Theatre Department Mission Statement
The mission of the theatre department, in concert with the mission and philosophy of DeSales University, is to provide students with varied opportunities to grow as artists, as scholars, and as maturing human beings. Within the context of a strong Catholic liberal arts education, this is accomplished through foundational training, rigorous investigation of academic content, and a multitude of practical experiences enabling students to test their talents, skills, and vocation against professional norms.
Theatre Major (all tracks) Student Learning Outcomes
Students completing the Bachelor of Arts degree in all tracks of Theatre will be able to demonstrate:
- fundamental knowledge of and skills in play analysis (forms and styles);
- fundamental knowledge of theatre history;
- fundamental knowledge of and skills in scenery and costume production;
- fundamental knowledge of and skills in directing;
- fundamental knowledge of and skills in acting;
- preparedness for a career and/or graduate school, and lifelong learning;
- professional values and behaviors of the field (e.g., deadline adherence, effective communication, collaboration).
Theatre Department Tracks Mission Statements
Acting for the Stage and Screen - The mission of the acting for the stage and screen track is to establish and strengthen professional level discipline and performance skills in the field of acting.
Students completing the Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre (acting for the stage and screen track) will be able to demonstrate:
- intermediate knowledge of and skills in acting theory and styles;
- fundamental knowledge of and skills in voice/speech;
- fundamental knowledge of and skills in movement;
- knowledge of dramatic forms and styles.
Design/Tech - The mission of the design/tech track is to establish and strengthen professional level discipline, communication, and expression of innovative and critical thinking in the fields of theatrical design and technology.
Students completing the Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre (design/tech track) will be able to demonstrate:
- understanding of the elements of theatrical design; and abilities in each students’ area of concentration
- ability in technical skills; including the areas of scenery, costumes, lighting, sound, and/or stage management.
Musical Theatre- The mission of the musical theatre performance track is to establish and strengthen professional-level discipline and performance skills in the field of musical theatre.
Students completing the Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre (musical theatre track) will be able to demonstrate:
- intermediate knowledge of and skills in acting and musical theatre performance;
- fundamental knowledge of and skills in vocal production;
- fundamental knowledge of and skills in dance.
The School of Performing Arts offers a degree program in Theatre that presupposes the fact that the theatre does and will continue to exert a tremendous influence on the intellectual life and cultural development of civilization. In view of that presupposition, the goals of the department are to offer its majors the broadest knowledge of drama and the most valid experience of theatre that its resources will allow.
The school believes that the theoretical approach to theatre must be supplemented with practical experience. Therefore, theatre students are required to participate as actors and/or crew members for all productions of ACT 1 and participate in Studio Theatre productions (ACT 2). So that theatre students receive credit and evaluation for performance and crew work on ACT 1 productions, they must complete TR 361 and TR 362. (See entries corresponding to these course numbers.)
The program requires all students to take a group of courses that provide a broad-based understanding of the major areas of theatre practice. The program also requires that each student, in consultation with his/her advisor, select one of the following tracks for specialized study: (1) acting for the stage and screen, (2) musical theatre performance, (3) design/technology, and (4) secondary education with a teacher certification in English or communications. All programs lead to the Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre and the secondary education tracks lead to 4 + 1 teacher certification M.Ed. Program.
Admission into the theatre major is twofold. The applicant must be accepted by the University and must successfully audition and/or interview separately for the major.
The four individual tracks offered by the theatre program are designed to allow each student to explore one or more areas of theatre in greater depth and, thereby, to prepare each student to make a sound choice regarding career options after graduation. Options open to all graduates are graduate school training for advanced degrees, professional school training, professional careers in theatre, and professional careers in related fields. Each of the four tracks has a series of additional requirements.
