Theatre

Prerequisite: Theatre major or Theatre minor or permission of instructor. This course develops foundational skills for the actor, with an emphasis on ensemble building, collaboration and creative problem solving. Acting exercises, techniques and methods from a variety of performance styles will provide a comprehensive introduction to the roles and responsibilities of actors and directors. Fundamentals …

Introduction to theatre through reading and discussing play scripts, analyzing dramatic forms and writing about live performances. Regular critical writing assignments and attendance at live performances are required. (Available for General Education, C1 Arts.)

Prerequisite: Not open to Theatre majors. Introduction to theatre through an emphasis upon its central performer–the actor. Illustrative acting exercises. (Available for General Education, C1 Arts.)

Prerequisite: Limited to students in the ITEP-Freshman Option. Corequisite: TH 120L. Introductory course in which students engage in the study and practice of theatre and process drama. Exploration of the role of playwright, director, designer, actor, technician and dramaturg/critic as they relate to the art of theatre and the design of drama experiences for children. …

Introduction to movement for performance. This course focuses on the development of individual creativity through physical expression. Movement fundamentals taught include basic anatomy, stretching and strengthening exercises, somatic practices that develop the breath/movement connection, Laban effort vocabulary and compositional projects that foster an expressive use of theatrical space. Course meets 4 hours per week.

Introduction to fundamentals of voice for the stage, including studio experiences exploring foundation skills in vocal production. Understanding the role of voice training in the development of the actor’s craft and introduction to the methods, systems and techniques of voice training.

This course acquaints students with the basic principles of design that govern all forms of visual expression, emphasizing those used in the theatre. It provides students with the ability to communicate in visual terms and introduces students to the creative process.

Participation in various aspects of Theatre CSUN’s production program, including acting, directing, technical, or managerial assignments. May be repeated once.

Prerequisite: TH 108A. Dramatic structure; methods of text analysis for the actor; and application through lab experience to specific texts and scenes. 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite: TH 110. Introductory survey of theatre history and dramatic literature of the world from antiquity to the present. Critical writing assignments required.

Students will learn how breath and voice training are integral to healthy communication skills in professional and personal situations. In this course participants will acquire techniques necessary to maintain physical, vocal and emotional health through physical alignment and release of habitual tension; freeing the breath; creating vocal resonance and power; clarity and ease in speech …

Corequisite: TH 261P. Preparatory: TH 155. Practical introduction to the theories and application of construction techniques for the scenic environment; visual language, principles, techniques and tools used in creating scenery and properties; and safety in the theatre.

Corequisite: TH 261. Preparatory: TH 155. Participation in the scenery and/or properties department of a CSUN theatre production.

Corequisite: TH 262P. Preparatory: TH 155. A practical introduction to the theory and application of costume and accessory construction for the stage, including use of equipment, fabrics and materials appropriate to costume technology.

Corequisite: TH 262. Preparatory: TH 155. Participation in the costume department of a CSUN theatre production.

Corequisite: TH 263P. Preparatory: TH 155. Introduction to technical principles and applications of stage lighting and sound, including basic lighting and sound equipment, nomenclature, and skills and practices used in creating lighting and sound for stage productions.

Corequisite: TH 263. Preparatory: TH 155. Participation in the scenery and/or properties department of a CSUN theatre production.

Participation in various aspects of Theatre CSUN’s production program, including acting, directing, technical or managerial assignments. May be repeated once.

Prerequisite: Consult Theatre department office. Experimental courses in theatre, with course content to be determined. May be repeated once.

Prerequisites: TH 120; Restricted to students in the ITEP-Freshman Option. Provides students the opportunity to revisit Theatre and apply their knowledge of this area to working with children and develop skills as a leader of drama experiences for children through the practice of planning, implementing and evaluating drama experiences with peers and in the context …

Prerequisite: TH 208A or permission from instructor. Studio course emphasizing text analysis, character development and scene study; application of these skills to modern and contemporary dramatic texts. 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Not open to Theatre majors. Introduction to the theatre through the experience of attending performances, preparatory lectures and post-performance discussions and critiques. Critical writing assignments required. (Available for General Education, C1 Arts.) (WI)

Prerequisite: TH 222. This course is the first part of an integrated study of world theatre and drama. It encompasses theatre history and dramatic literature of Asia, Africa and Europe. Critical writing assignments required.

Prerequisite: TH 222. This course is the second part of the integrated study of the world theatre and drama. It encompasses theatre history and dramatic literature of the Middle East, Latin America and the West. Critical writing assignments required.

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement and upper division standing. Not open to Theatre majors. Survey of world dramatic literature and performance styles from the Ancient world to the present, with particular focus on the cultural, political, social and aesthetic factors that shaped these works. We will examine masterpieces from Western and non-Western …

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. This class is a survey of Western musical theatre history, drama and practices from late 19th century through modern day. Students will analyze the role of musical theatre in the culture of the United States by examining the context of changes and trends in American musical theatre …

Prerequisites: TH 142M; TH 108A or TH 143V; or permission of instructor. Intermediate training of the body for stage movement, including exercise for strength, flexibility, relaxation, control, physicalization and movement as a part of character development. 6 hours lab.

Prerequisite: TH 143V. Intermediate theory and practice of voice and speech in the theatre. Exercises in stage diction, vocal techniques and phonetics. 6 hours lab.

Prerequisite: TH 208A or permission of instructor. Non-Theatre majors, consult department for equivalency. Prepares the student for the particular demands of acting in front of the camera. Techniques of blocking, text analysis, cold-reading, character presentation, scene preparation, vocabulary and camera shots. 6 hours per week.

Prerequisites: MUS 238A; TH 208A. Study of the special acting, vocal and movement skills required for performance in musical theatre. 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite: Completion of lower division requirements in Theatre major. Preparatory: TH 321A/TH 321B. Historical elements as they relate to the staging of period plays, including history of architecture, furniture, costume, social modes and manners. Development of dramaturgical research skills. Extensive writing and analysis required.

Prerequisite: TH 155. Introduction to design process for scenery, costume, lighting, and sound design for live performance. Students will analyze theatrical texts, conceptualize and develop design ideas, communicate through design documentation, and build skills for collaboration through projects and critique. 4 hours per week.

Prerequisites: TH 261, TH 261P. Intermediate principles of realizing technical designs for the stage, including construction technology, finishing, rigging and materials. Course meets 4 hours per week.

Prerequisites: TH 261, TH 261P. An exploration of the technology, tools and techniques used in the art of scenic design. Course meets 4 hours per week.

Prerequisites: TH 261, TH 261P and permission of instructor. Participation in a CSUN Theatre Department production, in a leadership or craftsperson role in the scenic or properties areas. Students in this area will be supervised by the department faculty member leading that area while interacting with production faculty, staff, guest artists and students. This course …

Prerequisites: TH 262, TH 262P. Intermediate principles of theory and application of costume construction techniques for stage, TV and film, including pattern making, draping, advanced stitching techniques, equipment, fabrics and materials appropriate to costume technology. Non-Theatre majors, consult Theatre Department costume faculty for equivalency. Course meets four hours per week.

Prerequisites: TH 262, TH 262P. Intermediate principles of theory and application of costume craft techniques for stage, TV and film, including millinery, corsetry, mask-making, pattern-making, advanced stitching techniques, equipment, fabrics and materials appropriate to costume crafts. Non-Theatre majors, consult Theatre Department Costume faculty for equivalency. Course meets 4 hours per week.

Prerequisites: TH 262, TH 262P and permission of instructor. Recommended Preparatory: TH 362A or TH 362B or TH 367. Participation in a CSUN Theatre Department production, in the area of costumes or make-up/hair (i.e., cutter/draper, craftsperson, milliner, make-up crew chief, etc.). Students in this area will be supervised by the department faculty member leading that …

Prerequisites: TH 263, TH 263P. Non-Theatre majors, consult Theatre Department lighting faculty for equivalency. Intermediate course exploring stage lighting, projection equipment, lighting control systems, optical systems, color theory and current lighting graphic standards as they apply to stage, film and video. Course meets four hours per week.

Prerequisites: TH 263, TH 263P and permission of instructor. Participation in a CSUN Theatre Department production, in a leadership or craftsperson role in the lighting, sound or video areas. Students in this area will be supervised by the department faculty member leading that area while interacting with production faculty, staff, guest artists and students. This …

Prerequisites: TH 155 and two of the following Technology/Production Participation pairs: TH 261/TH 261P or TH 262/TH 262P or TH 263/TH 263P. Practical experience in the application and design of make-up for the stage, film and TV. Instruction includes theory and practice of make-up, facial analysis, color theory, basic three-dimensional design techniques, research, and health …

Corequisite: TH 371L. Theory and techniques for developing the creative capacities of children and young people through dramatization; participation and leadership in creative drama. 4 hours per week.

Prerequisite: Audition/Interview. Preparation and performance of a University-sponsored production for young audiences. May be taken up to three times for credit.

Prerequisite: Upper division standing. Basic principles in arts management, with emphasis on theatrical applications; personnel, time, budgeting, procedures, organization, safety; setting and achieving objectives. 6 hours per week.

Prerequisites: TH 385 and permission from instructor. Participation in a CSUN Theatre Department production in the area of stage or front of house management. Students in this course will be supervised by the department faculty member leading the area while interacting with production faculty, staff, guest artists, and students. This course is a practicum and …

Prerequisite: Audition/Interview. Theory and practice in the artistic and management aspects of producing theatrical performances for touring, including practical experience in producing and presenting touring productions. Required participation in a University-sponsored production. May be taken up to three times for credit.

Prerequisite: Upper division standing. An exploration of the profession of stage management. Provides the student with an understanding of the duties and responsibilities of a stage manager, and through the review of the production process, provides training in the techniques used by professional stage managers.

Participation in various aspects of Theatre CSUN’s production program, including acting, directing, technical or managerial assignments. Maximum of 4 units may be earned.

Prerequisite: Consult Theatre department office. Experimental courses in theatre, with course content to be determined. Maximum of 6 units may be earned.

Prerequisite: Admission to Theatre Honors Program. Intensive investigation in a small group of a topic related to some aspect of theatre practice or theory. Maximum of 3 units may be earned.

Prerequisite: TH 208A or permission from instructor. Performance course emphasizing advanced text analysis, character development and scene study as applied to a wide variety of periods and genres. 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Recommended Preparatory: TH 222, TH 321A, TH 321B. In this course, students will examine how indigenous playwrights from the continental U.S., Canada, Hawai’i, Alaska, and Pacific U.S. Territories, document their socio-political and economic realities, activism, culture, beliefs, and history and how they form an indigenous identity and …

Prerequisites: TH 321A, TH 321B; Theatre major or minor. Non-Theatre majors, consult department advisor for equivalency. Study of the history and literature of the theatre of Greece and Rome. Critical writing assignments required. Available for graduate credit.

Prerequisites: TH 321A, TH 321B; Theatre major or minor. Non-Theatre majors, consult department advisor for equivalency. Study of contemporary theatre movements in Europe and America. Critical writing assignments required. Available for graduate credit.

Prerequisites: TH 321A and TH 321B; Theatre major or minor. Non-Theatre majors, consult department advisor for equivalency. Study of the history and literature of the American theatre from colonial times to the mid-20th century. Critical writing assignments required. Available for graduate credit.

Prerequisite: Theatre major or minor with upper division standing. Study of the history and literature of the musical theatre in the U.S. from its beginnings to the present. Critical writing assignments required. Available for graduate credit.

Prerequisite: TH 342M or by permission of instructor. Performance course in advanced stage movement techniques; modes and manners of theatrical periods from ancient to modern; dance forms of the same periods and application of these studies to the creation of character in period drama. 6 hours per week.

Prerequisites: TH 343V; Completion of lower division requirements in Theatre major. Not available for graduate credit. Development of advanced voice, speech, analytical and interpretative skills for the actor, including application to the speaking and acting of Shakespearean texts. Course meets 6 hours per week.

Prerequisites for Theatre majors: Completion of lower division major requirements. Prerequisites for Theatre minors: Completion of lower division minor requirements. Prerequisites for non-majors and non-minors: Permission of instructor. Application of principles and techniques of theatre directing, working with volunteer actors on focused exercises and one culminating scripted scene. 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite: TH 345. Students practice the tools and techniques of film and television acting in specific and varied contexts. Specific focus will be given to artistic genres, distinctions between commercial and theatrical work, single and multiple camera formats, and other shooting styles.

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Diagnosis of individual strengths and weaknesses in performance skills through individual tutorials directed at improvement of skills and correction of problems. Complements work in CSUN’s Theatre production program. May be repeated 3 times. (Credit/No Credit only)

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Recommended Preparatory: TH 444 for directors; TH 308A, and TH 342M or TH 343V for actors. Advanced study of directing and acting via collaborative practice. With attention to the director-actor relationship, scenes from diverse periods and genres are rehearsed and presented, applying a range of practical approaches, from the traditional to …

Prerequisites: TH 350, TH 355, TH 357. Individual work in theatre design, with emphasis on scenery, costumes, or lighting. Focuses on developing and presenting design concepts for selected theatre productions. May be repeated twice. Portfolio review required for repeat credit. Maximum of 3 units may be earned for graduate credit.

Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. Corequisite: TH 473L. Study and practical application of dramatic performance in secondary-education language arts curriculum. Introduction to and application of artistic and aesthetic tools and sensitivities required for creative expression. Available for graduate credit.

Prerequisite: Not available for graduate credit. Participation in various aspects of CSUN’s Theatre production program, including acting, directing, technical or managerial assignments. Maximum of 4 units may be earned. Available for graduate credit.

Prerequisite: Consult Theatre department office. Not available for graduate credit except when specifically approved by the department. Consult the director of graduate studies. Experimental courses in theatre, with course content to be determined. Maximum of 6 units may be earned.

Prerequisites: Theatre Honors Program; Approved project or thesis proposal. Not available for graduate credit. Completion of an artistic project or writing of a thesis resulting from the investigation of a significant topic or problem in theatre. (Credit/No Credit only)

Prerequisites: TH 321A and TH 321B; Theatre major or minor. Non-Theatre majors, consult department advisor for equivalency. Study of the history and literature of the Latin American theatre from pre-Columbian times to the present. Critical writing assignments required.

Prerequisites: TH 321A/TH 321B; Theatre major or minor. Non-Theatre majors, consult department advisor for equivalency. Study of the history and literature of the Asian theatre from the beginnings to the present. Critical writing assignments required.

Prerequisites: TH 321A/TH 321B; Theatre major or minor. Non-Theatre majors, consult department advisor for equivalency. Study of the history of theatrical theory and criticism from antiquity to the present. Major theories pertaining to all aspects of theatrical production, including staging, acting, scenography and the script is examined. Critical writing assignments required.

Theories and techniques of directing plays. 6 hours per week.

Prerequisite: TH 444. Advanced study of theories and styles of directing plays. Practical experience through production of scenes from different historical periods. 6 hours per week.

Prerequisites: Completion of all core requirements in Theatre major; Instructor consent to serve as sponsor; Permission of the department chair. Enrollment restricted to Theatre majors who have completed the full sequence of courses in the area of study to be pursued by independent study. Not open to classified graduate students. Maximum of 6 units may …

Introduction to theatre research, involving bibliographical methods, the tools of research and the organization and writing of the research study.

Corequisite: TH 600. This course is an advanced introduction to pedagogical theories and practices in theatre and performance. It is designed to provide graduate students with knowledge of major trends in the field of teaching theatre and performance, with a particular focus on teaching theatre in the context of higher education.

Prerequisites: TH 600; Advanced course in theatre history/literature (TH 422 through TH 535, or equivalent). Investigation of selected problems in theatre history from antiquity through the present. Consideration of theatre architecture, audiences, staging and production, acting and performance organization.

Prerequisites: TH 600; Advanced course in theatre history/literature (TH 422 through TH 535, or equivalent). Investigation of selected problems in theatrical literature from antiquity to the present. Consideration of the text, playwright, theatrical genres and periods and movements.

Prerequisites: TH 600; Advanced course in directing or design (TH 457, TH 545 or equivalent). Analysis of the aesthetic principles and techniques of the theatre, including selected problems in the philosophy of dramatic art.

Prerequisites: Classified graduate status; Approval of appropriate area faculty to form a thesis or graduate project committee; Formation of an approved thesis or graduate project committee; Completion of all additional requirements for the degree. (Credit/No Credit only)

Prerequisites: Classified graduate status; Consent of an instructor to serve as sponsor; Review by the department director of graduate studies. Maximum of 6 units may be earned.