Theatre Arts, BFA - Musical Theatre Specialization

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Theatre Arts BFA Core Requirements

Theatre Major, BFA

The BFA program is designed to prepare knowledgeable, skilled graduates who will compete at all levels in an increasingly competitive field. Students will also learn to assess, explain, and interpret the many roles and responsibilities inherent in the world of the professional theatre artist. They will also understand how to use the skills they have developed in other career paths related to their degree.

The BFA theatre program is innovative and interdisciplinary. Students complete a sequence of core foundation courses, gain admission into the program through audition/interview, and focus in a single emphasis-performance, design and production, or musical theatre.

Interdisciplinary course work is integral to the structure and success of the BFA theatre program. All of the required and elective courses for the degree are part of other major programs and are regularly taught. Besides the theatre arts courses, 29 interdisciplinary courses are offered by two colleges from seven other CWU departments: art, communications, dance, English, physical education, family and consumer sciences, industrial engineering, and music.

Admission to the BFA is by audition/interview only. Auditions/interviews are held each spring quarter, in late-February for new students and in early-March for continuing BA candidates. Continuing BFA students will sign up for audition/interview appointments as part of the annual BFA juries.

BFA candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in Theatre Arts with a minimum grade of “B-” (2.7) in each course within their specialization. The applicant must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all other collegiate study. Meeting this standard is reviewed as part of the annual jury in each specialization.

Theatre BFA students are required to complete the general education requirements established by the university.

BFA Core Requirements

TH 107 - Introduction to Theatre Credits: (4)
TH 166 - Theory of Play Production Credits: (3)
TH 261 - Costume Technology Credits: (3)
TH 267 - Scene Technology Credits: (3)
TH 268 - Lighting Technology Credits: (3)
TH 363 - Theatre History I Credits: (4)
TH 364 - Theatre History II Credits: (4)
TH 365 - Theatre History III Credits: (4)

Production Component - Credits: 3

Choose one of the following:

TH 301 - Production Application Credits: (3)
TH 401 - Production Application Credits: (3)

Lab Component - Credits: 4

TH 393 - Theatre Laboratory Credits: (1)
Must be taken for 3 credits.
TH 493 - Theatre Laboratory Credits: (1)
Must be taken for 1 credit.

BFA Core Total Credits: 35

Musical Theatre Specialization

The musical theatre specialization builds specific skills in production from a strong foundation of using the body as the artist’s instrument through singing, voice, and stage movement in the musical theatre style. Students choose from a range of courses, both introductory and advanced, from writing and movement, dancing, and voice.

To help students prepare for future employment or graduate school, all students are strongly encouraged to pursue practical experience through TH 490 - Cooperative Education internship as well as the performance application courses, designed to put theory into practice as part of Central Theatre Ensemble’s regular on-campus season.

Required Courses

MUS 152A - Class Piano I Credits: (1)
MUS 153A - Class Piano II Credits: (1)
MUS 154A - Class Piano III Credits: (1)
TH 148 - Actor Conditioning – Monologue Credits: (1)
TH 215 - Music Fundamentals for Musical Theatre I Credits: (3)
TH 216 - Music Fundamentals for Musical Theatre II Credits: (3)
TH 217 - Music Fundamentals for Musical Theatre III Credits: (3)
TH 243 - Singing for Actors Credits: (1)
(may be repeated)
TH 244 - Basic Acting 1 Credits: (3)
TH 245 - Basic Acting II Credits: (3)
TH 246 - Basic Acting III Credits: (3)
TH 252 - Stage Dance Credits: (2)
TH 343 - Singing for Actors II Credits: (1)
(may be repeated)
TH 344 - Intermediate Acting I Credits: (3)
TH 415 - Musical Theatre History and Literature I Credits: (3)
TH 416 - Musical Theatre History and Literature II Credits: (3)
TH 417 - Musical Theatre History and Literature III Credits: (3)
TH 443 - Singing for Actors III Credits: (1)
(may be repeated)

Movement Component Credits: 11

Choose any of the following for a total of 11 credits.

PED 101 - Modern Dance I Credits: (2)
PED 102 - Modern Dance II Credits: (2)
PED 104 - Ballet I (Level 1) Credits: (2)
PED 121 - Tap Dance I Credits: (1)
PED 141 - Jazz Dance I Credits: (1)
PED 142 - Jazz Dance II Credits: (1)
PED 204 - Ballet II (Level 1) Credits: (2)
PEID 120 - Beginning Fencing Credits: (1)
PEID 145 - Beginning Circus Arts Credits: (1)
TH 248 - Vocal Conditioning for the Actor Credits: (1)
TH 252 - Stage Dance Credits: (2)
TH 312 - Creative Dramatics in School and Leisure Credits: (3)
TH 333 - Stage Combat Fundamentals Credits: (3)
TH 335 - Movement for the Actor Credits: (3)
TH 352 - Stage Dance II Credits: (3)
TH 433 - Advanced Stage Combat Credits: (3)

Performance Component Credits: 12

Choose any of the following for a total of 12 credits.

TH 202 - Performance Studio Credits: (1-3)
TH 270 - Stage Makeup Credits: (3)
TH 302 - Performance Application Credits: (3)
TH 332 - New Play Production Credits: (2)
TH 345 - Intermediate Acting II Credits: (3)
TH 402 - Performance Application Credits: (3)
TH 429 - Directing II Credits: (3)
TH 444 - Acting Styles Credits: (4)
TH 490 - Cooperative Education Credits: (1-12)