Theatre Program - McPherson College Catalogs

Purpose Statement

The Department of Theatre produces theatrical artists through academic instruction and a professional-based production approach. Students cultivate artistic creativity, collaboration, ethics, scholarship and professionalism.

The department achieves this purpose when its students

Demonstrate an understanding of theatre fundamentals, theory and history;
Demonstrate an understanding of the components of performance skills and technical theatre;
Participate actively in performance and production experiences;
Demonstrate readiness to enter the professional world of the theatre through the completion of a senior project; and
Meet Kansas State Department of Education and National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education standards for licensure in the area of music or theatre (education track only).

Expectations of All Theatre Majors

All theatre majors will support the production season.
All theatre majors will complete a review evaluation at the end of the production season.

Expectations of All Theatre Scholarship Recipients

All theatre scholarship recipients will participate in a majority of the department production season.
All recipients will complete a review evaluation to maintain the scholarship for the following year.

Theatre: Generalist Emphasis (44 credit hours)

Theatre: Arts Administration and Events Management Emphasis (54 credit hours)

Theatre: Musical Theatre Criticism (44 credit hours)

Theatre Minor (19 credit hours)

Core Courses for All Theatre Emphasis Majors (16 hours)

G-TH 100 Theatre as a Social Art (3 hours)
G-TH 160 Acting I (3 hours)
G-TH 170 or G-TH 270 Technical Theatre I OR Technical Theatre II (3 hours)
G-TH 160 Acting I (3 hours)
TH 375 Professional Preparation (1 hour)
TH 400 Dramaturgy (3 hours)
TH 475 Senior Project (2 hours)

Additional Courses for the Theatre Generalist (24 additional credits)

ET 101 Creativity and Innovation (3 hours)
G-TH 170 or G-TH 270 Technical Theatre I or Technical Theatre II (3 hours)
G-TH 265 Topics in Dramatic Literature (3 hours)
TH 285 Theatrical Design (3 hours)
TH 365 Stage and Technical Direction (2 hours)
G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I (3-4 hours)
G-TH 390 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature II (3-4 hours)
TH 150, 250, 350, 450 Performance and Production Lab (choose 4)

Plus 3 Elective Hours from the Following List:

G-TH 110 The Business of Professional Entertainment (3 hours)
G-TH 125 Film and Culture (3 hours)
TH 336 International Theatre Tour (4 hours)
TH 410 Special Topics in Theatre (2 hours)
TH 445 Readings and Research in Theatre (1-2 hours)

Additional Curriculum for an Emphasis in Arts and Events Management (37 hours)

TH 450 Performance and Production Lab (1 hour)

9 Hours of History from Two Different Departments

G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I (3 hours)
G-TH 390 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature II (3 hours)
G-AR 310 Art History I (4 hours)
G-AR 311 Art History II (4 hours)
G-MU 161 Music Appreciation (3 hours)
G-MU 355 Music History & Literature I (3 hours)

18 Hours from the Department of Business Administration

G-BA 130 Principles of Business Management (3 hours)
AC 202 Survey of Accounting (3 hours)
EC 202 Survey of Economics (3 hours)
BA 325 Financial Management (3 hours)
BA 221 Marketing (3 hours)
ET 301 Entrepreneurship and Small Business (3 hours)

9 Hours from the Department of Communication, including:

G-CM 130 Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
CM 310 Public Relations (3 hours)

Additional Curriculum for an Emphasis in Musical Theatre (27 hours)

TH 285 Theatrical Design (3 hours)
TH 365 State and Technical Direction (2 hours)
G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I (3 hours)
G-TH 390 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature (3 hours)
TH 410 Special Topics in Theatre: Musical Theatre History (2 hours)
TH 450 Performance and Production Lab: Musical Theatre (1 hour)

8 Hours in Musicianship

MU 136 Music Theory I (3 hours)
MU 159 Sight Singing and Ear Training I (1 hour)
MU 236 Music Theory II (3 hours)
MU 259 Sight Singing and Ear Training II (1 hour)

5 Hours in Performance Study

MU 330 Private Voice Lessons (4 hours)
MU 330 Private Piano Lessons (1 hour)

Additional Curriculum for Theatre Licensure (27 hours, plus 39 from the Department of Curriculum & Instruction)

Theatre Courses (18 hours)

G-TH 170 or G-TH 270 Technical Theatre I or Technical Theatre II (3 hours)
G-TH 265 Topics in Dramatic Literature (3 hours)
TH 285 Theatrical Design (3 hours)
TH 365 Stage and Technical Direction (2 hours)
G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I (3-4 hours)
G-TH 390 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature II (3-4 hours)

Communication Courses (12 hours)

G-CM 120 Introduction to Human Communication (3 hours)
G-CM 130 Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
G-CM 140 Public Speaking (3 hours)
CM 330 Persuasion and Social Influence

Plus 39 Hours of Courses from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Minor in Theatre (19 hours)

3 Hours from List A

G-TH 160 Acting I (3 hours)
G-TH 170 Technical Theatre I: Setting the Stage (3 hours)
G-TH 270 Technical Theatre II: Dressing the Stage (3 hours)

3 Hours from List B

G-TH 385 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature I (3-4 hours)
G-TH 390 Theatre History and Dramatic Literature II (3-4 hours)
G-TH 265 Topics in Dramatic Literature (A, B, C or D) (3 hours)

4 Hours from List C

TH 150 Performance and Production Lab (1 hour)
A. Acting
B. Set Construction
C. Properties
D. Sound

TH 250 Performance and Production Lab (1 hour)
A. Box Office/Publicity and House Management
B. Stage Management
C. Dinner Theatre
D. Event Planning

TH 350 Performance and Production Lab (1 hour)
A. Design
B. Costuming
C. Makeup
D. Lighting

TH 450 Performance and Production Lab (1 hour)
A. Musical Theatre
B. Stage Direction
C. Choreography
D. Technical Direction

9 Hours of Theatre Electives