Department of Theatre

Visiting Instructor: Goff

Mission and Goals:

1. The successful student will be a theatre generalist with basic knowledge, practical skills, and problem-solving ability in all areas of theatre art. This student will embrace a liberal arts approach to theatre training, even within the BFA degree. At some time during the course of their education at McMurry, the successful student will participate in every aspect of play production, in addition to the required course work.
2. The student who excels will be prepared for a professional career in theatre, having had the experience of practical application of theory and analysis to design and performance technique. As a result of classroom instruction in history and theory and the department’s production-oriented program, the successful student will engage in a wide range of opportunities to learn experientially and will have built a resume/portfolio in preparation for post-graduate endeavors.
3. The successful student will participate in the presentation of live theatrical performances for the entertainment and cultural enrichment of the McMurry community and the general public.
4. Through hands-on directing, designing and performing, the successful student will use the theatrical arts as a tool for representing humankind’s search for meaning in life.

Special Programs and Opportunities:

Departmental Productions. McMurry theatre production auditions are open to all McMurry students with casting preference given to majors and minors. There are at least three faculty directed productions during each academic year. In addition, two to four full-length plays are offered each year by advanced students as senior projects and a series of one-act plays are staged each Spring by the Directing I class.

Summer Theatre. The summer theatre program attempts to produce one to three plays each summer in either conventional or dinner theatre formats. Guest directors, designers, and actors are regularly employed to offer the students exposure to as many different approaches to solving the problems of staging a play as possible.

Original Play Production. The department is dedicated to producing new plays written by McMurry students. Every other year, the department stages plays written by students of the Playwriting class of the previous year.

Out of a Trunk Theatre Company. The members of the company provide educational arts experiences in the public schools by presenting programs and conducting workshops throughout the school year.

Financial Aid. Students majoring or minoring in theatre may audition for theatre apprenticeships. Auditions are held during student preview weekends and by appointment.

Departmental Honors. Please see the description of the McMurry University Honors Program  under the Special Program section earlier in the catalog.

Programs

• Theatre Arts Education, BA
• Theatre, BA

• Theatre, BFA

• Creative Writing Minor
• Theatre Minor

Courses

• FNAR 2310 - Survey of Fine Arts

• THRE XX99 - Special Topics
• THRE 4X95 - Independent Studies
• THRE 4X96H - Honors Tutorial
• THRE 1300 - Introduction to Theatre
• THRE 2110 - Production I
• THRE 2250 - Make-up
• THRE 2320 - Improving Voice and Diction
• THRE 2330 - Acting I
• THRE 2340 - Stagecraft
• THRE 2350 - Costume Construction
• THRE 3210 - Production II
• THRE 3320 - Directing I
• THRE 3325 - Theatre and Fine Arts Management
• THRE 3330 - Acting II
• THRE 3344 - Fundamentals of Lighting Design
• THRE 3345 - Fundamentals of Scenic Design
• THRE 3350 - Theatre History and Dramatic Literature: Greeks to 19th Century
• THRE 3354 - Advanced Stage Combat
• THRE 3360 - Creative Drama
• THRE 3365 - Theatre History and Dramatic Literature: 19th Century to Present
• THRE 3370 - Playwriting
• THRE 4320 - Advanced Playwriting
• THRE 4330 - Acting III
• THRE 4335 - Musical Theatre Practicum
• THRE 4350 - Costume Design and History
• THRE 4363 - American Musical Theatre
• THRE 4365 - Theatre Arts in the Secondary School
• THRE 4390 - Senior Project in Theatre