Theatre Arts Department

College of Arts and Humanities
Ellensburg
McConnell Hall, room 102
Mail Stop 7460
509-963-1750
Fax: 509-963-1767
e-mail: theatre@cwu.edu
www.cwu.edu/theatre
    See the website for how this program may be used for educational and career purposes.
 

Faculty and Staff
Chair
Christina Barrigan, MFA

Associate Chair
Patrick Dizney, MFA, voice, performance

Professors
Christina Barrigan, MFA, head of design, resident lighting designer
Michael J. Smith, MFA, head of performance, dialect, acting for the camera

Associate Professors
Patrick Dizney, MFA, voice, performance
Marc Haniuk, MFA, resident scenic designer
Emily Rollie, PhD, theatre studies, education

Assistant Professor
Natashia Lindsey, PhD, dramaturg, history, literature

Senior Lecturers
Jerry Dougherty, MFA, production manager, stage and production management
Jason Tucholke, MFA, sound shop manager, sound design and technology

Lecturers
McKenzie Baird, MFA, choreographer, dance
David Barnett, MFA, McConnell stage manager, scene shop manager, technical director
Beatrice Vidaña Collins, MFA, costume design and technology
Nick Ligon, MFA, lighting shop manager
Callum Morris, MM, musical director, music theory
Joseph Sasnett, BFA, voice instructor
Kathryn Stahl, MFA, performance

Staff
Lori LaFleur, fiscal technician II
Mary Makins, secretary senior

Department Information
Students must choose one of two specializations: theatre production or theatre studies.

Theatre Studies
The theatre studies specialization is specifically designed for students with career goals in dramaturgy, teaching in higher education, or pursuing a PhD in theatre history, research, literature, or criticism. The program is designed to build the research and analytical skills needed for an academic career in theatre. This Resident Program focuses on the dramaturgical aspects of production, as well as individual scholarly interests related to theatre arts. With opportunities to both teach and undertake research projects in theatre, this program offers the perfect blend of pedagogy and theory needed to prepare students for careers as theatre scholars.

A limited number of teaching or research assistantships are available to qualified candidates for the academic year. Out-of-state tuition waivers are also available to qualified candidates.

Theatre Production
The theatre production specialization is specifically designed for the working middle and secondary school teacher who produces plays and would like to obtain an advanced degree through hands-on courses in a program offered entirely during the summer months, within the context of the Summer Institute for Theatre Arts. Options of a blend of summer and academic year models are options, under advisement of the department. This may make the earning of and MA possible in an eighteen-month period.

Graduate Assistantships
A limited number of teaching or research assistantships are available to qualified candidates for the academic year. Assistantships are appointed by the dean of Graduate Studies and Research upon recommendation of the department chair.
Assistantship applications must be completed by February 16 in order to insure full consideration; applicants should submit all materials required by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. Contact them at (509) 963-3101 to request application materials or visit www.cwu.edu/masters.

Program Outcomes
For information on program outcomes, please go to: www.cwu.edu/mission/assessment-improvement/slo-assessment-plans. 

Course Offerings
Frequency of course offering information can be found at the department website: www.cwu.edu/theatre or by contacting the department directly.

Programs

• Theatre Arts MA, Theatre Production Specialization
• Theatre Arts MA, Theatre Studies Specialization

Courses

• TH 500 - Professional Development
• TH 501 - Introduction to Graduate Studies
• TH 502 - Introduction to the Creative Project
• TH 505 - Research Methods
• TH 510 - Theatre Literature, Theory and Criticism I
• TH 511 - Theatre Literature, Theory and Criticism II
• TH 512 - Studies in Gender Issues
• TH 513 - Studies in World Drama
• TH 514 - Studies in Asian Drama (On reserve as of 9/16/15)
• TH 515 - Studies in Ethnic Drama (On reserve as of 9/16/15)
• TH 518 - Studies in Early Modern Drama
• TH 519 - Studies in Drama and the State (Put on Reserve 9/16/16)
• TH 523 - Introduction to Theatre Pedagogy
• TH 525 - Theatre History Ancients-Renaissance
• TH 526 - Theatre History Renaissance-Modernism
• TH 527 - Theatre History Modernism-Contemporary
• TH 536 - Stage Movement
• TH 540 - Contemporary Directing
• TH 541 - Styles in Acting and Directing
• TH 542 - Musical Theatre Directing
• TH 556 - Sound Methods
• TH 564 - Wig Applications
• TH 565 - Costume and Makeup Methods
• TH 566 - Mask and Makeup Methods
• TH 568 - Lighting Methods
• TH 571 - Design Methodology
• TH 583 - Scenic and Property Methods
• TH 587 - Theatre Pedagogy
• TH 588 - Dramaturgy
• TH 589 - International Applied Studies (Put on Reserve 9/1/2020)
• TH 591 - Workshop
• TH 593 - Dramaturgical Practicum
• TH 595 - Culminating Portfolio
• TH 596 - Individual Study
• TH 598 - Special Topics
• TH 599 - Seminar
• TH 600 - Capstone Practicum
• TH 696 - Individual Study
• TH 698 - Special Topics
• TH 699 - Seminar
• TH 700 - Master’s Thesis Project