Courses
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CFA TH 425: Acting: Shakespeare
Prereq: Consent of instructor; Begins with personalization of the text, learning how to speak from one's own life experience. Explores connection between breath and thought/feeling. Then moves on to intellectual and technical demands, treating text more analytically, focusing on comprehension, inflection, dynamics and rhythm. Text will include sonnets, monologues and scenes. 2.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 426: Classical Techniques in Contemporary Acting
Prereq: Consent of instructor; In this course, considerable time will be spent investigating how classical training can enhance the embodiment of contemporary text. We will use acting techniques perhaps more commonly associated with classical work to explore contemporary plays that contain either heightened language or elevated ideas, or both. We may sample historical texts from time to time, as they prove useful in the approach to contemporary material. 2.0 credits. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 427: Theatre Ensemble 4: Thesis Development
Prereq: CFA TH 227 or CFA TH 228 or CFA TH 327; This course serves as the culminating experience for senior Theatre Arts majors. The course involves the process of selecting a thesis project, choosing partners with whom to collaborate, then coming together as an ensemble to determine the process for producing the projects in the spring semester. Topics include developing a company mission, goals and priorities, as well as fundraising and marketing. Part one of a two semester-long course. Required all senior BFA Theatre Arts majors. 3.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 428: Senior Thesis: Theatre Arts
Prereq: CFA TH 427, plus prior academic experience in directing, choreography, or playwriting depending on the individual focus of a student's thesis project participation. Students form a company to present a festival of plays at the end of the semester. Thesis work can focus on playwriting, producing, directing, dramaturgy, or performance and project collaboration is strongly encouraged. 3.0 credits. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 429: Understanding the Camera
Prereq: SOT Only (majors and minors), senior standing or permission from instructor. This course is designed to provide students an acclimation to the artistic and professional transition of "on‐camera" work. Class work will focus on the development of on‐camera skills through performance practice and editing for presentation. Students will develop their own material individually and in groups. An introduction to basic film making (lighting, sound, editing), marking, scene takes and script analysis will help develop an understanding of how to create more dynamic and complete characters created specifically for the screen. In‐depth analysis of the current medium as it exists in all markets (film, television, and online) will be a constant element of the course. 2.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 430: Professional Theatre Initiative: Orientation to the Workplace
Prereq: Senior acting majors or consent of the instructor; Students will develop skills on how to prepare for various aspects of the theatrical profession. Lectures and workshops (by faculty and guest artists) will focus on the process of auditioning/casting for theatre, film and television, as well as various aspects of the field such as playwriting and directly and will help students identify their potential success in that medium. The course will also delve into the logistical side of the profession in terms of tangible material and skills an artist should be armed with, which includes the creation of an individual website by each student. Material will also be explored that can be applied to their work in their showcase in both Boston and New York City.. TH Acting majors and elective for TH Theatre Arts majors in senior year. 2.0 credits. Fall Semester -
CFA TH 431: Movement 4: Thesis Development
Prereq: CFA TH 331; Explorations of physical theatre, choreography, and movement styles for non-verbal requirement of BFA Acting thesis. -
CFA TH 432: Movement 4: Commedia dell'Arte
Prereq: Permission of instructor; Commedia dell'Arte: Introduction to the 16th and 17th century form of Italian street theatre based on improvised scenarios. Actors explore the stock characters of the old men, lovers, servants, and warriors, and learn techniques for mask transformations and physical comedy. 1.0 credit -
CFA TH 437: Alexander Technique 4: The Actor's Consciousness
Prereq: CFA TH 337; In-depth study of Carl Stough's breathing coordination principles. Continue to develop skills to understand what is the actor's consciousness and what is character's consciousness. Private coaching and hands on scene work to attain high-level performance techniques. 1.0 credit. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 438: Alexander Technique 4: Thesis Application
Prereq: CFA TH437 or consent of instructor; Team taught with Judy Braha. Coaching for a scene with an Alexander teacher and an Acting teacher together helps the students to attain high-level performance techniques. 1.0 credit. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 441: Undergraduate Directing Colloquium 2
Prereq: CFA TH 341; Projects with undergraduate theatre majors in plays of various lengths. Focus is on preparation for rehearsal and on rehearsal process. 2.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 442: Undergraduate Directing Colloquium 3
Prereq: CFA TH441 or permission of instructor, concurrent registration with CFA DR428; Projects with undergraduate theatre majors in plays of various lengths. Focus is on preparation for rehearsal and on rehearsal process. 2.0 credits -
CFA TH 447: Rehearsal & Performance 3
Rehearsal/Performance & Production assignment work for participation in the School of Theatre Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 productions. Faculty assignment is based on faculty advising on a given production, all students should first register for the "X1-Staff" section at 1.0 credit per quarter of casting. After the student has been cast, they will be re-sectioned to the appropriate faculty advisor in charge of grading for that project. Course for SOT population only. Variable credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 448: Rehearsal & Performance 4
Rehearsal/Performance & Production assignment work for participation in the School of Theatre Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 productions. Faculty assignment is based on faculty advising on a given production, all students should first register for the "X1-Staff" section at 1.0 credit per quarter of casting. After the student has been cast, they will be re-sectioned to the appropriate faculty advisor in charge of grading for that project. Course for SOT population only. Variable credits. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 450: Senior Thesis: Acting
Prereq: CFA TH 421; This course serves as the culminating experience for Senior BFA Acting majors. Involves the mounting of Acting thesis projects that been developed during the fall semester, including their rehearsal, production, and performance. Thesis projects must include specific categories of materials and will be presented in collaboration with the rest of their ensemble. Part two of a two semester-long course. Required course for all senior Acting majors. 2.0 credits. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 451: D&P Senior Thesis
Prereq: Senior status; Meets as arranged. A major independent project presented to the faculty and student body as the final requirement for the BFA degree. The project is chosen with approval of the advisor and presented on a schedule established by the School of Theatre. The project is given public exhibition or performance. 3.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 452: D&P Senior Thesis
Prereq: Senior status; Meets as arranged. A major independent project presented to the faculty and student body as the final requirement for the BFA degree. The project is chosen with approval of the advisor and presented on a schedule established by the School of Theatre. The project is given public exhibition or performance. 3.0 credits. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 453: Master Class: Undergrad
Prereq: Instructor Consent; A laboratory/workshop class which created the opportunities to explore individual and collaborative ideas and problem solving in the creation of theatre. Emphasis is placed on the student's personal discovery of their own unique approach to their work and their involvement in the larger community of theatre artists. 2.0 credits. Fall semester. -
CFA TH 454: Master Class: Undergrad
Prereq: Instructor Consent; A laboratory/workshop class which created the opportunities to explore individual and collaborative ideas and problem solving in the creation of theatre. Emphasis is placed on the student's personal discovery of their own unique approach to their work and their involvement in the larger community of theatre artists. 2.0 credits. Spring semester. -
CFA TH 455: History of Period Styles 3
Prereq: Instructor Consent; A survey covering the history of social, political and cultural movements and the expressions of those movements through architecture, interior decoration, furniture and dress in major civilizations. Work involves research projects and presentations. 2.0 credits. Fall semester.

