The Department
The Department of Theatre at Texas Wesleyan University offers a Bachelor of Arts degree which is set within the framework of a liberal arts education. The program is designed for students seeking pre-professional training in preparation for graduate study and/or careers in the theatre and related professions. The Department strives to give the student a balanced education which is both intellectual and artistic and views theatre from the standpoint of a profession. The program is designed to:

- enhance, support and encourage a community of students, artists and scholars interacting and creating together in an environment which fosters the study and production of theatre, thereby creating and training professionals in the arts and providing education in the arts for students throughout the University

-provide the student with a clear understanding of the art of theatre

- demonstrate the cultural integration of a number of disciplines

- prepare the student to be a creative member of society.

The program is structured to provide students with a comprehensive approach to numerous aspects of theatre. Specific concentrations are set up within the areas of performance, directing, playwriting, and design/technical theatre. However, provisions are made to accommodate students who desire a more general education in theatre. A fundamental tenet of the educational philosophy of The Department is the correlation of classroom and production programs wherein the production program becomes the laboratory for the skills learned in the classroom.

Wesleyan's Department of Theatre maintains a strong commitment to close collaboration with the local professional theatre community. The Department occasionally performs in outside theatres and many semesters hires professional artists to teach, perform, design, choreograph, or direct. As part of the training, students are often given the opportunity to work as interns with one of several professional companies, usually located here in the Metroplex.

Texas Wesleyan University takes pride in its tremendous record of achievement in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and continues its long history of presenting quality musicals each year, usually in the spring.

The production and class schedule of the Department is one which requires a maximum effort on the part of all the faculty members and students. A typical year usually includes 3 to 4 Main Season productions. These include the participating KCACTF entry and the annual musical, which has been a traditional part of the season for almost 50 years. Also regularly included in a season are productions and/or readings of student-written plays, student-directed plays or scenes, and occasional Dark Night Theatre productions.

ADMISSION & APPLICATION FOR DEPARTMENTAL SCHOLARSHIPS & UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL AID
Admission to the Department as a Theatre major or minor requires an audition, interview and/or presentation of portfolio. Transcripts and letters of reference are also required for students requesting entrance as Theatre Majors. No student will be accepted into the Theatre Department until after he or she is admitted by the University.
(see Scholarships and Awards)

Financial aid in the form of Departmental Scholarships may be available on a limited basis. Our best students are often able to increase their departmental aid through their energetic and dedicated contributions to our programs. Additional funds may become available after the freshman year in the form of assistantships if the students meet the requirements.

Other University and Federal funds may be available such as grants, loans and Federal Work Study positions. Students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to applying for any financial aid. These forms are available in the Office of Financial Aid located on the third floor of the Administration Building.

ACADEMIC POLICIES
Faculty Advisors
All students will be assigned an advisor from the Theatre Faculty upon their acceptance into the Department. This faculty advisor will counsel the student regarding course selection, degree plans, evaluations, and other matters pertaining to school, course work and production work. Each student should discuss degree plans, career objectives, et cetera with his or her advisor. Until reaching sophomore status, 31 hours, each student must also attend guidance meetings in the Academic Resource Center (ARC), located on the first floor of the West Library.

Students are warned never to base program decisions on hearsay or rumors. Programs and curricula change with the Department’s ongoing critical self-evaluations; your advisor can keep you informed of such changes.

Evaluation of Students
Initial acceptance into the Theatre Department is provisional. Unconditional admission to the Department and continuance in the program will be determined by the following criteria:

- overall academic progress

- ability and willingness to work in collaboration with others

- dependability, punctuality, trustworthiness, and integrity

- conduct suitable to a theatre professional

- willingness to work in any assigned area of theatre production

- compatibility with the nature of the Texas Wesleyan Theatre Program.

Students who do not achieve unconditional major or minor status will be advised to pursue an alternate course of study. At the end of each semester, the student’s continued progress will be reevaluated. The Theatre Faculty will assess the strengths and weaknesses of each Theatre major, determine the Departmental financial aid for the following semester, reevaluate the student’s major concentration, and determine status as a major or minor.

Scholarships and Awards
Scholarships and Assistantships are awarded by the Department each year to students on the basis of auditions, portfolio presentations, interviews and recommendations. Recipients are expected to be active participants in the theatre production schedule, maintain the required Grade Point Average (GPA), and exhibit appropriate professionalism and attitude. Any student who does not fulfill the hourly requirements for Theatre Practicum (THA 0040) in a satisfactory manner will not have his or her scholarship or assistant ship reviewed by the Faculty. Renewal of a scholarship or assistantship is not automatic. Students are required to reapply for Departmental scholarships and assistantships each spring by April 15. The Application to Renew Departmental Financial Aid can be found at the end of the Handbook.

GPA Expectations
To be eligible to participate in productions (as an actor, director, playwright, designer, stage manager or crew head) each Theatre major/minor must maintain:

- a 2.5 GPA each semester enrolled as a Theatre major/minor

- a minimum grade of C in each Departmental core course

Departmental Probation & Zero Tolerance
Those students failing to meet the Department’s minimum expectations will be placed on Departmental Probation for one semester. The student will be informed in writing of his or her deficiency in either grades or involvement in hours & effort in the production program. If the deficiency is met, the student is removed from Departmental Probation without penalty. If the deficiency is not corrected, the Faculty may choose to place the student on Zero Tolerance Probation. The student then has one semester to improve GPA or participation to the satisfaction of the Department or he or she will be dismissed from the program. The student will be informed of this deficiency in writing.

Attendance
Theatre students are expected to attend all classes. Unexcused absences are not allowed. Should a student miss a class due to an illness, personal emergency, University-sponsored activity or religious holiday, she or he is responsible for all assignments and material covered in that class. It is expected that each Theatre major/minor will be at all meetings, fittings, work calls and rehearsals relevant to the production program.

DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES & INFORMATION
Production Hours & Practicum
THA 0040, also known as Practicum, is the weekly Departmental Production Meeting for all Students, Faculty, and Staff. Each Theatre major/minor must:

- enroll in THA 0040 each semester he or she is a declared major/minor

- enroll in THA 1105, 1106, 2105, 2106 (Theatre Production Laboratory) the first four semesters he or she is a declared major/minor (see course syllabi for specific information)

- attend strikes for all major productions unless excused by the Technical Director prior to the strike

- work at least 125 production hours each semester on assigned shows, or other approved

Departmental project (Minors: 62 hours) These hours include the weekly production work calls.

- participate in "Clean-Up Days" at the end of fall and spring semesters

- attend each of the Main Season or faculty-directed productions

- attend at least half of all Dark Night Theatre productions

- adhere to production staff requirements when cast in a production or assigned to a production staff position

- attend all assigned work calls, minimum 3 hours per week (Minors: 1 1/2 hours) or 45 (23) total lab hours. Stage managers may count their assignment as SM in lieu of attendance at another 3 hour production assignment during the rehearsal and production period. Occasionally designers, actors and other staff members of the production that is in rehearsal will be allowed to count their first 3 hours of rehearsal as their assigned work call for those designated weeks.

Students are encouraged to perform in one-act plays and/or scenes for Directing class, BFA projects, Senior projects, readings of student-written plans, and Dark Night productions. While the actual number of hours of participation will vary from one project to the next, the maximum number of hours applicable to the semester total for Directing Class scenes & plays will be 20.

Callboard, Departmental Mail Boxes, Web-Site
All Theatre Majors & Minors are responsible for checking the Callboard and Departmental mail boxes daily and for complying with all notices posted. The Callboard is located in the Northeast hallway of the Sone Fine Arts Building; the Student Mail Boxes are located in the hallway adjacent to the Student Green Room/Lounge. Students are also responsible for any information posted on the Theatre Department’s Web-Site. This site is currently under construction. That address will be posted on the Callboard when launched.

THEATRE PRODUCTION POLICIES
- It is the obligation of all Theatre Majors with a performance emphasis to audition for each Main Season or faculty directed production. Students must request an exemption in writing and submit the request to the Theatre Faculty at least one week prior to the audition. Only the Theatre Faculty may excuse Students from auditioning. Students, especially those whose degree programs emphasize performance, are strongly encouraged to audition for Dark Night Theatre and Directing Class projects.

- Departmental auditions are open to any Student enrolled in the University and in certain circumstances, to members of the Faculty, community, and to professionals. Students not majoring in Theatre who are assigned as members of a company will conform in every respect to all rules and regulations governing Theatre Majors.

- Audition notices will be posted at least one week prior to Main Season or faculty-directed productions.

- Normally scripts will be placed on strict reserve in he West Library under the Director’s name for student perusal.

- The Stage Manager for each Departmental production will give a list to the Chair of the Theatre Department of all students who auditioned.

- Callback notices and the final list of cast and company will be posted on the Callboard. Each student cast member will initial by list by his or her name to indicate awareness of membership in that company.

- It is assumed that any actor reading for any show is willing to accept any role offered and will abide by Departmental regulations governing productions.

- No productions are pre-cast. Selection of the cast is based on the particular acting demands made by any one play.

- Selection of the production crews is based upon the number of persons needed to fulfill the requirements for a given production, the ability, experience and seniority of the students selected.

STAGE MANAGEMENT POLICIES
Stage Managers:

-- Convene and conduct weekly production meetings and distribute detailed notes to appropriate members of the production team.

-- Post notices of all production meetings, rehearsals and other pertinent calls on the callboards near the Theatre offices and in the back hall of the theatre.

-- Maintain a sign-in sheet at all rehearsals and performances to record the production time of actors, student designers, and technicians. These sheets will be submitted to the appropriate faculty member for approval before being handed in to the Assistant Production Manager (or Department Chair).

--Are responsible for restoring the rehearsal space after rehearsals and for the careful storage of rehearsal properties, costumes and furniture.

--Questions concerning specific duties should be asked of the production's director.

REHEARSAL POLICIES
Actors:

--Should be ready to begin rehearsal at the posted time; arrive early, warmed up and ready to work.

--Must sign in and out for each rehearsal. Your rehearsal hours will be approved by the production's director.

--Are expected to lend a hand in the set-up and break-down of properties and scenery for rehearsals.

--Must respect the rules governing smoking and the consumption of food and drink in the theatre space.

--Must attend all costume fittings, makeup/hair consultations and photo calls as requested.

-- are responsible for their props and costumes; take care of them and replace everything properly.

-- Will attend "fight calls" for all combat business or when an effect requires physical activity that could result in injury.

-- Are expected to meet all deadlines for learning lines, music, blocking and choreography.

(Stage Managers: see above)

GENERAL POLICIES
Attendance
One never misses a rehearsal, performance, production meeting, costume fitting, dress parade, strike, or crew assignment.

Company
The Company is comprised of Cast, Production Staff, and the Running Crew.

Strike
Unless otherwise assigned, all Majors and Minors will attend and participate in every strike.

Complimentary Ticket Policy
Each Company member receives two tickets per production. Each Theatre major/minor who is not part of the Company will be admitted free to each Main Season production with advance reservations. Exceptions to this policy are made when required by limitations of the performance space. In such cases every effort is made to open Technical and Dress Rehearsals to Majors and Minors.

Participation in Non-Departmental Productions
It is the policy of this Department to encourage its Students to become involved in off-campus productions, particularly in professional theatres. Theatre Majors who wish to participate in any off-campus or non-Departmental productions during the Fall or Spring semesters must first secure permission from the Theatre Faculty before auditioning or accepting other assignments. The Petition to Work Off-Campus can be found at the back of this Handbook. Production hour credit is not guaranteed for off-campus participation.

Policy on Drugs and Alcohol
Drug and/or alcohol abuse will not be tolerated by the Department of Theatre. Any student who attends a class or any other Departmental activity while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substance shall be dismissed from that activity. Reinstatement will depend on subsequent discussions between the individual, the Faculty and the Faculty or Staff supervisor of the activity.

Insurance
Personal health coverage is essential during your residence at Texas Wesleyan University. Each semester you will be required to turn in the name and policy number of your health care provider.

Sexual Harassment
The Department observes the University's guidelines concerning sexual harassment. Be warned, however, that theatre imitates human life and because sexuality is part of life, some performances and course material may deal with sexual behaviors, situations and language.

Smoking
There is no smoking in any building on the Texas Wesleyan University campus. This includes the Scene Shop, The Thad Smotherman Theatre, Avenue B and all other Theatre facilities. Violation of this section of the Fire Code is a misdemeanor; violators can be prosecuted by the City of Fort Worth. Smokers should be courteous and only smoke in designated areas.

FAQs

What is Dark Night Theatre?
Dark Night Theatre was begun as an extension of the Playwriting and Directing classes or for the performance of independent projects. These are traditionally held on Monday evenings when theatres are traditionally dark. A written project proposal must be submitted to faculty for approval. There is no Departmental funding for these projects.

Who can do Independent Projects like the BFA and Senior Project?
The Department encourages student creativity and will consider alternative production ideas when submitted in writing to the Department Chair at least one semester prior to the requested performance date. These alternative ideas can be one-person shows, performance art, comedy improv, et cetera. Each project must be as self-contained as possible and must not drain the energies of the Department. The BFA/Senior Project is designed as an opportunity for disciplined, senior students to demonstrate their skill as theatre artists. Students may enroll in THA 4300 BFA Project if working within the BFA degree, or, with the approval of the Theatre Faculty in THA 4301 Senior Project. Proposals are due on or before October 15 for projects to be completed in the Spring Semester and on April 1 for projects to be completed in the Fall Semester. The BFA/Senior Project Proposal Form can be found at the end of this Handbook. Proposals will be reviewed by the entire Theatre Faculty. Each approved project will be assigned to a Faulty Mentor who has the discretion to expand on modify the guidelines of the student’s BFA/Senior Project Proposal.

What is Alpha Psi?
Alpha Psi Omega is a national Theatre Honorary Society founded in 1925. The Cast of Alpha Psi Omega was formed for the purpose of providing an honor society for those achieving a high standard of work in drama. It is designated the Theta Omicron Cast. Membership is available by invitation.

Does the Department offer Voice Lessons?
Private voice lessons are available through the Music Department and are recommended for all theatre performance Majors. These lessons are assigned according to teacher availability as well as student need, seniority, and vocal/musical capabilities. See the voice teachers for information.

What is Avenue B?
The Department's main scenic/property storage space is located on the east side of campus in a warehouse located on Avenue B.

Who can drive the Department truck?
Only Departmental Faculty, Staff, and student Assistants are covered by the University insurance. No one may drive the truck without University insurance coverage and permission of the Technical Director or Department Chair. The truck may only be used for Departmental business.

What is the Firestation?
Located at the corner of Rosedale and Vaughn, the Firestation Theatre is now a storage space for costumes and other Theatre properties. Formerly a working fire station, it was turned into a theatre space and was used by the Department for several years as the primary venue for student-directed work and occasional classroom.

What is an Assistant and how can I become one?
Theatre Department Assistants are paid employees of the University & Department and are selected by the Faculty on the basis of ability, GPA, and proven service to the Department. Assistants work the required number of THA 0040 Production Hours in addition to their paid positions. While the number of assistantships is limited by budget, applications for open positions are accepted each semester.

Can students borrow Departmental property?
Costumes, furniture, and properties are available on a limited basis for student use for directing scenes, one-act plays and other Departmental activities. Each student serving as a member of a production staff should always coordinate with the appropriate Faculty mentor on that project.

Students will be personally responsible for tools, props, costumes, scripts, and any equipment assigned for use in any production. Any Student who checks out Departmental property will be responsible for its monetary value.

PETITION TO WORK OFF-CAMPUS

BFA/SENIOR PROJECT PROPOSAL

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANTSHIP

REQUEST FOR THEATRE SCHOLARSHIP RENEWAL

REQUEST FOR EXCUSED ABSENCE FROM PRACTICUM

DEPARTMENT of THEATRE HANDBOOK 2006-2007 Index

FAQs

DEPARTMENT of THEATRE
HANDBOOK
2006-2007

Index