Bachelor of Arts in Theatre

The mission of the Department of Theatre Arts at North Greenville University is to offer a liberal arts-based curriculum that leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre in order to prepare students for graduate studies or professional work, as well as making a positive contribution to the cultural climate of the University and the surrounding community.

The Theatre Program focuses on developing a broad base of knowledge, mastery of skills, and identification of personal goals in order to produce well-rounded artists and craftsmen. Students seeking graduate studies will be assisted by a faculty advisor who will aid the student in preparing portfolios and acting auditions. Our purpose is to aid the student in integrating academic, cultural and Christian disciplines into his or her world.

In keeping with the institution’s Statement of Purpose, this program seeks to enable students to integrate academic disciplines, Christian lifestyle, and an enriched cultural experience by offering course work that produces well-rounded artists and practitioners for the future. Educating the whole person is achieved through an integrated program of academic, cultural, and spiritual disciplines.

The goals of the Theatre Program at North Greenville University are that upon successful completion of the B.A. in Theatre, the graduate:

• Will have the skills to collaborate in the art of theatre (knowledge of principles and techniques of theatre and their practical application, knowledge of verbal and nonverbal language, knowledge of research, ability to express oneself in theatre terms);
• Will have the skills to enroll in and remain in good academic standing in graduate school.

A two semester internship with local theatres and a senior seminar is required.

Bachelor of Arts in Theatre

General Education Requirements

COLL 1100, COLL 1300, or HNRS 1210    1, 2, or 3 hours
ENGL 1310, 1320    6 hours
ENGL 23xx    3 hours
MUSC 1300 or ARTS 1300    3 hours
FOREIGN LANGUAGE    6 hours
HIST 13xx or 23xx    6 hours
MATH 13xx or higher    3 hours
CSCI 1305    3 hours
NATURAL SCIENCE    8 hours
PHED 1200    2 hours
CHST    6 hours
SOCIAL SCIENCE    3 hours
COMM 2300    3 hours

Total    53-55 hours

Major Study Requirements

THTR 1100 (Freshman Theatre Practicum)    2 hours
THTR 1300 (Theatre Appreciation)    3 hours
THTR 1320 (Acting I)    3 hours
THTR 1340 (Stagecraft)    3 hours
THTR 2100 (Sophomore Theatre Practicum)    2 hours
THTR 2315 (Acting II)    3 hours
THTR 2330 (Theatre History & Lit. I)    3 hours
THTR 2370 (Theatre History & Lit. II)    3 hours
THTR 2385 (Scene Design)    3 hours
THTR 3100 (Junior Theatre Practicum)    2 hours
THTR 3330 (Directing)    3 hours
THTR 3350 (Play Writing)    3 hours
THTR 4210 (Internship I)    2 hours
THTR 4220 (Internship II)    2 hours
THTR 4310 (Theory & Criticism)    3 hours
THTR 4330 (Senior Seminar)    3 hours

Total    43 hours

Performance Concentration

THTR 2390 (Audition and Career Management)    3 hours
THTR 3310 (Voice for the Actor)    3 hours
THTR 3370 (Movement for the Actor)    3 hours
THTR 4320 (Acting III)    3 hours

Design Concentration

THTR 3320 (Lighting Design)    3 hours
THTR 3380 (Costume/Makeup Design)    3 hours
THTR 3345 (Advanced Stagecraft)    3 hours

Choose from Digital Technology or Scenic Art Class

Ministry Concentration

THTR 2340 (Drama in Ministry)    3 hours
THTR 3360 (Creative Drama)    3 hours
THTR 3335 (Advanced Directing)    3 hours
CHST Practical Elective     3 hours

History/Pedagogy Concentration

ENGL 4310 or 4315 (Shakespeare)    3 hours
THTR 3335 (Advanced Directing)    3 hours
ENGL or HIST Electives    6 hours

Total Concentration    12 hours

Theatre Concentration Descriptions/Requirements:

Objective

Students pursuing a BA degree in Theatre will select an area of specialization and, under the guidance of an advisor, will shape their course selections, internships and summer work to maximize their preparation for graduate or professional work.  All majors will take a core of theatre courses so that they are all generalists; in addition they will concentrate themselves in an emphasis so that they become specialists in that area.

Students may select a concentration at any time in their freshman or sophomore year.  All majors must select a concentration no later than the second semester of their sophomore year.  At that time, they will begin to follow the requirements of their concentration under the guidance of a faculty advisor.

Performance Concentration

This concentration is for those who desire to apply their theatre training towards a professional career or graduate degree in performance.  Along with a strong core of theatre discipline classes (design, history, literature, etc.), performance students will also be required to take advance study in acting, voice, movement and Shakespeare.

Vocational prospects

This concentration would prepare the student for a career as a professional performer for the stage.  The student may also elect to pursue post graduate study and earn a Masters of Fine Arts in acting or performance for further training.

Requirements:

Curricular

Fulfill the BA in Theatre program and choose electives in acting, voice, movement, creative drama and Shakespeare.  Other options for electives include classes in music, film and broadcasting, and visual art etc. as they fit with the student’s career aspirations.  All tech practicums should be attempted during your Freshman-Junior years.

Internships

Select opportunities in local theatres as guided by your advisor to best suit your talent.  This includes auditioning as an actor, but students are also encouraged to intern as a stage manager, dramaturg, director, etc. to aid in networking as well as learn what will be expected of them as professional performers.

Senior projects

Select the Performance project option.  It behooves the student to complete his/her senior project in the fall semester so s/he will be fully prepared for auditions at SCTA and SETC.  In deciding what s/he would like to do for his/her project, the student needs to consider what s/he wants to do beyond NGU and use the project as a catalyst for his/her career or degree advancement.

Extra-curricular

• Students will be expected to prepare themselves for a portfolio review each year.  This will include an updated resume and headshot, and journal entries (detailing the student’s work as a performer, internships, jobs, and observations of various theatre performances).  The student is also required to keep a monologue collection, which includes monologues the student has performed and would like to perform in the future.
• Students should actively seek employment in summer stock theatre.  Both SETC and local theatre companies are the primary utilities to finding summer work. Students are expected to audition at SCTA/SETC as well as for local (or the student’s home town) theatre companies.
• Students should look to participate in NGU productions, whether they have been cast or not.  Students will always learn through observation.
• Students are required to interview at least two of the following professionals:  actor, agent, director, casting director, artistic director, Actor’s Equity representative, or any performance related professional that has been pre-approved by the student’s advisor.  Interviews will then be written up as a paper detailing what the student learned and how s/he is able to apply the information to his/her career goals.

Design / Technical Concentration

This concentration is for those who desire to apply their theatre training towards a design or technical professional career or post graduate degree.  Along with a strong core of theatre discipline classes (acting, history, literature, etc.), design/tech students are required to take set, lighting, and costume design, computer technology, stagecraft, and choose from several design/tech electives (scenic painting, drafting for the theatre, advanced costume, set, lighting design).  Students are required to work on a minimum of two mainstage productions each year (practicums are valid in this requirement).

Vocational prospects

Students may elect to get an MFA in design or scenography or technical direction for further training.  Or, a student may choose to work as a set, lighting, or costume designer, carpenter, master carpenter, technical director, assistant technical director, scenic artist, props master/mistress, electrician, light board operator, master electrician, stitcher, wardrobe crew/assistant, stage hand, assistant stage manager, stage manager, or drafter for a professional tour, regional, professional, or community theatre.

Requirements:

Curricular

Fulfill the BA in Theatre program and choose electives in design, technical work, and drawing.  Other options for electives include painting, photography, art, film and broadcasting classes, or architecture classes as they fit with your career aspirations.  All tech practicums should be attempted during your Freshman-Junior years.

Internships

Select opportunities in local theatres as guided by your advisor to best suit your talent.  Some examples might be loading in tours at the Peace Center or working in the costume shop in Greenville Little Theatre.  Summer stock employment could be used for an internship.

Senior project

Select the Design project option. You should plan on presenting this project at the South Eastern Theatre Conference and including it in your portfolio.

Extra-curricular

• Students will be expected to prepare themselves for a portfolio review each year.  This will include an updated resume and current portfolio, which documents both paper and realized projects.
• Students should actively seek employment in summer stock theatre.  Both SETC and USITT are the primary utilities to finding a summer stock job.  Students are expected to interview at at least one of these conferences.
• Students should look to participate in the productions, whether they have a role assigned to them or not.  Students will always learn through observation in the shops.  Students are encouraged to ask for specific positions (props, master, scenic artist), etc.  These shows provide students with resume and portfolio credits.

Theatre Ministry Concentration

This concentration is for those who desire to apply their theatre training to a ministry context.  It combines training in all theatre disciplines (acting, design, directing, writing, administration) with spiritual formation and biblical studies.  A minor in Christian Studies is strongly encouraged.

Vocational prospects

Students may elect to take a seminary degree for further training.  This concentration might lead to working in a church drama program, as a touring performer who performs for churches, conferences and Christian colleges; as a writer who produces materials for ministry performance programs.

Requirements

Curricular

Fulfill the BA in Theatre program and choose electives in drama ministry, creative drama, advanced directing, Christian Studies, business, etc. as they fit with your career aspirations.

Internships

Select opportunities in local churches (working with drama teams, special programs, summer arts camps, etc.), or parachurch organizations (Christians in Theatre Arts, summer camps, touring organizations, etc.).

Senior project

Select the Theatre Ministry project option.  You should plan on offering this to area churches, as well as on campus.  This project can be the launching of a theatre ministry program and you should begin to think beyond your degree requirements as you plan it.

Extra-curricular

• Students will be expected to be active in a local church with an active arts program.
• Students should locate a summer job/ministry in keeping with their concentration.  You are strongly encouraged to consider joining a mission trip and offering yourself as writer/direct/performer of dramatic material.
• Students should audition for Act 2 (the drama ministry team at NGU).  If you don’t make the team, you will be expected to interact with them at rehearsals and observe them in local performances.
• Students should look to participate in NGU productions, whether they have been cast or not.  Students will always learn through observation.
• NGU offers opportunities for touring performers to minister on campus (in chapel and for CEVT events).  You should become familiar with the individuals and groups who tour ministry theatre and work with the theatre and campus ministry departments to host these people on campus.
  

Theatre History / Pegagogy / Writing Concentration

This concentration is for those who desire to apply their theatre training in a literary or educational context.  It combines training in all theatre disciplines (acting, design, directing, writing, administration) with advanced study in script analysis, history and criticism, playwriting and dramaturgy.

Vocational prospects

Students may elect to pursue an MFA in theatre pedagogy or an MA/PhD track in theatre/drama, depending on whether they plan to work in a secondary or college setting.  This concentration would prepare a student for teaching, research or dramaturgical work in a theatre or as a free lance playwright.

Requirements:

Curricular

Fulfill the BA in Theatre program and choose elective in English literature, creative writing, history, etc. as they fit with your career aspirations.

Internships

Select opportunities in local theatres where you can work as a dramaturg on productions, or in new play festivals where you can help in the development of new scripts.  You may also work as assistant director in order to gain analytical and interpretative skills.

Senior projects

Select the theatre history or playwriting project options.  You should gain experience in research/scholarly writing or creative writing through this project.  The project should also provide you with writing samples which you can use for application to graduate schools or staff positions in theatres.  The original play option should be a product you can send to contests, play development programs, producers or publishers.

Extra-curricular

• Students will be expected to attend theatre regularly in the Upstate area.  You should journal your experiences at the theatre.
• Students should locate summer opportunities in keeping with their concentration.  This might be serving on staff with an outdoor drama or summer stock company, working with a community theatre on their play selection committee, or reading scripts for a new play festival.
• Students should submit their writing projects to scholarly journals, play contest, publishers, etc. as they finish them.  Begin to build a list of organizations and programs which allow for dissemination of the kind of writing you are doing.
• Students are encouraged to assist in a University theatre course in order to gain experience working under an NGU theatre professor.  Permission to do this must be obtained from the Department Chair after consultation with the particular professor you want to shadow.
• Students should look to participate in NGU productions, whether they have been cast or not.  Students will always learn through observation.

Theatre Practicum Requirements

Theatre majors are required to complete two semesters of Theatre Practicum (1100) and four semesters of upper level Theatre Practicum courses (two semesters of THTR 2100 and two semesters of THTR 3100). Both THTR 1100 practicum courses must be completed before a student may enroll in THTR 2100 practicum courses. All practicum courses must be completed before a student may enroll in THTR 4210 or 4220 internship courses.  Practicum involves students in using acquired skills in college productions.

Theatre Internship Requirements

Theatre majors are required to complete two semesters of a directed internship with a local theatre, school or church. Theatre majors enroll in internships one or both semesters of their junior or senior year; therefore, the student’s work on campus is reduced in order for the student to focus attention on the internship. Internships may be conducted with one or two area theatres, schools or churches and include acting, technical work, stage management, dramaturgy or business operations.

Total General Education Requirements    53-55 hours
Total Major Requirements    43 hours
Total Concentration Hours    12 hours
Elective Courses    20 hours
Total Hours for Degree    *128 hours

*In addition, all students at North Greenville University are required to earn one credit for chapel and cultural events for each semester of full-time enrollment (up to 8 semesters).

Official Theatre Website

Visit the Official NGU Theatre Website for detailed write-ups, playbills and to purchase tickets to performances.