics, and relationships with spatial determinants. Introduced are the psychological principles involved in the development of one’s own creative process; involvement of these principles integrates the subsequent work in the choreography and production sequences.

THTR 414. Choreography II (3)
A perspective of choreographic craft elements through lecture and practical involvement with specified studies. Emphasized are the craft components of time structures. Prereq: THTR 413.

THTR 415. Choreography III (3)
Combining craft resources with emphasis on use of music. Music selections, historically categorized, are chosen for the purpose of analyzing metric and structural characteristics in accord with which choreography will be created. Prereq: THTR 414.

THTR 416. Choreography IV (3)
Use of properties, costumes, and scenic elements in both first and second function. (Northop) applications challenge the functional and aesthetic appropriateness of conjoined choices. Dance structures fully developed under supervision. Prereq: THTR 415.

THTR 417. Fifth-Year Modern Dance Techniques I (1-3)
Performing skills enlarged to include rehearsal and performance of full repertory works. Adaptability, versatility, and fidelity to choreographic intention stressed. Prereq: THTR 408.

THTR 418. Fifth-Year Modern Dance Techniques II (1-3)
Continuation of THTR 417.

THTR 423. Light Design for Theatrical Dance (2)
Elements of stage light design and technology for theatrical dance. Lectures and laboratory experience on color, instruments, and computerized design.

THTR 424. Stage Lighting (3)
Elements of stage lighting design and technology. Lighting, instruments, and operating procedures. Laboratory lighting experience with main stage productions. Laboratory requirement.

THTR 428. Theatre History Seminar I (3)
A study of classical, medieval, and Renaissance theatrical forms, through primary and secondary source examination.

THTR 429. Theater History Seminar II (3)
Modern periods in Western theater history, from the eighteenth century to the turn of the twentieth. The course investigates materials, texts, and artifacts of theaters from the Renaissance to the Modern era.

THTR 430. Theater History Seminar III (3)
Theater historical research methods, literary critical approaches, and case studies.

THTR 431. Play Directing I (3)
Fundamentals of directing. Concept and development.

THTR 435. Scene Design I (3)
Special projects in mainstage design for theatrical settings.

THTR 440. Portfolio Designs (3)
Independent projects involving presentation and criticism of scenic or costume designs for given play, musical, or opera. Culminates in presentation of portfolio.

THTR 443. Beginning Contemporary Dance I (1)
Through active participation, a comprehensive theoretical perspective on normative movement principles for the actor and singer. Prereq: Consent of department.

THTR 444. Beginning Contemporary Dance II (1)
Continuation of THTR 443. Prereq: THTR 443.

THTR 445. Principles and Philosophies of Normative Movement I (1-3)
Seminar and laboratory for assessment of kinesiological and biomechanical principles as related to dance. Assessment of current research will be implemented to affect cross-training protocols.

THTR 446. Principles and Philosophy of Normative Movement II (1-3)
Continuation of THTR 445. Prereq: THTR 445 or consent of department.

THTR 451. Costume Design and Construction for Dance (2)
Lecture and studio course in selecting fabrics, draping techniques, construction, and design for concert dance.

THTR 452. Costume and Construction (3)
Special projects in costuming for mainstage productions.

THTR 455. History of Modern Dance (3)
Origin and development of modern dance in its historical context.

THTR 456. Costume Design I (3)
Lecture-studio course. The study of costume design. Theory, technique, and principles of the fundamental approach to costuming a production. Prereq: THTR 352.

THTR 460. Ballet Technique for Modern Dance Students I (3)
Ballet Technique for Dancers will focus on developing the ballet skills required of the Modern Dance major. The technical level of the class will range from intermediate to advanced where applicable in barre work as well as center.

THTR 461. Ballet Technique for Modern Dance Students II (3)
Continuation of THTR 460. Prereq: THTR 460 or consent of department.

THTR 473. Graduate Voice Technique I (3)
Assessment of students’ current vocal and alignment skills. Laboratory for exploring new vocal and alignment habits supportive of healthy vocal functioning. Exploration of the body and voice as it relates to breath, articulation, resonance, and the healthy exhalation of sound. Prereq: Must be candidate in M.F.A. Acting program.

THTR 474. Graduate Voice Technique II (3)
Continued laboratory for the exploration of alignment and vocal skills supportive of healthy vocal functioning. Continued exploration of the body and voice as it relates to breath, articulation, resonance, and the healthy exhalation of sound. Emphasis on the physical and energistic skills needed to produce full-bodied, healthy sound capable of being heard and understood while acting in theatrical productions. Required of M.F.A. candidates in the Acting program. Prereq: THTR 473.

THTR 475. Voice for Stage: Shakespeare (3)
Development of skills needed to address the specific needs of Shakespeare in performance, including vocal skills, the use of breath, using imagery, and textual studies. Required of M.F.A. candidates in the Acting program.

THTR 479. American Stage Speech (2)
Designed to evaluate the graduate student actors’ current speech skills, to teach them a stage-appropriate dialect using the Skinner narrow IPA set, and to achieve a level of mastery over articulation and diction. Prereq: Course limited to first-year M.F.A. candidates in Acting Program.

THTR 485. Rehearsal, Performance and Production (1-3)
(See THTR 385.)

THTR 501. Text Analysis for the Actor (2)
An introduction to the craft of reading a theatrical text from an actor’s point of view. Methods for analyzing the action of a play will be applied to dramatic text so that the actor can learn to transform a one-dimensional text into a three-dimensional performance.

THTR 505. Music Resources for Contemporary Dance (3)
Resources in the various periods and styles of music for the dancer/choreographer. Study of the choreographic use of music.

THTR 509. Seminar: Introduction to Performance Theory (2)
Research seminar designed to acquaint the theater student with the major theoretical writings of performance theory. Readings on the creative process and archetypal mythology. Exploration of anthropological, psychological, and cultural sources of art and the theatrical impulse.

THTR 521. Advanced Problems/Design I (3)
For design graduates in Theater Arts.

THTR 522. Advanced Problems/Design II (3)
For design graduates in Theater Arts.

THTR 530. Ensemble Technique (1-2)
A practicum course structured to explore the use of ensemble dynamic techniques in a rehearsal/performance environment, as well as to develop a set of exercises which encourage and sustain the actor’s channels of interpersonal communication during a range of rehearsal and performance situations. Prereq: Must be candidate in M.F.A. Acting program.

THTR 531. Acting: Research and Performance I (3)
The various elements of the actor’s process considered on advanced levels. Integration of rehearsal discoveries into a practical performance situation. Limited to M.F.A. candidates.

THTR 532. Acting: Research and Performance II (3)
The various elements of the actor’s process considered on advanced levels. Integration of rehearsal discoveries into a practical performance situation. Limited to M.F.A. candidates.

THTR 533. Acting: Research and Performance III (3)
Sequential courses designed to explore the various elements of the actor’s process on advanced levels and to integrate the discoveries made into a practical performance situations. Limited to M.F.A. candidates. Prereq: THTR 531 or THTR 532.

THTR 534. Acting: Research and Performance IV (3)
Sequential courses designed to explore the various elements of the actor’s process on advanced levels and to integrate the discoveries made into a practical performance situation. Prereq: THTR 531 or THTR 532 or THTR 533.

THTR 535. Contemporary Dance Pedagogy (3)
The study and investigation of the approaches and methods of teaching contemporary dance. Detailed study is made of kinesthetic, oral, and creative factors in teaching of dance. Opportunity to assist and teach under supervision.

THTR 540. The Business of the Business (2)
This course covers the basic knowledge needed for an actor to plan and manage a career in the theater. Included is discussion of union rules and applications for AEA, AFTRA, and SAG. Discussion of basic marketing techniques, including development of an individual marketing plan for each student. Guest lecturers might include IRS experts on the actor’s special needs, casting directors, and commercial agents.

THTR 576. Advanced Voice Technique (3)
Vocal instruction individualized to the particular needs of advanced M.F.A. Acting students. This may include the exploration of dialect skills, developing the skills for extraordinary uses of the voice, the coaching of vocal performances, or continued exploration of skills necessary for classic and poetic texts. Required of M.F.A. candidates in the Acting program. Prereq: THTR 473 and THTR 474.

THTR 579. American Stage Speech II (3)
This course will continue the work begun in THTR 479 American Stage Speech, continuing the work on IPA, articulation, and general speech clarity for the stage. Exercises from the Berry and Rodenberg Schools of thought will be used in addition to the speech basics of Skinner. Prereq: THTR 479.

THTR 601. Special Projects (1-3)
(Credit as arranged.)

THTR 610. Professional Internship (1-4)
Involvement in intensive internships with professional theaters in the Cleveland area bridging academic and professional lives. Internships range from six weeks to one semester.

THTR 620. Advanced Role Analysis Preparation I (3)
Study and performance of scenes involving methods of approaching various types of plays and the specific problems they present to the individual actor. Analysis, action, characterization, and subtext. Open only to third-year M.F.A. Acting students enrolled in THTR 640. Coreq: THTR 640.

THTR 621. Advanced Role Analysis Preparation II (3)
Continued study and performance of scenes involving methods of approaching various types of plays and the specific problems they present. Prereq: THTR 620. Coreq: THTR 641.

THTR 630. Performance Studio (3)
A performance laboratory, ensemble-based practicum in which the student works to integrate effectively a wide range of performance skills culminating in a studio production. May be taken two times in the last two semesters of graduate study. Prereq: THTR 534.

THTR 640. M.F.A. Thesis Production I (3)
Preproduction conception in area of specialization researched and documented under appointed advisement, in accord with production syllabus, and subcommittee approval.

THTR 641. M.F.A. Thesis Production II (3)
Production implementation, post production evaluation/defense and advisory assessment.

THTR 642. Thesis Portfolio I (1)
Course designed specifically for candidates in the Master of Fine Arts program in Acting. Graduate students enroll for the course during their third year of study, although work spans three years of study, based on roles the M.F.A. actor has created. A portfolio is prepared, according to requirements set forth in the department’s M.F.A. Handbook, and is presented to the faculty during the spring semester of the third year, in a formal oral defense. Satisfactory completion of the portfolio and its oral defense are among the requirements for awarding the Master of Fine Arts degree. Course limited to M.F.A. candidates in the Acting program.

THTR 643. Thesis Portfolio II (1)
Course designed specifically for candidates in the Master of Fine Arts program in Acting. Graduate students enroll for the course during their third year of study, although work spans three years of study, based on roles the M.F.A. actor has created. A portfolio is prepared, according to requirements set forth in the department’s M.F.A. Handbook, and is presented to the faculty during the spring semester of the third year, in a formal oral defense. Satisfactory completion of the portfolio and its oral defense are among the requirements for awarding the Master of Fine Arts degree. Course limited to M.F.A. candidates in the Acting program.

THTR 644. M.A. Project (1-12)
Research and development of a Master of Arts project in Theater.

219 Mather House
Phone 216-368-5265
Frances E. Lee, Director (fel@po.cwru.edu)

WASH 002A. Washington Center Internship (9)
Credit for internship experience taken as part of the Washington Center Program.

WASH 002B. Washington Center - Politics and Public Policy Course (3)
Credit for the Politics and Public Policy course taken as part of the Washington Center Program.

WASH 002C. Washington Center - Portfolio (3)
Credit for the student’s portfolio taken as part of the Washington Center Program.

WASH 002D. Washington Center Summer Internship (3)
Students receive credit for interning in Washington, D.C., through the Washington Center program. The emphasis is on practical experience in the form of a full-time internship which provides the opportunity for intensive research. For participating in a semester-length program during the fall and spring semesters, students receive 9 hours for their internship course (WASH 002A). For a summer internship, students receive 3 credit hours (WASH 002D). In addition, students receive 3 credit hours for developing a portfolio based on their internship experiences (WASH 002B). Also, as part of the Washington Center program, students participate in a seminar and attend a weekly lecture/discussion group (WASH 002C). The credits earned can be counted as general electives or applied to a student’s major or minor, with the prior consent of the individual department(s).

105 Mather House
Phone 216-368-1637; Fax 216-368-4681
Alice Bach, Director

Alice Bach, Ph.D. (Union Theological Seminary)
Archbishop Hallinan Associate Professor of Catholic Studies, Religion
Bible, women and religion, religion and film, cultural theory

Rachel Chapman, Ph.D. (University of California, Los Angeles)
Assistant Professor, Anthropology
Social cultural anthropology, reproductive health, pregnancy and pre-natal care, gender systems, women’s health in Africa; political economy, applied international health, medical pluralism, medical anthropology; Africa, Mozambique.

Margaretmary Daley, Ph.D. (Yale University)
Associate Professor of German and Comparative Literature
Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century German literature; German women writers; women’s studies; feminist literary criticism.

Susan W. Hinze, Ph.D. (Vanderbilt University)
Assistant Professor, Sociology
Medical sociology; social inequality, sex and gender.

Janis H. Jenkins, Ph.D. (University of California, Los Angeles)
Professor, Anthropology; Associate Professor of Psychiatry, School of Medicine

Heather Meakin, Ph.D. (Hertford College, Oxford)
Assistant Professor, English

Jacqueline C. Nanfito, Ph.D. (University of California, Los Angeles)
Associate Professor, Spanish and Comparative Literature
Colonial and 19th-century Latin American literature; Golden Age Hispanic literature; literary theory; Chicano literature; contemporary Latin American women writers

Renée Sentilles, Ph.D. (College of William and Mary)
Assistant Professor, History
American women’s history; cultural history; American studies

Eleanor P. Stoller, Ph.D. (Washington University)
Selah Chamberlain Professor, Sociology
Social gerontology, medical sociology, and gender

Athena Vrettos, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania)
Associate Professor, English
19th-century British literature and culture; literature and the body; feminist criticism and theory; women writers; 19th-century history of medicine and psychology

Rhonda Williams, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania)
Assistant Professor, History
African-American history; U.S. social history

Angela Woollacott, Ph.D. (The University of California, Santa Barbara)
Professor, History;
Modern British, British Empire and women’s history

The goal of the Women’s Studies Program is to educate students in interdisciplinary approaches to feminist theories of women, gender, culture, and society. Students are exposed to a variety of forms of critical thinking in relation to (1) the social construction of knowledge and philosophy; (2) approaches to science and medicine informed by "feminist empiricism" and "feminist standpoint" theories;(3) historicized and cross-cultural accounts of gender and gender inequality; (4) literary criticism; (5) contemporary theories of art, performance, language, jurisprudence, psychology and religion in the context of women’s experience; and (6) studies of the body as a focal point for theorizing relations among the arts and sciences.

Women’s studies encompasses an interdisciplinary program that prepares students to think critically and creatively within a framework employing gender as a central category of analysis. The program is set up to test and challenge the technologies and limitations of gender roles in a multitude of cultural and historical settings. It is designed to familiarize students with the analytical and hermeneutic tools of research and interpretation, and to create awareness of the ethical, political, and aesthetic dimensions of gender in history and culture. The program’s focus is the study of women cross-culturally and in history.

The Women’s Studies Program offers a major leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. It may be elected as a second major only. As a double major, the program offers a sound course of study, with a disciplinary concentration grounding the interdisciplinary program objective. To declare a women’s studies major, students must have already declared their first major. Up to six hours credits in required or elective courses for the first major may be applied to the women’s studies major, with the exception of two women’s studies core classes.

Required Courses (6 hours)
In the required two courses, students will become fluent in the tools of research and interpretation currently used in women’s studies. WMST 201 Introduction to Gender Studies (cross listed as HSTY 270/ENGL 270/PHIL 270, RLGN 270) and a capstone class in one of the following disciplines: ANTH 365 Seminar in Women and Gender Studies, ENGL 371 Topics in Women’s Studies, or HSTY 400 Seminar in Women’s Studies. Major courses: 24 credit hours in approved women’s studies courses, at least two from each of the three areas listed.

The program in women’s studies also offers an undergraduate minor. Fulfillment of the minor requires completion of eighteen credit hours according to the following course distribution:

To help ensure a comprehensive course of study in a particular area of interest, the specific combination of courses and structure of the independent study must be approved by the program advisor.

ANTH 306 Anthropology of Childhood and the Family

ANTH 309 Child Abuse and Family Violence

ANTH 345 Ethnicity, Gender and Mental Health

ANTH 354 Women and International Health

ANTH 356 Gender and Sex Difference: Cross Cultural Perspectives

ANTH 505 Women and Mental Health

ANTH 508 Maternal and Reproductive Health

ANTH 542 Human Body: Discourse and Experiences

ARTH 383 Gender Issues in Feminist Art

ECON 333 Women in the Economy

ENGL 368J Images of Women in American Cinema

ENGL 370 Women Writers

ENGL 371 Topics in Women’s Studies

ENGL 376 Images of Women in French Literature

FRCH 376 Images of Women in French Literature

GRMN 315 Female Self: German Women Authors

HSTY 240 The Body in History

HSTY 313 Women in Modern European History

HSTY 321 Colonialism, Sex, Race and Gender

HSTY 350 Gender Issues in the History of Technology and Science

HSTY 353 Women in American History I

HSTY 354 Women in American History II

JAPN 341 Japanese Women Writers

LAWS 356 Feminist Jurisprudence

NURS 454 Well Woman Health Care

PHIL 325 Philosophy of Feminism

PHIL 334 Social and Political Philosophy

POSC 346 Women and Politics

PSCL 390 Women and Depression

RLGN 207 Religion and Feminism

RLGN 266 Bible in Fiction; Fiction In the Bible

RLGN 366 Religion and Film

SOCI 222 Sociology of Gender

SOCI 326 Women in Societies in the Modern World

SOCI 372 Women and Family in the United States

SPAN 342 Latin American Women Authors

THTR 338 Women in Theater

WMST 201. Introduction to Gender Studies (3)
This course introduces women and men students to the methods and concepts of gender studies, women’s studies, and feminist theory. An interdisciplinary course, it covers approaches used in literary criticism, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, film studies, cultural studies, art history, and religion. It is the required introductory course for students taking the women’s studies major. Cross-listed as ENGL 270, HSTY 270, PHIL 270, and RLGN 270.

WMST 222. Gender in U.S. Society (3)
(See SOCI 222.) Cross-listed as SOCI 222.

WMST 232. Women in India (3)
(See HSTY 232.) Cross-listed as HSTY 232.

WMST 312. Women in the Ancient World (3)
(See CLSC 312.) Cross-listed as CLSC 312.

WMST 322. Feminist Theory, Women’s History, Gender History (3)
(See HSTY 322.) Cross-listed as HSTY 322.

WMST 326. Women in Societies in the Modern World (3)
(See SOCI 326.) Cross-listed as SOCI 326.

WMST 372. Work and Family: U.S. and Abroad (3)
(See SOCI 372.) Cross-listed as SOCI 372.

WMST 422. Feminist Theory, Women’s History, Gender History (3)
(See WMST 422.) Cross-listed as HSTY 422.