Exploring the Theater Program at College of DuPage
The College of DuPage (COD) offers a comprehensive theater program designed to cater to a wide range of students, from those with no prior experience to those seeking advanced training. Located within the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), the program benefits from a vibrant arts community and provides numerous opportunities for students to explore and engage with the performing arts. Whether students are interested in pursuing an Associate's Degree with a Fine Arts major or simply want to explore a new interest, COD's theater program offers a diverse curriculum to suit various needs and aspirations.
Introductory Courses
The theater program begins with introductory courses designed to provide a foundation in the fundamentals of theater. These courses require play attendance to enhance learning.
- Introduction to Theater: This course offers an introductory survey of theater as a performing art form. It includes the study and analysis of historical, social, aesthetic, and technical aspects of traditional and contemporary theatrical expression. It is intended for the general student to enhance their ability to become an appreciative and discerning theater audience member. No previous theater experience is required.
- Acting I: Introduces actors to the fundamentals of acting, including concentration, observation, and playing action. These basics are introduced through acting exercises, improvisations, and scene study. Major acting approaches that develop connection to material or texts that may include exploration of Stanislavski-based techniques and movement-based pedagogies as the basis for helping the actor embody characters. No previous theater experience is required.
- Voice for the Actor: Introduces principles of voice sound production. Designed to teach actors relaxation, breathing, and an understanding of the actor's vocal life and demands. No previous theater experience is required.
- Movement for the Actor: Introduces principles and techniques of theatrical stage movement. Designed to help actors make their bodies more flexible and efficient instruments of expression. No previous theater experience is required.
- Stage Combat (Unarmed): Introduces basic unarmed violence for the stage focusing on performance and execution of safe, but real, techniques.
- Improvisation: Emphasizes creating believable characterizations for the beginning actor and non-theater student using unscripted interaction. Exercises provide a foundation for using subtext, playing in the moment, and creating truthful relationships in scripted and non-scripted scenes. The use of the body and voice as communicative agents is examined. No previous theater experience is required.
- Stage Makeup: Introduction to the fundamentals of stage makeup with a focus on comfort of application, color theory, research, execution of design, and support of a dramatic character through stage makeup. No previous theater or makeup experience is required.
- Stagecraft I: Introduction to stage equipment, tools, materials, and traditional methods of set construction and scenic painting.
- Technical Production: Introduction to the new materials and techniques of technical production, including special effects, lighting, and sound.
Intermediate and Advanced Courses
Building upon the foundational knowledge gained in the introductory courses, the theater program offers a range of intermediate and advanced courses designed to hone specific skills and explore more specialized areas of theater.
- Acting II: Continues development of skills acquired in Acting I. Helps students develop believable characters while working on acting exercises and duet scenes from contemporary dramatic literature, at an intermediate and advanced skill level. Actors are also introduced to acting in period plays.
- Stage Combat (Armed): Introduces basic armed violence for the stage focusing on performance and execution of safe, but real, techniques. Weapon styles taught for this course will vary each term the class is offered.
- Auditioning Techniques: Designed to help actors develop material to use in a variety of auditions. Helps students become familiar and more confident with the auditioning process.
- Dance Theater I: Emphasizes the principles and practical demands of dance within the musical theater. Primarily jazz-dance based movement, with ballet basics included. Integrates an extensive dance warm-up into movement vocabulary and works on various combinations inspired by classic Broadway musicals from the 1920s through present day. Includes techniques for exercise, audition requirements, various performance styles, and choreographic projects. Field trips and master classes utilized whenever possible. Designed for beginning to intermediate levels of dance students. This course may be taken four times for credit.
- Dance Theater II: Intermediate to advanced jazz-dance based course with some intermediate to advanced ballet combinations included. Integrates an extensive dance warm-up into movement vocabulary and builds on principles learned in Dance Theater I. Includes advanced studies of classic Broadway musical choreography styles from the 1920s through present day; dance techniques, audition requirements, performance styles, and choreographic projects. Field trips and master classes used whenever possible. Designed for intermediate to advanced level dance students. Some previous training is necessary. This course may be taken four times for credit.
- Voice Acting: Introduction to voice acting techniques for radio, television, multimedia, and other audio and visual presentations.
- Acting for the Camera: Introduction to the principles and techniques of acting for the camera.
- Ensemble Performance: Helps the actor create roles and work in an ensemble. Selections include children's theater, comedy, drama, musicals, and/or rehearsed improvisational works. Rehearsal and performance is required.
- Directing I: Introduces directorial choices about scripts, script analysis, casting, focus of scenes, and the mood, rhythm, pace and main idea of productions. A participatory course that includes readings and attendance at plays, exercise work, and scene direction.
- Stage Management: Introduction to the world of theater as a stage manager with a backstage view. Provides tips, techniques, procedures, and survival tools for a beginning or experienced stage manager.
Production-Based Courses
A unique aspect of the College of DuPage theater program is its emphasis on practical, hands-on experience through participation in play productions.
- Play Production: Participation in play production. After auditions and assignments, the class is composed of the students in the college-produced play. This course may be taken four times for credit. For additional participation in play production. After auditions, casting, and interviews, the class is composed of the students in the college-produced play. Intermediate to advanced exploration and analysis of acting and technical theater, developing a specific character or technical role in a specific production. This course may be taken four times for credit.
- Technical Theater Practicum: Offers hands-on training through work on a production(s)in a technical assignment. Each student's assignment will be individual in either build or run crew work. This course may be taken four times for credit on different productions.
- Repertory: A performance course that offers the student an opportunity to perform or be on a crew for two or three productions. The repertory may include musicals, plays for children, contemporary and/or classical dramas and comedies. Non-acting opportunities include costuming, set construction, lights, sound, wardrobe, stage make-up, properties, box office work and assistant directing or management, and stage management.
Special Topics and Independent Study
The theater program also offers special project courses and independent study options for students who wish to delve deeper into specific areas of interest.
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- Special Project Courses: These courses cover topics not otherwise covered by general education courses and other courses in the Catalog for the discipline. These courses require direct experience and focused reflection in an in-depth study of a specific discipline topic and/or the critical analysis of contemporary issues in the discipline. They are targeted to self-selected students with an interest in the subject matter and involve active participation. The course delivery incorporates an experiential component of no less than 30 percent but not to exceed 70 percent (to be determined by the disciplines). This experiential component may include field studies, interdisciplinary learning, and/or the practical application of discipline-related concepts, theories, principles and methods with a specific focus. All courses require an orientation session to deliver academic and experiential information (syllabus, academic requirements, field preparation, logistics, etc.) This course may be taken four times for credit.
- Topics in Theater: Introductory exploration and analysis of selected topics with a specific theme indicated by course title listed in college class schedule. This course may be taken four times for credit as long as different topics are selected.
- Independent Study: Exploration and analysis of topics within the discipline to meet individual student-defined course description, goals, objectives, topical outline and methods of evaluation in coordination with and approved by the instructor. This course may be taken four times for credit as long as different topics are selected.
- Advanced Topics in Theater: Advanced exploration and analysis of selected topics with a specific theme indicated by course title listed in college class schedule.
Internship Opportunities
For students seeking real-world experience, the theater program offers internship opportunities.
- Internship (Career and Technical Education): Course requires participation in Career and Technical Education work experience with onsite supervision. Internship learning objectives are developed by student and faculty member, with approval of employer, to provide appropriate work-based learning experiences. Credit is earned by working a minimum of 75 clock hours per semester credit hour, up to a maximum of four credits.
- Continuation of Internship (Career and Technical Education): Course requires participation in Career & Technical Education work experience with onsite supervision. Internship learning objectives are developed by student and faculty member, with approval of employer, to provide appropriate work-based learning experiences. Credit is earned by working a minimum of 75 clock hours per semester credit hour, up to a maximum of four credits.
- Internship (Transfer): Course requires participation in work experience with onsite supervision. Internship learning objectives are developed by student and faculty member, with approval of employer, to provide appropriate work-based learning experiences. Credit is earned by working a minimum of 75 clock hours per semester credit hour, up to a maximum of four credits.
- Continuation of Internship (Transfer): Course requires participation in work experience with onsite supervision. Internship learning objectives are developed by student and faculty member, with approval of employer, to provide appropriate work-based learning experiences. Credit is earned by working a minimum of 75 clock hours per semester credit hour, up to a maximum of four credits.
McAninch Arts Center and Community Engagement
The McAninch Arts Center is more than just a venue; it's a hub for arts education and community engagement. The MAC offers a variety of programs designed to enrich the cultural experiences of students and community members alike.
- SchoolStage & Classroom Enrichment: A great way to expand upon what students learn in the classroom and widen their exposure to the arts. In our SchoolStage series, youâll find a variety of theatrical and musical performances that are designed specifically for youth. Many offerings are based on school curriculum and focus on specific issues that will resonate with students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Reservations are required and are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Community Outreach Efforts: From long-term artist residencies to professional development and youth classes at the MAC, we are committed to providing area residents and COD students with fulfilling opportunities to immerse themselves into the arts. Residencies, for example, enable talented artists to come be a part of our local community for an extended period of time, or one-day workshops, seminars, lecture demonstrations, and/or master classes.
- MAC Chats: Through pre- or post-show discussions called âMAC Chats,â the McAninch Arts Center takes you beyond the theatre and immerse you in rewarding experiences across multiple disciplines to enlighten your connection to the artists and the art form.
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