Theatre

major minor

Program at a Glance

Degree(s)

Bachelor of Arts

College(s)/School(s)

College of Arts and Humanities

Department(s)

Performing Arts - Theatre and Dance

In our Theatre program, join a dynamic community of artists dedicated to creating theatre at its finest. Experience hands-on training in all aspects of stagecraft, combined with a deep appreciation of dramatic literature and theatre history. Our theatre program is accredited by NAST, ensuring high-quality education and professional standards. Immerse yourself in rehearsals, performances, and collaborative projects that push the boundaries of theatrical expression. Cultivate your artistic skills, explore diverse theatrical styles, and embrace the transformative power of live performance. Take center stage in our esteemed theatre program and unleash your creativity in the pursuit of artistic excellence and unforgettable theatrical experiences.

At CNU, you can focus your studies even further in the following subject areas:

Acting
Arts Administration
Design/Technical Theatre
Directing/Dramatic Literature
Musical Theatre
Theatre Studies

Degree Requirements

Theatre, Acting concentration

Students majoring in Theater with a concentration in Acting who complete all requirements earn the degree of BA, Fine and Performing Arts.

Core

THEA 232 - Acting I
THEA 250 - Scene Design and Technology
THEA 252 - Costume Design and Technology
THEA 310 - Theater History I
THEA 311 - Theater History II
THEA 498 - Thesis Project
Three semesters of THEA 250L - Backstage Practicum

Electives

THEA 233 - Acting II
THEA 332 - The Actor’s Voice
THEA 334 - The Actor’s Body
THEA 430 - Acting III
THEA 432 - The Actor’s Voice II—Verse and Text
Select one:
- THEA 258 - Makeup for the Theater
- THEA 338 - Introduction to Stage Combat
- THEA 431 - Styles of Acting
Twelve additional credits of approved THEA or DANC electives
Performance participation in at least three approved public performances
Successful completion of the Theater Graduation Examination.

Theatre, Arts Administration concentration

Students majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Arts Administration who complete all requirements earn the degree of BA, Fine and Performing Arts.

Core

THEA 232 - Acting I
THEA 250 - Scene Design and Technology
THEA 252 - Costume Design and Technology
THEA 310 - Theatre History I
THEA 311 - Theatre History II
THEA 498 - Thesis Project
One semester of THEA 250L - Backstage Practicum
Two semesters of THEA 200L - Arts Administration Practicum (Two semesters of THEA 200L replaces two semesters of THEA 250L in the Theater Core.)

Electives

THEA 200 - Principles of Arts Administration
THEA 451 - Stage Management
THEA 492 - Arts Administration Internship
ACCT 201 - Principles of Accounting I: Financial
BUSN 302 - Business Law for the Arts
ENGL 353W - Writing for the Professions
ENGL 454W - Writing for Civic Engagement: Public Relations and Grants
LDSP 240 - Theories and Perspectives on Leadership
Select one:
- BUSN 340 - Non-Profit as Business Enterprise
- COMM 322 - Communication and Social Media
- CPSC 216 - Multimedia and Web Publishing
- POLS 371W - Public Administration and Policy
Successful completion of the theatre graduation examination.

Theatre, Design/Technical Theatre concentration

Students majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Design/Technical Theatre who complete all requirements earn the degree of BA, Fine and Performing Arts.

Core

THEA 232 - Acting I
THEA 250 - Scene Design and Technology
THEA 252 - Costume Design and Technology
THEA 310 - Theatre History I
THEA 311 - Theatre History II
THEA 498 - Thesis Project
Three semesters of THEA 250L - Backstage Practicum

Electives

THEA 150 - Drawing and Drafting for the Stage
THEA 351 - Tech Theatre II
THEA 354 - Scene Design
THEA 356 - Lighting Design
THEA 452 - Costume Design
Fifteen additional hours of approved THEA or DANC electives
Design and/or Technical assignments in at least three approved public performances
Successful completion of the Theatre Graduation Examination

Theatre, Directing/Dramatic Literature concentration

Students majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Directing/Dramatic Literature who complete all requirements earn the degree of BA, Fine and Performing Arts.

Core

THEA 232 - Acting I
THEA 250 - Scene Design and Technology
THEA 252 - Costume Design and Technology
THEA 310 - Theatre History I
THEA 311 - Theatre History II
THEA 498 - Thesis Project
Three semesters of THEA 250L - Backstage Practicum
ENGL 308W - Literature, Theory, and Culture

Electives

THEA 233 - Acting II
THEA 336 - Fundamentals of Play Directing
THEA 451 - Stage Management
Select two:
- THEA 346 - History of Musical Theatre
- THEA 361W - Broadway to Hollywood and Back
- THEA 365W - Playwriting [same as ENGL 365] [equivalent to THEA 468W]
- THEA 368W - Science on the Stage
- THEA 461W - The One-Act Play
Twelve additional hours of approved THEA or DANC electives
Successful completion of the Theatre Graduation Examination.

Theatre, Musical Theatre concentration

Students majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Musical Theatre who complete all requirements earn the degree of BA, Fine and Performing Arts.

Theater Core

THEA 232 - Acting I
THEA 250 - Scene Design and Technology
THEA 252 - Costume Design and Technology
THEA 310 - Theatre History I
THEA 311 - Theatre History II
THEA 498 - Thesis Project
Three semesters of THEA 250L - Backstage Practicum

Additional Requirements

MUSC 115 - Elementary Keyboard Skills
MUSC 116 - Elementary Keyboard Skills
MUSC 135 - Music Fundamentals
MUSC 200 - Music Technology
MUSC 209 - Elementary Ear Training
MUSC 210 - Elementary Ear Training
MUSC 211 - The Tonal System
MUSC 212 - Tonal Harmony and Voice Leading
Eight credit hours of THEA 130
Successful completion of THEA 130 Voice Jury in the first semester freshman year as adjudicated by the Theatre faculty
THEA 233 - Acting II
THEA 346 - History of Musical Theatre
DANC 330 - Dance Styles for the Musical Theatre
DANC 430 - Advanced Dance Styles/Musical Theatre
Six hours of approved THEA, DANC or MUSC electives
Performance participation in at least three approved public performances
Successful completion of the Theatre Graduation Examination

Theatre, Theatre Studies concentration

Students majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Theatre Studies who complete all requirements earn the degree of BA, Fine and Performing Arts.

In addition to the liberal learning curriculum the theatre studies concentration will require the following courses:

Core

THEA 232 - Acting I
THEA 250 - Scene Design and Technology
THEA 252 - Costume Design and Technology
THEA 310 - Theatre History I
THEA 311 - Theatre History II
THEA 498 - Thesis Project
Three semesters of THEA 250L
THEA 336 - Fundamentals of Play Directing

Electives

Select one:
- THEA 354 - Scene Design
- THEA 356 - Lighting Design
- THEA 452 - Costume Design
Select one:
- THEA 261
- THEA 361W - Broadway to Hollywood and Back
- THEA 370 - A Movable Feast
- or other upper level theater literature course
Fifteen additional credits of approved THEA or DANC electives, of which there can be a maximum of six credits of performance classes, a maximum of six credits of design classes and a maximum of six credits of dance classes
- DANC 195 - Special Topics in Dance
- DANC 204 - Ballet I
- DANC 205 - Classic Jazz Technique
- DANC 206 - Modern Dance I
- DANC 240 - Dance Composition
- DANC 260 - African Dance in the Diaspora
- DANC 295 - Special Topics in Dance
- DANC 304 - Ballet II
- DANC 330 - Dance Styles for the Musical Theatre
- DANC 340 - Dance History and Contemporary Perspectives
- DANC 360 - Afro-Caribbean Dance
- DANC 381 - Production Dance
- DANC 395 - Special Topics in Dance
- DANC 430 - Advanced Dance Styles/Musical Theatre
- THEA 130 - Private Voice
- THEA 150 - Drawing and Drafting for the Stage
- THEA 195 - Special Topics
- THEA 200 - Principles of Arts Administration
- THEA 200L - Arts Administration Practicum
- THEA 210 - The Dramatic Impulse
- THEA 230 - Practical Acting: From Broadway to Boardroom
- THEA 232 - Acting I
- THEA 233 - Acting II
- THEA 250 - Scene Design and Technology
- THEA 250L - Backstage Practicum
- THEA 252 - Costume Design and Technology
- THEA 254 - Rendering for the Theatre
- THEA 257 - Stage Mechanics: Rigging and Metal Work
- THEA 258 - Makeup for the Theatre
- THEA 295 - Special Topics
- THEA 310 - Theatre History I
- THEA 311 - Theatre History II
- THEA 332 - The Actor’s Voice
- THEA 334 - The Actor’s Body
- THEA 336 - Fundamentals of Play Directing
- THEA 338 - Introduction to Stage Combat
- THEA 346 - History of Musical Theatre
- THEA 351 - Tech Theatre II
- THEA 352 - Art, Clothing and Society
- THEA 353 - Scene Painting
- THEA 354 - Scene Design
- THEA 355 - Sound Design
- THEA 356 - Lighting Design
- THEA 359 - Designing in CAD
- THEA 361 - WI - Broadway to Hollywood and Back
- THEA 365 - WI - Playwriting [same as ENGL 365] [equivalent to THEA 468W]
- THEA 365 - WI - Playwriting
- THEA 368 - WI - Science on the Stage
- THEA 370 - A Movable Feast
- THEA 380 - Production
- THEA 381 - Production in Dance
- THEA 395 - Special Topics
- THEA 430 - Acting III
- THEA 431 - Styles of Acting
- THEA 432 - The Actor’s Voice II—Verse and Text
- THEA 438 - A Call to Arms
- THEA 451 - Stage Management
- THEA 452 - Costume Design
- THEA 456 - Lighting Design II
- THEA 461 - WI - The One-Act Play
- THEA 491 - Theatre Practicum
- THEA 492 - Arts Administration Internship
- THEA 495 - Special Topics
- THEA 498 - Thesis Project
- THEA 499 - Independent Study
Successful completion of the Theatre Graduation Examination

Theatre minor

Core

THEA 310 - Theatre History I
Select one:
- THEA 230 - Practical Acting: From Broadway to Boardroom
- THEA 232 - Acting I
Select one:
- THEA 250 - Scene Design and Technology
- THEA 252 - Costume Design and Technology
Select one:
- THEA 200L - Arts Administration Practicum
- THEA 250L - Backstage Practicum

Electives

Select one at the 200-level or higher
Select one at the 300-level or higher
- THEA 200 - Principles of Arts Administration
- THEA 200L - Arts Administration Practicum
- THEA 210 - The Dramatic Impulse
- THEA 230 - Practical Acting: From Broadway to Boardroom
- THEA 232 - Acting I
- THEA 233 - Acting II
- THEA 250 - Scene Design and Technology
- THEA 250L - Backstage Practicum
- THEA 252 - Costume Design and Technology
- THEA 254 - Rendering for the Theatre
- THEA 257 - Stage Mechanics: Rigging and Metal Work
- THEA 258 - Makeup for the Theater
- THEA 295 - Special Topics
- THEA 311 - Theatre History II
- THEA 332 - The Actor’s Voice
- THEA 334 - The Actor’s Body
- THEA 336 - Fundamentals of Play Directing
- THEA 338 - Introduction to Stage Combat
- THEA 346 - History of Musical Theatre
- THEA 351 - Tech Theater II
- THEA 352 - Art, Clothing and Society
- THEA 353 - Scene Painting
- THEA 354 - Scene Design
- THEA 355 - Sound Design
- THEA 356 - Lighting Design
- THEA 359 - Designing in CAD
- THEA 361W - Broadway to Hollywood and Back
- THEA 361W - Broadway to Hollywood and Back
- THEA 365W - Playwriting [same as ENGL 365] [equivalent to THEA 468W]
- THEA 365W - Playwriting
- THEA 368W - Science on the Stage
- THEA 370 - A Movable Feast
- THEA 380 - Production
- THEA 381 - Production in Dance
- THEA 395 - Special Topics
- THEA 430 - Acting III
- THEA 431 - Styles of Acting
- THEA 432 - The Actor’s Voice II—Verse and Text
- THEA 438 - A Call to Arms
- THEA 451 - Stage Management
- THEA 452 - Costume Design
- THEA 456 - Lighting Design II
- THEA 461W - The One-Act Play
- THEA 491 - Theatre Practicum
- THEA 492 - Arts Administration Internship
- THEA 495 - Special Topics
- THEA 498 - Thesis Project
- THEA 499 - Independent Study

Course Catalog

Career Options

Actor
Director
Playwright
Set Designer
Stage Manager