Theater and Performance Studies

Overview

The heart of Theater and Performance Studies is practice and production. Our shows are supported by rigorous training and analysis through the study of performance theory, history, technique, and literature.  Students learn through embodied practice, applying their research in performance contexts. With numerous opportunities to explore areas ranging from dramaturgy to acting, from set design to stage management, and from playwriting to directing, students also learn to apply a performance studies lens onto other phenomena in the world outside the traditional boundaries of theater.  Embedded within a Liberal Arts institution, our classes are interdisciplinary and the pathway to a major or minor is holistic.  After completing the introductory courses, students can craft their trajectory through the major, taking  advanced courses in their areas of interest, such as in acting, playwriting, solo performance, directing, design, performance studies and theater research, stage management, and technical theater. 

A Theater and Performance Studies major culminates with a senior comprehensive project in the student’s area of interest supported by direct mentorship and guidance from department faculty and staff. 

Located in the arts capital of Los Angeles, the department engages with community partners and arts institutions. From attending productions at southern California theaters to bringing arts education into local schools to a sustained internship program to bringing in local artists into our classes and to our relationship with Oxy Arts, being in the city of Los Angeles is integral to our work. 

The department taps into national and international theater movements, and frequently hosts guest artists, speakers, and performers from around the world. 

Students in Theater and Performance Studies will: 

• Become collaborative artist-scholars with a deep understanding of the power of performance in and on the world.
• Find their own voices and the means to express those voices through learning aesthetic and creative skills.
• Combine theory and practice through embodied expression.
• Engage with the local and global community through the practice and study of live performance.
• Transform their ideas into performed expressions inside and outside of the theater.

Requirements

Major

The major consists of 48 units. Students who major in the Department of Theater and Performance Studies pursue the following program of study:

THEA 100	On and Beyond the Stage: Introduction to Theater and Performance Studies	4 units
THEA 101	From Page to Stage: Introduction to Reading and Writing for Performance	4 units
THEA 110	Performance in Action	2 units
THEA 120	Introduction to Technical Theater	4 units
THEA 175	Introduction to Design	4 units
THEA 301	Topics in Theater and Performance History	4 units
THEA 490	Senior Seminar	4 units

Intermediate Performance/Playwriting

Take at least 4 units from:

THEA 210	Acting: Explorations in Performance Style and Method	4 units
THEA 380	Playwriting	4 units

Production Laboratory

Two semesters of:

THEA 121	Production Laboratory	1 unit
	And/or
THEA 122	Intensive Production Laboratory	2 units

Design or Technical Theater

Four units selected from:

THEA 244	Stage Management	2 units
THEA 245	Stage Makeup	2 units
THEA 246	Costume Construction	2 units
THEA 248	Sound Design for Theater, Dance, and Multimedia	2 units
THEA 250	Period Styles for Stage and Screen	4 units
THEA 275	Scenic Design Studio	4 units
THEA 320	Advanced Technical Theater	4 units
THEA 325	Lighting Design	4 units
THEA 330	Producing the Live Event	4 units
THEA 370	Costume Design	4 units

Electives

Twelve units from other Theater and Performance Studies or approved interdisciplinary courses.

The Department welcomes interdisciplinary programs and double majors, and will work carefully with students interested in such programs. Up to 8 units of select courses from Film, Music, Art, Art History, and Dramatic Literature may be applied to the Theater and Performance Studies Major in consultation with the department chair.

Honors in the Major

To receive College Honors in the department of Theater and Performance Studies, the student must be a major and achieve a 3.50 grade point average in departmental courses. In addition, the student must achieve a 3.25 grade point average overall and receive a grade of Pass with Distinction on the senior comprehensive project.

Minor

The minor consists of a minimum of 24 units.

THEA 100	On and Beyond the Stage: Introduction to Theater and Performance Studies	4 units
THEA 101	From Page to Stage: Introduction to Reading and Writing for Performance	4 units
THEA 110	Performance in Action	2 units
THEA 120	Introduction to Technical Theater	4 units
THEA 175	Introduction to Design	4 units
Or
THEA 210	Acting: Explorations in Performance Style and Method	4 units

Production Laboratory

Two semesters of Production Laboratory:

THEA 121

Production Laboratory

1 unit

Electives

Four units of additional Theater and Performance Studies coursework 200-level or above.

Second-Stage Writing

Students majoring in Theater and Performance Studies will fulfill Occidental College's second-stage writing requirement by completing a significant research and analytical paper in either THEA 301 or THEA 302  during their Sophomore or Junior year, earning a grade of B- or higher. Students not receiving this minimum grade will then either need to work with that faculty member to revise for a higher grade or  take an additional Theater and Performance Studies class with a significant writing project that is preapproved by the Department Chair, and they must earn a grade of B- or higher on the paper.

Comprehensive Requirement

The Department has established standards of excellence in theoretical analysis, performance, devising and production that our students meet by completing a comprehensive project in the senior year.

Information concerning all phases of the senior project can be obtained from the Department Chair.

The department accomplishes the college objectives for the Senior Comprehensive by having each candidate, having completed the THEA 121/THEA 122 requirement, (1) propose a creative or research project; (2) submit a paper of research and/or preparation during the comprehensive process, to be discussed with the faculty; and (3) execute the project. Projects may include but are not limited to acting, directing, design, playwriting, stage management, technical direction, theater management, devising, and scholarly research.

Required Courses for Comps Areas

In addition to fulfilling all required courses for the major, to get approved for a comps in a specific area, please see below requirements:

Directing Required Courses

1. THEA 410: Directing or TBD

2. Work as an assistant director or stage manager on faculty or guest directed performance (or comparable experience TBD with faculty)

3. A 4 unit performance class that includes a component of translating text from the page to the stage in addition to THEA 110

4. Recommended: Choreography

Acting Required Courses

1. THEA 210: Acting

2. A 4 unit advanced acting/performance course

3. A 1 unit dance class

4. Perform in a main stage or studio show (or TBD with faculty)

Playwriting Required Courses

1. THEA 380: Playwriting

2. Participation in the NWF

Independent Devised Projects

1. Topics in performance; generating independent theater (or equivalent TBD with faculty)

2. Two advanced classes in an area such such as acting, directing, playwriting, devising, dance

3. Must begin working on the project during the summer prior to senior year.

4. Before your senior year, help on a senior comps devised project

Tech Required Courses

1. Assist in area of interest

2. Advanced class in area of interest

Design Required Courses

1. Assist in design in area of interest at least once

2. Advanced class in that area of design

• a. For Costume Design (Costume Design and Costume Construction or Period Styles)

Research Paper Courses

1. A theory/history/literature class in addition to THEA 301 (if not in TPS, then to be discussed with faculty)

2. *Recommended, not required, apply for URC summer funding for summer research for your comps project

Transfer Credit Policies

In most circumstances the Theater and Performance Studies Department does not accept online courses for transfer credit, except if the course is approved by the department chair.

While there is not an AP examination in Theater, qualifying IB or A-level examination scores in Theater will earn four units of credit. These four units may be applied toward the major or minor in substitution of an elective course.

Students may apply up to two courses (eight units of credit), or up to four courses (16 units of credit) in transfer for participation in a conservatory program, toward the major. Those who entered as a transfer student or those who took a leave of absence from the College for at least a semester may apply up to four courses (16 units of credit) in transfer toward the major. Students may apply one course (four units) in transfer toward the minor.

Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details.