University of Maine at Farmington 2014-2015 Catalog
 
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Context

Visual and Performing Arts: Theatre
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Degree Earned
Bachelor of Arts: Visual and Performing Arts: Theatre

The Theatre Concentration provides students a working knowledge of Theatre in the areas of performance (acting and directing) theory/history/criticism and production experience through participation on technical crews in actual productions.  Students will also learn the basic concepts of dramatic structure and may have the opportunity to write plays that are presented in a public forum. The program provides students the opportunity to combine the theatre discipline with other related studies for an Interdisciplinary Individualized major. The program prepares the student for graduate studies, and to become practicing theatre artists and life long learners in a global arts community.

Central to our program is a common core of interconnected experiences in art, music, and theatre sharing concepts across the arts such as improvisation, performance, histories, or business of the arts. Students are challenged to develop independent thinking that transcends disciplinary boundaries as they learn to engage the changing world of the arts. Project 1, where all arts majors work with faculty to pursue a topic, idea, or project, introduces first-year students to the idea of making a unique contribution to a community. In Project 2, juniors and seniors work together on a project for public presentation, largely independent from faculty.  Project 3 is a major thesis paper, production, original play, or other project, which culminates the student’s undergraduate work and launches them into their career after UMF. This interdisciplinary, ideas-based program prepares students for the complex and changing world of the arts in the twenty-first century.

Learning Goals:

UMF students graduating with a concentration in theatre will demonstrate:

  • standards for evaluating the art of performance and theatre productions.
  • an understanding of dramatic script analysis and a broad-based knowledge of plays and theatre styles.
  • an appreciation for world theatre and theoretical developments.
  • a solid fundamental education in acting, directing, and technical design.
  • the ability to place theatre within different disciplinary contexts as well as consider ideas which incorporate methods of thinking
  • solid critical artistic and thinking skills.
  • the ability to write critically about their own performance work in acting and directing.
  • criteria for self-assessment in presentations and performances.
  • means for measuring improvement of skills that go beyond their undergraduate studies.
  • understanding of the critical and theoretical elements of performance.
  • understanding of the collaborative nature of performance in directed scenes.
  • understanding of the language of performance and script development.

 

Theatre Concentration (60 credits)

THE 115A Improvisation: As Acting Technique 4
THE 212A Play Structure and Analysis 4
THE 252A Directing Contemporary Theatre I 4
THE 278A Commedia dell’arte 4
THE 275A Social & Political Theatre and Film 4
SPV 160A Introduction to Live/Performance Art 4
or    
SPV 260A Language of Performance  
SPV 100A Project 1 4
SPV 300 Project 2 4
SPV 400 Project 3 4
Twelve additional credits of THE courses, chosen in consultation with the advisor, with no more than eight credits at the 100-level. ENG 218 Writing for the Stage may count. 12
Eight credits of relevant courses from ARH, ART, MUH, MUS, and/or SPV, with no more than four credits at the 100-level, chosen in consultation with the advisor. 8
   
Total Credits for the Major:  60  

 

FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
One year of one foreign language at the college level or two years of one foreign language at the high school level.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
For specific information about general education requirements and expectations, see the General Education Requirements in the Academic Programs section of this catalog.

MINIMUM TOTAL CREDITS FOR THE DEGREE: 128  

 

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