| Introduction
The Barnard College Theatre major, a joint program with
the Columbia College major in Drama and Theatre Arts takes an integrative
approach to theatre and performance studies, engaging the complex
interaction between creation and critique. The major program at once
develops a keen sense of the practices of acting, directing, design, and
playwriting, while introducing students to the dynamic range of world
performance traditions.
In
the program, students engage theatre and performance through a wide range of
courses: in acting, directing, design, and in the intellectual and critical
traditions of theatre studies. The major program then encourages
specialization in more advanced courses. The major culminates in an
ambitious senior project, an intellectual inquiry based in performance or
scholarship, which can take the form of a written thesis based on original
research, or on original creative work in acting, directing, design, or
playwriting.
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New Majors
If you are thinking of becoming a Theatre major, here's what you should do: one, read this guide and the relevant section of the Barnard
Catalogue or the Columbia Bulletin; two, (if possible) talk to an upper-class major; and three, make an appointment with the Department Chair. You can also meet with any other full-time faculty to discuss the major, but the Chair must sign your major form if you are a Barnard student. You
will have a major advisor from the full-time Theatre faculty. Please note that majors are declared in the second semester of the sophomore year. When you declare your major, introduce yourself to
our Departmental Assistant; make sure that we know how to reach you. If
you are a Columbia student, you should do all of the above, and Patricia
Denison, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Drama and Theatre Arts, will
be your advisor.
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Major Requirements
Click here to download the
THEATRE MAJOR SELF-AUDIT FORM.
Students intending to major in Theatre should consult with the Department
Chair in their sophomore year or earlier to plan a program. Twelve courses and one senior thesis (in Performance or in History, Theory, Dramaturgy, and Criticism) are required as follows:
Dramatic literature and theatre history
Two courses in Theatre History: THTR V 3150 and 3151
One course in Drama, Theatre, and Theory: THTR V 3166 or ENTA W 3702
One course in Shakespeare
Two courses in Dramatic Literature. One course must be a seminar.
Theatre Practice
One course in World Theatre: THTR V 3000
One course in Theatre Design: THTR V 3133, 3134,3135,3136, 3510, 4001
One course in Acting: THTR V 3004, 3005
One course in Directing: THTR V 3200, 3201
Two courses that continue work in one of these areas: design, acting, directing, or playwriting. These choices should be made in consultation with the major adviser. Other courses may be substituted with the chair’s permission.
Senior Thesis
THTR V 3997 Senior Thesis: Performance (design, acting, directing, or playwriting) or THTR
V 3998 Senior Thesis: History, Theory, Dramaturgy, Criticism.
Production Crew
Before
doing their Senior Thesis: Performance, students should complete a major
and a minor crew requirement. The minor crew requirement is
usually completed in the first two years, and consists of production work
such as board operator, run crew, build, paint, electrics, wardrobe crew.
The major crew requirement is usually completed in the junior year
during Senior Thesis Festival. Some examples of major crew requirement
positions are stage manager, prop master, master electrician, paint charge,
assistant technical director. Assistant design positions may be considered
for fulfillment of crew requirements, depending on the needs of the
production.
Studio Courses
Please note that for
Barnard students there is a limit on studio courses. Theatre majors may take
24 studio points in Theatre and an additional six in another discipline for
a total of 30 studio points. Theatre Department studio courses are THTR V
2003, 2004, 2006, 2120, 3004, 3005, 3006, 3122.
Graduate Courses
Only
under special circumstances, and with the permission of the instructor, can
undergraduates take graduate classes.
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Options Within The Major
We encourage students to explore multiple aspects of theatre including set, costume, and lighting design; theatre history and dramatic literature and theory; technical production, playwriting, acting, and directing.
As you proceed in the major you will choose one area of focus: acting, design,
directing, playwriting, or theatre and performance studies. It is expected that this will be the area of your
Senior Thesis: Performance, or you may do a substantial written Senior Thesis: History,
Theory, Dramaturgy, Criticism. A production thesis is reserved for theatre majors, not combined majors.
There is no minor in Theatre. Many students, however, complete double majors. This entails careful planning, especially for students who intend to
study abroad for their junior year. In recent years, students have completed double majors in Theatre/Art History, Theatre/Dance, Theatre/Economics, Theatre/Environmental Science, and Theatre/English.
For Barnard students there is an option to major in English with a
concentration in Theatre. Students wishing to learn more about this
choice should speak to Patricia Denison.
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The Senior Thesis
There are two options for the Theatre thesis: a substantial written thesis and a performance thesis, which includes a final paper. Students should consider the prerequisites for each option well in advance.
Three courses in the area of focus are required. In the spring of your
junior year, the Senior Thesis Questionnaire, with proposals for the senior
thesis, must be submitted. The senior thesis proposals will be
reviewed by, and must be approved by, a faculty committee.
Students wishing to do a thesis in History, Theory, Dramaturgy,
Criticism should take coursework beyond the minimum requirements in these areas
and consult with Shawn Garrett in the spring of the junior year. This thesis option may be chosen either semester.
Students wishing to do a thesis in Acting must audition during general
auditions in the fall or spring. Options include 1) acting in a
faculty-directed or guest-directed departmental production; 2) acting in
a student- directed, faculty-advised production in The Senior Thesis
Festival; 3) creating an original solo piece in THTR V 3005, Acting Solo
Performance. Solo performance thesis are presented at the end of the
spring semester. All acting theses require a final paper.
Students wishing to do a thesis in Directing must be prepared to discuss several possible plays with the faculty in
the spring of their junior year and to write proposals according to department guidelines. Choose plays,
or adaptations, that run no more than 50 minutes. THTR V 3202, Advanced
Directing, must be taken in the fall of your senior year. Directing
theses require a final paper.
Students wishing to do a thesis in Design may design the set, costumes,
and/or lights for Senior Thesis Festival or departmental productions.
Designers are responsible for generating and building the design, on a
schedule to be agreed upon with the faculty. The design process
parallels the rehearsal process, in consultation with the director and
production team. Design theses require a final paper and portfolio.
Students wishing to do a thesis in Playwriting must take two
playwriting courses
prior to their senior year. Students create and develop an original
script that must be approved n the fall by the faculty for a
staged reading in the spring.
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Auditions
Auditions are held in the Minor Latham Playhouse, on the first floor of
Milbank Hall at Barnard. Sign up for an audition at the end of the
preceding term or immediately on arrival for the new term. Please
prepare a two-minute monologue; it can be modern, classical, or
original. There will also be material provided by the department at
auditions if you prefer to use this. You will be expected to participate
in a group warm-up and to stay throughout the two-hour session. The
season's plays are posted on the departmental website. Auditions are also used to place students in
acting classes. Please note that you may not pre-register for acting
classes. There are also auditions later in the semester for directing
and playwriting projects.
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Production Crew
Crew positions are open to all students. For new students, production crew is a
good way to enter to the life of the department. Please contact Greg
Winkler, Technical Director, or Michael Banta, Production Manager, to
discuss available projects.
Theatre majors should plan on being in production crews. Before doing their Senior Thesis: Performance, students should complete a major and a
minor crew requirement. The minor crew requirement is usually
completed in the first two years, and consists of production work such as
board operator, run crew, build, paint, electrics, wardrobe crew. The
major crew requirement is usually completed in the junior year during
Senior Thesis Festival. Some examples of major crew requirement positions
are stage manager, prop master, master electrician, paint charge, assistant
technical director. Assistant design positions may be considered for
fulfillment of crew requirements, depending on the needs of the production.
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Productions
Students interested in theatre are encouraged to attend all departmental productions.
Academic credit is given for work in departmental productions through the course THTR
V 3122 Rehearsal and Performance. This is available for cast and crew members, stage managers and/or designers. The credit is variable, from 1-3 units; please consult Rehearsal and Performance faculty to confirm appropriate credit for your work. Registration for this course should be done at the beginning of the term, as soon as cast lists are posted. The Barnard Registrar's office discourages late petitions for these credits and may not waive the $150 late fee if you wait to add the course later in the term. Columbia students must petition if they enter the class after registration closes; to do so, fill out the appropriate form and leave it on the Chair's door for a signature and then turn in the form to the Registrar's Office.
If you would like to attend productions free of charge, you can usher regularly. Sign up sheets will be posted in the lobby outside the Minor Latham Playhouse, 118 Milbank Hall.
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Space
Rehearsal and performance space is at a premium here, and we ask that you be understanding of this fact. Students in acting classes are expected to rehearse in common rooms or public spaces. Directing and playwriting students can schedule space through the instructor only. Senior thesis students should schedule space with the producer of the Senior Festival. Faculty members should schedule space directly with
Michael Banta, Production Manager. Students needing to use the shop should
make arrangements with Greg Winkler, Technical Director. We do not,
unfortunately, have space available for projects that are not part of
Theatre Department course work. Extra-curricular space is handled by the
College Activities Office. Theatre students may also schedule space through this office.
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Costumes & Props
Costumes and props are available for use in class scenework and Theatre Department-produced student productions (such as Senior Thesis or Advanced Directing shows). In an acting class, you should work through your instructor only---s/he will get what is needed and distribute things to the class. Directing students should meet with Kara Feely, Costume Shop Manager, at the scheduled times posted. Please do not go into the prop or costume room and take things; we will happily supply you with what you need (if we have it), but we need to keep a system in place for everyone's sanity.
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Play Library
There is a small collection of plays available for borrowing in the Production Office, 236 Milbank. We welcome any additions you might like to donate. You will also find a limited amount of reserved reading for Theatre classes in this room.
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The Theatre Office
Department offices are located on the 5th floor of Milbank---take the elevator to 4, turn left, and walk up to 5. Faculty offices are there, as well as faculty mailboxes. The office of
our Departmental Assistant is located on the 4th floor, 404 Milbank, next to the stairs leading to the 5th floor.
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Work-Study
There are a limited number of work-study positions for students on financial aid (Federal Workstudy or Barnard/Columbia College Jobs). If you are interested in a theatre job, please email
Jessica Brater, Theatre Administrator, at jbrater@barnard.edu early in the fall semester. It is essential that we know your schedule before you are hired. We are particularly interested in students with the following skills: carpentry, sewing, lighting, painting, handling audio-visual equipment, computer graphics, web skills, typing, office work, publicity, box office, house and stage management. We have positions for both Barnard and Columbia students. Hours range from 4-8 a week. Please do not consider applying for a position unless you are willing to make a serious commitment to regular hours throughout the semester. There may be openings in the Spring as well; please e-mail
Michael Banta at the end of the Fall semester if you are interested.
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