Fine Arts – Theatre
|
Link to section: |
Highlights
Facilities
The McManus Theatre in the Julio Fine Arts Center is a 300-seat house with state-of-the-art computerized lighting and rehearsal and dressing rooms. A new, 100-seat blackbox theatre will be in operation in Fall 2008.
Program Description
“Eloquentia perfecta” has been a Jesuit tradition from the Order’s inception, and theatre plays a principal role in developing effective leaders in the community, in business and on all the “stages” of culture. Through the teaching of theatre, Loyola seeks to produce well-rounded students able to synthesize theory and practice, body and mind, interpretation and action.
Our goal for theatre majors, minors or interdisciplinary majors is to prepare them for the rigorous demands of working in professional theatre, further study on the graduate level, or to benefit students in business, speech pathology or the social sciences. Required coursework is designed to expose students to all aspects of the collaborative process – acting, directing, design and dramaturgy. Plays are taught not only as literature but also as blueprints for performance. An integral dimension of Loyola’s theatre program is frequent attendance at professional productions, followed by critical reflection and dialogue with mentors.
Also essential to our training is required participation in our production season. We are committed to mounting a wide range of plays, exposing students to a wide variety of dramatic literature and a variety of production styles.
Curriculum
Students may declare a fine arts major, minor, or interdisciplinary major with a concentration in theater. All majors and minors must complete Experience of Theatre and Theatre History. Experience of Theatre allows students to perform different roles associated with theatrical production. Theatre History examines the evolution of the art form, highlighting the link between society and theatre and focusing on key moments in the theatre’s development. Upper-division classes allow students to explore many aspects of performance, production and dramatic literature. Performance and production courses give students hands-on experience in acting, directing and stagecraft.
In addition to Experience of Theatre and Theatre History, the Fine Arts Department offers such upper-level courses as Acting I and II, Directing I and II, Dramatic Adaptation, Voice and Movement, Theatre Criticism, and Solo Performance.
Theatre Practicum
All degree students must complete three one-credit practicums in their four years at Loyola. These require a supervised onstage or backstage experience in a particular area of theatrical production. Areas of concentration include acting, set construction and installation, lighting, prop and costume construction and running crews.
Internships
The Theatre Production Internship is a three-credit opportunity for students to assume a major responsibility in a Loyola theatre production as an actor, director, designer or stage manager. There are also opportunities to work with the many professional theatres in Baltimore.
Performance Opportunities
The Evergreen Players is Loyola’s main theatre troupe with three yearly productions directed by theatre faculty. There is no precasting and the entire college community is invited to audition. Recent shows include Antigone, A Flea in Her Ear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cabaret, The Crucible, James Joyce’s The Dead, and How I Learned to Drive. Built into the season is a selection from The Poisoned Cup Players, a student-run theatre group that stages shows with minimal assistance from faculty. Each aspect of the show is handled by the students, from designing and building the sets to directing and acting in the show. Recent shows include Arcadia, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Taking Sides. Spotlight Players, another student-governed production, recently featured Wit.
Faculty
James R. Bunzli
Associate Professor
B.A., Kalamazoo College
M.F.A., University of Texas (Austin)
Ph.D., Bowling Green State University
Linda Lloyd-Lee
Affiliate Instructor
B.F.A., University of Maryland (Baltimore County)
Stuart E. Dawkins
Theatre Manager
A.A., Catonsville Community College
B.F.A., Carnegie Mellon University
Michael Vogelman
Assistant Theatre Manager
B.A., Towson University
M.L.A., Johns Hopkins University
Course Sequence
1st year
Experience of Theatre
Core courses (7)
General elective
Stagecraft
Theatre Practicum #1
2nd year
Acting I
Theatre History
Directing
Core courses (5)
General electives (3)
Theatre Practicum #2
3rd year
Acting II or Voice and Movement
Elective Theatre courses (2)
Core courses (2)
General electives (3)
Theatre Practicum #3
4th year
Theatre Production Internship
Elective Theatre courses (4)
Core course
General electives (2)
Department Website -