2012-2013 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Theatre - Program Description
For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the School of Communications web site.
Director: Thompson
Professor: Ellis; Associate Professors: Libman, Sheffield; Assistant Professor: Bell.
Website: www.gvsu.edu/theatre
The theatre major provides a professional orientation and background within a broad liberal arts framework. Students may use the major as a preparation for graduate or professional work; the required courses provide basic training in essential theatre areas, and students planning to pursue more advanced work should take well-chosen electives in areas designed to increase specific skills.
All theatre majors are required to participate in university theatre productions as actors, designers, production technicians and managers; academic credit is given for all such involvement. The program also supports students pursuing regional and national internships as managers, publicists, technicians, and production assistants with major professional theatres and arts organizations. Theatre courses from overseas schools can substitute for GVSU theatre requirements for those students pursuing international studies.
Career and Graduate Opportunities
Versatility in a number of areas is the single most important factor in obtaining work as a graduate of the drama program. Grand Valley theatre students have successfully completed programs in graduate schools and professional conservatories. They have found work in schools and recreation departments, repertory theatre companies, modern dance companies, and arts organizations as performers, technicians, teachers, designers, directors, and administrators. In addition, the combination of critical and problem-solving communications skills with the self-confidence and responsibility coming from performance experience provides excellent training for many non-entertainment fields.
The major in theatre prepares students for careers that require skills in communications, creativity, and problem-solving, or for careers in the entertainment industry. A complete list of placement and careers of recent theatre graduates is available from the GVSU theatre web site: www.gvsu.edu/theatre.
Note: theatre majors are encouraged to take ENG 212 in general education.
The following programs are available: