The Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University Theatre program offers an undergraduate BFA education 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.

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 Program (MAT)  program at SOU. Interested students should consult the MAT Chair 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

• Theatre, BFA

• Certificate in Character and Costume Design
• Certificate in Directing and Devising for Theatre
• Certificate in Lighting Design and Technology
• Certificate in Musical Theatre
• Certificate in Production Fabrication
• Certificate in Scenic and Environment Design
• Certificate in Shakespeare Studies
• Certificate in Sound Design
• Certificate in Theatre and Arts Management

• Master of Theatre Studies in Production and Design

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 - Shakespeare: A Performance Approach
• 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 256 - Character and Costume Design I
• TA 257 - Musical Theatre Dance
• TA 258 - Musical Theatre Dance II
• 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 335 - Devising I
• 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 356 - Character and Costume Design II
• TA 357A - Musical Theatre Workshop I
• TA 357B - Musical Theatre Workshop II
• TA 358 - Auditioning for Musical Theatre
• TA 359 - Musical Theatre History