Professional Theatre: Acting, B.F.A.

VACANT, Program Director

Objectives

The objectives of the Theatre Arts Program are as follows:

1. to teach students how to use theatre as a means of self-expression, awareness, and discipline,
2. to acquaint students with the great works of the theatre through reading and producing them,
3. to prepare students for professional careers in acting and technology,
4. to prepare students for admission into graduate schools,
5. to convey the skills necessary to promote theatre as a means of enhancing culture in the community, and,
6. to assist students in developing the skills necessary to participate in global Theatre opportunities through studies of the histories and cultures of selected peoples, participate in plays, and meetings with dramatists, actors, artists, and intellectuals from other countries and cultures.

Degrees Offered

Professional Theatre - Bachelor of Fine Arts
(Options: Acting and Theatre Technology)

General Program Requirements

1. Admission is based upon the general admission requirements of the University. All majors must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0. If your GPA drops below 2.0 you will not be cast for any productions or given crew assignments until your GPA is 2.0 or better. Recommendations will be made by your academic advisor to attend tutorial sessions.
2. Students must pass an annual juried evaluation in acting or technology. The evaluation will be based on the improvement in creativity, technique, attitude, and determination.
3. The fulfillment of acting, audition, and crew assignments - except when advance exemptions by faculty have been granted - is expected.
4. Transfer students with previous training will be evaluated by the faculty, who might exempt the student from certain requirements. The exemptions will depend on demonstrated ability and experience.
5. The students must earn at least a “C” in all theatre courses listed on the curriculum guide in his/her concentration.
6. Anyone showing a fundamental weakness in an area of study might be requested by the Theatre Arts Program Director to take additional course work in the area.
7. Active participation is expected in at least two of the following organizations: The Richard B. Harrison Players, Alpha Psi Omega, NCTC, SETC, the Black Theatre Network, or the National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts.
8. All students under the acting concentration must audition for all main stage productions, faculty directed studio productions and the Richard B. Harrison Players.
9. All students must participate in load-ins and strikes of all main stage productions - unless excused beforehand by the executive director of theatre, theatre arts program director, the director of the play, or the technical director.
10. Only graduating seniors will be allowed to appear or participate in off-campus commercial productions. Exceptions for students other than seniors will be considered once the following steps have been completed: (1) The student submits a letter to the theatre program chair stating the producing organization in which he/she is wanting to work , his/her time commitment to the project, the reason he/she wishes to participate in the project and the benefits he/she will receive; (2) An interview with the theatre program director to review current GPA, completed course work, class attendance, past and present theatre participation; (3) An interview with the faculty along with the program director who will then make the final decision.

Program Requirements for the B.F.A in Professional Theatre

(Acting)

In order to become a candidate for the B.F.A. with an option in Acting, the student must:

1. Make as least a “B” in Acting I and II.
2. Candidates must exemplify;
   1. Attributes of a professional artist, which includes talent, a willingness to learn and develop, discipline, commitment, and cooperation.
   2. Potential leadership skills.
   3. Genuine love, respect, and appreciation of the theatre.
   4. Active involvement during the first year of residency.
3. Pass a ten-minute acting audition and interview. The acting audition should include two or more of the following contrasting pieces: comedy, drama, tragedy, and song and dance. The passing average is 80%.
4. Present a ten-minute one-person show for the senior showcase during the senior year,
5. Perform an audition at two of the following events:
   1. M.F.A. Program
   2. North Carolina Theatre Conference (NCTC)
   3. Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC)
   4. Irene Ryan Audition (KCACTF Region IV)
   5. University/Regional Theatre Audition (URTA)
   6. Local, Regional or National Professional Theatre Companies

In addition to the curricular requirements, the students must complete such co-curricular obligations as (a) the pre-qualifying audition, (b) the qualifying audition, (c) the progress evaluation, (d) general audition, (e) production assignment, and (f) the senior thesis project.

The Qualifying Audition

This audition will occur in the student’s second or third semester of residency, at a date and time to be assigned by the Theatre Arts Program Director.

1. The Qualifying Audition must be at least ten minutes in length.
2. The judges will consist of the student’s academic advisor, along with two members of the performance faculty.
3. It will be the student’s responsibility to select the materials performed. The academic advisor, however, must approve the student’s selections.
4. Approval of the material by a performance faculty member must be obtained by the end of the semester prior to the one in which the student is required to perform. The performance faculty member must also approve any subsequent changes the student wishes to make in the selection. (NOTE: These stipulations are for the student’s protection. They are designed to guarantee that the student allows sufficient time for preparation and to insure that the material he/she selects is appropriate.)
5. Preparation of the qualifying material is solely the responsibility of the student.
6. The BFA Acting audition will be held the first semester of each year. Should a student’s qualifying performance be deemed unsatisfactory, he/she will be required to repeat it the following semester. The Theatre Arts Program Director will assign a new date. The student’s academic advisor must approve any changes in the qualifying material.

The comments and opinions of the student’s adjudicators will be collected by the academic advisor and communicated orally to the student within one week after the performance. In the event of an unsatisfactory rating, a written explanation will be given to the student.

Progress Review Evaluation

The Theatre Faculty will evaluate each student at the end of each academic year during jury hearings. Evaluation is based on observation of production activities (quality and quantity) and on academic progress toward the degree. Recommendations resulting from the evaluation will be reported to the student by the academic advisor.

Auditions

All Acting students are required to audition for all main stage productions and for the Richard B. Harrison Players, the department’s varsity organization. Each student is also required to make a professional audition at two or more of the following: The North Carolina Theatre Conference, Southeastern Theatre Conference, University/ Resident Theatre Conference, the Irene Ryan Acting Award Competition, M.F.A. Acting Programs, Local, Regional, or National Professional Theatre Companies.

Production Assignment

Each student should serve as Assistant Director or Stage Manager for at least one major departmental production or Studio production. This requirement must be met at some point during the student’s first six semesters of residency. Evidence of its completion must be furnished in writing by the student to the Theatre Arts program director.

Senior Thesis Project

The Acting student’s degree program culminates with a staged senior showcase, performance. The performance is the student’s final demonstration of his/her craft proficiency and, as such, is a project the student should begin planning as early as possible in his/her residency. To ensure protection of the student’s interests and to provide a reasonable guarantee that a project of the highest quality will result, the Theatre program has adopted specific procedures for the selection, preparation, and execution of the senior thesis project. This information is listed in detail in the Theatre Arts Student Handbook.

Accreditation

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) since 1988.