BFA–Theatre, Stage Management major
The Design & Production programs prepare talented and committed students for careers in the professional world of theatre and related entertainment media. The program curriculum stresses the development of a student as a theatre artist, focusing on collaboration, imagination, intellect, communication skills, and oral critique, as well as preparation for a professional career.
During each year of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, courses in design, production, graphic skills, management, and dramatic literature follow a carefully integrated sequence of class exercises and production opportunities. The committed students who pursue the BFA–Theatre degree in Design, Production, or Management at Boston University discover who they are, what they do well, and what they are capable of doing. They learn to be collaborative theatre artists who work productively under the stresses of the theatrical profession and, most importantly, they learn to integrate design, production, and management skills with their own personal sensibility.
Students in the Stage Management major will evolve a keen theatrical sensibility, sound working knowledge of theatre production, strong organizational skills, and effective ability in personnel management. Through a required eight-course concentration in a specific area of Design (Costumes, Lighting, Scenic, or Sound), Production (Costumes or Technical), or Directing/Performance, students will gain specific skills to be more effective collaborators and theatre artists.
Learning Outcomes
Students in the Stage Management major will:
- Demonstrate a broad understanding of theatre practice and its various components of directing, acting, design, production, and management.
- Demonstrate the ability to enrich creative storytelling through a critical engagement with cultural, aesthetic, and dramatic texts for a wide variety of audiences.
- Demonstrate an open, collaborative leadership and management style that supports a rehearsal and production environment and encourages creative exploration.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the skills necessary to be a working stage manager, including, but not limited to, performance and production styles, written and oral communication, and creative problem-solving.
Requirements
All students entering as freshmen in Fall 2018 and after will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, a general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements are flexible and can be satisfied in many different ways, through coursework in and beyond the major and, in some cases, through co-curricular activities. Students majoring in Stage Management will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Aesthetic & Historical Interpretation, as well as some of the requirements in Communication; Diversity, Civic Engagement & Global Citizenship; and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, co-curricular experiences.
Program of Study (minimum of 128 credits)
First Year
All freshmen Design, Production, and Stage Management students are admitted to the Theatre Design, Production & Management core curriculum. The freshman core is designed to provide an appropriate context for faculty evaluations of each student’s strengths, interests, and potential for success in the upper years of training. At the end of the freshman year, each student declares a major. This decision is reviewed by all members of the School of Theatre faculty before a student is officially enrolled in his or her major.
The Theatre Design, Production & Management core provides a foundation for all future study in design (costume, lighting, scenery, or sound), production (costume or technical), stage management, or theatre arts design & production. By acquiring a base of artistic and technical skills, students begin to explore the breadth and depth of what it means to be a professional theatre artist today. Please see the Freshman Core section for complete distribution guidelines.
The foundational methods class for Stage Management majors in the Core is CFA TH 194 Intro to Stage Management. Should students elect not to take this course as part of the Theatre Design, Production & Management core, they will be required to take this course in the spring of their sophomore year.
| Second Year | 1st | 2nd |
| CFA TH 099 Matinee | 0 | 0 |
| CFA TH 553 & 554 Colloquium | 1 | 1 |
| CFA TH 297 & 298 Production^ | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 293 Stage Management 2: Skills lab | 0.5 | – |
| Concentration electives 1 & 2* | 3 | 3 |
| PD PER 100 Basic First Aid | 0.5 | – |
| Theatre History or Art History | 3 | – |
| Design elective | 3 | – |
| CFA TH 232 Movement: Unarmed Combat | – | 2 |
| Directing Requirement—2 credits. Choose one of: | 2 | |
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| BU Hub requirement(s) outside the major | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 17± | 14± |
| Third Year | ||
| CFA TH 099 Matinee | 0 | – |
| CFA TH 553 Colloquium | 1 | – |
| CFA TH 397 Production^ | 2 | – |
| CFA TH 393 Stage Management 3: Types & Styles | 1 | – |
| CFA TH 231 Movement: Armed Combat | 2 | – |
| Dramatic Literature elective | 3 | – |
| Concentration electives 3* | 1 | – |
| Concentration electives 4* | 1 | – |
| BU Hub requirement(s) outside the major | 4 | – |
| Study Abroad† | – | 16 |
| Total | 15± | 16 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| CFA TH 099 Matinee | 0 | 0 |
| CFA TH 553 & 554 Colloquium | 1 | 1 |
| CFA TH 497 & 498 Production^ | 2 | 2 |
| CFA TH 494 Stage Management 4: Preparation to Freelance | – | 1 |
| CFA TH 395 Production Management | 2 | – |
| CFA TH 594 Theatre Management | – | 2 |
| PE PER 150 Basic CPR | – | 0.5 |
| Concentration electives 5 & 6* | 2 | 2 |
| Concentration electives 7 & 8* | 1 | 1 |
| BU Hub requirement(s) outside the major | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 12± | 13.5± |
^ Production classes in the Core are 2 credits each, as assignments are closely monitored to help students acclimate to the workload in the program. Thereafter production classes are variable credit, depending on the artistic assignment. Production assignments are made by the faculty based on individual student assessment and can be viewed in three stages of the production process:
- Pre-production: The preparatory work before the rehearsal and build process begins.
- Production: The rehearsal and build process through opening performance.
- Performance: The run of the production in front of an audience.
Typically, credits will be awarded as follows:
- Participation in one stage of the design & production process = 1 credit
- Participation in two stages of the design & production process = 2 credits
- Participation in three stages of the design & production process = 3 credits
Credits listed are the fewest a student can earn in a given semester.
† The School of Theatre has collaborated with the International Programs office to offer theatre-specific program options in London, England; Arezzo, Italy; and Sydney, Australia. However, there are over 40 countries available for study abroad through BU, and School of Theatre students are encouraged to investigate all options.
Students must consult with their faculty advisor for approval on any study abroad semester choices, at which time the individual faculty member can approve the proposed semester abroad. Typically, students in the Study Abroad program will take:
- Design, Production, and Management Internship (4 cr)
- Theatre elective (4 cr)
- General electives (8 cr)
Options and details can be found online at www.bu.edu/abroad.
± Total credits per semester vary according to the courses selected. Credits listed are the fewest a student could earn. All BFA–Theatre students with a Stage Management major must earn at least 128 credits to graduate.
* The required concentration for stage managers consists of 8 courses over three years; total credits will vary depending on course selection.
The concentration can be taken in one of the following progressions: Design (Costume, Lighting, Scene, or Sound), Production (Costume or Technical), Performance, or Self Directed (as advised).
