Location: 101 Theatre Arts Building, Phone: (409) 880-8037
Chair: Judith Sebesta
Chair E-mail: judy.sebesta@lamar.edu
This department provides a well-balanced curriculum for both theatre and dance students that prepares students to enter either professional careers or teaching professions. Lamar University stages serve as laboratories for training, and students can participate in all phases of our production program, including a wide range of theatrical works and dance concerts. The Theatre area is an accredited member of the Texas Educational Theatre Association. The Dance area maintains two performing companies: the Lamar Dance Company and Repertory Dance Theatre. Two student organizations – Alpha Psi Omega and the Lamar Dance Association – provide further opportunities and experiences. All majors/minors are required to attend monthly meetings as well as all departmental productions, and to participate in post-show strikes for productions/concerts in their area. The department participates actively in both the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and the American College Dance Festival.
Theatre:
Dance:
We also offer a minor in both theatre and dance.
This program provides a well-balanced curriculum that prepares students to enter either the professional theatre or the teaching profession on the secondary level. Students participate in all phases of scheduled theatre productions and are provided a background in both performance and technical theatre aspects.
New students and transfers should refer to the front of the catalog for admission requirements and must see the Chair of the Department immediately for purchase of a Theatre Manual of Procedures for other requirements of this field. New students and transfers must enroll in THEA 1101 and continue through that list of workshop courses each semester they are enrolled at Lamar. Minors should enroll in four semesters of THEA workshops. A theatre course with a grade of “D” or lower will not apply toward graduation.
Total Min. Hours: 134
Total Min. Hours: 134
Lower Level:
Upper Level
The dance division offers three programs of study. A student choosing a public school teaching career should follow the Bachelor of Science teacher certification program which leads to certification to teach dance plus an approved additional teaching field at the secondary level. A student selecting the non-certification Bachelor of Science degree is working and learning toward teaching in the private dance sector or becoming a dance entrepreneur. Students who elect to pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree are working and learning toward a professional performing or choreographing career in dance, teaching in the private dance sector, or continuing their dance studies through graduate school.
A minimum grade of “C” must be earned in each of the dance theory courses; a minimum grade of “B” must be earned in each of the dance studio courses. Those scholars pursuing the teacher certification program must enroll in a minimum of one dance technique class (ballet, modern, jazz or tap) each semester. Those pursuing the non-certified programs must enroll in a minimum of two dance technique classes (ballet, modern, jazz or tap) each semester.
The Master of Science degree in Theatre is a highly individualized program. Candidates for the degree must meet all general degree requirements in the College of Graduate Studies as listed elsewhere in this catalog. The student must complete a course load of 36 semester hours including 18 hours in a specialized area, 12 hours in practical individual studies, and 6 hours in a related elective (music, dance, art or philosophy). Six hours of thesis or a two semester major project may be substituted for the 6 semester hours of fine arts or philosophy electives.
The student will choose from the following areas of specialization: technical production (set, costume or lighting design), acting/directing, or theatre management. Matching the student’s needs with a practical and viable degree plan is an excellent format for the student seeking a practical or education oriented degree in theatre.
Note: We are not currently admitting students to this degree program.