Course Catalog
- Please note: Theater Studies courses have just undergone multiple course number and name changes which are effective fall 2010. The changes are reflected in the course listings here. Old course numbers and names are indicated in red italic.
Please consult the Course Atlas for courses currently being taught or offered the next semester.
Introductory Courses
100. Introduction to the Theater (was 101)
Fall, spring. A theoretical and practical initiation to theater as a collaborative art.
Includes script analysis as well as basic instruction in acting, improvisation, stage
design, and play direction.
120. Acting: Fundamentals (was 121)
Fall, spring. An introductory course on the principles and practice of the actor’s craft.
130. Stagecraft (was 131)
Fall, spring. A theoretical and practical initiation to technical theater. Practical assignments
will be oriented toward mounting productions staged by Theater Emory.
190. Freshman Seminar in Theater
An introductory seminar on a special topic in theater studies.
Literature, History, and Aesthetics
210. Reading for Performance (was 201)
Fall, spring. The close reading of plays with a view to production. Exercises and
projects explore how a text emerges in performance from the combined perspectives
of actors, directors, designers, and audience.
215. History of Drama and Theater I
(Same as English 215.) Fall. A general history of Western drama from its origins to
the neoclassical period, focusing on representative dramatic works and on the influences
of the actor, staging, and the audience.
216. History of Drama and Theater II
(Same as English 216.) Spring. A general history of Western drama from the eighteenth
to the twentieth centuries, focusing on representative dramatic works and on
the influences of the actor, staging, and the audience.
311. Greek Tragedy and Comedy in Performance
A consideration of several representative Greek tragedies and comedies with regard
to the possibilities and problems involved in staging.
312. Shakespeare in Performance
A consideration of several of Shakespeare’s plays and the possibilities and problems of
staging. A related laboratory covers acting issues in detail, including: scansion, emphasis,
and shaping; gesture, movement, and space; soliloquy; images and antitheses.
313. History of American Drama
A history of the American theater and its plays, including consideration of the actor,
staging, audience, and their influence on the development of American theatrical art,
performance style, and dramatic literature.
314. Twentieth Century Musical Theater
A study of the history and forms of musical theater in America since the turn of the
twentieth century.
315R. Studies in Period Drama
A systematic reading of a group of plays from a major period. Course will focus on
the style and historical context of the period.
316R. Studies in Genre
A systematic reading of plays through dramatic structure as genre, exploring such
major forms as tragedy or comedy.
317R. Studies in a Major Figure
A consideration of the work of a major theatrical figure (dramatist, director, designer).
340. Arts Writing and Criticism
(Same as Journalism 340.)
365. Modern Drama
(Same as English 365.) Development of modern drama from the late nineteenth
century to 1950, including dramatists such as Ibsen, Shaw, Yeats, Synge, O’Neill,
and Williams.
366. Contemporary Drama
(Same as English 366.) Selected works of the contemporary theater since 1950,
including dramatists such as Beckett, Bond, Fornes, Gems, Pinter, Shepard, and Wilson.
372R. Playwriting
(Same as English 372R.) Workshop in writing plays.
375R. Advanced Playwriting
(Same as English 375R.) Prerequisite: Theater 372R or permission of instructor.
Intensive workshop in writing plays for advanced students.
410. Aesthetics and Criticism of the Theater (was 490)
Fall. Prerequisite: Theater 210. A seminar, capstone to the theater studies major,
covering major critical texts that interrogate the nature of the theatrical event.
419R. Dramaturgy Tutorial (was 319R)
Variable credit. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. An introduction to the many
roles of the dramaturg. Research assignments focus on the dramaturgical work surrounding
a Theater Emory production.
Interpretation and Performance
221. Scene Work
An introduction to the challenges of acting scenes. This process-oriented course will
focus on the development of character relationship through principles of objective,
circumstance, habit, activity, age, and emotion.
222. Speeches and Monologues
A systematic approach to the art of conjuring another time and place. Each student
will develop several narrative speeches of audition length. Topics include storytelling,
sound sense, movement, shaping, and opposites.
223. Voice and Diction
An overview of voice and diction for actors. Through group exercises and individual
instruction, students will learn techniques to achieve proper breath support, vocal
production, vocal range, and articulation necessary for stage performance.
224. Movement for the Actor
A course designed for the physical actor. This laboratory-focused course will explore
and develop a variety of processes unique to the construction of the actor’s physical
form and coordination. Topics include center, balance, kinesthetics, and rhythm in the
context of stage combat, mime, clowning, and physical relationship in scene work.
250. Directing I (was 251)
Fall. Prerequisites: Theater 210 or a 200-level or higher acting course, or permission
of instructor. A theoretical and practical introduction to the art of staging plays,
including script analysis, rehearsal techniques, and presentation of scenes.
320R. Acting Laboratory (was 421R: Acting Laboratory)
Variable credit. Prerequisite: permission of instructor or consent of department. A
course in a specialized area of acting, normally connected with a dramatic literature
course.
321. Advanced Scene Work
Prerequisite: Theater 221. Advanced work on character and relationship through a
variety of approaches.
322. Developing a Role
Prerequisites: Theater 222 and permission of instructor. Each actor works on two
substantive roles, with an emphasis on generating and shaping through-lines.
324R. Period Styles
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Advanced work on scenes in a variety of period
styles. Topics include center, sticking point, kinesthetics, fashion and manner, mask,
language/text work, characterization, and status.
350. Directing II (was 351)
Prerequisite: Theater 250 or permission of instructor. Includes continued script investigation
of a major play, visualization, actor coaching, and analysis of the throughlines
of characters in the play.
370R. Adaptation: Creating New Works (change in title)
Prerequisites: 200-level theater class or permission of instructor. A workshop for
the creation of new works by actors, designers, directors, and writers. Projects may
include performances created from improvisation, adaptations of fiction or nonfiction,
experimentation with classics, and self-scripted monologues.
400R. Theater Emory Laboratory (was 421R. Applied Acting Laboratory)
Variable credit. Prerequisite: permission of instructor or consent of department. A
course for work on a Theater Emory production.
420R. Acting Tutorial (was 400R)
Variable credit. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. An advanced course focused
on specified individual needs and interests of an advanced student actor. Can be
taken only twice.
450R. Directing Tutorial (was 451R)
Prerequisites: Theater 350 and/or consent of department. Advanced problems in staging
plays, including a fully mounted production of a one-act or full-length play.
Theater Administration, Design, and Production
230. Principles of Design
A theoretical and practical understanding of the process involved in conceiving and
executing a stage design and the interrelationship of the various design disciplines.
240. Theater Administration (was 241)
A lecture/laboratory course on how artists accomplish their work in the face of
changes in values, government mandates, and the economy.
330R. Stagecraft II
Variable credit. Prerequisite: Theater 130 or permission of instructor. An advanced
tutorial on practical problems in properties and craftwork for theater.
331. Costume Design (was 231)
Prerequisite: Theater 230 or permission of instructor. An introduction to the theory
and practice of costume design. Includes script analysis from a visual perspective as
well as exercises to develop basic design skills.
332. Scene Design (was 232)
Prerequisite: Theater 230 or permission of instructor. An introduction to the theory
and practice of scene design. Includes historical research, script analysis from a visual
perspective, and exercises to develop basic design skills.
333. Lighting Design (was 233)
Prerequisite: Theater 230 or permission of instructor. An introduction to the theory
and practice of lighting design, including script analysis from a visual perspective as
well as classroom and practical exercises.
334. Sound Design (was 234)
Prerequisite: Theater 230 or permission of instructor. An introduction to the theory
and practice of sound design, including script analysis and practical exercises in
analog and digital sound.
431R. Costume Design Tutorial (was 331R)
Prerequisite: Theater 331 and/or permission of instructor. An in-depth approach to
the art, practice, and history of costume design. Work will center on conceptualization,
research, and design.
432R. Scene Design Tutorial (was 332R)
Prerequisite: Theater 332 and/or permission of instructor. An in-depth approach to
the art, practice, and history of scene design. Work will center on conceptualization,
research, and design.
433R. Lighting Design Tutorial (was 333R)
Prerequisite: Theater 333 and/or permission of instructor. An advanced course in
the theory and practice of lighting design, including lighting for the theater, dance,
concert, film, and video.
434R. Sound Design Tutorial (was 334R)
Prerequisite: Theater 334 and/or permission of instructor. An advanced course in the theory
and practice of sound design, including sound design for theater, dance, and film.
440R. Administration Tutorial (was 341R)
Prerequisite: Theater 240 and/or permission of instructor. A lecture/laboratory
course focused on practical problems in theater administration, including budgeting,
contracting, publicity, and stage management. Practical assignments oriented to
Theater Emory’s season.
Special Courses
200R. Theater Practicum (replaces the previous version of 200R)
Variable credit (1 to 2 credits). Prerequisite: Theater 130. A course for students to undertake a substantial technical theater responsibility in a Theater Emory production. Required for all majors and minors, but must be taken at least once at Emory.
300R. Production Assistantship (replaces the previous version of 300R)
Variable credit. Prerequisite: An upper-level design or technical theater class. This course will provide the advanced design, technical, or stage management student the opportunity to work as an assistant to a professional artist on a Theater Emory production.
389R. Special Topics in Theater Studies
Individual courses designed to introduce students to special topics in theater.
396R. Colloquium in Theater
Spring. A one-credit course required for majors and minors. Must be taken twice to
complete major/minor. Comprised of lectures, workshops, and panel discussions with
faculty, guest artists, and alumni in addition to attendance at other arts events.
397R. Directed Studies in Theater
Variable credit. Prerequisite: permission of department. Special projects, research,
and readings under the direction of a faculty member.
494R. Honors in Playwriting
Variable credit. Prerequisites: qualification for honors and consent of department. A
supervised project in playwriting.
495R. Honors Project in Theater
Variable credit. Prerequisites: qualification for honors and consent of department. A
supervised project in any area of theater.
497R. Advanced Directed Studies (was Senior Project in Theater)
Variable credit. Prerequisite: consent of department. A supervised project in any area
of theater for seniors.
499R. Special Project in Theater
Variable credit. Prerequisite: consent of department. A supervised project in any
area of theater.
