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Course Syllabus

THEA 2443 Acting for Musical Theatre

  • Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
  • Department: Theater Arts
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
  • Repeatable: Yes.
  • Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
  • Semester Approved: Spring 2025
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2029
  • End Semester: Fall 2030
  • Optimum Class Size: 12
  • Maximum Class Size: 16

Course Description

This class develops Musical Theater craft through class exercises, improvisation, rehearsal, performance, and various methods of character analysis and scene analysis. Students will stretch their ability to live in a play’s given circumstances and to handle text and rehearsal work. Performance will be a key assessment tool, with students collaborating on an end of semester scenes program, revue, or cabaret style performance. This course is repeatable for credit.

Justification

This course responds to the unique need of the Theatre Department to develop competent and qualified performers in musical theatre productions. Similar courses are taught at most other institutions in the state.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the creative rehearsal process of rehearsal and performance.
  2. Students will improve their technique as singing actors, specifically learning how to integrate technical skills with movement, communication and interaction.
  3. Students will analyze scenes and characters from an actor’s point of view, through beats, choice of
    objectives, actions, and obstacles congruent with the text. They will apply various character analysis tools as directed
  4. Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze and evaluate the elements of a successful performance.
  5. Students will build the inner life of their characters, applying their own life experiences and imagination,
    and deepening relationships within the world of the play.
  6. Students will demonstrate an ability to collaborate creatively as a team to produce a professional quality production.

Course Content

Content and Skill Building will include:
● Communication Techniques - visual communication techniques in both moevement and voice work
● Production Skills - responsibility for a production aspect
● Academic Skills - writing, research, discussion
● Vocal development - application of technical development to character, expressive range and nuance
● The ability to study and analyze dramatic, musical works, an understanding of genre, style, and direction.
● An understanding of the contextual importance of musical theatre in the humanities, in the fine
arts and part of the human experience.
● Collaboration- Build verbal and written communication skills with all members of the collaborative design and production team.
Material will be selected from a wide range of style, genre, historical and cultural backgrounds.