Major in Theatre, Performance Concentration

Program Overview

The B.A. in Theatre, Performance Concentration at Colorado State University provides a comprehensive education in various acting styles, offering students a deep understanding of performance techniques. The program emphasizes practical experience through main stage productions and devised theatre projects, fostering collaboration and cross-disciplinary skills in directing, playwriting, and other areas. To enter the program, an audition with CSU Theatre faculty is required, and students must complete a minimum of 120 credits, including 42 upper-division electives.

Program Outline

Major in Theatre, Performance Concentration - Colorado State University

Degree Overview:

The B.A. in Theatre, Performance Concentration is designed to provide extensive opportunities in both the study and practice of theatrical performance. The program focuses on foundational to advanced courses in various acting styles and approaches, offering students a comprehensive understanding of performance.

Key Program Features:

• Diverse Acting Styles: The concentration covers both "inside-out" approaches (Stanislavski, Meisner) based on action, objective, and tactic, and "outside-in" approaches (Suzuki, clown, Commedia) based on character creation through voice and body.
• Performance Experience: The program emphasizes practical experience through various performance opportunities, including main stage productions and devised theatre projects.
• Collaborative Learning: Students develop an understanding of the performer as a collaborative artist and creative visionary, fostering cross-disciplinary skills in directing, playwriting, global theatre traditions, musical theatre, and theatre for social change.

Program Learning Objectives:

• PERFORMANCE IN THEATRE: Develop a unique artistic vision by practicing techniques and skills necessary for stage performance, including personal experience as a basis for storytelling, western "inside-out" and movement-based "outside-in" approaches, and devising techniques like memoir, adaptation, and physical theatre.
• PERFORMANCE ARTISTRY: Develop an understanding of the performer as a collaborative artist and creative visionary, and cultivate cross-disciplinary skills in directing, playwriting, global theatre traditions, musical theatre, and/or theatre for social change to expand sophistication in performance.

Other:

• Audition Requirement: In addition to applying to CSU through the Office of Admissions, a successful audition with CSU Theatre faculty is required to enter the B.A.
in Theatre, Performance Concentration. The audition also serves as the scholarship audition.
• Theatre Practicum: The program requires students to take TH 400 (Theatre Practicum - Performance) four times, earning one credit each.
Each credit represents being cast in a main stage production. All Performance majors must audition for all productions.
• Upper-Division Electives: Students must complete at least 42 upper-division (300- to 400-level) credits to fulfill the program requirements.
• Program Total Credits: The program requires a minimum of 120 credits for graduation.