BA in Theatre and Performance Studies with Emphasis in Writing for Performance

Degree Program Description

Student in the BA in Theatre with emphasis in Writing for Performance are offered a curriculum that includes a sequence of creative writing and literature classes, emphasizing the art and craft of writing as it applies to theatre and performance. MU student playwrights tell their stories through the words and actions of the characters they create. Students take a series of introductory and advanced classes in playwriting, acting, directing, dramaturgy, theatre history, script analysis, performance studies, world dramatic literature, adaptation of literature for stage and film, and screenwriting for film and television. They study dramatic structure, plot and story structure, complex character development, and special playwriting problems and techniques. Students participate in our annual Life and Literature Performance Series which is a celebration of original student plays, stories, poetry, and adaptations of literature, devised theatre, ethnography, performance art, music, and dance. Student playwrights have their new plays performed every week at our Missouri Playwrights Workshop, presented as concert readings during our annual Mizzou New Play Series and summer Comedies-in-Concert Series, and fully produced during our Academic Season as MU Theatre mainstage productions. Students are regularly invited to share their ten-minute plays, one-act plays, and full-length plays at local, regional, and national theatre events, including the annual Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Graduates are involved in theatre, film, and television productions in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and across the country. They are playwrights, screenwriters, dramaturgs, editors, storytellers, and teachers, who share their imagery, creativity, and theatrical imagination with audiences everywhere.

Major Program Requirements

In addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.

THEATR 2920	Beginning Playwriting	3
or THEATR 2200	Introduction to Performance Studies
THEATR 3200	Performance of Literature	3
THEATR 3920	Intermediate Playwriting	3
Choose one of the following (cannot repeat from required courses):
THEATR 2200	Introduction to Performance Studies	3
THEATR 3700W	World Dramatic Literature - Writing Intensive	3
or THEATR 3700	World Dramatic Literature
THEATR 3930	Screenwriting for Television and Film	3
THEATR 4240	Theory and Practice of Theatre of the Oppressed	3
THEATR 4650	Introduction to Dramaturgy	3
THEATR 4820W	Studies in Dramatic Literature - Writing Intensive	3
or THEATR 4920	Advanced Playwriting: Problems
THEATR 4930	Adaptation of Literature for the Stage	3
THEATR 4935	Adaptation of Literature for Film	3
THEATR 4938W	Advanced Screenwriting: Styles - Writing Intensive	3
or THEATR 4938	Advanced Screenwriting: Styles
Topics/Research courses with departmental approval		3

Semester Plan

First Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
THEATR 1320 or 1340	3	THEATR 1420	3
ENGLSH 1000	3	Missouri State Law Requirement: Social Science from Arts and Science	3
Humanitie	3	Math and Quantitative Reasoning	3
Second Language Requirement	4	Behavioral Science	3
First-year orientation course	2	Second Language Requirement	4
	15		16
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
THEATR 2920	3	THEATR 2800W	3
THEATR 1720 or 2710	3	THEATR 2300	1
Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science	4	Biological or Physical Science lab	5
Second Language Requirement	4	Social Science	3
		Humanities, First Writing Intensive	3
	14		15
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
THEATR 3920	3	THEATR 3200	3
Theatre Elective	3	Theatre Elective	3
Humanities	3	Social Science	3
Behavioral Science	3	Second major, minor, certificate, or elective	3
Internship or undergraduate research	3	Second major, minor, certificate, or elective	3
	15		15
Fourth Year
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
THEATR 3300	1	THEATR 4990	1
3000+ Level Writing Intensive Course	3	Writing for Performance Elective	3
Humanities 2000+	3	Second major, minor, or certificate course	3
Second major, minor, certificate, or elective	3	Second major, minor, or certificate course	3
Second major, minor, certificate, or elective	3	Second major, minor, or certificate course	4
Internship, undergraduate research, or community-based learning	3
	16		14
Total Credits: 120