McKAY COBLE, Chair
McKay Coble, Chair, Design
Raymond L. Dooley, Head of MFA Acting, Acting
David Hammond, Acting, Directing
Leon Katz, David G. Frey Distinguished Professor of Dramatic Art
Roberta A. Owen (2) Costume Design and History
Bonnie N. Raphael, Voice and Speech
Craig W. Turner, Head of Graduate Studies, Movement for the Actor
Adam N. Versenyi, Dramaturgy
Michael J. Rolleri, Head of Technical Production
Judith L. Adamson, Head of Costume Production
Joan Darling
David Svanoe
Kristine Rapp, Costume Production
The Department of Dramatic Art offers professional training programs in acting, costume production, and technical production leading to the master of fine arts degree. The production facilities in the Center for Dramatic Art include the Paul Green Theatre and the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre along with studios, rehearsal hall, costume complex, and scene shops.
Each student is responsible for becoming familiar with the general regulations of The Graduate School and particularly with the dates indicated on the calendar for the academic year; this information is contained elsewhere in the Graduate Record. Please note that, due to the nature of the professional training programs, the calendar for graduate students in the Department of Dramatic Art will not always coincide with that of the University. Graduate students in the department are frequently required to work on productions during University scheduled holidays.
A limited number of graduate appointments are available in the department. Appointments are presently awarded in the areas of acting, technical production, costume production, and in support of introductory courses (DRAM 15, 16, and 35). All appointments involve instructional or laboratory supervisory responsibility.
Purpose. Through disciplined classroom training and a progressive involvement in performance or production opportunities, students in the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs are challenged to develop the skills and attitudes that enable them to compete in the professional theatre. Emphasizing accomplishment in a wide range of performance and production styles, the programs complement the variety of theatrical experiences available in the PlayMakers Repertory Company (PRC), a professional full-season Equity Company and a member of The League of Resident Theatres. Within his or her area of specialization, upon graduation students will be ready to perform a variety of roles or assume a range of responsibilities onstage or backstage in stage, film, or television.
Prerequisites. All applicants must meet admission requirements established by The Graduate School of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Each area of specialization within the department requires additional application materials. In the costuming and technical areas, applicants are required to submit portfolios. Candidates should check with the department for further information as to what is entailed for each area. All acting candidates must audition. In addition to on-campus auditions, the department holds auditions two out of every three years in February in New York and Chicago. Applications must be received by January 31 to be considered.
Curriculum. Each candidate pursues a course of study in a conservatory environment. Classroom training offers a variety of approaches, each designed to develop and refine the candidate's artistic and professional potential. Classroom work is augmented by participation in the professional season of PlayMakers Repertory Company. In addition to the PRC, students find performance opportunities in studio projects and productions.
Evaluation. At least once each semester, the faculty formally evaluates the candidate's progress and makes recommendations concerning his or her continuation in the program. Evaluations are made of each individual on the basis of classroom and performance or production work. Letter grades (H, P, L, F) are assigned for work in all courses.
Admission. Generally, only first-year applicants are considered for admission. Candidates should check with the department for admission information pertaining to their specific area of specialization (i.e., acting, technical production, or costume production).
Residency and Requirements. All candidates are required to be in residence for three years, six consecutive semesters. The departmental system of evaluation requires that the student be invited to continue in the second and then in the final year of the program. While all programs require their students to complete sixty credit hours, those hours are apportioned differently from program to program. In addition to sixty credit hours, each area of specialization carries its own graduation requirements. Candidates are encouraged to ascertain individual requirements for graduation as soon as possible.
Detailed information can be obtained by addressing inquiries to: Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Dramatic Art, CB# 3230, Center for Dramatic Art, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3230. Additional information is available on the Web at www.unc.edu/depts/graduate/home_graduate.htm.
280 [175] PERIOD STYLES FOR THE THEATRE (3). A study of visual, cultural, and social styles through history as the forms developed, and as they relate to stylistic production for the theatre. Fall and spring. Coble.
290 [192] SPECIAL STUDIES (.5-3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor and of the undergraduate adviser. Open only to majors in the Department of Dramatic Art. Credit for performance and/or production experience in Department of Dramatic Art productions, including PlayMakers Repertory Company. A minimum of fifteen hours per week is required during the rehearsal period; a faculty evaluation is also required at the close of the production. May be repeated for credit. Fall and spring. Staff.
331 [157] PLAYWRITING II (3). Prerequisite, at least one semester of DRAM 231. A practical course in the writing of the stage play. (Alternate years.) Svanoe.
395 [194] PROFESSIONAL THEATRE LABORATORY (3-12). Prerequisite, permission of department chair. Individual programs or internships in acting, directing, design, management, and playwriting under the guidance of professional practitioners in conjunction with the PlayMakers Repertory Company or of other approved professional theatre organizations. Locally supervised. Open only to advanced students. (Offered as required.) Staff.
450 [150] SHAKESPEARE IN THE THEATRE (3). A study of the literary, stage history, and production problems of representative plays. Dooley, Hammond.
465 [165] SOUND DESIGN (3). The study of general principles of sound design for the theatre. Theory and application of sound design techniques for the stage, including script analysis, staging concepts, special effects, sound plots, and technology. Spring.
466 [166] SCENE DESIGN (3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. General principles of visual design as applied to scenery for the theatre. Instruction in standard techniques of planning and rendering scene design. Fall. Coble.
467 [167] COSTUME DESIGN I (3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. Studies and practicum in play analysis and costume design for the theatre. Instruction in techniques of planning and rendering costume design. Fall and spring. Owen.
468 [168] LIGHTING DESIGN I (3). Prerequisite, DRAM 800 or equivalent training in drafting. General principles of lighting design as applied to the performing arts. Theory and instruction in standard techniques of lighting for the stage. Spring.
470 [170] SURVEY OF COSTUME HISTORY (3). A survey of historic costume forms from ancient Egypt to the present time. Fall. Owen.
473 [173] COSTUME CONSTRUCTION I (Var., 1-3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor required. Beginning instruction in pattern making through flat pattern for theatrical costume. Fall. Adamson.
474 [174] COSTUME CONSTRUCTION II (Var., 1-3). Prerequisite, DRAM 473 or permission of the instructor. Beginning instruction on the dress form for theatrical costume. Spring. Adamson.
475 [171] COSTUME HISTORY AND STYLE: ASIA AND ARABIA (3). The traditional costume forms on the African Continent, in Asia (China, Japan, India), and on the Arabian Peninsula explored through discussion of the historical and cultural forces and visual records. Spring. Owen.
480 [185] PERIOD STYLES FOR PRODUCTION (3). A study of the historical development of Western minor arts and the ramifications of reproducing them for the theatre. Spring. (Alternate years.) Coble.
488 U.S. LATINO/A THEATER (3). Prerequisite, DRAM 120. Investigation of U.S. Latino/a theater texts and performance practices as a discreet genre US Latino/a theater will be distinguished from the dominant culture, and diversity of forms and styles discussed.
490 [190] THEATRE MANAGEMENT (3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. A historical survey of theatre management in America with emphasis on commercial and not-for-profit theatres. Emphasis on theatre personnel, artistic concerns, financing, publicity, and marketing. Students actively engage in management areas of PlayMakers Repertory Company. Fall and spring. Staff.
491 [191] ISSUES IN ARTS MANAGEMENT (3). Arts management issues taught through analysis of case studies. Course includes management theories, organizational structures, and current issues. (Alternate years.) Staff.
495 [101] STAGE MANAGEMENT (3). A study of basic principles and practices of modern stage management. Fall and spring. Staff.
566 [176] ADVANCED SCENE DESIGN (3). Prerequisite, DRAM 466 or permission of the instructor. Advanced study of the principles and practice of designing scenery for the theatre. Fall. (Alternate years.) Coble.
567 [169] COSTUME DESIGN II (3). Prerequisite, DRAM 467 or permission of the instructor. Practicum in costume design for the theatre focusing on the requirements of professional theatre production and alternative costume design solutions. Spring. (Alternate years.) Owen.
595 [198] SEMINARS IN COSTUME PRACTICES (1-3). Prerequisite, DRAM 290, Technical Methods, Costume section, and permission of the instructor. Series of topics in costume for use in design and production for the stage. May be repeated for credit for 12 hours for graduate students, 6 for undergraduates. Taught in a four semester rotation. Fall and spring.
597 COSTUME SEMINARS II: MILLINERY AND HAIR (1-3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. Advanced costume production techniques with an emphasis on millinery and hair design.
598 COSTUME SEMINARS III: MASKS AND ARMOR (1-3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. Advanced costume production techniques with an emphasis on creating masks and armor.
599 COSTUME SEMINARS IV: DECORATIVE ARTS (1-3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. Advanced costume production techniques with an emphasis on decorative arts.
650 [196] SPECIAL STUDIES: COSTUME PRODUCTION (.5-3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor and DRAM 64, Technical Methods, Costume section. Advanced construction techniques in theatrical costuming. May be repeated for credit. Fall and spring. J. Adamson.
667 [245] ADVANCED COSTUME DESIGN I (Var.). Prerequisite, admission to the first year of the MFA program or permission of the instructor. Study of design for the production student. Spring. Staff.
720 [220] ACTING I (3). Prerequisite, admission to the MFA Acting program. Intensive professional training for the actor. Must be taken fall and spring. Hammond.
721 [221] ACTING II (3). Prerequisite, admission to the second year of the MFA Acting program. Advanced professional training for the actor. Must be taken fall and spring. Dooley, Hammond, Darling.
722 [222] VOICE I (3). Prerequisite, admission to the MFA Acting program. Development of the individual actor's voice and speech. Must be taken fall and spring. Raphael.
723 [223] VOICE II (3). Prerequisite, admission to the second year of the MFA Acting program. Expansion of the individual's vocal versatility in performance. Must be taken fall and spring. Raphael.
724 [224] MOVEMENT I (3). Prerequisite, admission to the MFA Acting program. Development of the actor's body as an expressive instrument. Must be taken fall and spring. Turner.
725 [225] MOVEMENT II (3). Prerequisite, admission to the second year of the MFA Acting program. Advanced projects in movement. Special sessions in tumbling and stage combat. Must be taken fall and spring. Turner.
726 [226] REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE I (1-6). Prerequisite, admission to the MFA Acting program. Rehearsal and performance of special ensemble projects. Must be taken fall and spring. May be repeated for credit. Hammond, Dooley, Raphael, Turner.
727 [227] REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE II (1-6). Prerequisite, admission to the second year of the MFA Acting program. Practical application of techniques in rehearsal and performance in studio and main stage production. Must be taken fall and spring. May be repeated for credit. Hammond, Dooley, Raphael, Turner.
728 [228] ACTING PRACTICUM I (6-12). Prerequisite, admission into the third year of the MFA Acting program. Intense practicum as a member of the PlayMakers Repertory acting company. Preparation and presentation of assigned projects and work in departmental productions. Work in voice and movement as scheduled. Fall. Hammond, Dooley, Raphael, Turner.
750 SPECIAL STUDIES: COSTUME PRODUCTION II: ADVANCED COUTURE METHODS (.5-3). Advanced construction techniques with an emphasis on advanced couture methods.
752 SPECIAL STUDIES: COSTUME PRODUCTION III: TAILORING (.5-3). Prerequisite, Costume graduate. Advanced construction techniques with an emphasis on bodice development.
760 [242] COSTUME CONSTRUCTION III: ADVANCED FLAT PATTERN (1-3). Prerequisite, DRAM 473. Continued study of pattern making with flat pattern in advanced shapes for the stage. Fall. Adamson.
762 [243] COSTUME CONSTRUCTION IV: ADVANCED DRAPING (1-3). Prerequisite, DRAM 474. Continued study of draping theatrical costumes with advanced shapes. Spring. Adamson.
764 [244] COSTUME CONSTRUCTION V (1-3). Prerequisites, DRAM 473, 474, 760, 762. Using combination of pattern making and dress making techniques to achieve unusual shapes in theatrical costume. Fall or spring. Adamson.
766 [248] COSTUME CONSTRUCTION VI: COMPUTER PATTERN (1-3). Prerequisite, DRAM 473. Continuation of the study of flat pattern using computer software with AutoCad. Spring. Adamson.
770 [172] PERIOD PATTERN I; PRE-VICTORIAN (Var., 1-3). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. Advanced study of historical pattern, costume crafts, or costume shop management through directed study. Fall and spring. May be repeated for credit. Adamson.
772 PERIOD PATTERN II: VICTORIAN (1-3). Prerequisite, Costume graduate. Study of historical pattern with an emphasis in Victorian era.
774 PERIOD PATTERN III: TWENTIETH CENTURY (1-3). Prerequisite, Costume graduate. Study of historical pattern with an emphasis in twentieth century.
776 PERIOD PATTERN IV: NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH CENTURY MEN'S WEAR (1-3). Prerequisite, Costume graduate. Study of sartorial arts with an emphasis in nineteenth to twentieth centuries.
780 COSTUME MANAGEMENT I: SUPPLIES AND SUPPLIERS (1-3). Prerequisite, Costume graduate. Study of supplies and suppliers needed to produce theatrical costumes.
782 COSTUME MANAGEMENT II: BUDGET METHODS (1-3). Prerequisite, Costume graduate. Study of cost analysis for costume production.
784 COSTUME MANAGEMENT III: PERSONAL (1-3). Prerequisite, Costume graduate. Study of organization and personnel management for costume production.
790 [240] COSTUME LABORATORY I (3). Prerequisite, admission to the MFA Costume program. Practical work in the costume shop. Must be taken fall and spring. Adamson.
791 [241] COSTUME LABORATORY II (3). Prerequisite, admission to the second year of the MFA Costume program. Advanced practical work in the costume shop. Must be taken fall and spring. Adamson.
792 COSTUME LABORATORY III (3). Prerequisite, Costume graduate. Continuation of practical work through production assignments.
793 COSTUME LABORATORY IV (3). Prerequisite, Costume graduate. Continuation of practical work through production assignments.
796 [247] COSTUME LABORATORY V (1-3). Prerequisite, admission to the third year of the MFA Costume program. Advanced practical work in the costume shop. Must be taken fall and spring. Adamson.
797 COSTUME LABORATORY VI (1-3). Prerequisite, Costume graduate. Continuation of practical work through production assignments.
799 [249] COSTUME PROGRAM INTERNSHIP (3-6). Intensive practicum in Costume Arts, with tutorial and class assignments on an individual basis as required. Fall or spring. May be repeated for credit. Adamson.
800 [100] TECHNICAL DIRECTION (3-6). Prerequisites, permission of the instructor, DRAM 491, Technical Methods, Technical Production section, or equivalent technical practice in theatre production. Study of the technical and engineering problems in production and standard theatrical drafting and construction conventions. Must be taken fall and spring. Prichard, Rolleri, staff.
801 TECHNICAL DIRECTION II (3-6). Prerequisite, Technical graduate. Additional study of technical and engineering problems in production.
802 [250] ADVANCED TECHNICAL DIRECTION (3-6). Prerequisite, admission to the second year of the MFA Technical Production program. An advanced study of the management, technical, and engineering problems involved in theatrical production. Must be taken fall and spring. Rolleri.
803 [261] ADVANCED TECHNICAL DIRECTION II (1-6). Prerequisite, admission to the third year of the MFA Technical Production program. An advanced study of the management, technical, and engineering problems involved in theatrical production. Must be taken fall and spring. Rolleri.
805 [193] SPECIAL STUDIES: TECHNICAL PRODUCTION (.5-12). Prerequisite, permission of the instructor and DRAM 64, Technical Methods, Technical Production section. Advanced scenic construction techniques leading to specific project or production responsibility in the area of scenic construction in Department of Dramatic Art productions and PlayMakers Repertory Company. A minimum of fifteen hours per week is required during the rehearsal period. Faculty evaluation at the close of the production. May be repeated for credit. Fall and spring. Rolleri.
806 [260] ADVANCED STAGECRAFT (3-6). Prerequisite, admission into the third year of the MFA Technical Production program. Intensive practicum in production projects for departmental and PlayMakers Repertory Company productions. Must be taken fall and spring. Rolleri.
813 SPECIAL STUDIES: TECHNICAL PRODUCTION (1-6). Prerequisite, Technical graduate. Continuation of advanced scenic construction techniques with specific project or production responsibility in the area of scenic construction.
814 PROFESSIONAL THEATER LABORATORY: TECHNICAL PRODUCTION (.5-12). Prerequisite, Technical graduate. Individual programs in scenic construction techniques.
821 [262] ADVANCED LIGHTING DESIGN (3). This course acquaints the student with professional practice in lighting design through lecture by faculty and visiting professionals and through evaluation of lighting designs executed by students and critiqued by professionals. Permission of the instructor required. Spring.
830 [200] SEMINAR IN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: TECHNICAL PRODUCTION (1-12). Prerequisite, admission to the MFA program in Technical Production. An examination of professional theatre practice through contact with students, staff, faculty, and visiting artists in technical theatre. Generally taken fall and spring. May be repeated for credit. Prichard, Rolleri.
841 [251] DESIGN TECHNICAL THEATRE PRACTICUM I (3-6). Prerequisite, admission into the MFA Tech program. Practical work in scene shop. Must be taken fall and spring. Rolleri.
842 MFA/TECHNICAL THEATRE PRACTICUM II (1-6). Prerequisite, Technical graduate. Continuation of practical work in scene shop.
843 [252] DESIGN TECHNICAL THEATRE PRACTICUM II (3-6). Prerequisites, DRAM 841 and admission to the second year of the MFA Tech program. Advanced practical work in scene shop. Must be taken fall and spring. Rolleri.
844 MFA/TECHNICAL PRACTICUM IV (3-6). Continuation of advanced practical work in scene shop.
845 [259] DESIGN TECHNICAL INTERNSHIP (6-12). Intensive practicum in production projects for departmental and PlayMakers Repertory Company productions, with independent studies as assigned on an individual basis. May be repeated for credit. Staff.
875 [231] SEMINAR IN DRAMATIC LITERATURE (1-3). Prerequisite, admission to the MFA program in any area. An examination of the literature of the theatre in terms of dramatic construction, theory, and interpretation. May be repeated for credit.
992 [392] GRADUATE FINAL PRACTICUM: THESIS (1-6). J. Adamson, Dooley, Rolleri.