Theater Courses | 2026-2027 Graduate Catalog | SIU

An introduction to the principles and methods of research and writing in theater with a focus on selected areas of specialization within the various degree programs. Required of all Masters Theater students. Restricted to Theater Majors. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

A survey of the historical avant garde throughout the 19th and 20th centuries through the study of documentary material, critical works, and plays. Individual reports, in class exercises, performance opportunities, and lectures provide focus on selected areas. Required reading encompasses a broad spectrum of subjects in order to demonstrate the political and aesthetic importance of a variety of the theatrical avant garde.

Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to the art of directing through examination of various genres. An exploration of the fundamentals of directing culminating in scene work and studio presentation. Advanced students will approach the directing process from play selection through dramaturgy to production and through the context of contemporary directing styles.

Credit Hours: 3

Emphasis on practical directing problems and concerns of individual students through research, rehearsal and performance. Includes survey of directing theories and practices with laboratory application of directing techniques. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

This is an interdisciplinary course meant for designers, directors, dramaturgs, and playwrights that prepares students for a prominent feature of the U.S. theatre landscape: the new play workshop. This ensconced entity, somewhere between a production and a casual reading, is an economic and artistic powerhouse, not just for playwrights, but for all theatre artists. This class imitates the methods and environments of the most prominent new play workshops in order to demystify a process that can be both artistically satisfying and lucrative for all theatre artists. Prerequisite: THEA 511A with a grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment allowed.

Credit Hours: 1-3

(Same as WGSS 504A) Performance is more prevalent in society than ever before. Performance, in this class means: theatre, mass media, social media, entertainment, digital humanities, and everyday life. This course considers questions such as: How can performance help gender equality? How does literary, media, and performance theory relate to struggles for social justice? What does it mean to live in a "dramatized society"? Students will gain an understanding of the economic, psychological, and political strategies behind performance and theory that seeks to intervene in unjust social structures. Restricted to graduate standing or special approval from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Beginning with Aristotle and the earliest foundations of Western performance, this course considers questions such as: How have artists resisted earlier performance theory? How have artists redefined performance in order to promote social justice? How have artists moved beyond performance onstage with actors in order to empower spectators? Students will gain an understanding of classical performance theory and subsequent resistant performance theories. Restricted to graduate standing or special approval from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Study of the theories and skills required to successfully stage manage a theater production. Concurrent enrollment in THEA 505B required.

Credit Hours: 2

Practical application of the theories and skills learned in the 505A course and applied on a department of theater production. Concurrent enrollment in THEA 505A required.

Credit Hours: 1

The theory and practice of the collaborative processes involved in play production; how designers, technicians, directors and playwrights interact with and communicate to each other to work as a creative team. Activities involve both hypothetical and fully realized productions when appropriate. May be taken for up to 4 hours.

Credit Hours: 2-4

Technical and artistic aspects of scene design. Theory and practice. Prerequisite: THEA 513 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Studio work in basic and advanced scene painting techniques and materials. Projects include wood, drapery, foliage, marble, transparencies, scrim painting, dye painting, faux finishes, metal reflections, and murals. Repeatable. Studio fee: $65.

Credit Hours: 2

Exploratory workshop experience in rendering techniques, creative problem solving, design aesthetics, and production philosophies. To be taken by graduate production design students in residence, each semester, with exceptions by consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 1

This course assumes basic writing knowledge. It advances techniques of structure and dialogue in playwriting. Written exercises are submitted and discussed to identify dramatic events. Students will self-produce several short plays in collaborative performances. Students will initiate development of a full-length play. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

This course continues to develop advanced techniques of structure and dialogue in playwriting. Students will examine canonical plays to understand the tools used by the playwrights. Students will write short plays and self-produce several short plays in collaborative performances Students will write a full-length play. Prerequisite: THEA 511A. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

This course introduces the theatrical costume design and technical student to the basics of pattern development and construction techniques used to develop a 3-dimensional theatrical costume, with focus on giving the student a working knowledge of costume production, flat patterning, and draping techniques. Studio fee: $25.

Credit Hours: 2

This course focuses on advanced skills in the areas of cutting and draping for the theater. A variety of techniques will be taught, including but not limited to, flat pattering, bias draping, tailoring, and historical construction techniques. Prerequisite: THEA 512A or special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 2

Development of the student's skill in scenographic techniques including ground plans, sections, elevations, and detail construction drawings. Up to 9 credits toward graduation.

Credit Hours: 3

Technical and artistic aspects of costume design. Development of the design process, understanding and use of color theory and fabric, and practice of costume drawing techniques.

Credit Hours: 3

This course focuses on advanced skills in costume technology and crafts. In this semester, a variety of fabric dyeing and fabric modification techniques are taught and practiced, culminating in a final project that incorporates several techniques in one. Craft fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 2

This course focuses on advanced skills in costume technology and crafts. In this semester, techniques for setting and styling wigs, and techniques for millinery (making hats) are taught and practiced, culminating in a final project that combines both wig styling and millinery. Craft fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 2

This course focuses on advanced skills in costume technology and crafts. In this semester, the theme of armor is explored as a variety of techniques for working with thermoplastics, foam and chainmail are taught and practiced, as well as a brief unit in jewelry making. The course culminates in a final project that incorporates several techniques in one. Craft fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 2

This course focuses on advanced skills in costume technology and crafts. In this semester, students will make a corset, and other period accessories. The course culminates in a final project that incorporates several techniques in one. Craft fee: $50.

Credit Hours: 2

An advanced studio-based study of the theories and practices of modern production and design with particular emphasis on the interaction of the subdisciplines of scenic, costume, light, sound design, and technical production as well as the collaborative nature of theatrical production. Special approval needed from the instructor. Repeatable.

Credit Hours: 2

Utilization of the actor's process in the performance of various theories and styles of acting. May be repeated once for credit.

Credit Hours: 3

Investigation of stage lighting design, theory and professional practice. Special attention to color theory and its application to stage lighting. Lecture/Laboratory. Prerequisite: THEA 513 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Advanced study of principles and procedures of scenic construction and stage rigging. Includes scene shop organization, materials, and specialized stage equipment; preparation for professional technical direction. Lecture and laboratory to be arranged. Prerequisite: THEA 513 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

A survey of the costumes, architecture, furniture, decorative styles and motifs of major periods and countries relating to western culture and theater. Egyptian to the Renaissance.

Credit Hours: 3

A survey of the costumes, architecture, furniture, decorative styles and motifs of major periods and countries relating to western culture and theater. Late Renaissance to 20th Century. Prerequisite: THEA 520A or special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

An in-depth study of the art and practice of structural design for the stage including forces, stresses, strains, load analysis, geometric properties of materials and simple beam design.

Credit Hours: 3

Continued study of the art and practice of structural design for the stage including beam design, column and tension member design and combined loading design for sawn lumber and steel materials. Prerequisite: THEA 521A with a minimum grade of C or special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Practical experience in summer stock play production. Performance or technical work in SIU Summer Theater only. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-6

By studying contemporary literary theory and applying these critical tenets to new American plays, students develop tools to use in reading, understanding and writing plays in unconventional, non-traditional styles. Course work includes extensive reading of both essays and plays, discussing these matters, preparing reports and writing a play. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

A study of the knowledge and practice of various welding processes and fabrication techniques for the stage as well as an understanding of the theater practitioner's responsibility to the quality and safety of their products. Studio fee: $40.

Credit Hours: 3

Beginning and advanced studio work in traditional and non-traditional crafts for theatrical events, including mask work, puppetry, stage furniture construction, upholstery, weaponry, armor, and special effects. Studio Fee: $60.

Credit Hours: 3

Independent research on selected problems. A maximum of three credit hours may be taken for a single project. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-3

In-depth studies of topics of special interest to advanced students concerning individual or groups of playwrights, directors, designers, and their techniques and theories. Topic is determined in advance. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 2

The development of American theater from colonial times to the present. Includes a study of the American musical theater from preminstrels through contemporary music-drama.

Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to the theory and practice of dramaturgy, including a survey of contemporary critical theories as they apply to the pre-production work of the dramaturg. The student will apply methodologies studies to plays from the classical repertory and to the works of new playwrights.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will freely examine the intersections between African and African American Theater. It will study the origins, form and agenda of Black Theater by tracing the commonalities of culture and Performance between African and African American Theaters. Students will be exposed to seminal essays, topical plays and performances while they hone their own critical and creative skills.

Credit Hours: 3

Credit may be granted for professional work experience prior to acceptance into the program. Special approval needed from the instructor. Graded S/U only.

Credit Hours: 1-21

Credit may be granted for internship at professional theaters, training programs, or studios. Special approval needed from the instructor. Graded S/U only.

Credit Hours: 1-12

Capstone course for Master's degree.

Credit Hours: 1-6

Minimum of 24 hours to be earned for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Credit Hours: 1-16

For those graduate students who have not finished their degree programs and who are in the process of working on their dissertation, thesis, or research paper. The student must have completed a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation research, or the minimum thesis, or research hours before being eligible to register for this course. Concurrent enrollment in any other course is not permitted. Graded S/U or DEF only.

Credit Hours: 1