UNCA Catalog: Courses of Instruction
UNCA Catalog: Table of Contents

Drama (DRAM)

Associate Professors Bowen (Chair), Snoyer; Assistant Professors Facciponti, Walters

Students majoring in Drama may elect one of four concentrations: Drama, Acting and Directing, Design and Production, and Theatre Arts with Teacher Licensure. All the concentrations are built on a strong foundation of courses in technical production and acting at the introductory level, theatre history at the intermediate level, and dramatic literature at the advanced level. Each concentration provides students with the opportunity to focus their artistic and educational interests and to prepare themselves for specific careers.

The Theatre of the University of North Carolina at Asheville is the production laboratory for the major in Drama. Here, under public scrutiny, students test the theories and practices they study in the classroom and, along with Drama faculty, engage their creative powers and hone their skills as artists.

Concentration in Drama

A flexible program for the student whose interests in drama and other academic areas are wide ranging.

1. Required courses in the major--37 hours, including: DRAM 103, 111, 112, 121, 122, 144, 244, 245, 348, 355; 9 hours at the 300-400 level.
2. Required courses outside the major--None.
3. Other departmental requirements--Demonstration of competency in production and performance through laboratory experiences with the Theatre of the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Procedures and requirements for demonstration of competency should be obtained from the department chair. Each degree candidate is required to demonstrate oral competency by successful completion of DRAM 112.

Concentration in Acting and Directing

1. Required courses in the major--41 hours, including: DRAM 103, 104, 111, 112, 121, 122, 144, 214, 244, 245, 315, 348, 355, 461, 462.
2. Required courses outside the major--DAN 137 (as part of General Education Arts requirement).
3. Other departmental requirements--Demonstration of competency in production and performance through laboratory experiences with the Theatre of the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Procedures and requirements for demonstration of competency should be obtained from the department chair. Each degree candidate is required to demonstrate oral competency by successful completion of DRAM 112.

Concentration in Design and Production

1. Required courses in the major--42 hours, including: DRAM 111, 112, 121, 122, 144, 244, 245, 325 and 326 or 336 and 437, 331, 334, 348, 355, 432.
2. Required courses outside the major--PHYS 105 (as part of General Education natural science requirement).
3. Other departmental requirements--Demonstration of competency and performance through laboratory experiences with the Theatre of the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Procedures and requirements for demonstration of competency should be obtained from the department chair. Each degree candidate is required to demonstrate oral competency by successful completion of DRAM 112.

Theatre Arts with Teacher Licensure

Students majoring in Drama who wish to teach may seek teacher licensure in Theatre Arts (K-12).

1. Required courses in the major--39 hours, including: DRAM 103, 111, 112, 121, 122, 124, 210, 214, 244, 245, 317, 355, 461, 462.
2. Required courses outside the major--35 hours, including: EDUC 310, 311, 313 or 317/318, 314, 380, 396, 455 and 496; PSYC 101, 318; DAN 137 (as part of General Education Arts requirement).
3. Other departmental requirements--Competency demonstration in the area of production and performance through active participation in productions of the Theatre of the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Procedures for fulfilling the competency demonstration should be obtained from the department chair. Each degree candidate is required to demonstrate oral competency by successful completion of DRAM 112.

Declaration of Major in Drama

Students who wish to declare a major in Drama must have completed the following requirements:

Program in Drama: DRAM 103; and 111 or 121 or 122 with an average grade of C (2.0) or better; LANG 102.

Program in Acting and Directing: DRAM 103, 104, 111, 112 with an average grade of C (2.0) or better; LANG 102.

Program in Design and Production: DRAM 121 or 122 with a grade of C (2.0) or better; LANG 102.

Teacher Licensure in Drama: DRAM 103; and 111 or DRAM 121 or 122 with an average grade of C (2.0) or better; LANG 102.

In addition to the above course requirements, students must satisfactorily complete production responsibilities for two Theatre UNCA productions. Students interested in the major in Drama should meet with the department chair as early as possible to learn about course prerequisites and sequences, pre-declaration production requirements, and production and competency demonstration requirements for declared majors. After they have completed course and pre-declaration production requirements, students wishing to declare a major in Drama should meet with the Drama Department chair to complete a formal Declaration of Major form.

Minor in Drama

22 hours in Drama: DRAM 103, 111, 121, 112 or 122, 244, 245, 355; and one additional course at the 300-400 level.

102 Public Speaking (3)

A study of the purpose, organization, development and delivery of the various forms of public address. (Students who have taken Speech 102 may not take this course for credit.) Fall and Spring.

103 Voice Production Lab (1)

Fundamentals of voice production and delivery, with emphasis on the improvement of vocal skills; study of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Fall.

104 Stage Speech Laboratory (1)

Continuation of DRAM 103, with focus on skills of voice and speech needed by actors; utilization of International Phonetic Alphabet in the study of accents and dialects. Prerequisite: DRAM 103. Spring.

105 Theatre Workshop (1)

Intensive laboratory experience for non-drama majors in one area of theatre production; subject arranged individually. May be repeated for a total of eight hours of credit. Does not count toward the Drama major. Permission of instructor required. Fall and Spring.

111 Introduction to Acting I (3)

Fundamentals of acting technique and theory; emphasis on concentration, imagination, sensory awareness, observation and action through exercises and improvisation. DRAM 103 must be taken simultaneously. Fall.

112 Introduction to Acting II (3)

Continuation of DRAM 111; introduction to character analysis and development in realistic drama; introduction to scene study. Prerequisites: DRAM 103, 111. DRAM 104 must be taken simultaneously. Spring.

121 Elements of Production I (3)

Introductory survey of theatre production; emphasis on scenery, properties production and costumes. Can be used to fulfill General Education Arts lab requirement. Fall.

122 Elements of Production II (3)

A continuation of DRAM 121; emphasis on scenic design, lighting and audio systems. Prerequisite: DRAM 121. Spring.

123 Design Interaction (3)

An exploration of interactive art based on aural, visual and written texts with emphasis on collaboration and integration of different elements in the creation of a single production. See department chair.

124 Stage Make-up Laboratory (2)

Fundamentals of theatrical make-up for straight and character roles; some consideration of beards, hair, prosthetics and special effects. Every third semester.

144 Playscript Analysis for Performance (3)

Introduction to the techniques of script analysis for the theatre practitioner. Instruction will focus on plays drawn from a variety of eras. See department chair.

210 Oral Interpretation of Literature (3)

Principles and techniques of oral presentation using a variety of literary genres; emphasis on analysis of the literary work and expressive use of the voice. Fulfills General Education Arts lab requirement. Every other year Spring.

214 Intermediate Acting (3)

Character development through intensive scene study from realistic drama; interpretation of text and analysis of subtext. Prerequisites: DRAM 103, 111, 112. Fall.

216 Musical Theatre Workshop (MUSC 216) (3)

Song interpretation and style of selected American Musical Theatre repertoire. Course culminates in group performance of scenes from various major works. Prerequisite: MUSC 105; or permission of instructor. See department chair.

230 Scene Painting (3)

Lecture, demonstration and studio exercises surveying theatrical paint media and techniques; emphasis on traditional illusionistic painting. Prerequisite: DRAM 121; or permission of instructor. See department chair.

244 History of the Theatre I (3)

Development of theatre and drama from their origins through 1642: theatre and society, plays and playwrights, theatre architecture and methods of production, styles of acting, status of actors, and rise of acting profession. Every third semester.

245 History of the Theatre II (3)

Continuation of DRAM 244 covering theatre and drama from 1642 to 1900. Every third semester.

315 Advanced Acting (3)

Character development, scene study, text interpretation, and vocal and physical techniques for period and non-realistic drama. Prerequisites: DRAM 103, 111, 112, 214. Every other Spring.

317 Creative Drama for Teachers (3)

Theory and practice of teaching drama as a creative activity for young people and others, where the emphasis is on personal development of the participants rather than performance for an audience. Fulfills General Education Arts lab requirement. Every other Spring.

325 Costuming (3)

Theory and practice of costuming for the theatre; principles of color, fabric, decoration, patterns, and techniques of construction. Lecture and laboratory. Every third semester.

331 Structural Design for the Stage (3)

Theory of scenery construction, rigging, stage machinery; analysis of mechanical forces and geometric developments; scenic drafting of plans, elevations and working drawings. Prerequisites: DRAM 121, 122; or permission of instructor. See department chair.

334 Stage Sound Application (3)

Emphasis on electronic reproduction of sound for the stage. Includes both digital and analog equipment and systems with concentrations on multitrack wave editors, minidisk, DAT and CD-Rs. Prerequisite: DRAM 121, 122; or permission of instructor. See department chair.

336 Stage Lighting (3)

Fundamentals of stage lighting: basic electrical theory, optics, properties of light, color theory, instrumentation, control systems, process of lighting design. Prerequisites: DRAM 121, 122 or permission of instructor. See department chair.

348 Shakespeare in Performance (3)

A study of selected Shakespearean plays as interpreted in performance by contemporary directors and actors. Every other Fall.

355 Modern Drama (LIT 355) (3)

A study of form and meaning in modern drama from Ibsen to the present. Spring.

365 Playwriting Workshop (LANG 365) (3)

Beginning playwriting; development of scenario, dialogue and scenes; the writing of an original one-act play. See department chair.

432 Scene Design (3)

Theory and practice of design for the theatre: composition and elements of design, perspective sketches and renderings, scene painting, production styles. Prerequisites: DRAM 121, 122, 244, 245, 331. See department chair.

434 Stage Sound Design (3)

Theory and practice of sound design for theatrical productions. Include play analysis for sound requirements, research, process and application. Projects will focus on portfolio material in both analog and the digital domain. Prerequisites: DRAM 121, 122, 334; or permission of instructor. See department chair.

437 Lighting Design (3)

Theory and practice of lighting design for the theatre: meaning and use of controllable properties of light, advanced lighting techniques, equipment, projection. Rendering projects and practical exercises. Prerequisites: DRAM 121, 122, 244, 245, 336; or permission of instructor. See department chair.

440 Costume Design (3)

Theory and practice of costume design for the theatre: history of costume, design concept, production styles, sketches and renderings. See department chair.

461 Principles of Directing I (3)

Analysis and interpretation of the script, blocking and composition, coaching, coordination of the production. Each student will direct a one-act play for public presentation. Prerequisites: DRAM 111, 112, 121, 122, 214, 355 and permission of instructor. Fall.

462 Principles of Directing II (3)

A continuation of DRAM 461; emphasis on period and nonrealistic drama. Each student will direct a one-act play for public performance. Prerequisite: DRAM 461. Spring.

490 Professional and Technical Internship (6)

Intensive experience with a participating professional theatre arranged individually for the Drama major's area of concentration. Open only to Drama majors. Prerequisites: determined individually. See department chair.

499 Undergraduate Research in Drama (1-6)

Independent research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. An IP grade may be awarded at discretion of instructor. May be repeated for a total of 6 hours credit. See department chair.

171-3, 271-3, 371-3, 471-3 Special Topics in Drama (1-3)

Courses not otherwise included in the catalog listing but for which there may be special needs. May be repeated for credit as often as permitted and as subject matter changes. See department chair.

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