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 640: Lighting Design Studio 2
  Graduate Prerequisite: CFA TH 639; A continuation of Lighting Design Studio 1. Advanced exploration in the development of lighting design for the stage. Explores how to develop lighting ideas, concepts, and visual images from a text, music, or movement and how to support those ideas to the point of realization. Required Labs will supplement class work with hands-on activities. 3.0 units. Spring semester.
• 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 644: Costume Production Studio 2
  Graduate Prerequisites: CFA TH 643 or permission of instructor. - Continuation of Costume Production Studio 2, this class covers historical information dating from early Renaissance to the Regency Period of women's dress. Clothing of various stages in the evolution of this broad period are discussed in lectures and explored by students using a method of radial projection draping or flat patterning. Draping assignments and in class exercises supplement the historical information and provide the student with draping/ flat patterning knowledge of more elaborate garment elements. Students will produce a corset and underpinnings for a chosen period, petticoat and bodice. Upon completion of the class students will have the knowledge to Drape, Flat Pattern and Radial Project period specific garments. 3.0 units. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 649: Costume Production Studio 7: Advanced Draping - 19th Century
  The study of flat patterning and draping through individual projects. Silhouette, line, and proportion become essential elements in the development of complete muslin reproductions. The study of the form and function of period underpinnings is stressed.
• CFA TH 650: Costume Production Studio 8
  Prerequisite: CFA TH 649; Continues the study of flat patterning and draping through individual projects. Silhouette, line, and proportion become essential elements in the development of complete muslin reproductions. The study of the form and function of period underpinnings is stressed.
• CFA TH 657: History of Dress 1
  This course is an intensive survey covering the history of significant cultural expression in dress from 3000 B.C.E. through the 18th century. Students will examine the evolution of fashion by studying various types of art and literature as well as socio-economic, political, and religious influences. Students will familiarize themselves with the vocabulary, theory, production, silhouettes, and trends in Western dress through effective researching, experiential learning, discussion-based learning, and interactive lectures. Class work involves research projects with emphasis on color, materials, manufacture, theory, and application. 2.0 units. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 658: History of Dress 2
  Intensive survey course covering the history of significant cultural expression in dress from the end of the 18th century to the present. Students examine the evolution of fashion by studying various types of art & literature as well as socio-economic, political, and religious influences. Students will familiarize themselves with the vocabulary, theory, production, silhouettes, and trends in Western dress through effective researching, experiential learning, discussion-based learning, and interactive lectures. Research projects emphasize color, materials, manufacture, theory, and application. 2.0 units. Spring 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 691: Sound Design Studio 3
  Graduate Prerequisite: CFA TH 630 or permission of instructor. 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. 3.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 692: Sound Design Studio 4
  Graduate Prerequisite: CFA TH 691 or permission of instructor. - Continuation of Sound Design Studio 3. Exploration 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. 3.0 credits. Spring semester.
• 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 699: Production Management Studio 2
  Graduate Prerequisite: CFA TH 695 or Permission of Instructor. - Building on the concepts introduced in Production Management Studio 1, this course will further study the role of the Production Manager within the design, production, and rehearsal process, specifically concentrating on the roles and responsibilities of Production Managing on a professional level, including season scheduling, budget & finances, personnel management and facilities management. Students will get hands-on experience in each of these through the creation of theoretical production paperwork, in-class discussions and workshops. 3.0 credits. Spring Semester.
• 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 708: Scenography Studio 2
  Prerequisite: CFA TH 707 or permission of instructor. - Scenography Studio 2 will continue to build on the knowledge and collaborative processes explored in CFA TH 707 Scenography Studio1. Design and Directing students will further explore the necessary tools needed to visually represent a text that cohesively uses elements and principals of design learned in Scenography Studio 1. This course will continue to expand vocabulary that encompasses elements of space, design, direction, performance and how this may be significant to an audience. This will be supported by learning how to excavate a text; to understand its¿ structure, value and purpose. Participants of this course emerge as knowledgeable in their craft, and are encouraged to apply a new perspective and unconventional thinking regarding theatrical design through implementation of storytelling committed to challenging ways of looking at contemporary theatre. 3.0 units. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 709: Directing Studio 3
  This course provides an advanced exploration into the director¿s creative process and will focus on how best to prepare for overall production work by working in close collaboration with CFA TH 745 Directing Colloquium. Work in this course will be taken from current production work, allowing the director to have more space for practice and the ability to experiment on material. The course will also focus on how best to present concepts and ideas derived from the text to all of their collaborators. It is an expanded version of the first two semesters of this course meant to work in tandem with the director¿s production work with the hope they have more space to experiment and discover. This course requires additional work outside of class time for engagement in practice-based exercises and rehearsals. 3.0 credits. Fall semester.
• CFA TH 710: Directing Studio 4
  As the culminating experience in the Directing Studio 1-4 course progression, students will direct material that each director feels great passion for in collaboration with actors and will bring another collaborator into the process (i.e. a designer or playwright) to further refine overall storytelling skills. Emphasis will be on collaboration beyond just the actor and will extend outward to include how directors discuss text with other members of the creative team. This course requires additional work outside of class time for engagement in practice-based exercises and rehearsals. 3.0 credits. Spring semester.
• CFA TH 712: Technical Production Studio 5
  This course will discuss the inner workings of the professional world. The class will consist of field trips and projects aimed at preparing students for the world of theatre beyond graduation. At the end of the class the goal is for each student to have a solid understanding of the hierarchy, job opportunities, and layout of the professional theatre world. 3.0 Credits. Spring Semester. 
• CFA TH 713: Scene Painting Studio 3
  Graduate Prerequisite: CFA TH 614 or permission of instructor. Studio class exploring soft goods and problem solving with advanced scene painting techniques. 1.0 credits. Fall semester. 
• CFA TH 714: Scene Painting Studio 4
  Graduate Prerequisite: CFA TH 713 or consent of instructor. - Building on the techniques and skills developed in Scene Painting Studio 3, this studio class continues the student¿s exploration of soft goods and problem solving with advanced scene painting techniques. 1.0 credits. Spring semester.