ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE IN THEATER

The Associate in Arts Degree with an area of concentration in Theatre is available to those students who wish to specialize in Theatre for academic, professional or avocational purposes. This degree program is designed to provide a sound basis for understanding the theory and practice of the theatrical arts and opportunities for experience through a curriculum of pre-professional training in theory, performance, and production. The purpose of the Associate of Arts Degree in Theatre is to provide graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in and/or appreciate theatrical productions that reflect a wide diversity of artistic and cultural influences.

Students who desire to major in theater and intend to complete courses in a four-year college or professional Theatre training program can complete their first two years of work at Henry Ford Community College. (Theatre majors should check the curriculum guide sheets of transfer institutions to be certain of the transferability of courses to those institutions).

It is expected that all students electing to major in theater will complete a minimum of at least 21 credits in Theatre. It is suggested that students intending to major in Theatre begin Theatre work in their freshman year in order to complete the recommended core requirements during the freshman and sophomore years.


Required Core Courses
(All classes are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise noted)
• STH 131 Theatre Appreciation
• STH 132 Acting I
• STH 150 Stagecraft
• STH 142 Theatrical Production
• STH 238 Theatre History***
• STH 256 Directing**
• Plus Three Hours Credit from ONE of the following:
• (All classes are 3 credit hours)
• STH 133 Technical Theatre
• STH 134 Technical Theater Specialities: Rotating Skills
• STH 135 Stage Makeup*
• STH 138 Costuming*
* • STH 140 One Act Play Production****
• STH 144 Improvisation****
• STH 145 Stage Combat****
• STH 149 Children's Theatre Production*
• STH 232 Acting II**
• STH 233 Advanced Technical Theatre
• STH 242 Advanced Theatrical Production
• STH 255 Lighting*
• STH 257 Pantomime and Physical Techniques for the Actor****
• STH 259 Experimental Theatre Production**
** • STH 260 Acting III****
• STH 261 Acting IV****
• STH 262 Introduction To Motion Capture*****
• STH 263 Intermediate Motion Capture*****
• STH 264 Advanced Motion Capture Application*****
• STH 265 Motion Capture Performance and Production*****
• STH 266 Film Acting I*****
*****Offered under the auspices of The Virtual Theatricality Lab

All Classes are offered every semester, except as noted:
*Offered once a year: Fall Semester
**Offered once a year: Winter Semester
***Offered every two years: Winter Semester
****Offered at the discretion of the department, depending on enrollment potential.

Acting I, Theater Appreciation, Technical Theatre, Advanced Technical Theatre, Stagecraft, Theatrical Production, and Advanced Theatrical Production MAY also be offered Spring and/or Summer semesters depending on staffing.

THE FOLLOWING COURSES ARE OFFERED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE THEATER ARTS PROGRAM, DR. GEORGE POPOVICH, DIRECTOR

STH 131 THEATRE APPRECIATION

A survey course consisting of lecture and discussion classes in the components, methods, and history of theatrical productions. Subject areas may include, but are not limited to acting, directing, technical theater, and history.

STH 134 TECHNICAL THEATER: ROTATING SKILLS COURSE THEATRE A laboratory class providing intensive experience in one of the following specialized areas: scenic and/or properties design; construction and/or painting; theatre sound: design, engineering and operation; special effects: design, safety, engineering, and operation; production management; stage management; house management; lighting: design, hanging, and operations; or promotion and publicity. Students work on understanding theory through practical application on multiple projects.

STH 140 ONE ACT PLAY PRODUCTION Offers students the opportunity to participate in the production of a one-act play or series of substantial scenes from one-act or full-length plays. Selections may be from traditional one-act plays, plays by minority writers, international writers, and new writers, including local playwrights. Students are provided opportunities in the areas of acting, assistant directing, stage management, house management, and, when appropriate, technical theater.

STH 142 THEATRICAL PRODUCTION Offers lecture and practice in the public performance of a full-length comedy, drama, or musical. Students are provided opportunities in the areas of acting, assistant directing, stage management, house management, and other appropriate production functions.

STH 144 IMPROVISATION FOR THE ACTOR An introduction to the principles and practice of improvisational techniques as applied to performance.

STH 145 STAGE COMBAT Theory and practice in the skills necessary for basic theatrical fencing, broad sword fighting, falling, and hand to hand combat.

STH 149 CHILDREN'S THEATRE PRODUCTION Offers lecture and practice in the presentation of public performances of children's plays. Students participate in the annual HFCC Children's Theatre presentation. Students are provided opportunities in the areas of acting, assistant directing, stage management, publicity, and house management.

STH 150 STAGECRAFT A lecture and discussion course designed to introduce students to the practical and conceptual considerations and applications of modern stage scenography.

STH 155 DIRECTED STUDIES IN THEATRE (1 CREDIT HOUR) Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. A course designed for students wishing to explore a specialized topic in Theater.

STH 232 ACTING II A course that selectively explores various acting styles that may include Greek, Medieval, Renaissance, French Classical, American Melodrama, Farce, Musical Theatre, Children's Theatre, Artaudian Theatre, and other appropriate styles.

STH 233 ADVANCED TECHNICAL THEATRE For students who have previously completed STH 133 and wish additional credit in practical technical theater. Participation in the technical aspects of the semester's productions. Students are assigned to key technical positions in the areas of lighting, shifting, rigging, properties, sound, building, makeup, costumes, and special effects.

STH 238 THEATRE HISTORY A selective historical survey of acting, directing, theater architecture, and artistic movements.

STH 242 ADVANCED THEATRICAL PRODUCTION For students who have previously completed STH 142. Further exploration of the areas of acting, stage managing, publicity, and other topics deemed appropriate by the instructor/director.

STH 255 LIGHTING An examination of the processes, materials, techniques, and principles of lighting for the stage.

STH 256 DIRECTING An introduction to directing for the stage, including composition, picturization, movement, rhythm, auditions, casting, rehearsals, and performance psychology.

STH 257 PANTOMIME AND PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE ACTOR An introduction to the basic principles of physicalization for the stage.

STH 259 EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE PRODUCTION Offers lecture and practice in the specific skills necessary for the production of an experimental play. Students are exposed to plays and performance works that embrace the non-traditional performance experience, including multi-media, surrealism, expressionism, performance art, and absurdism. Students are provided opportunities in performance, assistant directing, stage management, publicity, house management, and, when appropriate, technical theater duties.

STH 260 ACTING III Prerequisite: STH 132 Emphasis is placed on developing five monologues for audition purposes in university, regional, and mainstream professional theater. Emphasis is placed on historical and theoretical research relevant to the monologue(s).

STH 261 ACTING IV Prerequisite: STH 132 An in-depth study of audition techniques and processes.

THE FOLLOWING COURSES ARE OFFERED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE VIRTUAL THEATRICALITY LAB, DR. GEORGE POPOVICH , DIRECTOR

http://hfccvirtualtheater.org

STH 262 INTRODUCTION TO MOTION CAPTURE Prerequisite: Art 209 A lab-based computer class dealing with the principles of Motion Capture Performance and Motion Capture Production for use in Virtual Theatricality, Motion Pictures, Gaming, Television, Web Media and Motion Studies. This course provides an introduction to the motion capture pipeline from setting up the lab and capturing data to applying the data to animated characters in MotionBuilder. This introductory class will be limited to body capture only. First class in HFCC’s Motion Capture Systems Technician Certificate.

STH 263 INTERMEDIATE MOTION CAPTURE Prerequisite: STH 262 A lab-based computer class dealing with the principles of Motion Capture Performance and Motion Capture Production for use in Virtual Theatricality, Motion Pictures, Gaming, Television, Web Media and Motion Capture Studies. This course provides an intermediate bridge to the final class in the Motion Capture Systems Technician Certificate sequence. This course will focus on cleaning and editing data, hand capture, and facial capture

STH 264 ADVANCED MOTION CAPTURE APPLICATION Prerequsite: STH 263 A lab-based computer class dealing with the principles of Motion Capture Performance and Motion Capture Production. for use in Virtual Theatricality, Motion Pictures, Gaming, and Motion Studies. This course is the final sequence in the Henry Ford Community College Motion Capture Course Sequence. Focuses on advanced application of Mo-Cap for voice and body.

STH 265 INTRODUCTION TO MOTION CAPTURE PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTION A lab-based computer class dealing with the principles of Motion Capture Performance and Motion Capture Production for use in Virtual Theatricality, Motion Pictures, Gaming, Television, Web Media and Motion Studies. This course provides an introduction to the motion capture pipeline from setting up the lab and capturing data to applying the data to animated characters in MotionBuilder. This course will consist of two tracks, depending on student interest. The two tracks are Performance (for Actors) and Production (for Artists and Technicians). The fundamental principles of motion capture technology will be learned while working through a structured series of assignments that will culminate in a 20 second animated sequence based around a particular performance, gesture or motion. The exercises will be supplemented with lectures, demonstrations and readings in other texts. Grades will be based upon class participation and successful completion of all the required elements at each point throughout the semester. There is required lab time outside of class and you should expect to spend a minimum of 3 hours per week working through the assignments. Designed for persons who want an introduction to Motion Capture without the full commitment of a certificate program.

STH 266: FX: GREENSCREEN PRODUCTION FOR STAGE AND SCREEN A lab-based class dealing with the principles of compositing and greenscreen application for use in Virtual Theatricality, Motion Pictures, Gaming, Television and Web Media.

STH 267: STEREOSCOPIC 3D FOR STAGE AND FILM. An overview of present stereoscopic 3D processes for use in Virtual Theatricality, Motion Pictures, Gaming, Television and Web Media.

STH 268: FILM ACTING I A course designed to introduce actors to film acting techniques. This course will focus on relating and communicating as developed in the theories of Sanford Meisner.

THE VIRTUAL THEATRICALITY LAB
Virtual Theatricality integrates traditional stagecraft with virtual characters, scenery and props for live theater production. Henry Ford Community College’s Virtual Theatricality Lab is a dynamic, risk-taking institute that combines artistic and technological disciplines in a pace-setting program that is redefining the nature of live theatrical performance. The Virtual Theatricality Lab has established itself as a cutting-edge leader with the development of a revitalizing curriculum that unites the disciplines of computer science, art, music, theater, dance, film, and video. The VTL is dedicated to forging the live performance technologies of the 21st century and beyond.

In 1994 virtual reality and 3D stereo were utilized as multimedia teaching aids in HFCC Theater Arts classes. After experimenting with processes and techniques for approximately four years, the Virtual Theatricality Lab began production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The production attracted many students from diverse areas of the campus, including computer science and programming, music, dance, and art. The Tempest (2003) used 3D stereoscopic projection and real-time VR navigated scenery to give new life and meaning to Shakespeare’s classic and make it accessible to a new generation of theater-goers. The Tempest was a regional winner in The Kennedy Center’s American College Theater Festival. The Tempest was featured in many Michigan newspapers and on the Associated Press, including a 4 page feature article in the Detroit Free Press’ Sunday Entertainment Section.

The Skriker (2006) was the first full length theatrical production of a stage play to successfully combine real-time motion capture and 3D stereoscopic projection. The Skriker was featured in many Michigan newspapers and on the Associated Press, including articles in state and national entertainment magazines, such as Michigan Vue and Dramabiz. The Skriker was also the recipient of numerous awards and honors, among them: Winner, Best Innovation Team, Liberal Arts Network for Development, February, 2007; Critics Picks, Detroit Free Press, December 2006; Motion Capture Workshop, presented by invitation, The Kennedy Center's American College Theater Festival, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, January, 2007; Dr. George Popovich listed in 2007 and 2008 editions of Who's Who In America for his work in digital theater development; Winner, League For Innovation In The Community College Award, 2007. Bellwether Award finalist, 2007. The Virtual Theatricality Lab was visited by Dr. Guangyao Bai, Vice President of The National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts in October 2007. The purpose of Dr. Bai’s visit was to determine how the technology of the VTL could be used in traditional Chinese opera.

In July, 2008, HFCC administration showed its continued support of The VTL by providing funds for The VTL to acquire a Vicon optical Motion Capture system featuring the latest high resolution cameras used by Hollywood. In January, 2009, a Motion Capture Certificate was developed and the first courses were offered to students, spring semester, 2009. In June of 2009, HFCC announced plans to move the VTL to a state-of-the-art studio space for fall, 2009 courses.

As the artistic principles and performance methodologies of the VTL were developed, it became obvious that not only were the VTL’s endeavors setting new standards in theatrical performance but were actually teaching 21st century job skills as well. Because of this, a “Digital Theater” component was developed and added to the Henry Ford Community College Theater Program to combine the artistic and vocational aspects of this brand new art form of the 21st century.

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Published on: 2004-03-20 (3506 reads)