Marywood's theatre program will prepare you for a career in contemporary theatre by providing professional instruction in acting, playwriting, and stage direction. Students participate in all aspects of production, broadening their knowledge and developing an understanding of the diverse skills necessary to produce modern theatrical shows.

Out small class sizes ensure that you receive personalized instruction. Courses are taught by faculty who are working professionals in the entertainment industry.

Productions

Each year, students produce a musical and non-musical production on the main stage in the 1100-seat Sette Laverghetta Center for Performing Arts. Students build the scenery, construct costumes, hang and focus lights, and perform in these productions.

Recent productions include Godspell, To Kill A Mockingbird, Songs for a New World, Our Town, Measure for Measure, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, A Little Night Music, Crimes of the Heart, Miss Julie, Proof, Once Upon a Mattress, The Fantasticks, and All in the Timing.

All seniors must present a capstone project. Often, these capstones are productions performed in our flexible seating Black Box Theatre.

More About This Degree

• Learn more about this program or visit the Music, Theatre, and Dance website.
• College of Arts and Sciences
• Courses: Available courses in this department

This is just a sample of our Music, Theatre, and Dance faculty - see them all!

Marywood's Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts features two theaters:

• Main Theatre: An 1100-seat auditorium outfitted with professional lighting and sound systems.
• Black Box Theatre: An intimate performance space with flexible staging for student-directed productions and experimental theatre.

Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

• Official SAT and/or ACT scores
• Completed application
• Essay
• Official transcripts
• Letter of recommendation

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B.A. in Music (Musical Theatre)

Combining competencies in both music and theatre, the Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Musical Theatre provides opportunities for students to develop competencies in both the artistic and technical production of musical theatre. Admission to this program requires an audition with music, theatre, and dance components.

Completion of this program prepares the student for professional work in musical theatre, as well as for further graduate study. 

Music courses — 31 credits

MUSC 111A, B	Written Theory I	4
MUSC 112A, B	Aural Skills I	2
MUSC 115A	Conducting I	1
MUSC 127A or B	Class Piano	2
MUSC 220A, B	Vocal Pedagogy	2
MUSC 319	Musical Theatre Repertoire	3
MUSC 322	History of Music I	3
MUSC 323	History of Music II	3
MUSC varies	Applied Major	7
MUSC varies	Concert Choir	2
MUSC varies	Elective	2

Theatre courses — 30 credits

THEA 113	Introduction to the Theatre	3
THEA 130 A	Theatre Lab	1
THEA 230 B	Practicum	1
THEA 241	Fundamentals of Acting	3
THEA 242	Advanced Acting	3
THEA 244A,B,C,D	Audition Workshop	2
THEA 247A	Stage Management	2
THEA 330B	Practicum	1
THEA 341	Theatre History	2
THEA 342A	Script Analysis	2
THEA 342B	Survey of Dramatic Literature	2
THEA 347	Fundamentals of Directing	3
THEA 404	Theatre as a Business	2
THEA 451	Capstone Project: Musical theatre Showcase	3

Dance courses — 15 credits

DANC 140	Fundamentals of Dance/Movement	3
DANC 141	Body Awareness	3
DANC 142	Fundamentals of Improvisation/Choreography	3
*DANC varies	Dance Technique	6

*Six credits of dance technique required. Courses are offered in ballet, jazz, modern dance, tap, musical theatre, and special topics.

Additional Requirements

A musical theatre major must appear in music, theatre, and dance performances each year at Marywood and must attend master classes and workshops offered in music, theatre, and dance.

The musical theatre major will be evaluated or juried each year in music, theatre, and dance to make recommendations for further study.

Requirements for all Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Majors

There are two concentrations in the theatre program: (1) Theatre prepares students as performing artists, directors, technicians, designers, and managers. (2) Theatre Education leads to Pennsylvania teacher certification in Communication Arts 7-12 (which includes English, theatre, and non-print media).

All students adhere to Marywood University’s liberal arts core curriculum requirements as outlined in the undergraduate catalog.

Curriculum Requirements

Basic requirements for all students in Theatre, Musical Theatre, Theatre Education, or Theatre Arts Administration (15 credits):

THEA113	Introduction to Theatre	3
THEA 247A	Stage Management	2
THEA 341	Theatre History	2
THEA 342A	Script Analysis	2
THEA 342B	Survey of Dramatic Literature	2
THEA 451	Capstone Project	3
THEA130A	Theatre Lab	1

B.A. in Theatre (65 credits)

The broad base of the theatre arts program allows for the exploration of a student’s strengths, which are then converted into marketable skills. Students focus on performance, technical production, or management under the guidance of faculty and staff. For all theatre students, production experiences place strong emphasis on the development of an ensemble work ethic. Course requirements include the basic requirements of 15 credits for the major, plus:

THEA 241	Fundamentals of Acting	3
THEA 247B	Scenic Design	2
THEA 247C	Lighting and Sound Design	2
THEA 247D	Costuming and Make-Up	2
THEA 343	Theatre Management	2
THEA 347	Fundamentals of Directing	3
THEA 404	Theatre as a Business	2
THEA 130B	Theatre Lab	1
THEA 230A,B	Theatre Lab	1,1
THEA 330A,B	Theatre Lab	1,1
THEA 430A,B	Theatre Lab	1,1

Select 6 credits from the following:

THEA 242	Advanced Acting	3
THEA 348	Advanced Directing	3
THEA 247	Advanced Production	3
DANC140	Fundamentals of Dance/Movement	3

Under faculty guidance, students select 21 credits of electives and are encouraged to pursue an 18-credit minor in a related area of interest.

B.A. in Theatre Education (75 credits)

Students are certified to teach Communication Arts at the secondary level. The certification area includes English, theatre, and non-print media. Theatre Education candidates complete 190 hours of assigned fieldwork in observation prior to student teaching. Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) requires a minimum QPA of 3.00 for formal acceptance into the teacher education program. Application is typically finalized during the sophomore screening process. Teacher certification requires students to complete their student teaching experience and pass Pennsylvania state teacher education tests.

Course requirements include basic requirements of 15 credits for the major plus:

COMM 112	Communication Theory	3
THEA 230A or B	Theatre Lab	1
THEA 330A or B	Theatre Lab	1
THEA 430A or B	Theatre Lab	1
THEA 241	Fundamentals of Acting	3
THEA 247B	Scenic Design	2
THEA 247C	Lighting and Sound Design	2
THEA 347	Fundamentals of Directing	3
+ENGL 412A	Teaching of Writing	3
OR
+ENGL 412B	Teaching of Literature	3

+ The course selected may be applied both as a requirement for the major and as an upper level Liberal Arts core requirement.

Select 6 credits from the following non print courses:

COMM 231	Audio Production	3
COMM 233	Video Production I	3
COMM 234	Video Production II	3
COMM 237	New Communication Technologies	3
COMM varies	Non-print media electives	3

Professional Education Component

EDUC 000	Field Experience	0
EDUC 005D	Practicum IV Secondary/K­-12	1
EDUC 100, 101	Introduction to Education	.5,.5
PSYC 251	Developmental Psychology	3
*EDUC 311	Educational Psychology	3
*EDUC 411A	Effective Instruction in Secondary and K-12 Education	3
*EDUC 414	Social Foundations of Education	3
SPED 100	Characteristics of Students with Disabilities	3
**SPED 300	Curriculum Adaptations	3
* SPED 367	Behavior Management	3
EDUC 442M	Student Teaching	9
*EDUC 461	Methods, Materials, & Assessment of ESL	3

*requires upper level screening
**taken with student teaching