Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures
Professors Bassett (Emeritus), Blair, David, Derry, Klein, McDowell (chair), Reichert
Associate Professors Benjamin, Crews, Cromer, Deer, Donahoe, Hellems,
Johnson, Lavarnway, Lafferty, McWilliams, Rodriguez (Emeritus), White
Assistant Professors Smith, Walther (guest), Wang
Faculty Associates Church, Cordes, Goodman, Hapner
The Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures is devoted
exclusively to the training and education of
undergraduate students in the areas of dance, motion
pictures, and theatre. These programs lead to the
Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts
degrees.
The Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures is empowered
by the Ohio Revised Code to require particular
preliminary training or talent for admission to
specific programs, and each of the five B.F.A. degree
programs has specific criteria for admission to each
level of training. Students in all areas must earn a
minimum GPA of 2.0 by the end of the freshman
year to continue in a theatre arts major. Students
who wish to be admitted as majors in acting, acting/musical theatre, or dance must successfully
pass an audition or interview. Transfer students
are admitted into B.F.A. programs on the basis
of a successful audition, interview, or portfolio
presentation. The department has an open admissions
policy for students wishing to major in the B.A.
programs in theatre studies and motion pictures
history, theory, and criticism, and B.F.A. programs in
design/technology and motion pictures production.
All students who return after an absence of
four or more consecutive quarters must reapply to
the faculty for readmission to the program, and at
the discretion of the faculty they may be required to
satisfy program requirements in effect at the time of
readmission. Details of the admission and retention
policy are detailed in the Department of Theatre Arts
Student Handbook.
Dance
The dance program is designed to train students for professional careers in dance performance. This Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree combines dance technique classes with theatrical and musical training to prepare students to succeed in their specialized field of concert dance or musical theatre.The foundation of the dance curriculum is a daily class in ballet technique with additional training in modern, jazz theatre dance, and tap. Classes in choreography, dance pedagogy, dance history, and pointe/men's class are required. Seniors must complete an individually choreographed senior dance project. Required courses outside of dance include studies in theatre, acting, music theory, music literature, and singing.
All students must successfully audition for admission into the dance program. Only selected students who demonstrate technical skill and artistry and a promise of high achievement in dance are accepted. All transfer students are required to audition for acceptance and placement. To remain in the dance program, students must demonstrate continual growth as judged by the faculty and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in all dance courses and a 2.0 GPA overall. Dance faculty evaluate all majors at the end of each academic year; students must earn a positive recommendation before they can enroll for the next level of training. Exceptional dance majors are selected to study and to perform as members of Dayton Ballet II or Dayton Contemporary II. These dancers are eligible for scholarships from the Department of Theatre Arts.
Dance majors are required to audition for the Wright State Dance Ensemble. Other auditions may be required by the dance faculty for other performances, including lecture-demonstrations, choreographic presentations, dance tours, and dramatic and musical productions. Dance majors must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 to be eligible for graduation.
Degree Requirements-Dance
Bachelor of Fine Arts DegreeSee General Education Requirements
| General Education Requirements | 56 |
| Required Courses: | |
| Area IV: TH 214 | |
| Area VI: Any approved Liberal Arts College | |
| Component course | |
| Departmental Requirements | 108 |
DAN 101, 102, 103, 111, 112, 113, 201, 202, 203, 211, 212, 213, 251, 252, 253, 301, 302, 303, 311, 312, 313, 321, 322, 323, 341, 342, 343, 371, 372, 373, 399 (six hours), 401, 402, 403, 411, 412, 413, 421, 422, 423, 491, 492, 493 Two hours from the following: DAN 207, 208, 209; 307, 308, 309; 407, 408, 409 Two hours from either DAN431 or 432 Two hours from the following: TH 238, 239, approved HPR 100 and HPR 101 courses, other courses as approved by advisor | |
| Related Requirements | 18 |
| TH 147, 148, 149 | |
| TH 105, TH 100 (five hours) | |
| MUS 114, 118 | |
| Electives | 10 |
| Total | 192 |
Motion Pictures
The program in motion pictures provides a study of film as a fine art. The curriculum offers two options: the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre with a concentration in motion pictures production and the Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre with a concentration in motion pictures history, theory, and criticism.The B.F.A. Program
The B.F.A. program follows an open admission policy for only the first quarter; thereafter, students must progress according to department guidelines in order to continue. Prospective motion pictures B.F.A. students must take MP 131 the fall quarter of their freshman year and receive an A or B in order to proceed to any other classes as a major. Students successful in MP 131 should register for MP 231 in the winter quarter. In order to be eligible to take MP 180 and MP 232 in the spring quarter, students must have completed 24 university credit hours, received a C or higher in MP 231, and achieved an overall minimum GPA of 2.25 by the end of winter quarter. After completion of the spring quarter, prospective B.F.A. students must submit a Sophomore Audition Application and be officially accepted as a film major in order to continue into the sophomore year. Note that a limited number of students will be invited to enroll into the second year and become B.F.A. majors. Further details regarding evaluation standards can be found in the Theatre Arts at Wright State Booklet, published by the department.At the end of the sophomore year, B.F.A. students must audition successfully for entrance into the junior and senior years of the program. This process, called the Junior Audition, is a comprehensive process involving multiple meetings with faculty and review of all work done in the program. Before students are accepted into the junior year, they must have a minimum 2.5 GPA in all film history/theory classes and a 2.25 overall GPA. Students must also have completed six film history/ theory courses, not including MP 131, and including MP 232 and 233, and have earned at least 85 credit hours. Students are required to submit original media work for faculty evaluation. To be accepted to the third year, students must show promise of benefitting from continuing education. In their third year, all production students are expected to demonstrate growth in film technique and earn additional credits in film history, theory, and criticism, as well as credits in General Education classes and electives.
The B.A. Program
Students who are interested in the B.A. program generally follow the same program of study for the first year as the B.F.A. students, except without taking MP 180. At the end of the freshman year, B.A. students should indicate to the faculty their intention to return to the program. A B.A. degree in motion pictures can be thought of as a general liberal arts degree, preparing one for entrance into professions requiring knowledge of contemporary culture. More specifically, the B.A. degree can prepare one for graduate study in film and subsequent employment as a professional writer or teacher in a university; other job options include working for a film archive, festival, library, museum, arts council, or publisher.Motion Pictures Honors Program
The honors program in motion pictures provides students of superior academic ability with the opportunity to broaden and demonstrate their skills. To earn a degree with honors, students must complete the departmental major requirements, maintain a superior GPA throughout their course of studies, and successfully complete a senior honors project, MP 499, sometime in their senior year. To be admitted to the honors program, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 in their major and an overall GPA of 3.25. Both B.A. and B.F.A. students should contact the coordinator of the motion pictures area or the department chair for further details.Degree Requirements-Motion Pictures History, Theory, and Criticism
Bachelor of Arts DegreeThe Bachelor of Arts degree combines a liberal arts education with an appreciation of the aesthetic, social, and historical aspects of the film medium. Because film is a highly eclectic medium of expression, the department has designed a coordinated program of electives for the B.A. student.
See General Education Requirements
| General Education Requirements | 56 |
| Required Courses: | |
| Area IV: ART 214 or TH 214 | |
| Area VI: Any approved Liberal Arts College | |
| Component course | |
| Departmental Requirements | 61 |
| MP 131, 180, 231, 232, 233, 334 | 19 |
| Additional courses in motion picture history, theory, and criticism to be chosen from MP 331, 332, 333, 435 | 33 |
| Additional production courses to be chosen from MP 281, 282, 283, 381, 382, 383, 436, 499 | 9 |
| Related Requirements | 10-12 |
| ART 207 | |
| MUS 214 or 121 | |
| One of the following: | |
| EDT 455, COM 152, 253, 256, 360, 365 or appropriate substitute (consult advisor for alternates) | |
| Language and Research Methods Requirement | 36 |
| French recommended; must complete through 203 level. (Most other B.A. programs require foreign language through 202 level only.) | |
| Electives | 27-29 |
| Note: No more than seven credits of electives may be from theatre. English, history, and art courses are highly recommended. | |
| Total | 192 |
Degree Requirements-Motion Pictures Production
Bachelor of Fine Arts DegreeThe Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is designed to give students preprofessional training for vocations closely related to film and video production, while simultaneously giving them an opportunity to develop their creativity.
See General Education Requirements
| General Education Requirements | 56 |
| Required Courses: | |
| Area IV: ART 214 or TH 214 | |
| Area VI: Any approved Liberal Arts College | |
| Component course | |
| Departmental Requirements | 72 |
| MP 131, 180, 231, 232, 233, 281, 282, 283, 334, 381, 382, 383, 436, 481, TH 222 | 51 |
| Additional courses in motion picture history, theory, and criticism to be chosen from MP 331, 332, 333, 435 | 21 |
| Related Requirements | 23-27 |
| ART 207, 258, 358 or 359 | |
| MUS 114, 121 or 214 | |
| Two of the following: | |
| EDT 455, COM 152, 253, 256, 360, 365 or appropriate substitute (consult advisor for alternatives) | |
| Electives | 37-41 |
| Note: There is no limit on the number of electives from theatre. | |
| Total | 192 |
Theatre
Students who wish to study theatre choose from professional programs leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree or to the Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre studies. The professional programs are acting, acting-musical theatre, theatre studies, and design/technology/stage management.Admission for the acting and acting-musical theatre programs is by audition. The department has an open admissions policy for first-term freshmen in the design/technology/stage management and theatre studies programs. Transfer students must audition or interview for all B.F.A. programs. Each B.F.A. program has set criteria for selectively retaining students in the programs. These include a requirement that students earn a GPA of at least 2.0 to continue in the B.F.A. programs; most of the programs require a higher minimum GPA for graduation. The policies are spelled out in the following sections and in the Theatre Arts Student Handbook, which is issued annually. Students are required to consult quarterly with an academic advisor.
Degree Requirements-Acting and Acting-Musical Theatre
Bachelor of Fine Arts DegreeThe professional acting and acting-musical theatre programs are an intensive, four-year progression of studies in acting, voice, movement, dance, and singing. Acting majors may choose an emphasis in musical theatre. Because courses in the acting program follow a set sequence, students are generally admitted only in the fall quarter. The Professional Actor Training Program is limited by audition to only selected, superior students who show promise of high achievement in acting and/or musical theatre. Retention in the Professional Actor Training Program is determined by periodic review. Students are retained in the program based on their growth and development as judged by the acting faculty.
To be retained in the program, all acting and acting-musical theatre students must earn a grade of C or better in required departmental and related courses for the major, with the exception of TH 102, 120, and 222. If a student does not receive a C or better in these required courses, the student may not take the courses a second time. However, students may retake TH 372, 373, 380, 381, and 382 (literature and history courses) for a second time to receive the required grade of C or better. Students not receiving a grade of C or better in all required departmental and related courses (with the above exceptions) will not be retained in the program or continue in the acting or acting-musical theatre emphasis.
Acting
See General Education Requirements
| General Education Requirements | 56 |
| Required Courses: | |
| Area IV: TH 214 | |
| Area VI: TH 250 | |
| Departmental Requirements | 98 |
| TH 102, 115, 116, 117, 120, 144, 145, 146, 215, 216, 217, 222, 240, 241, 242, 244, 245, 246, 254, 255, 256, 315, 316, 317, 340, 341, 342, 344, 345, 346, 347, 354, 355, 356, 380, 381, 382, 413, 440, 441, 442, 444, 445, 454, 455 | |
| Related Requirements | 9 |
| DAN 111, 112, 113 | |
| Electives | 29 |
| Total | 192 |
Acting/Musical Theatre
See General Education Requirements
| General Education Requirements | 56 |
| Required Courses: | |
| Area IV: TH 214 | |
| Area VI: TH 250 | |
| Departmental Requirements | 93 |
| TH 102, 106, 107, 108, 120, 144, 145, 146, 157, 158, 159, 222, 240, 244, 245, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 337, 338, 339, 344, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 372, 373, 380, 437, 444, 457, 458, 459 | |
| Related Requirements | 31 |
| DAN 104, 105, 106, 121, 304, 305, 306, 207 or 307, 208 or 308, 209 or 309, 331, 332, 333, plus six credits from 300- or 400-level dance of choice | |
| Electives | 12 |
| Total | 192 |
Degree Requirements- Design/Technology/Stage Management
Bachelor of Fine Arts DegreeThe program in design/technology/stage management prepares students for careers as designers, technicians, and stage managers in the professional theatre. During the junior year, students begin a concentration in either design or technology in the fields of costumes, scenery, lighting, sound, or properties. Students interested in concentrating in stage management do so beginning in the freshman year. All design/technology majors must present their portfolio for an evaluation at the end of each year of study. Students are retained in the program and accepted into the sophomore year of study based on maintaining an overall GPA of 2.0, continual growth as determined by the faculty, and successful portfolio evaluation at the end of each year of study. Before students can begin their junior or senior year, they must have a minimum 2.5 GPA in all design and technology classes and a 2.25 overall GPA. Students must also continue to show steady growth in their craft. They must demonstrate leadership skills and self-discipline and show promise of benefiting from continued training. Any student whose overall GPA falls below 2.25 will be suspended from production, graphics, and design classes and from using facilities until the GPA is raised. The faculty members reserve the right to totally suspend from a program any student who does not fulfill these continuing requirements. Students may be reinstated if the requirements are subsequently fulfilled. Students not performing in their academic or production assignments will be dropped from the program.
See General Education Requirements
| General Education Requirements | 56 |
| Required Courses: | |
| Area IV: TH 214 | |
| Area VI: TH 250 | |
| Department Core Requirements | 49 |
| TH 102, 124, 125, 147, 210 (18 hours), 220, 224, 227, 229, 301, 380, 381, 382 | |
| Related Requirements | 49-76 |
| One of the following concentrations: | |
| Technology Concentration (76 hours) | |
| TH 124, 125, 126, 225, 226, 228, 320 (18 hours); | |
| MP 131 (18 hours), 328, 329, 362, 420 (18 hours), 429 (six hours); and six hours chosen from TH 324 and 326 | |
| Design Concentration (76 hours) | |
| TH 124, 125, 126, 225, 226, 228, 320 (12 hours); | |
| MP 131, 328, 329, 324, 325, 326, 362, 376 (six hours), 420 (six hours), 424, 425, 426, 429 | |
| Stage Management Concentration (49-55 hours)* | |
| TH 148, 149, 324, either 325 or 326, 350, 351, 410 (9-15 hours), 429; COM 102; CS 205; | |
| DAN 111; ENG 330; HPR 260; MUS 114 | |
| Electives | 11-38 |
| Total | 192 |
* Recommended electives for students in the Stage
Management Concentration are TH 131, 498 (12-15 hours),
and COM 453.
Degree Requirements-Theatre Studies
Bachelor of Arts DegreeTheatre majors working toward the Bachelor of Arts degree combine the advantages of a liberal arts education with preparation for a career in theatre or theatre-related areas. The department encourages students to maintain a balance between theory and practice and among the various arts of the theatre, gaining insight and perspective by studying art, history, literature, music, philosophy, religion, and science.
Because of the strength of the theatre production program, the B.A. theatre studies student is in a particularly advantageous position to acquire a high level of practical as well as theoretical knowledge, a distinction not afforded theatre students in programs with lesser production emphases. The student is encouraged to diversify in a variety of disciplines; courses throughout the department as well as production opportunities are open to these students. The major in theatre studies is generally considered to be preparation for further study at the graduate level.
See General Education Requirements
| General Education Requirements | 56 |
| Required Courses: | |
| Area IV: TH 214 | |
| Area VI: TH 250 | |
| Departmental Requirements | 46-50 |
| TH 102, 147, 148, 149, 222 (four hours), 380, 381, 382; MP 131 | 25 |
| Additional electives chosen from | 9-10 |
| TH 301, 304, 328, 329, 350, 351, 365, 375 | |
| Additional electives in theatre | 12-15 |
| Language and Research Methods Requirement | 24-32 |
| Electives | 54-66 |
| Total | 192 |
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