Theatre
Faculty: Professor L. Chaney (coordinator) and Assistant Professor Page
Earning a degree in theatre can pave the way to a wide array of careers, both onstage and off. At Cottey College, a degree will provide the student a balanced mix of professional training, technical theatre skills, and liberal arts knowledge that will prepare you for success — whether you are pursuing performance or you want to work behind the scenes. With degree courses that span everything from stagecraft to voice training to directing, Cottey theatre majors graduate ready to excel in both the professional field and further studies.
Degrees and Minors
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Theatre -
Theatre Minor
Courses
THE 101: Introduction to Theater
Credits 4Introduces theater from ancient Greeks to 1900. Includes study of art of play writing, theater architecture and design.
THE 103: Acting Fundamentals
Credits 4Provides basic understanding of character interpretation and teaches various applications of acting theories. Includes improvisation and scene preparation.
THE 104: Acting for Non-Majors
Credits 4Acting for Non-Majors, serves as an introduction to the fundamental principles and techniques of acting. Designed for beginners, it provides an overview of the basic skills required to develop a strong foundation in acting. The class culminates with a final staged performance.
THE 105: Physical Theatre & Movement
Credits 4This course explores principles and practices of theatrical movement and physical theatre including Laban Movement, Viewpoints, and other techniques, to enhance their physical expressiveness and performance skills. Through practical exercises, readings, and performance projects, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of how movement informs character development and storytelling in theatre.
THE 110: Stagecraft
Credits 4Basic theories and techniques of set and prop construction, including the use of hand and power tools and rigging, and lighting and sound design theory and equipment use. Students provide technical assistance for Cottey theatre, music and dance performances and visiting professional road shows.
THE 177: Event Technology
Credits 3This course introduces students to event technology and management. The course will focus on the set-up, operation and troubleshooting of basic audio visual equipment including video and slide projectors, monitors, computers and projection screens. Students will be introduced to basic lighting and sound equipment used in an event set-up.
THE 181: Theater Production
Credits 1Guided participation in major theatrical production as actress, assistant director/stage manager, or technical support (minimum of 45 hours of work time as crew member or crew head). May be repeated a maximum of 4 credit hours.
THE 203: Acting: Character Development
Credits 4Students explore techniques of building character through analysis, improvisation, exercises, performance/critique, and scene workshops.
THE 210: Art Administration & Mgmt
Credits 4Art Administration and Management is an interdisciplinary course which will provide undergraduate with an advanced look at the managerial, structural, and operational functions of visual and performing arts organizations, translating traditional business practices into the language of the arts.
THE 215: Musical Theatre History in the U.S
Credits 4This course explores the evolution of American musical theatre from 19th-century roots to contemporary Broadway. Students examine cultural, political, and economic influences, analyze germinal works and creators, and consider the genre’s impact on American identity. Through lectures, discussions, and projects, students gain insight into musical theatre’s dynamic, reflective artistry.
THE 230: Stage Makeup
Credits 4Laboratory course providing students with fundamentals of the art of two dimensional character makeup.
THE 240: Script Analysis
Credits 4This course is required for all students majoring in theatre and is designed to teach the technical and theoretical skills of script analysis using a formalist approach. The course offers general guidelines for reading and thinking about plays and understanding the basic potentials of a play’s construction.
THE 284: Stage Management
Credits 4Discover the art and craft of stage management through class work, observation, and production exploration. Learn practical techniques for managing theatrical productions in preparation for academic and professional production responsibility.
THE 310: Dramatic Literature
Credits 4This course surveys the world’s dramatic literature by concentrating on text analysis of a representative sample of plays of varying periods (ancient, classical, modern) and types (tragedy, comedy, drama). Emphasis is placed on the plays in performance. Field trips to theatrical productions may be scheduled.
THE 315: Theatre for Social Change
Credits 4Intended for the BA in Social Change track student, this course explores the techniques, writings, performances, and scripts that are catalysts toward adopting social change in various devised theatre applications and beyond.
THE 320: Basic Design
Credits 4Students will learn the fundamentals of theatre design. Design process from script analysis, justification, research, incubation, and implementation. Scene, Lighting, Sound, Costume, Property and Projection design will be covered.
THE 325: Theatrical Costume Design
Credits 4An introduction to basic theatrical costume design. Students will use color, texture, line, and concept to create costume designs for plays. They will employ play analysis, character analysis, and production concept as basis for costume design.
THE 330: The Teaching Artist
Credits 4This course delves into the role of the teaching artist within the theatre. Students will explore strategies for community engagement, develop skills to facilitate theatre-based learning experiences and examine career paths that integrate artistic practice with educational initiatives. Students will prepare to design and implement effective outreach programs.
THE 355: Scene Design
Credits 4Basic theatrical set design theory and practice. Includes the construction of 3D set models, and the production of hand and computer generated set designs and ways of integrating costume and stage lighting designs into the overall design picture. Students serve on crews for Cottey and visiting road show productions.
THE 397: Special Topics Course
Credits 4Rotating topical seminar exploring a focused area of theatre practice, history, or pedagogy. May include devised performance, community-engaged projects, playwriting, and others.
THE 430: Directing
Credits 4This course explores the process of directing plays for the stage. Studio exercises develop skills in key areas: interpretation of form and artistic intent; perception and sensibility in rehearsal; effective communication with actors; and balancing the interplay between action and text.
THE 490: Senior Capstone in Theatre
Credits 4The Capstone is designed to be a culminating experience for the theatre major. The course is meant to serve as a testing ground of the depth of students’ knowledge and ability in the area of their choice. The work will culminate in a realized project, paper, portfolio and oral presentation to the faculty.