Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre

Theatre Faculty

Todd Dicken, M.F.A.
Bliss Hall 1026
Phone: 330.941.1857
E-mail: twdicken@ysu.edu

Katherine Garlick, M.F.A.
Bliss Hall 1016
Phone: 330.941.1852
E-mail: kngarlick@ysu.edu

Adam Howard, M.F.A.
Bliss Hall 1250
Phone: 330.941.1837
E-mail: adhoward05@ysu.edu


Theatre

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Theatre is a professional degree for students interested in pursuing a career as an actor, director, and/or theatre technician/designer. The program is defined by an experiential, collaborative curricular model that promotes discipline and artistic agency through broad-based foundational learning that encourages critical thinking, creative problem solving, and risk taking at all levels from introductory to advanced coursework. The result is refined skill sets that prepare students to be successful theatre professionals across all areas of the entertainment industry. Admission to the program is available by audition/interview only. 

The co-curricular theatre season includes four mainstage productions, and all B.F.A. Theatre students are required to audition and participate. Additional performance opportunities are made possible through semi-annual cabarets, annual Festival of New Work, and Evening of 10-Minute Plays. Performance opportunities focus on students and their professional growth in real-world situations. In addition, all B.F.A. Theatre students complete a senior capstone where they meet with their instructor individually as well as in small groups where deeper discussion occurs and final showcase material is refined and prepared for performance.

Our alumni may be seen regionally, nationally, and internationally across the theatre and entertainment industries. Our graduates are found on stage and screen—from Tony Award-winning Hadestown to Days of Our Lives—and receiving nominations and awards from The Tony's to The GRAMMYS®. Our dynamic programs also empower our alumni to become successful directors, designers, choreographers, and more at the national level, including the Great Lakes Theatre Festival and similar festivals. University Theatre degrees and programs will prepare you for success in the theatre industries no matter the path you choose.


University Theatre Contact Information

To learn more about our degree programs, scholarships, performances, faculty, and students, contact the University Theatre Office at 330.941.3810. To schedule a personalized campus visit, contact the Cliffe College of Creative Arts Program Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment at 330.941.2346 or sawaltman@ysu.edu. We would love to learn about your interests, talk with you about our programs, and become an important part of your future.

Dr. Joseph Carucci, Director 
jwcarucci@ysu.edu
330.941.1439

COURSE TITLE S.H.
FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS
YSU 1500Success Seminar1-2
or SS 1500 Strong Start Success Seminar
or HONR 1500 Intro to Honors
General Education Requirements
ENGL 1550Writing 13-4
or ENGL 1549 Writing 1 with Support
ENGL 1551Writing 23
CMST 1545Communication Foundations3
Mathematics Requirement3
Arts and Humanities (2 courses) Included in Major0
Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) 7
Social Science (1 course)3
PSYC 1560General Psychology3
Social and Personal Awareness (1 course)3
KSS 1500Physical Activity Core Concepts1
KSS 1514Fencing 11
KSS 1550Pilates1
or KSS 1552 Yoga
Theatre Core
THTR 1512Survey of Broadway: The American Musical *Art and Humanities Requirement3
THTR 1559Production Design for Stage and Screen3
THTR 1560Introduction to Theatre *Art and Humanities Requirement3
THTR 1561Stagecraft3
THTR 1563Costume Construction and Craft3
THTR 1585Acting 1: Fundamentals3
Theatre Participation (THTR 2600) must be taken 3 times for a total of 3 s.h.3
THTR 2607Introduction to Puppetry3
THTR 2640Theatre History3
THTR 2661Introduction to Stage Management3
Theatre Participation 2 (THTR 3700) must be taken 4 times for a total of 4 s.h.4
THTR 3701Professional Preparation3
THTR 3768Script Analysis for Stage and Screen3
THTR 4898Senior Project3
Major Concentration
THTR 2667Acting 2: Character Creation & Scene Work3
THTR 2672Bodyvoice for Actors3
THTR 3761Stage Makeup3
THTR 3762Directing 13
THTR 3766Stage Combat3
THTR 3772Acting 3: Advanced Character Study & Repertoire Acquisition3
THTR 4899FTopics Thtr Improv Sketch Com3
THTR 4899MTopics in Theatre: Costume Specialty Crafts3
Select two of the following courses:6
Shakespeare and Period Styles
Introduction to Dialects
Acting 4: Acting on Camera
Select three of the following courses:9
Scene Design
Lighting Design
Costume Design
Topics in Theatre (THTR 4899A, THTR 4899B, THTR 4899C, THTR 4899Q, THTR 4899R)
Select one of the following courses:3
Topics in Puppetry
Topics in Theatre Playwriting
Movement Electives3-4
Modern Dance 1 (1 s.h.)
Select 2 of the following courses:
Modern Dance 2
Jazz Dance 1 (1 s.h.)
Tap Dance 1 (1 s.h.)
Ballet 1 (1 s.h.)
Total Semester Hours120-123
Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallS.H.
THTR 1559 Production Design for Stage and Screen 3
THTR 1560 Introduction to Theatre 3
THTR 1585 Acting 1: Fundamentals 3
THTR 2600 Theatre Participation 1
YSU 1500
Success Seminar
or Strong Start Success Seminar
or Intro to Honors
1-2
ENGL 1550
Writing 1
or Writing 1 with Support
3-4
 Semester Hours14-16
Spring
DNCE 1540 Modern Dance 1 1
THTR 1561 Stagecraft 3
THTR 2600 Theatre Participation 1
THTR 2667 Acting 2: Character Creation & Scene Work 3
ENGL 1551 Writing 2 3
PSYC 1560 General Psychology 3
Mathematics Requirement 3
 Semester Hours17
Year 2
Fall
THTR 1563 Costume Construction and Craft 3
THTR 2600 Theatre Participation 1
THTR 3768 Script Analysis for Stage and Screen 3
THTR 3772 Acting 3: Advanced Character Study & Repertoire Acquisition 3
Movement Elective 1
Social Science GER 3
 Semester Hours14
Spring
THTR 2607 Introduction to Puppetry 3
THTR 2640 Theatre History 3
THTR 2672 Bodyvoice for Actors 3
THTR 3700 Theatre Participation 2 1
THTR 3761 Stage Makeup 3
Natural Science GER 3
 Semester Hours16
Year 3
Fall
THTR 2661 Introduction to Stage Management 3
THTR 3700 Theatre Participation 2 1
THTR 3762 Directing 1 3
THTR 4899
Topics in Theatre
or Scene Design
or Lighting Design
or Costume Design
3
KSS 1500 Physical Activity Core Concepts 1
Movement Elective 1-2
Social & Personal Awareness GER 3
 Semester Hours15-16
Spring
THTR 3700 Theatre Participation 2 1
THTR 3707
Topics in Puppetry
or Topics in Theatre Playwriting
3
THTR 4899M Topics in Theatre: Costume Specialty Crafts 3
THTR 3766
Stage Combat
or Topics Thtr Improv Sketch Com
3
THTR 4880
Shakespeare and Period Styles
or Introduction to Dialects
or Acting 4: Acting on Camera
3
CMST 1545 Communication Foundations 3
 Semester Hours16
Year 4
Fall
THTR 1512 Survey of Broadway: The American Musical 3
THTR 3700 Theatre Participation 2 1
THTR 3701 Professional Preparation 3
THTR 3763
Scene Design
or Lighting Design
or Costume Design
or Topics in Theatre
3
KSS 1514 Fencing 1 1
Natural Science + Lab GER 4
 Semester Hours15
Spring
THTR 3765
Lighting Design
or Scene Design
or Costume Design
or Topics in Theatre
3
THTR 3771
Introduction to Dialects
or Acting 4: Acting on Camera
or Shakespeare and Period Styles
3
THTR 4898 Senior Project 3
THTR 4899F
Topics Thtr Improv Sketch Com
or Stage Combat
3
KSS 1552 Yoga (or KSS 1550 Pilates) 1
 Semester Hours13
 Total Semester Hours120-123

Public Performances – Students demonstrate competence in the creation and presentation of public theatre events as performers and demonstrate the ability to act, i.e. to project one's self believably in work and action into imaginary circumstances in roles in a wide range of styles and formats.

Knowledge of History and Cultural Dimensions – Students demonstrate knowledge of the history and cultural influences of and upon the institution of theatre throughout the ages.

Informed Assessments of Quality – Students demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate works of theatre.

Critical Thinking – Students demonstrate the ability to define a desired goal in creating a work of theatre and find solutions to achieve that goal.