The James Madison University Theatre program provides numerous benefits for its students including an ability to understand and express conceptual knowledge, an appreciation of the great works of theatre and an appreciation of the theatre as it permeates society in television, films, on the stage and in other daily activities. Training to work within a group toward a defined goal with a deadline is an integral part of the academic experience as well as training for a professional career and/or training for graduate-level theatre work.

Performance, Design, and Technical Opportunities

JMU theatre sponsors four major productions each year in its main-stage season including the annual musical. As many as? twenty additional productions are mounted each year in the Experimental Theatre. The program also sponsors The?Children's Playshop?each summer.?

In this exclusively undergraduate program, students act the parts, construct the sets and costumes and fulfill the responsibilities for running the productions. Students also design sets, lights and costumes for many major productions and nearly all the Experimental Theatre productions. Often these productions are original student-written scripts.

JMU regularly participates in the American College Theatre Festival. Several JMU productions have been selected for regional competition and performers have done well in the individual acting phase of the competitions. Two recent productions played at the National Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Upon completion of the Theatre Program, the Theatre Student shall:

• demonstrate proficiency in the collaborative process of theatre production, and exhibit the skills necessary to work within a group toward a defined goal under a deadline. Such skills include the ability to collaborate with other arts disciplines, including dance and music.

• employ correct theatre terminology in all areas of theatrical production.

• distinguish and describe various theatrical genre and staging formats, with strong proficiencies in one or more areas.

• differentiate and characterize a variety of different styles of theatrical production, including non-traditional and non-western approaches.

• discuss and analyze important works of dramatic literature from the past and present including works of criticism and theory as well as the reading list of plays.

• identify and describe the important periods and movements in world theatre history, including the works of leading playwrights, actors, directors and designers.

• express the interrelationship between the live theatre and the existing and emerging technological media through which dramatic and performative pieces may be created and delivered.

• formulate and communicate in writing informed critical assessments of theatrical performances, including all aspects of artistic and technical production.

• comprehend and distinguish basic production processes to include acting, directing, design, technical production and management.

• have participated regularly in public performances of various scales and styles. The student will have experienced a variety of different theatrical roles among the disciplines of acting, directing, design and theatrical production.

• understand, distinguish, and describe the basic working practices of the professional theatre, including unions, professional expectations and employment opportunities.