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Northern State University is pleased to announce a new theatre degree program: BA in Musical Theatre. This program will prepare students for positions in education or in the theatre industry and graduate study. NSU Theatre produces two Mainstage musicals each season, plus a touring musical review, so potential students have many performance opportunities. To find out more about our exciting new degree, contact Daniel Yurgaitis, NSU Director of Theatre at 605-626-2563 or by e-mail at yurgaitd@northern.edu. Scholarships are available.

Northern State University
Theatre

Announces

Awards and Achievements
for the 2008-2009 Season:

Outstanding Performances


Kelsey Leddy
Fiddler on the Roof and Forbidden Broadway

Shanon Patek
Fiddler on the Roof and Forbidden Broadway

Leah Arnold
Eurydice

Steve Balsarini
Eurydice

Dani Jensen
Eurydice

Angela Sahli
Forbidden Broadway

Phil Coghlan
Forbidden Broadway

Best Debut Performance

Ben Villa
Fiddler on the Roof

Tech of the Year

Mary Holm

Outstanding Choreography

Angela Nguyen

Outstanding Stage Management

Ryan Puffer

Masquer of the Year

Erin Dahmes

[Facilities] [Production Program] [Student Organization: Masquers] [Theatre Scholarships] [Degree Requirements] [Course Descriptions] [Faculty]


The Gentlemen of Japan
The Mikado - Spring 2007

Northern State University, through the Department of Theatre in the School of Fine Arts, offers a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in Musical Theatre and an 18 credit Theatre Minor. The Musical Theatre degree will prepare a student for positions in education or in the theatre industry or graduate studies in musical theatre, theatre or drama. The Theatre Minor will complement the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), and Bachelor of Science in Education (BSEd) degrees in English, History, Music, and Speech. A member of the Theatre faculty will be assigned to advise the student on the requirements for the Musical Theatre degree or the Theatre Minor.


Disney's Beauty and the Beast - Fall 2005

Northern Theatre productions are open to all students. Through our extra-curricular program, our students gain experience in acting, make-up, directing, design, stage management, and technical production. Up to two credits in Theatre 293: Theatre Activities may be earned for participating in a Northern production. The University presents three faculty directed MainStage shows, including the fall musical, each season. We have brought to our stage Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, Joe Callarco 's Shakespeare's R & J, Moisés Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theater Project's The Laramie Project and Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband.

Link to a list of Northern productions presented since the fall of 1979.

Facilities

We perform in three spaces in the Johnson Fine Arts Center---
  1. the 1004 seat MainStage,
  2. the 200 seat Theatre-On-The-Stage, and
  3. the 50 seat Theatre Studio.
The MainStage has a 60 foot wide proscenium opening, a 2400 square foot acting area and a 14 foot deep hydraulic orchestra lift. More intimate productions are staged in an arena or thrust stage configuration in the Theatre-On-The-Stage or the Theatre Studio.

Masquers


The Masquers at ACTF, 2008

The Masquers, established in 1923, is the student organization which supports and promotes dramatic activity both at Northern State and with in the Aberdeen community. They usually meet once a week during the regular school year. Check the Call Board near the Theatre Office (JC128) for more information. The members provide essential front of house services as well as working on backstage crews.


110 in the Shade - Fall 2003

Theatre Scholarships

Northern Theatre offers a number of scholarships to those students activily involved in both our academic and production program. These include...
  1. The Richard Norquist Scholarship,
  2. The Herschel and Bea Premack Scholarship,
  3. The Theatre Faculty Scholarship,
  4. The Masquers Scholarship, and
  5. The Patrons of Northern State Theatre.
For more information please contact Daniel Yurgaitis, Director of Theatre, at 605-626-2563.

Theatre Scholarship Application Form (a PDF file)
Mail the completed Application Form to
Daniel Yurgaitis, Director of Theatre
Northern State University
1200 S. Jay Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401

The Aberdeen Community Theatre also offers an NSU Theatre scholarship in honor of Don Hall, one of the organizations founding fathers. For more information on the ACT Scholarship contact Jim Walker at the Capitol Theatre, 605-225-2228

Degree Requirements


As You Like It - Spring 2006

Musical Theatre

Required Theatre Courses (32 credits):
  1. THEA 100: Introduction to Theatre (3 credits)
  2. THEA 131: Introduction to Acting (3 credits)
  3. THEA 241: Stagecraft (3 credits)
  4. THEA 282: Beginning Dance Technique: Jazz Dance (2 credits)
  5. THEA 381: Dance Technique: Tap Dance (2 credits)
  6. THEA 385: Dance Technique: Musical Theatre Styles (2 credits)
  7. THEA 289: Theatre Activities (3 credits)
  8. THEA 351: Directing (3 credits)
  9. THEA 353: Musical Theatre Workshop (4 credits)
  10. THEA 435: Musical Theatre History (3 credits)
  11. THEA 455: Advanced Acting (3 credits)
  12. THEA 498: Senior Project: Musical Theatre (1 credits)
Required Music Support Courses (16 credits):
  1. MUS 110: Basic Music Theory I (4 credits)
  2. MUS 111: Basic Music Theory II (4 credits)
  3. MUAP 102/302: Class Instruction: Voice (3 credits)
  4. MUEN 200/300/400: Applied Voice (3 credits)
  5. MUS 342: Diction/Literature (2 credits)
Major Electives (4 groups, 12 hours):
  1. Group A: Theatre Electives (3 credits)
    1. THEA 243: Makeup (1 credits)
    2. THEA 315: History of the Theatre (3 credits)
    3. THEA 451: Advanced Directing (3 credits)
    4. THEA 491: Independent Study (3-6 credits)
    5. THEA 492: Acting for the Camera ()
  2. Group B: Theatre Electives (3 credits)
    1. THEA 441: Scene Design (3 credits)
    2. THEA 445: Stage Lighting (3 credits)
    3. THEA 492: Stage Management (3 credits)
    4. THEA 494: Internship (3-6 credits)
  3. Group C: Dramatic Literature (3 credits)
    1. ENG 431: Shakespeare I (3 credits)
    2. ENG 432: Shakespeare II (3 credits)
  4. Group D: Voice Performance (3 credits)
    1. MUAP 102/302: Class Voice (1 credits)
    2. MUEN 200/300/400: Applied Voice (1 credits)
    3. MUS 343: The Study of Opera (3 credits)

Fiddler on the Roof -- Fall 2008

Theatre Minor

  1. THEA 100: Introduction to Theatre (3 credits)
  2. THEA 131: Introduction to Acting (3 credits)
  3. THEA 241: StageCraft (3 credits)
  4. THEA 289: Theatre Activities (2 credits)
  5. THEA 351: Directing (3 credits)
  6. Electives (4 credits)
Suggested electives: THEA 441: Scene Design, THEA 445: Lighting, THEA 455: Advanced Acting, THEA 492: Theatre Projects.

Course Descriptions


Shakespeare's R & J
Spring 2002

THEA 100: Introduction to the Theatre.
A historical survey of all elements of the theatre designed to create an appreciation and understanding. This course fulfills three semester hours of the fine arts requirement for general education. 3 credits. Offered every term.
This course is also available through the Internet.

THEA 131: Introduction to Acting.
Basic acting techniques. Presentation of solo and group acting projects. 3 credits. Offered once a year. Fall.

THEA 241: StageCraft.
A study of conventional techniques used in design, construction, painting and rigging of stage scenery, and an introduction to the art of theatrical lighting. 3 credits. Offered once a year. Fall.

THEA 243: Make-Up.
Principles of theatrical makeup techniquies, including character analysis and practical application. 3 credits (Pending BOR approval)

THEA 282: Jazz Dance I.
This course introduces students to the fundamental techniques of jass through a wide range of styles. 2 credits (Pending BOR approval)

THEA 289: Theatre Activities.
Limited to participants in major play production. Late registration permitted. Course may be taken more than once. 0-2 credits. Offered every term.

THEA 351: Directing.
Methods of and practice in production of stage plays. Emphasis is on both theory and practice of directing as each student stages a scene or complete one-act play. 3 credits. Offered alternate years. Spring.

THEA 353: Creative Dramatics. The theory and techniques of informal drama, improvisation, story telling, and dramatic play. 2 credits (Pending BOR approval)

THEA 355: Children's Theatre.
Children's theatre as an art form. Students become proficient in organization, design, and presentation of a children's theatre program. 3 credits.

THEA 358: Dance: Musical Theater Styles.
This couse provides students with the opportunity to apply dance technique to musical theater repertoire by working with a variety of styles within the spectrum of musical theater dance. 2 credits (Pending BOR approval)

THEA 381: Tap Dance I.
This course introduces student to the fundamental techniques of tap dance through a wide range of styes. 2 credits (Pending BOR approval)

THEA 391: Independent Study,
Students complete individualized plans of study which include significant one-on-one student teacher involvement. The faculty member and student negotiate the details of the study plans. Enrollments are usually 10 or fewer students. Meeting depending upon the requirements of the topic. Group and individual study in special areas of theatre. Specific subjects offered on demand. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. 1-3 credits

110 in the Shade
Fall 2003

THEA 435: History of American Musical Theater.
History and development of American musical theater from 1866 to the present. 3 credits (Pending BOR approval)

THEA 441: Scene Design.
Includes basic principles, history of design, working procedures, and techniques of drafting and design. Practical application through design projects. 3 credits. Offered alternate years. Spring.

THEA 445: Lighting.
A study of the basic principles of lighting design and design projects. Includes functions and properties of light, lighting instruments, control equipment, working procedures and drafting techniques. 3 credits. Offered alternate years. Spring.

THEA 451: Advanced Directing.
Advanced problems in stage directing, emphasizing text analysis, communication, and style as applied to one-act plays. 3 credits (Pending BOR approval)

THEA 455: Advanced Acting.
Study and practice of period styles of acting including emphasis in Classicial, Shakespeare, and Melodrama. 3 credits. Offered alternate years. Spring.

THEA 491: Independant Study.
Includes directed study, problems, readings, directed readings, special problems and special projects. Students complete individualized plans of study which include significant one-on-one student-teacher involvement. The faculty member and students negotiate the details of the study plans. Enrollments are usually 10 or fewer students. Meetings depending upon the requirements of the topic. 1 to 6 credits (Pending BOR approval)

THEA 492: Theatre Projects.
A course devoted to a particular issue in a specified field. Course content is not wholly included in the regular curriculum. Guest artists or experts may serve as instructors. Enrollments are usually of 10 or fewer students with significant one-on-on student teacher involvement. 1-5 credits.

THEA 494: Internship
Applied, monitored and supervised field-based learning experience for which the student may or may not be paid. Students gain practical experience; they follow a negotiated and or directed plan of study. A higher level of supervision is provided by the instructor in these courses than is the case with Field Experience courses. 1-16 credits.

THEA 498: Senior Project.
This course is the culminating production project, including appropriate research, preparation and production. 1 credit (Pending BOR approval)

Theatre Faculty

Daniel Yurgaitis, Director of Theatre
Associate Professor of Theatre (Acting, Directing, Make Up)
     MFA. United States International University
     BA. DePaul University

 Larry Wild, Technical Director, MainStage -- Johnson Fine Arts Center
Assistant Professor of Theatre (Scene and Light Design, Technical Production)
     MFA, MS, BS. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

NSU Department of Theatre
Northern State University, 1200 S. Jay Street, Aberdeen, SD 57401
phone: 605-626-2563 -- FAX: 605-626-2263
Last updated: May 27, 2009
Maintained by Larry Wild
Copyright © 1996-2009 by NSU Theatre, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD

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