School of Fine Arts
Department of Theatre
A student enrolled in the Department of Theatre Arts may earn the Bachelor of Fine Arts or the Bachelor of Arts degree by following one of the basic programs:
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN THEATRE
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN MUSICAL THEATRE
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN THEATRE WITH A TEACHING CERTIFICATE
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN THEATRE
The degrees Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts require 124 credit hours.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre arts curriculum requires a minimum of 65 credit hours in theatre arts. A maximum of 76 hours is accepted toward the degree. The curriculum is arranged so that a student can emphasize one of the following areas: acting, directing, or technical theatre and design.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre curriculum requires 52 credit hours in theatre arts and 25 credit hours in music.
The Bachelor of Arts in theatre arts curriculum requires completion of the general education curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences, a minimum of 42 credit hours in theatre arts, and 18 to 32 hours in a second academic field.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre with a teaching certificate program requires 145 credit hours. Both degree programs include certification to teach speech and English as well as theatre.
Each program includes basic courses required by the school of all students for graduation as well as those required for the particular program selected within the department. The curricula of all degree programs provide a flexibility that allows the student to emphasize areas of interest within each degree program. In addition, a varying number of elective subjects may be taken in other subject areas and other colleges of the University. This flexible framework allows for a development of needs, interests and abilities.
Part of this flexibility is the possibility of theatre majors accumulating a strong area of secondary emphasis. These include programs in business and journalism.
The degree programs in theatre are supported by various productions staged in the Hall of Performing Arts and in the Studio Theatre, both in the Harmon Fine Arts Center. Additionally, a number of student-produced plays are staged in an experimental performance space.
THE UNIVERSITY THEATRE
Recent productions of the University Theatre have included such works as Tennessee Williams’ "A Streetcar Named Desire;" Peter Shaffer’s "Equus;" Shakespeare’s "Hamlet" and "Romeo and Juliet;" and A.R. Gurney’s "The Dining Room" and "Sylvia." Musical productions of recent years include Kurt Weill’s "The Three Penny Opera;" Stephen Sondheim’s "Into the Woods" and "Company" and "Cabaret."
Drake was the first university in the United States to produce a repertory bill of original plays as a part of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation’s Second Step program for playwrights. The department still has a close tie with the O’Neill Center and sends students to the center each semester for intensive training.
Original productions of short and full-length plays by both faculty and students also are presented. These original plays and other productions have been entered in the American College Theatre Festival when possible.
Theatre Arts
General Education Requirements
Bachelor of Arts: Theatre arts majors pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree must complete the general education requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, described elsewhere in this catalog.
Theatre Arts Requirements
The following courses are required of all students pursuing degrees in the Department of Theatre Arts with a few variations, depending on the degree chosen. Additional requirements for each degree program are available in the Theatre Arts Office.
THEATRE ARTS 3 — Acting I THEATRE ARTS 5 — Readings in Theatre THEATRE ARTS 14 — Movement I THEATRE ARTS 20 — Voice I THEATRE ARTS 30 – Stagecraft I (including lab) THEATRE ARTS 31 – Costuming (including lab) THEATRE ARTS 32 — Makeup THEATRE ARTS 103 — Directing I THEATRE ARTS 120 — Theatre History I THEATRE ARTS 121 — Theatre History II THEATRE ARTS 124 — Tech Practicum (scene or costume) THEATRE ARTS 160 — Stage Management THEATRE ARTS 190 – Senior Capstone Experience TOTAL | Credit Hours |
Theatre Arts with a Teaching Certificate
This curriculum meets the requirements for the Secondary Teaching Certificate. A teaching endorsement in theatre arts, English and speech communication may be obtained by coupling the English minor (24 hours) and a speech communication emphasis (12 hours) to the 54 hours in theatre arts. For a full explanation of the programs, contact the chair of the Theatre Arts Department.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre
Listed below is a sample schedule of just one of the four areas of concentration for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. Students pursuing degrees with an acting, directing or theatre design emphasis will have somewhat different requirements. For more information, please contact the Department of Theatre Arts.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theatre requires 56 credit hours in theatre arts, 15 hours in music, and the Drake Curriculum.
| First Year — First Semester | Credit Hours |
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts
The Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre arts requires a total of 124 credit hours, including a minimum of 42 credit hours in theatre arts, 18 hours in a second academic field and a minimum of 42 credit hours taken outside the School of Fine Arts.
| First Year — First Semester Credit hours THEATRE ARTS 3 — Acting I THEATRE ARTS 14 — Movement I THEATRE ARTS 20 — Voice I THEATRE ARTS 30 — Stagecraft I or THEATRE ARTS 31 — Costuming FIRST YEAR SEMINAR DRAKE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENT TOTAL First Year — Second Semester THEATRE ARTS 30 — Stagecraft I or THEATRE ARTS 31 — Costuming DRAKE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENT THEATRE ARTS ELECTIVES MINOR REQUIREMENT TOTAL Sophomore Year — First Semester THEATRE ARTS 5 — Readings in Theatre THEATRE ARTS 120 — Theatre History I DRAKE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENT MINOR REQUIREMENT TOTAL Sophomore Year — Second Semester THEATRE ARTS 32 — Makeup THEATRE ARTS 121 — Theatre History II DRAKE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENT MINOR REQUIREMENT TOTAL Junior Year — First Semester THEATRE ARTS 160 — Stage Management THEATRE ARTS 103 — Directing THEATRE ARTS 124 — Technical Practicum DRAKE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENT MINOR REQUIREMENT TOTAL Junior Year — Second Semester THEATRE ARTS 124 — Technical Practicum THEATRE ARTS ELECTIVES MINOR REQUIREMENT DRAKE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENT TOTAL Senior Year — First Semester THEATRE ARTS ELECTIVES MINOR REQUIREMENT DRAKE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENT TOTAL Senior Year — Second Semester THEATRE ARTS ELECTIVES MINOR REQUIREMENT SENIOR CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE TOTAL | Credit Hours |
Minor in Theatre Arts
For B.A. students wishing to minor in theatre arts, the following courses are suggested by the department.
THEA 3 — Technique of Acting I THEA 4 — Technique of Acting II THEA 14 — Movement I THEA 20 — Voice I THEA 30 — Stagecraft I THEA 31 — Costuming I THEA 32 — Make-up THEA 76 — Introduction to the Theatre THEA 120 or 121 — Theatre History I or II TOTAL | Credit Hours |

