Course Descriptions

004 Pilates*
Based on the work of Joseph Pilates, this course focuses on body awareness through a series of specific exercises that simultaneously strengthen and stretch the body. The Pilates Method encourages a mind and body partnership, establishing inner balance, physical economy and grace. Previous exposure to Pilates is not necessary. May be repeated for credit. One semester, 1 credit. (Same as KLS 004)

005 Yoga*
Drawing from various Yoga practices this beginning to intermediate yoga course focusing on harmonizing mind, body, and spirit while strengthening, and lengthening muscles and muscle groups. Various breathing techniques, physical postures, and asanas will be practiced, as well as relaxation and meditation exercises. Previous exposure to yoga is not necessary. May be repeated for credit. One semester, 1 credit. (Same as KLS 005)

50 Theatre Practicum
Participation in two major productions, either as an actor or as a member of the stage crew. Actors must audition and are cast by the director of each production. Possible stage crew assignments include scenery construction and painting, properties preparation, stage lighting preparation, costume construction, sound recording, and serving on backstage crews during rehearsals and performances. Enrolled students should contact the instructor at the very beginning of the semester to arrange their production assignments. May be repeated up to 5 credits. One semester, 1 credit.

70* Actor’s Lab
An actor and director workshop. Student actors rehearse and perform scenes in
conjunction with THEA 315 & THEA 415 student directors. Prerequisite: none. One
semester, 2 credits.

100* Theatrical Creativity
Sources and methods of creative expression through theatrical games, concentration,
objects, and sensitivity exercises. One semester, 3 credits.

101 Essentials of Public Speaking
Theory and practice of the fundamental principles of public speaking. One semester, 3 credits.

110 Introduction to Acting
Impulse to action—introduces the student to ideas on/about performance. This introductory course focuses on fundamental stage techniques for the actor: stage geography, body positions, motivated action, timing, stage business, analysis of the script/role, and conditioning. Principles from the teachings of Spolin, Stanislavski, Laban, Bogart, Benedetti, and more will be used for both scene and monologue study. Prerequisite: none. One semester, 3 credits.

150* Introduction to the Theatre
Introduction to the concepts, history, dramatic literature and practice of theatre arts. The class will focus on the development of the American theatre and the evaluation of theatre in performance, locating theatre within its multicultural/historical/social context and tracing its development to roots in previous periods and movements. Field trips to professional theatrical productions in the Los Angeles area and discussions with professional theatre artists will be emphasized. One semester, 3 credits.

170* Fundamentals of Cinema
This course provides a survey of the history and criticism of the cinema. It provides an introduction to the aesthetics and language of film. It also understands fi lm as an
artistic expression, an economic product, and a social text. Lectures and discussions
are supplemented by class screenings. One semester, 3 credits.

210* Scene & Monologue Study
Advanced scene and monologue study exploring movement, improvisation, and techniques of building a character. Includes Shakespeare and contemporary play analyses, laboratory performances, and physical exercises geared to connect the actor to the text. Prerequisite: THEA 110 and permission of instructor. One semester, 3 credits.

220* Voice and Movement I
Drawing on various developmental techniques, including Linklater, Berry, Spolin, and
Feldenkrais, this course utilizes the classroom as a laboratory exploring voice and movement for the stage. One semester, 3 credits.

225* Advanced Voice and Movement II
Building on foundational work explored in Voice and Movement, this course incorporates improvisation and characterization, culminating in a final performance. One semester, 3 credits.

240 Introduction to Design and Technology
An introduction to design and technology for the theatre arts. Most of the course
focuses on three design specialties: scenery, lighting, and costumes for theatre, with some additional attention given to design for film and television. Concurrent enrollment is required in Theatre 240L, the laboratory component of this course, which will be arranged by the instructor on an individual student basis (usually 2 hours per week).
Through the laboratory component, students will participate in the construction of scenery and properties for two productions during the semester. One semester, 3 credits.

245* Drawing and Drafting for the Theatre
A thorough introduction to drawing and drafting techniques for design and technical
production in the theatre, including some use of computer-aided design (CAD). May include a laboratory component for major productions. One semester, 3 credits.

246* Painting for the Theatre
An introduction to the study and practice of both scene painting for the theatre and the use of water-based painting media in creating scenic and costume design renderings and
scene painter’s elevations. The course may include a laboratory component for major
productions. Laboratory fee. One semester, 3 credits.

260* Chicano/Latino Theatre
Traces the contextual, thematic, and historical influences of Chicano/Latino theatre. Analysis of plays, performances, movements, and theatre troupes that express the experiences of the Chicano/Latino people. One semester, 3 credits.

270* Film Genre
This course surveys the major films, filmmakers, themes, and issues of a major film
genre. The genres will vary from semester to semester and during any given term, the genre might be the musical, gangster, western, film noir, or horror fi lms. Lectures and discussions are supplemented by class screenings. May be repeated for credit. January, 3 or 4 credits.

272* Play Analysis & Criticism
This course focuses on analysis and evaluation of plays in terms of their content, structure, and style. Emphasis on dramatic theory and the critical terms that are used to analyze particular plays and on the relationship between literary analysis and theatrical
performance. One semester, 3 credits.

275* Film Movements
This course explores the major films, filmmakers, themes, and issues of a particular
critical fashion or period in the history of cinema. During one term, the course may, for example, cover the Hollywood Renaissance, Italian Neo-Realism, or French New Wave.
As in THEA 270, the subject matter will vary from term to term. Lectures and discussions are supplemented by class screenings. May be repeated for credit. January, 4 credits

280* Narrative Cinema
A survey of the history, aesthetics, and theory of the narrative film. Lectures and discussions are supplemented by class screenings. One semester, 3 credits.

285* Documentary Cinema
A survey of the history, aesthetics, and theory of the documentary film/video tradition.
Lectures and discussions are supplemented by class screenings. One semester, 3 credits.

292* Performing Non-Fiction
This course utilizes performance as a research medium, using solo performance as a means to understand and critique historical and contemporary figures. Students study the figure of their choice, conducting research and creating an original script, which culminates in a one-person performance. Additionally, the elements of performance are examined via the creation of four short solo performance pieces, focusing on light, sound, color, and language. Solo-performances that are well researched and rehearsed will be invited to present at an open performance in the Studio Theatre at the end of the semester.
Prerequisites: THEA 150 (or 272), AND 110 (or 210) or 220 (or 225) OR permission of
instructor. One semester, 3 credits.

300* Paradigm Shifts in the Arts
What is the function of art in societies? How have the arts reflected, created, or
predicted paradigmatic shifts in societies? This interdisciplinary course focuses on the
interconnectedness of the arts and society in the past 100 years. Studying works of art that have had violent and negative reactions when first presented to the public, we will examine the deeply embedded beliefs these works of arts challenged. One semester, 3 credits.

310* Styles of Acting and Performance
Focuses on a specific style or genre of acting and/or performance such as commedia
dell’arte, Comedy of Manners, Farce, Epic Theatre, Realism, Greek, Pinter, Mamet,
Shakespeare, Chekhov, Artaud, Grotowski, and more. Prerequisite: THEA 110 and
permission of instructor. One semester, 3 credits (may be repeated for additional credit each time a new topic is illuminated).

315 Fundamentals of Stage Direction
Introduces students to principles, procedures, and practice of stage direction; script selection, analysis, casting, assembly of a director’s prompt book, research, and rehearsal problems and strategies. Prerequisites: THEA 240, THEA 110, and permission. One semester, 3 credits.

320* Introduction to Video Production
Scripting, videography, audio, and editing are among the procedures and principles covered in the students’ planning, producing, and evaluating video projects. One semester, 3 credits.

325* Documentary Video Production
Video production of a documentary. Prerequisite: 320. One semester, 3 credits

328 Shakespeare
Introduction to the major plays. Prerequisite: 120 or THEA 150. One semester, 3 credits.
(Same as ENGL 328.) One semester, 3 credits.

330* Playwriting
General analysis of dramatic structure and of student-written scenes culminates in
completion of a one-act play. One semester, 3 credits.

340* Scenic Design
Study and practice of scenic design techniques, including the development of visual research sources, freehand drawing and mechanical drawing exercises, and scale model construction as applied to design projects for specific plays. Some attention will be given to the basic visual elements of design, to the history of stage design, to the use of computer- aided design software, and to scenic design for film and television. One semester, 3 credits.

345* Stage Lighting
Study of stage lighting technology and stage lighting design theory and practice. Students will develop several lighting design projects. They also will assist in the preparation of the stage lighting for one or two theatre productions during the semester. One semester, 3 credits.

347* Costume Design
Study and practice of costume design techniques, including the development of
visual research sources, practicing freehand drawing and watercolor painting techniques, and drawing and painting of costume sketches for several plays. Some attention will be given to the basic visual elements of design, to choosing appropriate costume fabrics, and to costume history and period styles. One semester, 3 credits.

372A* World Theatre
Part one of a two-semester survey, integrating a multi-cultural history of world theatre, studying performance traditions and dramatic literature. The course encompasses the foundations of theatre via oral traditions and rituals, Aristotle and Greek theatre, and the early and late Renaissance periods. Emphasis on the importance of historical and literary research is key in formulating critical analysis of period and production and incorporating these insights into research papers. (Does not have to be taken in sequence.) Prerequisite: 272 or permission. One semester, 3 credits.

372B* World Theatre
Part two of a two-semester survey, integrating a multi-cultural history of world theatre for the past 350 years. The class traces the development of theatre from the comedy of Molière through modern plays of Ibsen and Pirandello, to the post-modern works of contemporary avant-garde theatre. Emphasis on the importance of historical and literary research is key in understanding the production of theatre, its impact on audience, and its production of meaning throughout the centuries. (Does not have to be taken in sequence.) Prerequisite: 272 or permission. One semester, 3 credits.

378* Musical Theatre Workshop
A workshop exploring the unique combination of skills necessary to work in the musical theatre. Acting, singing and movement/dance techniques will be emphasized. Workshop will culminate in a studio full-scale musical theatre production. One semester, 3 or 4 credits.

415* Advanced Stage Direction
Continuation of THEA 315. Emphasizes working with text (plays, poetry, short stories,
etc.), visual images (paintings, lithographs, sculptures, etc.), and music as a means of creating staged theatrical pieces. Culminates in the staging of a new work. Prerequisites:
THEA 315 and permission of instructor. Once semester, 3 credits.

420* Directed Study in Video Production
For advanced students wishing to produce independent productions. Prerequisite: 320
and permission of instructor. One semester, 3 credits.

421* Advanced Video Production
Advanced video production techniques with emphasis upon scripting, pre-production
planning, and logistical coordination. Prerequisite: 320 and permission of instructor. One semester, 3 credits.

485 Senior Project
Arranged as a directed study, this course is the capstone experience for all Theatre and Communication Arts majors. Each student will complete a major project either in directing, acting, design, technical production, stage management, or critical research. The project will entail both analytical and creative endeavor and will result in some kind of public presentation or performance. The students will also document their work on the projects justifying the choices and/or conclusions they made. This project is designed to satisfy the college “Paper in the Major” requirement. Prerequisite: Senior status as a Theatre and Communications Arts major. One semester, 3 credits.

190, 290, 390, 490* Selected Topics in Theatre
Topic and number of credits to be determined by the instructor. May be repeated for credit.

295, 395, 495 Independent Studies
Topic, number of credits, and times by arrangement. Permission of instructor is
required. May be repeated for credit.


*Not offered every year.