College of Arts & Sciences
where excellence meets opportunity
where excellence meets opportunity
In-depth information is available in the "Program Summary" section below. For more information about the degree, contact Assistant Professor Shontelle Thrash or CSU Theatre Director Phillip Depoy.
The Theatre's schedule of productions is available on a separate site.
The BA is designed with an eye toward the realities of professional theatre. The theatre program is directly connected to professional theatre in Georgia, and the faculty are all working artists in the world of professional theatre. This new approach signals a significant shift in the direction of the theatre program. The productions of Clayton Theatre are student-centered but will feature professional directors and designers of the highest caliber. Often the students will create new work under the guidance of these professionals. Just as often, interesting new interpretations of classic or new theatre pieces will be presented.
The director of this program, Phillip DePoy, has served in professional theatre for 25 years, as Artistic Director for THEATRICAL OUTFIT, Composer in Residence at the ACADEMY THEATRE, and an award winning designer for the ALLIANCE THEATRE. His plays have been seen throughout the United States and Canada: LAMB ON FIRE enjoyed New York production, APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS has been seen throughout the United States, and EASY won the coveted EDGAR award in New York. Most recently his play TURNED FUNNY was sold out at THEATRE IN THE SQUARE and received three SUZI awards.
Professional stage and screen actor Shontelle Thrash, whose recent role in GEE'S BEND won her great critical acclaim, is the acting teacher for the program. Her work throughout the southeast and in film has received universal praise.
Clayton Theatre hopes to engage new audiences, create new work, and develop new theatre artists who will, in turn, contribute to the body of theatre work in America.
Program description and Objectives Clayton State University has established a theater program with the objective of preparing students for professional work in the community, filling the demands of the general theater world, and significantly contributing to the body of theater arts in the 21st Century. There is at present no other theater degree program that offers a B.A. available to the population of south metropolitan Atlanta. The theater degree offers Clayton State University students major concentration and course options similar to those provided by other system institutions with theater degree programs.
The theater curriculum at Clayton College & State University includes a core of courses essential for the working theater professional. This specialized coursework will be offered in conjunction with local, regional, and national theater institutions. American Theater Magazine cites the search for new theater work as the number one concern in the general theater community. The experiential approach in the course of theater studies at Clayton State University will not only prepare students for careers in the community but also furnish them with the tools for creating new work, making a significant impact on theater in our state and region.
Curriculum Details
General Education Core Curriculum Areas A-E: All baccalaureate degree graduates complete Areas A-F of the Core Curriculum. The general education core curriculum is composed of five parts, identified as Areas A-E, and requires 42 hours of coursework. The remaining section, Area F, contains 18 hours of major related courses.
1. General Education A-E (42 Hours)
2. Area F Theater and Related Fields (18 hours as per University System of Georgia guidelines):
F.1. (12 hours) Required courses:
THEA 1100—Introduction to Theater (3-0-3)
THEA 1880—Introduction to Acting (3-0-3)
THEA 1990—Play Development (3-0-3)
THEA 2900—Directing (3-0-3)
F.2. (6 hours) Choose lower division courses from the following prefixes or courses: ART (except studio), ENGL, THEA, CMS 2100, COMM 1110, MUSC 2101, MUSC 2301, PHIL 2401.
Total: 18 hours
Note: The CSU Theater Area F conforms to the University System of Georgia Area F guidelines for Theater. No distinction will be made regarding earned course credit for transfer and native students.
3. Major Required Courses (9 credit hours):
THEA 3800—Playwriting (3-0-3)
THEA 4100—Design (3-0-3)
THEA 4500—Capstone Project (3-0-3)
4. Major Courses (12-21 credit hours)
THEA 3880—Acting Styles (3-0-3)
THEA 4990—Directing Project (3-0-3)
THEA 4101—Theater Concepts (3-0-3)
THEA 4511—World Theater (3-0-3)
THEA 4530—Music Theater (3-0-3)
THEA 4901—Theater Collaboration (3-0-3)
THEA 4800—Selected Topics (3-0-3)
5. Major related courses (Choose up to 36 credit hours from the following):
ART 3101—The Visual Arts and Society (3-0-3)
ART 3401—American Art Visions (3-0-3)
CMS 3500—Writing and Editing for Mass Media (3-0-3)
CMS 3502—New Media Design (3-0-3)
CMS 3810—Women and Popular Culture (3-0-3)
CMS 4310—Film Analysis and Criticism (3-0-3)
CMS 4320—Women and Film (3-0-3)
CMS 4410—Digital Video Production (3-0-3)
CMS 4810—Women and the Arts (3-0-3)
ENGL 3101—Literature and Society (3-0-3)
ENGL 3800—Introduction to Creative Writing (3-0-3)
ENGL 4011—Critical Theory (3-0-3)
ENGL 4012—The American Literary Experience (3-0-3)
ENGL 3400—African-American Literature (3-0-3)
ENGL 4200—Medieval and Early Renaissance (3-0-3)
HIST 4003—Women’s History (3-0-3)
HIST 4250—History of World Religions (3-0-3)
HUMN 3101—The Humanities, the Arts, and Society (3-0-3)
HUMN 3102—International Arts and Culture (3-0-3)
PHIL 3101—Philosophy and Society (3-0-3)
PSYC 3350—Abnormal Psychology (3-0-3)
Options
5. Practicums and Internships (3-9 hours)
THEA 3901—Practicum/Internship (3-0-3)
6. Free Electives (0-9 credit hours):
Excluding PHED activity courses, courses offered for institutional credit only, and career program courses, choose up to three courses in consultation with the program coordinator or department head.
Important Note: While some lower division courses may be used to satisfy requirements in the upper division, a maximum of 18 lower division hours can be use outside of Areas A-F.
Course Descriptions
1. THEA 1100--Introduction to Theater (3-0-3): Taking a historical approach, this introductory course in theater will develop in the student a basic understanding of the world of theater. The student will develop a respect for the artists involved in the process of theater, a greater understanding of the position of theater in the world and in the student’s life. (Note: Learning Support students who are required to take ENGL 0099 and/or READ 0099 must exit the requirement(s) before they can enroll in this course.)
2. THEA 1800—Introduction to Acting (3-0-3): An introduction to basic acting techniques. The course includes an exercise regimen as well as skill development in stage combat, mime, voice production, and role preparation.
3. THEA 3101--Theater, Cinema, and Society (3-0-3), A topical or thematic approach to the study of the networks of relationship between the dramatic arts (including both live performance and film) and the social structures in which those works are created and interpreted, considering both historical and contemporary perspectives.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1102. Completion of CRIT 1101 and Area C recommended.
1. THEA 2880--Acting 2 (3-0-3): An in-depth exploration of the ideas and practical applications of contemporary acting techniques with an emphasis in Theatrical Realism. Prerequisite: THEA 1880.
2. THEA 2900--Directing (3-0-3): A foundational study of the principles of directing contemporary theatre with an emphasis on current trends in theatrical production.
3. THEA 1990--Play development (3-0-3): A practical application in the creation and development of a theatrical production from inception to completed presentation.
6. THEA 3800--Play writing (3-0-3): A study in the basic mechanics of writing theatrical work with an emphasis on plot and dialog. (The student will be provided with SCREENWRITER or FINAL DRAFT software for the laptop and instruction in its use.)
7. THEA 3901—Practicum/Internship (3-0-3): A practical internship with a professional theatre company in the Atlanta area one of three areas: artistic, technical, or management.
8. THEA 3880--Acting Styles (3-0-3): A study advanced acting with an emphasis on creating characters and understanding performance beyond a basic study in Theatrical Realism.
9. THEA 3990--Directing Project (3-0-3): A concentrated exploration of the principles and practices of directing contemporary theatre with an emphasis in directing a project for presentation.
10. THEA 4100--Design (3-0-3): A study of design principles and practices, history of design, and practical applications in one of three areas: lighting, set, or costume.
11.THEA 4101--Theater Concepts (3-0-3): A directed discussion class concerned with the collaborative overview of the professional theater with an emphasis on experience in Equity theaters.
12. THEA 4511--World Theater (3-0-3): A study of nonwestern theater styles and concepts as they relate to contemporary American theater.
13. THEA 4530--Music Theater (3-0-3): A study of New Music Theater forms including but not limited to the American Musical.
14. THEA 4901--Theater Collaboration (3-0-3): A class in creating new work for the theatre in collaboration with a professional Equity theater.
15. THEA 4500--Capstone project (3-0-3): A theatre major's final theater project, particular to the major’s interest in either acting, directing, play writing, or design; presented in the theater for the general public.
16. THEA 4800--Selected Topics (3-0-3): A seminar in theater topics, may be repeated when topics vary.
Typical Full-time Theater Program of Study
Sample 4-Year Schedule
Fall Spring
|
First Year |
|
|
ENGL 1101 |
ENGL 1102 |
|
CRIT 1101 |
COMM 1110 or COMM 1001 and 1002 |
|
MATH 1101 |
POLI 1101 |
|
HIST 2111 or 2112 |
THEA 1990 |
|
THEA 1100 |
THEA 1880 |
|
15 Credit Hours |
14 or 15 Credit Hours |
|
Second Year |
|
|
BIOL 1111 + LAB |
BIOL 1112 |
|
ENGL 2111 |
CMS 2100 |
|
PSYC 1101 or SOCI 1101 |
HIST 1111 or 1112 |
|
MUSC 2101 |
SCI 1901 |
|
THEA 2880 |
THEA 2900 |
|
16 Credit Hours |
15 Credit Hours |
|
Third Year |
|
|
THEA 3800 |
THEA 3990 |
|
THEA 3880 |
THEA 3900 |
|
9 Hours: Electives |
9 Hours: Elective |
|
15 Credit Hours |
15 Credit Hours |
|
Fourth Year |
|
|
THEA 3901 |
THEA 4500 |
|
THEA 4100 |
THEA 4101 |
|
THEA 4111 or THEA 4530 |
THEA 3101 or THEA 4901 |
|
6 Hours: Electives |
6 Hours: Electives |
|
15 Credit Hours |
15 Credit Hours |