The Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University and the Theatre program offers educational and practical experience in all areas of theatre, including acting, directing, costuming, stage scenery, lighting, sound, makeup, management, dramatic literature, and theatre history. Theatre 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 program contributes significantly to the social and cultural enrichment of 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 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

The Theatre Program has a limited annual enrollment based on a departmental application process. All students accepted into the major are selected by the Theatre faculty after the student has applied via the program’s online application. Only students who have completed the required essays, and provided other materials required by the application process are eligible for evaluation by the faculty. The faculty will select each year’s incoming class of freshmen and transfer students from the online applicants based on an evaluation of the student’s submitted materials. Successful applicants will be admitted as Theatre Majors. Applicants not selected to enter the major may still enroll in theatre courses open to non-majors and audition for departmental productions but will not be able to pursue a Theatre Degree or enroll in classes limited to Theatre Majors. However, applicants  not admitted as a theatre major may reapply for the following year without a delay in graduation.

Admission to the BFA Program

The BFA in Theatre has limited enrollment. All theatre students must first be accepted as a BA or BS Theatre major. Admission to the theatre BFA program is by audition or portfolio presentation in the area of interest. Students must consult the BFA program advisor in their area of interest for specific restrictions and guidelines prior to applying for admission to the theatre BFA program. Students not accepted into a BFA sequence may reapply once. Students may only pursue one BFA concentration at a time. For more information about audition/interview guidelines and dates, please contact the Theatre office.

Shakespeare Studies Minor

A minor in Shakespeare Studies is offered. 

Teacher Licensing

Students who would like to teach theatre at the middle school or high school level in Oregon public schools must complete a bachelor’s degree in theatre 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) and the Education program 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

• Musical Theatre Minor
• Shakespeare Studies Minor

• Theatre, BA or BS
• Theatre, BFA

• Master of Theatre Studies in Production and Design

• Performance Concentration

Courses

• D 157 - Introduction to Musical Theatre Dance
• D 182 - Introduction to Modern Dance
• D 183 - Dance Improvisation
• D 189 - Tap Dance I
• D 192 - Ballet I
• D 193 - Jazz I
• D 199 - Special Studies
• D 257 - Musical Theatre Dance
• D 258 - Musical Theatre Dance II
• D 289 - Tap Dance II
• D 293 - Ballet II
• D 295 - Jazz II
• D 399 - Special Studies

• SHS 199 - Special Studies
• SHS 200 - Shakespeare: Innovations (The Early Plays)
• SHS 201 - Shakespeare: Explorations (The Middle Plays)
• SHS 202 - Shakespeare: Consummations (The Late Plays)
• SHS 299 - Special Studies
• SHS 337 - Shakespeare on Film
• SHS 338 - Shakespeare in Popular Culture
• SHS 339 - Performing Shakespeare
• SHS 399 - Special Studies
• SHS 401 - Research
• SHS 436 - Topics in Shakespeare
• SHS 438 - Summer Shakespeare Intensive
• SHS 501 - Research
• SHS 536 - Topics in Shakespeare
• SHS 538 - Summer Shakespeare Intensive

• TA 129 - Singing for Musical Theatre
• TA 147 - Introduction to the Theatre: Drama in Production
• TA 155 - Capstone Preparation
• TA 157 - Introduction to Musical Theatre Dance
• TA 166 - Theatre Foundations
• TA 167 - Script Analysis
• TA 168 - Play Reading
• TA 169 - Elements of Design
• TA 182 - Introduction to Modern Dance
• TA 183 - Dance Improvisation
• TA 189 - Tap Dance I
• TA 192 - Ballet I
• TA 193 - Jazz I
• TA 199 - Special Studies
• TA 200 - Shakespeare: Innovations (The Early Plays)
• TA 201 - Shakespeare: Explorations (The Middle Plays)
• TA 202 - Shakespeare: Consummations (The Late Plays)
• TA 220 - Scene Design
• TA 230 - Theatre and Culture I
• TA 231 - Theatre and Culture II
• TA 232 - Theatre and Culture III
• TA 240 - Stagecraft
• TA 242 - Fundamentals of Sound
• TA 245 - Stage Lighting
• TA 245L - Stage Lighting
• TA 246 - Introduction to Acting
• TA 249 - Costume Fundamentals
• TA 252 - Stage Makeup
• TA 255 - Theatre Practice
• TA 257 - Musical Theatre Dance
• TA 258 - Musical Theatre Dance II
• TA 262 - Costume Design I
• TA 263 - Costume Design II
• TA 264 - Costume Design III
• TA 266 - Costume Construction I
• TA 267 - Costume Construction II
• TA 268 - Costume Construction III
• TA 270 - Acting Aesthetics
• TA 289 - Tap Dance II
• TA 293 - Ballet II
• TA 295 - Jazz II
• TA 311 - Acting I
• TA 312 - Acting II
• TA 313 - Acting III
• TA 314 - Movement I
• TA 315 - Movement II
• TA 316 - Movement III
• TA 317 - Voice and Speech I
• TA 318 - Voice and Speech II
• TA 319 - Voice and Speech III
• TA 323 - Movement IV
• TA 324 - Movement V
• TA 327 - Voice and Speech IV
• TA 328 - Performance Styles in American Film: 1920-1950
• TA 329 - Performance Styles in American Film: 1950s to the 1980s
• TA 333 - Stage Properties
• TA 334 - Stage Management
• TA 338 - Shakespeare in Popular Culture
• TA 339 - Performing Shakespeare
• TA 342 - Sound Engineering
• TA 343 - Scene Painting
• TA 344 - Technical Drawing for the Arts
• TA 346 - Costume Crafts
• TA 348 - U.S. Burlesque History
• TA 349 - Fashion in Western Culture
• TA 350 - Topics in Design
• TA 352 - Investigating the Text
• TA 354 - Fundamentals of Directing
• TA 355 - Intermediate Directing
• TA 357A - Musical Theatre Workshop I
• TA 357B - Musical Theatre Workshop II
• TA 358 - Auditioning for Musical Theatre
• TA 359 - Musical Theatre History