Program Overview

Theatre Arts Program

The Theatre Arts program at Oregon State University offers a comprehensive curriculum that explores the origins, history, nature, elements, and style of theatre production. The program provides students with a solid foundation in the principles and techniques of acting, directing, playwriting, and design.

Course Offerings

The program includes a wide range of courses, such as:

• TA 121: Oral Interpretation I, which analyzes and presents literature, exploring emotional reactions, expressive vocal and physical responses, and performing techniques for effective communication.
• TA 144: Playreading, which reads, discusses, and examines plays from world theatre, past and present, from the perspective of production and theatre history.
• TA 147: Introduction to the Theatre, which covers the origins, history, nature, elements, and style of theatre production, as well as the function of artists and craftspersons of the theatre.
• TA 242: Visual Principles of Theatre, which introduces visual creativity, creative thinking, and visual problem-solving as applied to theatre arts.
• TA 243: Principles of Costuming for the Stage, which teaches the principles and techniques of costume construction and practical application in the costume shop on theatre production.
• TA 244: Scene Crafts, which constructs scenery and stage properties, providing practical experience in backstage procedures and scene painting.
• TA 245: Stage Lighting, which covers the fundamentals of electricity as used in stage lighting, color and light, lighting instruments and control systems, and the theory and practice of lighting stage production.
• TA 247: Stage Makeup, which teaches the basic principles and theory of theatrical makeup with laboratory experience in most-used applications.
• TA 248: Fundamentals of Acting I, which examines the basic principles and techniques of acting, exploring relaxation, focus, personal vocal and physical awareness, and the performance process.
• TA 249: Fundamentals of Acting II, which continues the work in the basic principles and techniques of acting, emphasizing improvisation, character analysis, and creation.

Advanced Courses

The program also offers advanced courses, including:

• TA 330: History of the Theatre, which explores the rise and development of the composite arts of the theatre in their cultural and social context.
• TA 331: History of the Theatre, which continues the exploration of the rise and development of the composite arts of the theatre in their cultural and social context.
• TA 332: History of the Theatre, which covers the rise and development of the composite arts of the theatre in their cultural and social context from 1870 to the present.
• TA 344: Play Script Analysis, which studies major approaches to play script analysis and applies these systems to the theatrical production process.
• TA 346: Scene and Stage Design, which designs for stage productions, including elements of color, mass, line, and lighting for various types of theatre architecture and plays.
• TA 348: Advanced Acting: Realism, which discusses, researches, rehearses, performs, and critiques scenes from realistic drama, emphasizing the craft of acting and emotional availability.
• TA 349: Advanced Acting: Styles, which discusses, researches, rehearses, performs, and critiques scenes from a range of period and genre styles.
• TA 350: Workshop: Theatre Arts, which provides advanced work in acting, directing, or technical theatre in dramatic productions, offering laboratory experience.
• TA 351: Principles of Playwriting, which teaches the basic principles and techniques of playwriting.
• TA 352: Playwriting Workshop, which intensively works on student playscripts generated in TA 351, through re-writes, revision, and rehearsals.
• TA 354: Fundamentals of Play Direction, which explores the history, theories, and techniques of stage direction, including script analysis, study of the audience, staging, working with actors and designers, and the production process.
• TA 360: Multicultural American Theatre, which examines the rich panorama of multicultural-American theatre.
• TA 399: Special Topics, which offers lectures and explorations of theories, issues, methods, problems, and applications in theatre arts.

Graduate Courses

The program also includes graduate courses, such as:

• TA 401: Research, which allows students to conduct research in theatre arts.
• TA 402: Independent Study, which provides students with the opportunity to pursue independent study in theatre arts.
• TA 403: Thesis, which requires students to complete a thesis in theatre arts.
• TA 405: Reading and Conference, which offers reading and conference courses in theatre arts.
• TA 406: Projects, which allows students to complete projects in theatre arts.
• TA 407: Seminar, which provides seminars in theatre arts.
• TA 408: Workshop, which offers workshops in theatre arts.
• TA 410: Theatre Arts Internship, which provides a one- to three-term residency in a producing theatre, allowing students to work in a department of the theatre and in related production activities.
• TA 416: Topics in Theatre Arts, which offers lectures and explorations of theories, issues, methods, problems, and applications in theatre arts.
• TA 443: Costume Design, which teaches the theory and practice of designing costumes for a theatrical production.
• TA 444: Theory and Criticism of Theatre Arts, which explores major theories that have influenced and motivated theatre practice in Western civilization.
• TA 450: Studio: Theatre Arts, which provides advanced individual study on approved projects in one of the arts of the theatre.
• TA 451: Introduction to Arts Entrepreneurship, which surveys the business strategies behind a successful career in the arts.
• TA 454: Advanced Play Direction, which expands the exploration of directing theories and techniques, applying them through the production of a one-act play in a laboratory theatre.
• TA 499: Special Topics, which offers lectures and explorations of theories, issues, methods, problems, and applications in theatre arts.
• TA 502: Independent Study, which provides students with the opportunity to pursue independent study in theatre arts.
• TA 503: Thesis, which requires students to complete a thesis in theatre arts.
• TA 505: Reading and Conference, which offers reading and conference courses in theatre arts.
• TA 506: Projects, which allows students to complete projects in theatre arts.
• TA 507: Seminar, which provides seminars in theatre arts.
• TA 508: Workshop, which offers workshops in theatre arts.
• TA 510: Theatre Arts Internship, which provides a one- to three-term residency in a producing theatre, allowing students to work in a department of the theatre and in related production activities.
• TA 516: Topics in Theatre Arts, which offers lectures and explorations of theories, issues, methods, problems, and applications in theatre arts.
• TA 543: Costume Design, which teaches the theory and practice of designing costumes for a theatrical production.
• TA 550: Studio: Theatre Arts, which provides advanced individual study on approved projects in one of the arts of the theatre.
• TA 554: Advanced Play Direction, which expands the exploration of directing theories and techniques, applying them through the production of a one-act play in a laboratory theatre.