The Department of Theatre offers a diverse curriculum supported by a well developed theatre production program. The theatre major provides students with a foundation in all areas of theatre (acting, directing, technical theatre, history and dramatic literature) in preparation for secondary school education, graduate study, or careers in theatre. The program is designed to graduate students who are technically proficient, as well as being knowledgeable and conversant in the theory, history, literature and criticism of theatre.
The theatre major requires at least 31 semester hours of courses in the department. The requirements include courses in the areas of: acting, stagecraft, theatrical design, voice and interpretation, and theatre history. Students may also elect courses in directing and make-up. Theatre majors are required to take two courses in dramatic literature from the English Department. As a supplement to the departmental offerings, students are encouraged to elect courses in related areas such as art, history, philosophy, psychology, and literature. In the senior year, each student undertakes a major research or production project as part of the senior culminating experience in theatre.
Theatre majors are required to be active participants in the departmental production program which presents three major productions and one program of student directed projects each year. During their four years, theatre majors are encouraged to serve in several of the major production areas: acting, lighting, sound, properties, stage management, box office and house management. This breadth of experiences provides students with a thorough understanding of all the arts and crafts that are part of theatrical production.
Theatre as a Minor
The theatre minor requires 18 hours of courses drawn from departmental offerings within the student's area of interest. Theatre minors are also required to be actively involved in the departmental production program and to gain as wide a breadth of production experience as they can.
Internships in Theatre
As an enhancement to career preparation, students may wish to participate in the departmental internship program. Internships are open to qualified junior and senior majors and may be arranged for up to 12 hours of credit. Student interns are placed with cooperating community and professional theatres. Internships in theatre include performance, technical theatre, and theatre management areas. In recent years, theatre majors have served internships with the following organizations: The Guthrie Theatre (Minneapolis), Ohio Light Opera (Wooster), Porthouse Theatre (Akron), Trumpet in the Land (New Philadelphia), The North Country Center for the Arts (New Hampshire), Cleveland Playhouse, Great Lakes Theatre Festival (Cleveland), and Fairmount Theatre of the Deaf.
The Production Program
Many opportunities for practical experience are available each year through the co-curricular activities of the department. All departmental majors and minors are required to actively participate in these programs which provide valuable applications of principles learned in the classroom. Mount Union Players is the organization which produces the theatre program's dramatic offerings. The fall semester typically includes two major productions of contrasting styles or genre. The spring semester typically includes a large-cast major production and the year is ended with student-directed projects. The Department of Theatre and The Department of Music jointly produce a major musical every other year. In recent years, the musicals have included: The Threepenny Opera, Once Upon a Mattress, Fiddler on the Roof, Into the Woods, and My Fair Lady. Other major productions have included works by Shakespeare, Moliere, Durrenmatt and Chekov, as well as a selection of important American dramatists.
Other Co-Curricular Activities
The theatre program sponsors two annual trips, one to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada, and the other to the Humana Festival for New American Plays in Louisville, Kentucky. Other field trips have included various regional community and professional theatres.
The department is also host to a chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, a national dramatic fraternity. Our chapter provides recognition for exceptional theatre students and offers occasional workshops concerning a range of theatre skills.
Facilities & Equipment
The department's major production facility is Rodman Playhouse, a 290 seat proscenium theatre with a state-of-the-art computerized lighting system, modern digital sound system, well-equipped scene shop, and complete fly capabilities.
Theatre Study as Career Preparation
We believe that a theatre major or minor is helpful to students in four important ways:
- It is a very good discipline in which to develop generic skills that are important in all careers. These skills include: analytical skills, creativity and imagination, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, self-confidence, group process skills, leadership and responsibility skills. No matter what career you go into, your success will depend at least as much on your abilities in the areas listed above, as it will on your mastery of specific "how to do it" skills inherent to the job. Those specific "how to do it" things change over time, too. But the generic skills are important for all time!
- For some careers outside of theatre, the study of theatre and its component arts can be good preparation. In the past, students who have been pointing toward careers in the areas of law, psychology, communication, sociology, business management, and ministry have found a minor in theatre to be a very useful complement to their major field. You might notice that all of these areas are "people" oriented - and that is the essence of theatre.
- Students who have career interests that may seem completely unrelated to theatre often find that a minor in theatre is a very good balance to their studies. It helps them to develop a broader view of life and greater diversity in their thinking. It's also important to remember that much of our lives are spent doing things that aren't related to our jobs.
- For some people, theatre is an exciting and rewarding career. Students who graduate from Mount Union can go on to careers as actors. But there are more possibilities in the technical areas of theatre: stage management, lighting and scenic design, costuming, and related areas. Many students don't realize that for every person they see onstage, there are probably three or four backstage who are supporting their work.
Recent graduates with theatre majors and minors are found in professional, educational and community theatre (artistic and management positions), public relations, advertising, radio and television, newspapers, and ministry. The department also provides preparation for students interested in advanced study in theatre. Several recent graduates have either received or are pursuing Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Juris Doctor, or Doctor of Philosophy degrees.