Theatre Arts (BFA) Musical Theatre

Summary

Designed for creative artists both in performance and in production, and provides training for increased professional competencies in the specialized areas of theatre performance and design. This is a highly specialized degree path and provides intensive training in the art and craft of theatre making. The department offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to balance students' practical training with historical and socio-political context to prepare them as creative and scholarly practitioners in the performing arts. Students' ability to think critically and act globally equips them with the necessary knowledge and skills to enter professional lives as performers, choreographers, technicians, designers, arts administrators, arts advocates, and leaders in the arts. As a result, students emerge from the program with greater global, historical, racial, cultural, gender, and justice literacy in their fields. BFA students receive accelerated training in their area of specialization. Students are required to participate in realized projects within their area of specialty and specificity in the classes they are required to take. The BFA program produces highly trained specialists in one area of theatre (acting, musical theatre, or an area of design).
Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Major Credits

75

Total Credits

120

Locations

Mankato

Update Your Major

Program Requirements

Required General Education

Survey of theatre arts; lectures, with lab experience available. Note: Students may not take both THEA 115 and this class.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06

Major Common Core

Introduction to the theory and practice of directing for the theatre.

Prerequisites: THEA 100 and THEA 101 or THEA 110

A survey of literature, artists and performances with specific regard to the theatre of diversity including, but not restricted to: Feminist Theatre, Gay and Lesbian Theatre, African-American Theatre, Asian American Theatre, Hispanic Theatre, etc.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

The study and application of various analytical approaches to play texts in preparation for production.

Prerequisites: THEA 100

Survey of theatrical history from its origins to 1700.

Prerequisites: THEA 100

This course examines how all global performance styles and techniques influence each other. Focusing on the last 250 years, students will examine how performance practices from all around the world have merged (sometimes in a celebratory way, sometimes due to appropriation) to become the performing arts of today.

Prerequisites: THEA 100

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Major Restricted Electives

Theatre Activity - Choose 5 Credit(s). From at least 3 different areas

Acting in a mainstage or approved production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Work on stage or house management, or public relations. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Serve as Dance Captain, to assist the Choreographer, for a mainstage or approved production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Work on stage crew in a mainstage production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Work on costumes or wardrobe crew in a mainstage production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Work on lighting crew in a mainstage production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Work on sound crew in a mainstage production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Emphasis Common Core

* Must have 3 credits of THEA 300 Summer Stock; must have 4 credits of THEA 302 Practicum; must have 8 semesters of THEA 311 Private Voice.

Expanding knowledge and skill of jazz dance technique with more direct application to musical theatre and concert dance, as well as focus on emerging performance skills. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Expanding knowledge and skill of ballet technique, with increasing development of centerfloor and across-the-floor variations, as well as emerging performance skills. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

Expanding knowledge and skill of tap technique, in musical theatre, as well as focus on emerging performance skills. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Performance scenes and acting exercises for the beginning theatre major.

Prerequisites: Consent

The process of character structuring through script analysis and scene work.

Prerequisites: THEA 110 or consent

A group instruction course covering fundamental music theory and skills applicable to the theatre artist including the study of music notation, style, harmony and literature. Skills learned will include basic keyboarding, sight reading and sight singing music. Fall

Prerequisites: none

A continuation of Music Skill for Theatre I, this course will focus on recent developments in the American Music Theatre while increasing skills learned in the previous class. Spring

Prerequisites: THEA 212

The development of a repertoire of audition pieces to increase the ability to perform with confidence on short notice.

Prerequisites: THEA 110 or consent

Fundamental concepts of technical theatre; an overview of basic stagecraft, costuming, lighting, and sound in the contemporary theatre.

Prerequisites: THEA 100

Theory and practical laboratory work in stage makeup applications.

Prerequisites: Consent

Technical work and/or acting in summer theatre productions. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

A considerable production responsibility dealing with the preparation and performance of a major acting role. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Continuation of THEA 111. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: THEA 111

Introduction to musical theatre performance techniques for the American Musical Theatre actor.

Prerequisites: THEA 210 or consent

Scene studies from the American Musical Theatre, as well as performance techniques for the singing actor.

Prerequisites: THEA 210 and consent

Study and exercises in vocal development emphasizing the demands of stage speech.

Prerequisites: THEA 210 or consent

A study and practice of vocal dialects most often used in performance.

Prerequisites: THEA 413

Advanced scene studies with a focus on analysis and the varied approaches to developing motivations.

Prerequisites: THEA 210 or consent

The development of individual performance craft and advanced acting methodologies.

Prerequisites: THEA 210 or consent

Advanced scene studies in classical and stylized dramatic literature.

Prerequisites: THEA 210 or consent

An exploration of basic skills involved in unarmed combat and a variety of historical weapons systems with primary emphasis on theatricality and safety.

Prerequisites: Consent

Survey of the history of the American Musical Theatre from its origins to the present.

Prerequisites: THEA 100 and consent

Emphasis Restricted Electives

Movement/Careers - Choose 1 Credit(s).

Instructs the student through a series of movement exercises in body alignment, breathing, flexibility, strength and coordination.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Introduction to the various career opportunities directly in or appertaining to theatrical arts performance.

Prerequisites: THEA 100