Theatre and Dance

Chairman and Associate Professor of Theatre: CHRISTOPHER MATSOS
Professor of Theatre: JAMES M. BRANDON
Assistant Professor and Director of Dance: HOLLY HOBBS
Production Manager and Lighting Designer: MICHAEL J. BEYER
Costume Designer and Theatre Lecturer: CORINNE LANGFORD 
Scenic Designer and Technical Director: KIMBERLY BRITT
Lecturers in Theatre: GEORGE ANGELL, TORY MATSOS
Lecturers in Dance: SEAN HOSKINS, ALISON PLEMMONS, DOUGLAS SPANGLER

 

The Theatre discipline requires successful completion of at least 31 hours of the departmental offerings with a grade of “C-” or better in order to graduate.

Field of Concentration in Theatre

The art of theatre is unique in its manner of focusing and reflecting the concerns of the society in which it exists. At the same time, it is composite in its materials and means: bringing together speech and acting skills, literature, dance, music, and visual and plastic arts, as well as the technologies of lighting, recorded sound, mechanics, electronic communications media, computer technology, and acoustics. It is, in fact, a builder of bridges among many arts and crafts, and likewise between the fine arts generally and the humanities and behavioral sciences: critical and historical studies, social studies, rhetoric, and psychology. For students concentrating in theatre, the discipline is thus a flexible “home base” for a true liberal arts education. For undergraduates in general, it is a productive training field in creative and practical rhetoric, image-making, and cooperative action—useful preparation not merely for the stage but also for the law court, the legislature, the classroom, and the marketing or sales office.

Degrees

Courses of Instruction

DNC 150: Social Dance

Credits 1
Students will learn social dances of the 19th-20th centuries. Included forms are the waltz, foxtrot, ballroom, two-step and other partner dances. Special emphasis will be placed on basic social elements of dance, patterns, music, rhythmic awareness and foot positions, as well as leading and following. Students will have the opportunity to learn basic dance and social etiquette skills.

DNC 160: Ballet I

Credits 1
Students will receive an introduction to the basic techniques and vocabulary of ballet. Students will develop strength, flexibility, core-strength and control while analyzing the principles of body alignment. Rhythm and dynamics will be emphasized.

DNC 170: Pilates I

Credits 1
Pilates exercises help to strengthen core muscles and increase flexibility, endurance, posture and body awareness. This class is designed for the beginning Pilates student. Students will begin by learning Pilates fundamentals and essential matwork exercises, then work toward mastery of these basic skills.

DNC 180: Folk Dance

Credits 1
Varying types and styles of folk dance may be the topic of any given semester of study: Scottish Highland Dance, African Dance, Contra and Square Dance are just a few examples of what the class might cover. When the course is offered, the class bulletin will indicate which type of dance will be taught.

DNC 190: Modern Dance I

Credits 1
Students will learn principles of contemporary dance such as fall and recovery, contract and release, and improvisation, as well as a basic movement vocabulary. The development of technical skill in modern dance will include rhythmic perception, kinesthetic awareness and proper alignment. The traditional modern dance techniques of Limon, Cunningham, Horton, Graham and/or Nikolais will be covered.

DNC 210: Dance Repertoire

Credits 1
This course is designed for those students who are part of the dance company for any given year. Class time will be given to choreographing and rehearsing pieces for the annual Dance Concert. Students will learn and rehearse choreographic works of both Hillsdale faculty members and guest artists, culminating in a fully produced performance. Students will also learn basic principles of dance theatrical staging and production values as related to the production of this concert. Admission to the course is by audition and permission of the instructor only.

DNC 215: History of Dance

Credits 3
Dance is a reflection of humanity: a viable and powerful form of expression and communication. Dance is used to support and/or challenge social/political views, ideas and values of individuals and of whole societies. It has even been an instrument of diplomacy: Romans found that a very detailed, exaggerated form of pantomime/dance was an excellent tool for spreading influence throughout the empire, while the court of France's Louis XIV used dance to emphasize the Sun King's power, and the New York City Ballet visited Russia during the Cold War in hopes of finding common ground through culture. Students will be given an overview of dance forms from around the world and throughout history. The interrelatedness and impact of dance on other art forms, as well as its role in society, will be particularly emphasized. Students will gain this knowledge through lectures, readings and viewing live dance performance and films.

DNC 220: Choreography and Improvisation I

Credits 2
This course is an introduction to improvisation and its use as a basis for dance choreography. Students will be taught the fundamentals of spontaneous movement and learn how to craft this material into set choreography. Students will explore improvisations based on the principles of Laban Movement Analysis and the effects of shape, space, rhythms, props and other stimuli upon movement. Admission to the course requires the completion of DNC 190 or permission of the instructor.

DNC 250: Intermediate Social Dance

Credits 1
Building on the basics learned in Social Dance, the student will learn new dances and combinations, building confidence, rhythm and musicality. Admission to this class requires the successful completion of DNC 150 or permission of the instructor.

DNC 260: Ballet II

Credits 1
Intermediate ballet sections will be for students who have had previous ballet training and who demonstrate a mastery of the basic alignment principles and vocabulary of ballet. Students will be expected to combine rhythm, dynamics, alignment, strength and flexibility while developing artistry and working with more speed and with a more advanced movement vocabulary. Placement at level two requires the permission of the instructor.

DNC 270: Pilates II

Credits 1
A continuation of Pilates I, this class will focus on mastery of the essential matwork exercises learned in Pilates I, and then add new skills and intermediate matwork exercises. Admission to this class requires the completion of DNC 170 and the permission of the instructor

DNC 290: Modern Dance II

Credits 1
Students will build on basic modern dance principles to execute more advanced movement phrases and musical rhythms. Students will also increase their movement vocabulary while exploring the potential of modern dance as an expressive idiom. The traditional modern dance techniques of Limon, Cunningham, Horton, Graham, and/or Nikolais will continue to be explored. Admission to this class requires the permission of the instructor.

DNC 320: Choreography and Improvisation II

Credits 2
Building on the skills learned in DNC 220, students will be challenged with more complex improvisations and will use improvisational material to create solo and group choreography. Students will continue to explore a variety of internal and external stimuli as the basis for their artistic expression. Admission to the course requires the completion of DNC 220 or permission of the instructor.

DNC 360: Ballet III

Credits 1
Continued development of ballet vocabulary. Further turning and jumping skills will be explored in depth. Musicality, artistry and expression will be emphasized. Placement at level three requires the permission of the instructor.

DNC 370: Pilates III

Credits 1
A continuation of Pilates II, this class will focus on mastery of the intermediate matwork exercises learned in Pilates II, and then add new skills and advanced matwork exercises. Admission to this class requires the completion of DNC 270 and the permission of the instructor.

DNC 390: Modern Dance III

Credits 1
This course is an advanced level modern dance technique class, designed to build upon the skills learned in DNC 290. Movement dynamics and qualities, rhythmic and spatial patterns, and personal expression will be explored in depth. Traditional modern dance techniques as well as contemporary and cutting-edge dance techniques will be utilized. Admission to this class requires the completion of DNC 290 and the permission of the instructor.

DNC 492: Methods of Teaching Dance

Credits 3
This course explores methods for dance pedagogy in various settings, to develop necessary skills for teaching dance. Students will foster an understanding of creating effective learning environments, approaches to dance education, styles of student learning, and curriculum development. Dance pedagogy for creative movement, modern, ballet, and jazz will be investigated. Through observing, practical teaching sessions, and responding, each student will develop a philosophy of dance education.

THE 200: Understanding Theatre

Credits 3
Readings, lectures, discussion, live performances, video presentations and creative projects provide the student with the basic concepts and terms necessary to appreciate the theatre as an art, and its development as an expression of Western culture. Dramatic structure, style, purpose and effect are the keys to understanding the forms of communication among author, performer and audience. Special attention is paid to the interlocking functions of all the artists of the theatre: not only playwright and actor, but also director, designer, critic and architect.

THE 205: Theatre Production

Credits 1
Open to all Hillsdale College students (including freshmen) interested in working on Hillsdale College theatre productions either as actors; as members of technical crews in set construction and painting, lighting, properties, costumes or makeup; or in promotion, ticket sales and house management. Students can earn one credit each semester that they are enrolled during the four-year course of study.

THE 210: The Theatre in History I: Dramatic Literature, History, Theory and Criticism of the Ancient World

Credits 3
The history of theatre as an art, as a medium of cultural expression and communication, and as a social institution. The theatre of the past is examined both for its own artistic techniques and for the light that it may shed on the cultural patterns and values of the societies in which it has served as a forum of the public imagination. THE 210 investigates the drama and theatre of preliterary cultures, ancient Greece and Rome, medieval Europe and the traditional civilizations of the Orient.

THE 215: The Theatre in History II: Dramatic Literature, History, Theory and Criticism; Renaissance to Revolution (1500-1800)

Credits 3

The history of drama and theatre in Europe from approximately 1500 to approximately 1800. Renaissance, Neoclassical, Elizabethan, Spanish Golden Age, English Restoration, and early German Romantic periods are considered with particular emphasis on the relationship between dramatic literature and the social, political, religious, and theoretical thinking that is reflected in the plays. This course satisfies the general college core requirement for a second-tier literature course.

THE 225: Basic Theatre Technology

Credits 3
The theatre craftsman as technician and problem solver. Students are engaged in both practical and theoretical exercises in stage carpentry, scene painting, scenery rigging, lighting, drafting, acoustics, electronically amplified sound, scenic projection, stage properties, costume construction and the offstage handling of a whole production.

THE 235: Acting I: Basic Performance Techniques

Credits 3
Fundamental processes, structures and forms of theatrical performance are investigated experientially through theatre-games, improvisation and rehearsed events, as well as conceptually through assigned readings and discussion. The course serves as a unifying introduction to acting and direction, with emphasis on dramatic spontaneity and on the visual and kinetic dimensions of the art.

THE 236: Design for the Theatre I

Credits 3
An introduction to the various ideas and techniques of designing in the theatre. This team-taught course will explore the fundamentals of the design process in set, lighting and costume design disciplines. Stress is placed on script analysis, design research and the shared aspects of drawing for the theatre; as well as the creative handling of the elements of design and composition as they relate to all areas of theatrical design. This course is the prerequisite for THE 336, Design for the Theatre II.

THE 310: Playwriting: Sources and Methods

Credits 3
Intensive exercises in creating short scenes and one-act plays, with the goal, first, of learning a variety of dramatic forms and structures by "hands-on" application, and second, of increasing the student's appreciation of drama as a flexible mode of artistic expression and communication.

THE 335: Acting II: Characterization for the Stage

Credits 3
Practical works, readings, rehearsed scenes and discussion supply the basics of creating a character. Students learn techniques of character analysis and the interaction of roles in scenes. Attention is given to rehearsal techniques and to considering the choices made by the actor, emphasizing the techniques of psychological realism. Prerequisite: THE 235.

THE 336: Design for the Theatre II

Credits 3
The creative design process as it relates to a specific area of theatrical design, chosen from among the following types: scenic, lighting or costume. Students will build on the material from Design for the Theatre I to focus their learning in one of the three areas listed. Both artistic and practical drawings will be emphasized. Opportunities for realized designs or assisting faculty designers will be provided when possible. May be repeated for credit in each of the three design areas. Prerequisite: THE 236.

THE 339: Makeup Design

Credits 3
Intended for the serious performer, this class will prepare students to proceed from character analysis to finished performance makeup. Topics include understanding, emphasizing and changing basic facial structure; application of wigs and hairpieces; special-effects makeup; prosthetics and plastics; aging; and historical period effects. Prerequisite: THE 225.

THE 340: Basic Directing for the Theatre

Credits 3
Provides an introduction to the techniques of directing for the theatre. Students will study the history of directing and the performance theories of several important directors. The course will provide discussion and practical experience in script analysis, conceptualization, use of the stage, derivation of ground plan, choosing and working with actors, and the development of a set design for a production. Prerequisite: THE 235.

THE 350: Voice for the Stage

Credits 3
Training in the physical and emotional techniques used in producing strong vocal characterizations for the stage. This course is equally important for students of speech.

THE 355: Acting for the Camera

Credits 3
Working in front of the camera every week with a professional film and television actor, students are trained in the specialized forms, processes, and vocabulary of this important aspect of performance.

THE 393: Topics in Theatre

Credits 1 Max Credits 3
A seminar concerned with the interrelation of dramatic theory and literature with theatrical practice: questions of style, genre, period, aesthetics, politics, philosophy and cultural history. Specific topics vary each year, and the course may be taken for credit more than once.

THE 404: Musical Theatre

Credits 3
The study of the musical as a distinct form in style and content. The class will trace the development of and trends in this particular theatrical form from the mid-19th century to the present. Selected musicals, as well as composers, lyricists and librettists, will be studied in depth.

THE 408: History of American Theatre

Credits 3
American plays from the colonial period to the present will be examined in relation to changing political, social and cultural issues in the United States and to the search for-and development of-a distinctly "American" theatrical identity.

THE 410: Dramaturgy

Credits 3

This course will directly involve students in the research, conceptualization, and production of a main-stage play. Students will embark on a rigorous study of the author, the author's other works, the theatre history and the cultural history of the time period of the play. Students will be expected to incorporate their research into all aspects of the production and produce a substantial essay on some aspect of the play. This essay will be included in a dramaturgical pamphlet presented to each audience member. Prerequisites: THE 210 and 215.

THE 435: Acting III: Period Stiyles for the Stage

Credits 3
This course explores period styles of acting from ancient Greece, the Elizabethan/Jacobean era, the Restoration, and Neoclassical Europe. Students will engage in intensive verse work, period movement and manners, and character research methods. Prerequisite: THE 335 or permission of the instructor.

THE 436: Professional Preparation for Stage

Credits 1
Designed for students needing to prepare for professional or summer work, or prepare for graduate school admission, this course will help students ready themselves for the demands of auditioning, interviewing and portfolio presentation. Acting students will develop audition pieces and get working headshot/resumes. Design students will work on portfolio development and on the presentation of design projects for the American College Theatre Festival regional design competition. Theatre history students will work on the development and presentation of substantial writing projects and prepare for the GRE examinations. Open to juniors and seniors only, this course should be part of every student's training package. Requires permission of the instructor.

THE 440: Projects in Directing

Credits 3
Under faculty guidance, each student will choose, research, plan, cast and rehearse a sizable one-act play for public audiences. Throughout the projects, emphasis will be placed on the challenges of style: by period, genre or clearly projected experiment. Prerequisites: THE 340 and permission of the instructor.

THE 493: Contemporary Theatre and Film

Credits 3
This course explores contemporary theatre and film from a cultural perspective, examining a body of film work and plays, to better understand the historical and social contexts for the themes explored in contemporary performance. Only plays and films from the past 20 years will be chosen, and the course usually centers on a particular region. Past courses have explored the plays and films of Western Europe and the plays and films of Russia.

THE 575: Senior Projects in Theatre

Credits 1
In the senior year, or, at the earliest, the second semester of the junior year, a comprehensive capstone project is required for all theatre majors. This project will be chosen in consultation with the department chair and overseen by a faculty member within the Department. The project will combine research, analysis, writing, and practical theatre skills. The senior project may be undertaken in any area taught by the Department. This project will be done in conjunction with two of the classes listed in the major under the sections "The Developing Artist" and "The Maturing Artist."