Dominican University’s theatre arts department offers a distinctive program that provides professional development in the context of a liberal-arts education, hands-on experience with guest artists of varying genres, immediate eligibility for significant roles in student productions, and a faculty committed to individual attention and ongoing mentorship. The aim of this intense and versatile training is to produce able and diverse technicians— who readily combine imagination, compassion and collaboration into both their lives and their lives work.

Theatre arts majors and minors of all class rankings find a wealth of opportunities to participate in the Theatre Arts Lab Series, a season of student productions hosted by the university’s Performing Arts Center. This series imparts production experience and practical application of course material. Many of these shows also provide the opportunity for students to work with outside theatre professionals— actors, directors, designers—who excel in their respective fields.

In addition to the laboratory productions, the Dominican University Performing Arts Center also provides an arena for visiting guest artists of multiple genres: from Wendy Wasserstein to Denyce Graves, River North Dance to Edward Albee, Michael Feinstein to Emmylou Harris. Students are given the opportunity to work hands-on with these high-quality, nationally and internationally known artists.

An additional highlight is the chance to participate in the Dominican-in-London program, a one-semester/six-to-eight-credit-hour tutorial in any aspect of British theatre. Options include working with members of the Royal Shakespeare Company, BBC personnel and other professional artists.

Theatre arts is a concentrated, multidisciplinary major which requires a set of 13 foundational courses, plus the choice of electives in one of five specialized areas: performance, design/ technical, dramaturgy, theatre in education and theatre studies.

Specialized Areas of Study

Performance (Acting and Directing)

The performance concentration in acting and directing is designed to engage students’ passions, intelligence and work discipline through a supportive, encouraging and collaborative environment. Demanding and multifaceted, the program facilitates the use of many theatrical techniques to enhance self awareness and confidence, increase physical and vocal dexterity, engage the imagination, assess textual meanings and historical data, apply thought and feeling to action, highlight aesthetic detail and clearly articulate ideas and observations. As students gain trust in themselves, each other and the creative process, they develop valuable life skills, which can be used in any career or situation. Performance majors are encourages to appreciate the vitality and viewpoints of others and to explore how the arts not only reflect, but also shape, the society in which we live.

Design/Technical

The design/technical concentration provides direct, practical experience in a positive and dedicated atmosphere, where students are able to work with expert faculty as well as professional designers and touring companies. Through classes, departmental productions and the Performing Arts Center, students will gain valuable experience and the opportunity to participate in the many aspects of technical theatre—scenery, costumes, lighting and sound. Advanced students are also given significant responsibility in various production areas such as stage management, scenic art, set construction, wardrobe, sound, props and electrics. This flexible and extensive technical curriculum gives students a solid foundation in the skills necessary to succeed in today’s fastgrowing entertainment industry.

Dramaturgy

Dramaturgy is a rapidly emerging profession that involves strong communication skills, notable insight into past and present impacts of theatre in society, and a passion for the pursuit of artistic meaning. This specialized area includes the study of theatre history, dramatic literature, creative writing and script writing, as well as strong recommendations for classes in public relations. Through these courses and the use of extensive research, students learn to explore not only the explicit meaning of a text, but also the significance that grows out of a play’s historical period, culture, stylistic genre and production history. Dramaturgy students gain a working knowledge of the effect of theatre throughout time and the collaboration necessary to produce meaningful and inspiring work for diverse audiences.

Theatre in Education

Theatre in education students will learn how to impart the importance of theatre arts in the development of the mind, body and spirit, especially to youth. This field of study includes selecting, interpreting and staging age-appropriate literary and dramatic works; acquiring interdisciplinary technical skills; and learning and teaching performance through production, storytelling and improvisation. Students pursuing careers in teaching or working with children may either major in this concentration or support an education major with a theatre arts minor using courses in the concentration. The early childhood education major also offers theatre arts as one of its fields of study.

Theatre Studies

Theatre studies is designed to satisfy students looking for a liberal overview of the many facets of theatre, rather than specializing in a primary discipline. The concentration provides the opportunity for students to become informed theatre generalists, and it assists those students who have a strong interest in more than one specified area. It involves an artistic and academic pursuit of both past and present forms of theatre and encompasses select courses from two or more of the above concentrations.