Theatre Arts 111
541-552-6346
Chris Sackett, Chair

The Theatre Arts program offers educational and practical experience in all areas of theatre, including acting, directing, costuming, stage scenery and lighting, sound, makeup, management, dramatic literature, and theatre history. Theatre arts majors participate in the department’s active and ambitious production program and experience the close working relationships that develop between faculty and students as they produce live theatre together.

Through its presentation of classic and contemporary dramatic works, the Theatre Arts program contributes significantly to the social and cultural enrichment of the SOU and southern Oregon communities. Dedicated to creating opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills in practical ways, the program not only supplies performance opportunities for students, but it also mounts productions that are often designed and predominantly executed by students.

The Theatre Arts program maintains a positive formal relationship with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF). Adjunct faculty, guest artists, and lecturers from OSF enhance the program’s curriculum. Students of merit may be recommended for internship positions during their junior and senior years.

As an Oregon University System designated Center of Excellence in the Fine and Performing Arts, SOU aims to provide high-quality education within a framework of an intensive program of preprofessional training. Fundamental to this mission is making the living art of theatre an essential element of theatre students’ training. Learning in this program is a collaborative experience that encourages professional standards in the studio, the classroom, and the production experience.

Admission to the Theatre Program

Whether incoming freshmen or transfers, all students wishing to pursue a theatre arts major are admitted to SOU as theatre pre-majors and must apply to the Theatre Arts program for formal admission to the major within their first three terms as pre-majors. Application forms are available in the program office.

The theatre arts faculty considers applications for theatre major status from transfer students during winter term. Freshman applications for theatre major status will be considered during spring term. Students who do not meet program standards by the end of their third term may not be accepted into the major.

The program limits the number of students admitted to the major. Priority is given to students who:

1. possess the intellect, interest, and aptitude to successfully complete the academic requirements of the theatre arts degree program, as demonstrated by a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA and a 3.00 GPA in the major;
2. demonstrate that they can meet their responsibilities and obligations to both the intellectual and production life of the program, as evidenced by GPA in major classes and work undertaken in Theatre Practice (TA 255 and 455); and
3. contribute to the creative and scholarly activities of the program and exercise a positive influence on the learning environment.

The program chair notifies each student of formal acceptance to the theatre major and assigns the student a faculty advisor. The chair utilizes the above criteria to determine the master roster of new majors being admitted to the program.

Transfer Students

To facilitate a fluid transition into the program, transfer students are strongly encouraged to contact the program at least two full terms prior to arrival at SOU. Transfer students should arrange for an audition and/or interview, which will determine appropriate placement within the training sequence. Students interested in a performance (acting) emphasis must contact Dennis Smith, head of the acting program, to arrange an audition for appropriate placement in the acting sequence. Students with a scenic design or technical orientation must contact Sean O’Skea, head of the scene design program, to arrange for a portfolio review and/or interview, while students with an emphasis in lighting design, stage management, or sound should contact Chris Sackett, head of the sound and lighting program. Students interested in a costume design or costume construction emphasis must contact Deborah Rosenberg, head of the costume program, for a portfolio review and/or interview.

Early contact with the program will minimize difficulties when registering for appropriate classes within the training sequence.

Upon commencing studies at SOU, transfer students must schedule an appointment with a theatre arts faculty member for an evaluation of which credits listed in the Advanced Standing Report (ASR) may be used to satisfy core requirements for the theatre major.

Transfer students who have not completed lower division core requirements in theatre may not be allowed to register for upper division theatre classes until they have completed those requirements.

Admission to the Acting Sequence

Auditions before the faculty for admission to TA 247 (Acting I) will be administered under the auspices of TA 166 (Theatre Foundations) during fall term each year. Auditions are also conducted by the faculty each spring term to determine the roster of students who will be permitted to take TA 248 (Acting II) and other courses in the advanced acting sequence.

Admission to the BFA Program

All students admitted to the major are admitted as majors in the BA or BS degree program. Admission to the BFA program is by audition, interview, and/or resumé-portfolio presentation. Students may apply for admission to the BFA no earlier than the end of their sophomore year. (Transfer students should wait until they have been in residence at least two full terms prior to auditioning.) Students should consult a program advisor prior to applying for admission to the BFA program. For more information about audition/interview guidelines and dates, please contact the Theatre Arts program.

Teacher Licensing

Students who would like to teach theatre arts at the middle school or high school level in Oregon public schools must complete a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts before applying for admission to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at SOU. Interested students should consult the Director of Theatre Education Eric Levin for an appropriate advisor and the School of Education regarding admission requirements for the MAT program.

Students must prepare in advance to increase their chances of acceptance into this competitive program. Practica, internships, and volunteer experiences working with children in the public schools prior to application to the MAT program are required.

Program Requirements

Programs

Undergraduate Major

• •  Theatre Arts, BA or BS
• •  Theatre, BFA

Graduate Major

• •  Production and Design, Master of Theatre Studies

Minor

• •  Shakespeare Studies Minor
• •  Theatre Minor