Courses
Search for courses listed in this bulletin. To find a semester course schedule (including instructors, meeting times and locations), go to mynmu.nmu.edu.
- Offered: Fall
This course will strengthen your ability to sing a melody at sight using movable do. This skill is considered to be one of the most important to your overall musicianship because it enables you to understand aurally what you read in a musical score. The course will also reinforce your ability to hear and notate melody, rhythm, and two-part harmonic structures through dictation.
- Offered: Fall Winter Summer
Study of theatre as an art form, including history, aesthetics, production and dramatic literature.
- Offered: Fall
This course provides a basic knowledge of construction practices and techniques as they relate to theatre. Topics such as building materials, hardware, flat construction, weight bearing scenic units, and shop safety will be discussed.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Twice during each fall semester
Introduction to theoretical and applied aspects of acting. Applied onstage exercises include solo and ensemble acting assignments.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: Acceptance into the BFA Musical Theatre program, or instructor permission.
This class is a 100 level acting class designed for cohorts in the BFA Musical Theatre program. Focus in the class is placed on the students identifying their process as actors, expanding their range of dramatic expression, refining performance skills, and gaining a greater understanding of the actor’s contribution to production.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Fall
This class is a 100 level movement class designed for students in the Acting programs. The class will focus on student actors' physical awareness and conditioning. Students will be exposed to movement exercises designed to open up their physical range of expression and flexibility, thereby allowing them freedom of physical expression into character exploration.
- Offered: Winter
This class is a 100 level voice for the stage class designed for students in the Acting programs. The class will focus on student actors' vocal awareness and speech dexterity. Students will be exposed to vocal exercises designed to strengthen their speaking/breathing instrument, gaining flexibility, thereby allowing them freedom of physical expression into character exploration.
- Offered: Fall
An introduction to the skills and techniques of a specialized master electrician for theatre and the entertainment industry. Students are introduced to basic lighting equipment, maintenance and cleaning of equipment, proper hanging and focusing procedures, as well as basic stage electrics practices.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Every Other Fall Semester
- Prerequisites: TH 131.
Introduction to methods used in the development and visual presentation of theatrical and entertainment design, including script analysis, dramatic and production styles and designer-director collaboration.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Fall, even years
An introduction to the skills, software and techniques of a sound and media specialist for theatre and the entertainment industry. Students are introduced to cabling, speaker and PA systems as well as basic programming and sound and media technology.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Fall, even years
An introduction to the skills and techniques of a specialized stitcher or costume craftsperson for theatre and the entertainment industry. Students are introduced to basic sewing, garment construction, garment maintenance, as well as basic costume repair.
- Offered: Fall, odd years
- Prerequisites: TH 131.
An introduction to the skills, software and techniques of a specialized digital draftsperson and renderer for theatre and the entertainment industry. Students are introduced to drafting technique, digital CAD based software, Digital rendering and modeling skills and an introduction scenic previsualization software and methods for theatre.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Every Other Winter Semester
Theory and application of theatrical two-dimensional makeup. An investigation of character analysis, makeup design and materials with laboratory assignments.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: TH 135, or instructor approval.
This class is a 200 level movement class designed for students in the Acting programs. The class will focus on exploring different movement pedagogy. Students will be exposed to the teachings of several master movement practitioners in the hopes of opening up their physical range of expression and flexibility, thereby allowing them freedom of physical expression into character exploration.
- Prerequisites: TH 136, or instructor approval.
This class is a 200 level voice for the stage class designed for students in the Acting programs. The class will focus on student actors' vocal awareness and speech dexterity. Students will be exposed to vocal exercises designed to strengthen their speaking/breathing instrument, gaining flexibility, thereby allowing them freedom of physical expression into character exploration.
This class is a 200 level performance class designed for students in the Acting programs. The class will focus on teaching beginning skills in stage combat/fighting. Students will be exposed to exercises designed to teach proper combat skills (hand to hand and weapons), with specific emphasis on safety protocols.
- Offered: On demand
- Prerequisites: TH 141.
An introduction to the skills and techniques required for lighting design in theatre and the entertainment industry.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Fall, odd years
- Prerequisites: TH 141 or TH 233.
An introduction to the skills, software and techniques of a scenic designer for theatre and the entertainment industry. Students are introduced to the ability to take a script and create and design the world of a theatrical production. Students will develop skills in conceptualizing, drawing and model building.
- Offered: Fall, odd years
- Prerequisites: TH 141 or TH 142.
An introduction to the skills, software and techniques of a sound and media designer for theatre and the entertainment industry. Students are introduced to sound reproduction and recreation as well as media content creation.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Fall, even years
- Prerequisites: TH 141 or TH 143.
An introduction to the skills and techniques of a costume designer for theatre and the entertainment industry. Students are introduced to the skills and techniques needed for creating theatrical costumes and conceptualizing characters of a theatrical production.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Winter semester of odd-numbered years
- Prerequisites: TH 132 or TH 134.
Development of vocal, verbal and physical communication skills required of the expressive actor.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: TH 141.
Advanced study in a particular area or areas of design for theatre and entertainment production. Topics may include but are not limited to sets, lighting, costumes, sound and makeup. Topics chosen for a given semester will be based on student interest and production schedules. Students must take the course twice to fulfill major core requirements.
- Offered: Fall Winter Summer
- Prerequisites: Theatre or Dance Majors/Minors or instructor permission.
Advanced course in theoretical and applied aspects of performance. Applied onstage exercises include solo and ensemble acting assignments. Topic varies including voice and diction, musical theatre, acting Shakespeare, etc.
Notes: May be repeated if topic differs. For theatre and entertainment arts majors/minors this course must be taken at least twice with different content.- Offered: Fall odd years
Introduces students to the basic principles and practices of stage management. Students learn how to efficiently communicate with members of a production team, convey important information, and effectively run a production from concept to closing. Topics discussed include: communicating with the director, generating reports, running rehearsals, recording blocking, document design, and calling a show.
Notes: This is an eight week course.- Offered: Winter
A study of plays from the beginnings of theatre to the present. The plays will be studied as works intended for production as well as literary works. Study will include the social context of the theatre in each play's time and place, social constraints on theatre, and each period's conventions of playwriting and production.