Theater Courses

Spring 2022▲

See complete information about these courses in the course offerings database. For more information about a specific course, including course type, schedule and location, click on its title.

Total Theater

THTR 239 - Levy, Jemma A.

Additional fee required. A practical study of design, directing, production and acting problems in a specific style of dramatic literature, culminating in a public theatrical production. Laboratory course. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

Winter 2022▲

See complete information about these courses in the course offerings database. For more information about a specific course, including course type, schedule and location, click on its title.

Introduction to Theater

THTR 100 - Evans, Shawn Paul

An introduction to drama and the theater arts, including a brief historical survey, selected examples of dramatic literature, and a sequence on theater disciplines such as acting, designing, and directing.

Introduction to Theater

THTR 100 - Mish, Robert W.

An introduction to drama and the theater arts, including a brief historical survey, selected examples of dramatic literature, and a sequence on theater disciplines such as acting, designing, and directing.

University Theater

THTR 109 - Levy, Jemma A.

Participation in a university theater production for a minimum of 40 hours. A journal recording the production process is required. May be repeated for degree credit with permission. Maximum seven credits for students with a major or minor in theater, eight credits for others.

University Theater

THTR 109 - Evans, Shawn Paul

Participation in a university theater production for a minimum of 40 hours. A journal recording the production process is required. May be repeated for degree credit with permission. Maximum seven credits for students with a major or minor in theater, eight credits for others.

University Theater

THTR 109A - Davies, Jenefer M.

Participation in a university theater production for a minimum of 40 hours. A journal recording the production process is required. May be repeated for degree credit with permission. Maximum seven credits for students with a major or minor in theater, eight credits for others.

Script Analysis for Stage and Screen

THTR 121 - Evans, Shawn Paul

The study of selected plays and screenplays from the standpoint of the theatre and screen artists. Emphasis on thorough examination of the scripts preparatory to production. This course is focused on developing script analysis skills directly applicable to work in production. Students work collaboratively in various creative capacities to transform texts into productions.

Fundamentals of Theater Art

THTR 131 - Collins, Owen

An introduction to modern theater practice involving two hours of lecture per week and participation of approximately 45-60 hours of work in a large-scale production spread throughout the term. A practical course, emphasizing scene-craft, stage lighting, and prop making. The student applies the methods and theories discussed in class to work on actual productions. Laboratory course with THTR 132.

Laboratory for Fundamentals of Theater Art

THTR 132 - Collins, Owen

An introduction to modern theater practice involving four hours of laboratory work per week. A practical course, emphasizing scenecraft, stage lighting, and prop making. The student applies the methods and theories discussed in class to work on actual productions.

Stage Acting 1

THTR 141 - Levy, Jemma A.

An introduction to acting for the stage. In this hands-on class, students learn and develop physical and vocal techniques for text-based and improvisational performance, focusing on relationships, objectives, and actions. Work includes in-class scene presentations from modern scripts.

Stage Management

THTR 209 - Evans, Shawn Paul

Stage management is an essential position for all theatrical productions. Students develop personal management style through the study of techniques and skill sets necessary to manage and run stage and film productions. Students hone their management techniques by applying management solutions to specific production problems of a theatrical, dance, or film project produced by the department. Students are required to participate in a production in a stage-management capacity.

Modern Drama

THTR 215 - Sandberg, Stephanie L.

Additional course fees apply.  This course explores the principal movements and aesthetics in the modern period in European and American theater history from the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century. Significant plays, playwrights, theatre artists and theorists are studied in context of the successive waves of modern movements: realism, symbolism, expressionism, surrealism, epic theater and theater of the absurd. Oral presentations, short research papers and performance projects will be required.

3D Printing & Desktop Manufacturing for the Theater

THTR 238 - Collins, Owen

Desktop manufacturing has revolutionized the design and prototyping of objects. This course is an introduction to the use of desktop manufacturing technologies. Students learn how to create digital designs, publish them electronically and create physical versions of those digital ideas. The course concentrates on how these technologies can be used in theater design and technology.

Digital Production

THTR 253 - Evans, Shawn Paul

Digital technologies and multimedia interaction are increasingly utilized to produce, enhance, and innovate theatrical production. Students examine and experiment with various digital technologies as they relate to theater and dance performance. Students create digital audio, video, design rendering, and animation projects for theatrical performances.

Directed Individual Study

THTR 403 - Evans, Shawn Paul

This course permits the student to follow a course of directed study and reading in order to widen the scope of experience and to build upon concepts covered in other courses. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different. Repeatable four times for up to 12 credits.

University Theater IV: Capstone

THTR 471 - Levy, Jemma A.

Participation in a university theater production for a minimum of 50 hours. A journal recording the production process and a portfolio documenting the student's productions at Washington and Lee University are required.

Fall 2021▲

See complete information about these courses in the course offerings database. For more information about a specific course, including course type, schedule and location, click on its title.

Introduction to Theater

THTR 100 - Mish, Robert W.

An introduction to drama and the theater arts, including a brief historical survey, selected examples of dramatic literature, and a sequence on theater disciplines such as acting, designing, and directing.

University Theater

THTR 109 - Monroe, Nafeesa / Evans, Shawn Paul

Participation in a university theater production for a minimum of 40 hours. A journal recording the production process is required. May be repeated for degree credit with permission. Maximum seven credits for students with a major or minor in theater, eight credits for others.

Script Analysis for Stage and Screen

THTR 121 - Powers-Kusio, Kathleen M. (Kate) / Davies, Jenefer M.

The study of selected plays and screenplays from the standpoint of the theatre and screen artists. Emphasis on thorough examination of the scripts preparatory to production. This course is focused on developing script analysis skills directly applicable to work in production. Students work collaboratively in various creative capacities to transform texts into productions.

Fundamentals of Theater Art

THTR 131 - Evans, Shawn Paul

An introduction to modern theater practice involving two hours of lecture per week and participation of approximately 45-60 hours of work in a large-scale production spread throughout the term. A practical course, emphasizing scene-craft, stage lighting, and prop making. The student applies the methods and theories discussed in class to work on actual productions. Laboratory course with THTR 132.

Laboratory for Fundamentals of Theater Art

THTR 132 - Evans, Shawn Paul

An introduction to modern theater practice involving four hours of laboratory work per week. A practical course, emphasizing scenecraft, stage lighting, and prop making. The student applies the methods and theories discussed in class to work on actual productions.

Stage Acting 1

THTR 141 - Levy, Jemma A.

An introduction to acting for the stage. In this hands-on class, students learn and develop physical and vocal techniques for text-based and improvisational performance, focusing on relationships, objectives, and actions. Work includes in-class scene presentations from modern scripts.

Stage Management

THTR 209 - Evans, Shawn Paul

Stage management is an essential position for all theatrical productions. Students develop personal management style through the study of techniques and skill sets necessary to manage and run stage and film productions. Students hone their management techniques by applying management solutions to specific production problems of a theatrical, dance, or film project produced by the department. Students are required to participate in a production in a stage-management capacity.

Ancient and Global Theater

THTR 210 - Ellis, Lauren B. / Davies, Jenefer M.

This course examines the history of theater and dramatic literature from its foundations in ancient world cultures through the Renaissance. Since this history course covers over 2000 years of time, class meetings sometimes move at a fast pace. Students gain a general world-wide cultural understanding of the art and history of the theater from its beginnings, and how theater spread as a phenomenon across the globe. Since theater is primarily a cultural institution, we simultaneously examine politics, philosophy, religion, science, and other factors that influence how the art form is created, maintained, and culturally preserved. We also examine history itself as an important cultural tool for assessing the events of the past.

 

 

 

Writer in Residence Seminar

THTR 221 - Levy, Jemma A.

A one-credit intensive seminar course in playwriting/screenwriting taught by a guest arist-in-residence and focusing on a specific topic.

Lighting Design

THTR 336 - Evans, Shawn Paul

A study of the practice of stage lighting, focusing on styles of production, historical methods and artistic theory. Culminates in a light design for a public theatrical production. Lab fee required.

Stage Directing 1

THTR 361 - Levy, Jemma A.

An introduction to directing for the stage.  In this hands-on class, students learn and develop basic techniques for integrating work with scripts, performers, and designers into a cohesive stage performance.  Students direct scenes from realistic modern or contemporary plays, focusing on collaboration, clarity, imagination, and analysis to create stage pictures and character relationships that tell a specific story on stage.  The class culminates in invited classroom performances.

Directed Individual Study

THTR 403 - Evans, Shawn Paul

This course permits the student to follow a course of directed study and reading in order to widen the scope of experience and to build upon concepts covered in other courses. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different. Repeatable four times for up to 12 credits.

University Theater IV: Capstone

THTR 471 - Evans, Shawn Paul

Participation in a university theater production for a minimum of 50 hours. A journal recording the production process and a portfolio documenting the student's productions at Washington and Lee University are required.