Playwright in residence Endesha Ida Mae Holland discusses the production of her Pulitzer Prize-nominated play From the Mississippi Delta with USC theatre students.

The School of Theatre seeks to provide a quality education which will enable its graduates to function professionally in the theatre and related professions that utilize theatrical knowledge and skills. The school’s goal is to instill confidence, integrity, excellence and sensitivity, essential traits for citizens of a global society.

The school recognizes theatre as a collaborative endeavor and a universal means of communication which incorporates talent, skills and intellect. It requires of the student a commitment of time, effort and devotion to studying and perfecting the craft of theatre arts.

Theatre is an ideal base for a liberal education that prepares students to pursue a wide range of career interests. The school supports and promotes innovative ways to achieve educational and professional goals, providing its students with flexibility in creating their own programs with a variety of choices and options.

Time spent at the School of Theatre will test students’ abilities, discipline and will. The school will be a transition into the future, enabling the students of today to join their teachers and colleagues in creating the theatre of tomorrow.

The USC School of Theatre is enhanced by its proximity to an extremely active theatrical environment. The greater Los Angeles area is internationally recognized as the entertainment capital of the world. The school capitalizes on this unique location by bringing many theatre professionals into classrooms to teach and mentor students and to work with the students in School of Theatre productions.

The School of Theatre invites all students interested in studying theatre arts to seriously consider the unique educational opportunities at USC and the School of Theatre.

Drama Center 100
(213) 740-1285
FAX: (213) 740-8888
Email: dramaapp@mizar.usc.edu

Administration

Robert R. Scales, Ph.D., Dean

Faculty

Professors: Robert R. Scales, Ph.D. (Dean); Endesha Ida Mae Holland, Ph.D. (Playwright in Residence)

Associate Professors: Margo Apostolos, Ph.D.; Sharon Marie Carnicke, Ph.D.; Don Llewellyn, Jr., M.F.A.; Eve Roberts; Ritchie Spencer, M.F.A.; James D. Wilson, M.F.A.

Assistant Professors: Meiling Cheng, D.F.A.; Allan Hendrick, Dip.; Velina Hasu Houston, M.F.A.; Patrick Joseph; Roderick Menzies, M.F.A.; Ian Stuart, Ph.D.

Adjunct Assistant Professors: David Ackles; Glenda Arnold-Burns; Raye Birk; Paula Cizmar; Sabin Epstein; Jesus Fuentes; Alicia Grosso, M.F.A.; Joshua Karton; Dora Krannig; Jonathan Lee; Joey Letteri; Marilyn McIntyre; Bill Rauch; Stephanie Shroyer; Craig Springer; Eric Trules; Jon White-Spunner; Elizabeth Wong; Lora Zane, M.F.A.

Lecturers: Paul Backer; Brent Blair

Emeritus Professors: John E. Blankenchip, M.F.A.; Herbert Shore, Ph.D.

General Information

Degree Programs

The School of Theatre offers professional and academic degrees at the Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts levels. USC offers two degree programs to undergraduate students interested in the study of theatre arts. The professional degree programs, the Bachelor
of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Acting, Design/Technical Production, and Stage Management, offer a conservatory approach to training for students committed to pursuing careers in the professional theatre, film and television industries. The Bachelor of Arts degree program (B.A.) incorporates a broad, general education in addition to a thorough study of drama. The School of Theatre also offers minor programs in Dance, Musical Theatre and Performing Arts Studies.

Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is ideal for students who want a broad education in addition to production and performance experience. The degree is offered in cooperation with the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Acting The B.F.A. acting degree is a four-year professional training program with opportunities for performances beginning with the sophomore year. The program comprises an integrated sequence of training in acting, voice and body movement, based on the belief that an actor’s emotional and imaginative abilities cannot be released without control over vocal and physical resources. This training is combined with course work in critical and historical studies, stagecraft, technical theatre, scenic design, costume and make-up. An audition is required for admission. The B.F.A. acting program is highly competitive.

Design/Technical Production The B.F.A. program in design/technical production offers two areas of study: design — incorporating study in scenic, lighting and costume design; and technical production — incorporating the study of theatrical design with training in the professional skills needed to execute stage designs.

Stage Management The B.F.A. program in stage management offers the student a combination of technical, management and design training. Students begin using this training as early as the first year of enrollment. The skills acquired in the classroom are further explored through stage management assignments in each year of the student’s program.

Students in the design/technical production and stage management programs design, build and stage manage the majority of the School of Theatre’s productions under the supervision of a professional staff of designers and theatre technicians.

Minor Programs

Dance The dance minor is designed to present undergraduate students with a focus on the discipline of dance as an educational tool for studies and research. The dance program has a variety of courses in dance technique, dance history and philosophy, choreography, production and performance. This minor will offer each student a unique interdisciplinary experience; it is compatible with a variety of majors designated by the students. Student choreography, performances and productions include work with international dances and dances in the Southern California/Los Angeles region.

Musical Theatre The minor in musical theatre, interdisciplinary in nature, is a 27-unit program incorporating the study of acting, dance or movement, vocal arts and related musical subjects.

Performing Arts Studies The minor in performing arts provides an interdisciplinary inquiry into the nature and aesthetics of the performing arts. It combines the disciplines of cinema-television, dance, music and theatre. The minor is a unique course of study that looks at how the performing arts contribute to a culturally literate society.

Master of Fine Arts

The Master of Fine Arts with a major in theatre requires 48 units of course work at the 400 or 500 level. The areas of emphasis include acting, theatrical design, playwriting and directing. These programs provide a high level of practical experience. To ensure this, the number of students accepted in each area of emphasis is strictly limited. An interview is required for admission.

Dance Program

The school offers dance classes for all university students at the beginning, intermediate and advanced level, including ballet, jazz and modern. Additional offerings in tap and choreography are also available.A minor is also offered in dance.

Auditions and Entrance to the Degree Programs

Admission to the various degree programs is granted through the university’s regular admission procedures in conjunction with the School of Theatre supplementary application procedure.See the Admission section of this catalogue.

Admission to the B.A. program is determined by academic record, experience in theatre, and information required on the USC application for admission and the School of Theatre supplementary application. Students applying for the B.A. program must contact the School of Theatre directly to obtain the theatre supplementary application. However, no audition is required.

In addition to submitting a USC application for admission, a theatre supplementary application and an in-person audition are required for the B.F.A. and M.F.A. programs. Auditions are held during January and February. Applicants should contact the School of Theatre directly to obtain supplementary application materials and to arrange for their audition.

The acting audition requires two monologues: one contemporary and one classical (preferably verse).

Auditions and interviews for all programs are held in major cities around the country including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

Students wishing to transfer from a community college or another four-year college or university into the Bachelor of Fine Arts curriculum must present training equivalent to their level of transfer or be prepared to take remedial work in acting, voice, movement, dramatic literature and stagecraft.

Admission to the B.F.A. and M.F.A. Design/Technical Direction and Stage Management programs is based on a personal interview and/or review of a portfolio. In addition, the student must submit a USC application for admission and a theatre supplementary application.

Applicants for the design programs must present a portfolio of their work at the time of their interview with the design faculty.

Interviews are held beginning in January for the following fall semester.

Admission to full graduate standing will be granted after the satisfactory completion of one semester. A satisfactory test score on the Graduate Record Examinations and a satisfactory grade point average are also required.

Application materials and details about audition dates and locations may be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, School of Theatre, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0791, (213) 740-1285.