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Department of Theatre Arts
Drama and Dance

The College of Arts and Humanities

KATHLEEN S. McKINLEY, Chair
Speech Arts Building, Room 33
(559) 278-3987

http://www.csufresno.edu/Theatre/

B.A. in Theatre Arts
Dance Option

Minor in Theatre Arts
Dance
Drama

Single Subject Teaching Credential
English/Drama

Faculty

Kathleen S. McKinley, Chair

Credential Adviser: Kim V. Morin

Dan Carrion, M. C. Drake, Thomas Whit Ellis, Edward F. EmanuEL, Melissa D. Gibson, Ruth H. Griffin, Jeffrey C. Hunter, Ronald D. Johnson, Terry C. Miller, Bradley J. Myers

The Department

The theatre arts major offers your the opportunity to develop your skills in acting, directing, dance performance, choreography, playwriting, children's theatre, technical production, scene design, costume design, lighting design, history, literature, and teaching. After completing our program, you will have the background that will enhance your ability to pursue either an advanced degree or a professional career.

Our professionally trained instructors will guide you through a program which is not only educational but fascinating. A major or minor in theatre or dance can be one of the more exciting times in your life because it will develop communication and performing skills that will aid you no matter what career you finally decide to pursue. If theatre is what you want, then the California State University, Fresno Theatre Arts Department is ready to serve you.

The Theatre Arts Department is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and holds memberships with the American Theatre in Higher Education, the California Educational Theatre Association, the California Alliance for Arts Education, and the United States Institute of Theatre Technology. The department regularly participates in the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) and the American College Dance Festival (ACDF). Our students, faculty, and productions have been awarded many regional and national honors from both ACTF and ACDF.

Our national and international award-winning Theatre Arts Department offers you educational preparation in all aspects of theatre and dance. Beside having the opportunity of being guided by an extensive curriculum and production schedule of more than 10 plays and several dance concerts, you will have the opportunity to study with guest professionals who participate in our program on a regular basis.

At California State University, Fresno you have a variety of production organizations, each providing a different kind of experience. University Theatre produces five major productions a year, cast and crewed by students. The Experimental Theatre Company (ETC) and the University Dance Theatre (UDT) are student organizations that produce their own plays and dance concerts. The Black Theatre Contingent (BTC) focuses on drama of the Arican-American experience. Playwrights Theatre is dedicated to the exploration of original plays. Theatre for Young Audiences produces plays for young people and tours throughout the Valley. You also have the opportunity to work with our resident dance company, The Portable Dance Troupe. As you can see, we offer a variety of opportunities for you to develop and practice your art.

Facilities

At California State University, Fresno you have the opportunity to study and practice your art with an outstanding faculty in well-equipped theatres and production facilities. Our newly renovated theatre complex consists of a 370-seat proscenium theatre and a 190-seat arena theatre. We also have a 90-seat lab theatre. You will work closely with 14 faculty members who are current in their craft and professionally active in acting, directing, dance, design, and technical production. Playwriting is a specialty of several of our faculty; all have published and two have been awarded Schubert Fellowships. As you might imagine, we encourage the production of original plays at California State University, Fresno.

Career Opportunities

Professional theatre and dance are very competitive areas especially for performers. Nevertheless, our graduates have more than held their own as actors and dancers in the professional world. As designers, production specialists, and managers, our students have readily found career opportunities. The rapid expansion in home video entertainment promises even more opportunity in the field.

Graduates have also found successful careers in related fields such as radio and television, journalism, rock performances, and touring productions. Many graduates teach in high schools, community colleges, and universities. Several former students have found their theatre training as an asset in such careers as law, theology, and politics.

Theatre Arts Courses

Theatre Arts Degrees

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