Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular term. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• CFA TH 643: Costume Production Studio 1
  This course is designed to give students a working knowledge of flat patterning and draping methods based on historical research. Course work, readings, lectures and practical application will ensure that students are capable to lead a costume build team and successfully produce costumes for an assigned production. 3.0 units. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 659: Social Change Through Theatre of the Oppressed
  An active, experiential learning course for theatre and non-theatre students that explores Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed and Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. This course engages and challenges students' minds, bodies and creativity as we read, discuss and apply the political, social and educational theories and ethics through Boal's physical theatre gamesercises, image techniques, and Forum Theatre. These techniques serve to "democratize theatre" by transforming the "monologue" of traditional performance into a dialogue for social change between audience and stage. 4.0 units. Spring semester. Effective Spring 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Creativity/Innovation.
  BU Hub Learn More

  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Ethical Reasoning
• CFA TH 681: Intro to Textiles 1
  Prereq: Advisor recommendation or consent of instructor; Meets with CFA TH 281. The course will cover identification and use of a variety of different fabrics including theatrical goods. It will include a brief history of textiles in conjunction with a focused overview of patterns, colors and fibers that developed and were used over a period of time as a result of growth within the industry. Scheduled trips to the Textile Museum in Lowell and the Museum of Fine Arts will support and enhance the student's experience with the subject. 1.0 credit. Fall semester. Offered every other odd numbered AY.
• CFA TH 695: Production Management
  Study of the role of the Production Manager in the design, production, and rehearsal process, specifically concentrating on the roles and responsibilities of theatrical Production Managing on a professional level, including scheduling, staffing, budgeting, team building, time management and communication. Students will get hands-on experience in each of these through class-discussions, workshops, and the creation of a theoretical production process where they will produce digital media to effectively communicate their ideas and apply quantitative reasoning skills to make informed decisions. 3.0 units. Fall semester. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Digital/Multimedia Expression.
• CFA TH 701: Graduate Salon
  This course is a weekly roundtable gathering of contemporary artists, scholars and students. The School of Theatre’s graduate students in Directing, Design, Production and Production Management will come together with guest artists to explore and discuss innovative theatre practices and progressive methods of storytelling. Students will learn what forms of material may provoke and create powerful theatre in the world today. This class is intended to revitalize and invoke students to look at challenging ways to design and produce contemporary theatre. 2.0 units. Fall and Spring semesters.
• CFA TH 707: Scenography Studio 1
  Scenography Studio 1 will explore the Value, Meaning and Purpose of Theatrical Productions and how all elements and principals of theatre design need to support the text and performer. Design and Directing students, will learn the tools needed to expand their artistry by exploring and creating purposeful storytelling. This course will focus on collaboratively developing vocabulary that encompasses elements of space, design, direction, performance and how this may be significant/important to an audience. This is supported by learning how to excavate a text; to understand its’ structure, value and purpose along with exploring what it means visually represented as a live performance. Participants of this course are encouraged to not only become proficient in their craft, but to apply a new perspective and unconventional thinking regarding theatrical design, implementing that though storytelling committed to challenging and exploring new ways of looking at contemporary theatre. 3.0 units. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 745: Directing Colloquium
  Directing Colloquium is designed to support and enhance your work as a director in both the development process as well as the production process. We will balance the course by speaking about the plays you are working on as well as discussions surrounding larger issues in the directing process. The aim is to develop the necessary skills, strategies and techniques for directing both new and established works. Anchored by your own work in rehearsals at our core, we will integrate topics relevant to various parts of the play production and development process in informative sessions/conversations. We will also not ignore the moment we sit in historically as theater artists and how we can best learn and grow during this unprecedented time for our art form. In addition, we will spend some sessions focused on issues central to artistic leadership and professional development specific to launching a professional career. 2.0 units. Fall and Spring semesters.
• CFA TH 763: Scene Design Studio 3
  Prereq: CFA TH 664 or consent of instructor; Intermediate design solutions with an emphasis on conceptual approach; work in a variety of theatre spaces. Students work in collaboration with costume and lighting designers and directors. Readings and projects incorporate all theatre genres, ballet, dance, opera, television, and film. 3.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 764: Scene Design Studio 4
  Prereq: CFA TH 763 or consent of instructor; Continuation of intermediate design solutions with an emphasis on conceptual approach; work in a variety of theatre spaces. Students work in collaboration with costume and lighting designers and directors. Readings and projects incorporate all theatre genres, ballet, dance and opera. 3.0 credits. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 765: Scene Painting 3
  Prereq: CFA TH 666 or consent of instructor; Studio class. Painting specific architectural detail; projects include stain glass, perspective and trompe l'oeil techniques; special finishes for furniture and constructed projects. 2.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 766: Scene Painting 4
  Prereq: CFA TH 765 or consent of instructor. Studio class. Continuation in painting specific architectural detail; projects include stain glass, perspective and trompe l'oeil techniques; special finishes for furniture and constructed projects. 2.0 credits. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 767: Scene Painting Studio 1
  Prereq: Instructor Consent; Studio class. Soft goods and problem solving with advanced scene painting techniques. 1.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 768: Scene Painting Studio 2
  Prereq: Instructor Consent; Studio class. Soft goods and problem solving with advanced scene painting techniques. 1.0 credits. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 770: Technical Production Studio 4
  Prereq: CFA TH 769. This course is designed to give Technical Directors an in-depth look into engineering safe and efficient scenery. Through real conditions and a text, students will learn how to engineer wood and steel elements used in theatre. The primary focus of study will be beam and column design. 3.0 credits. Spring Semester.
• CFA TH 775: Costume Design Studio 3
  Prereq: CFA TH 676; For the intermediate design student. Geared toward practical application of design theory. Continued development of script analysis, style, research techniques and rendering skills. Exercises examine the principles of design as applied to historical costume. Readings and projects explore different theatre genres depending on individuals in the class. 3.0 credits. Fall Semester.
• CFA TH 776: Costume Design Studio 4
  Prereq: CFA TH 775. Continuation of CFA TH 775. For the intermediate design student. Geared toward practical application of design theory. Continued development of script analysis, style, research techniques and rendering skills. Exercises examine the principles of design as applied to historical costume. Readings and projects explore different theatre genres depending on individuals in the class. 3.0 credits. Spring semester. 3.0 credits. Spring Semester.
• CFA TH 780: Costume Production Studio 4: Modern Tailoring
  Prereq: CFA TH 779 or permission of instructor. Continuation of CFA TH 379, this class explores the evolution of men's tailoring of the 20th century. Lectures focus on the significance of changing silhouettes for each decade and the inner structure that creates the perfect shape for various body types. Time will be allotted in class to participate in detail sample making, pattern drafting of various systems, cutting and assembling garments. Fittings will also be used to teach different methods of construction through class participation. The final product will be a finished three-piece suit. 3.0 credits. Spring semester of even academic years.
• CFA TH 782: Fabric Dyeing 2
  Prereq: CFA TH 781 or consent of instructor; The student learns a variety of crafts associated with fabric painting and dyeing. Subject matter may include fiber reactive dyeing, distressing and silk screening. Check with instructor for current semester content. 1.0 credit. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 785: Choreography and Design: Experiments in Light and Movement
  Prereq: Graduate Standing or instructor permission; A course intended for lighting designers, actors, directors and dancers to develop theatrical work integrating light and movement. The goal of the course is to provide a workshop environment that fosters the development of new forms of theatrical expression involving light and movement. Weekly assignments involve light sources, movement and light, conventions involving space, time, flow and hue; improvisations; and experimentation with theatrical ideas, character development and storytelling involving light and movement. Rehearsal times on Sundays and Monday evenings expected outside of regular class times. 2.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 787: Sound Design Studio 3
  For the intermediate sound design student. Projects for both theoretical and realized productions. Practical projects to demonstrate sound design techniques. Readings and projects incorporate all theatre genres, ballet, dance, and opera.