Theatre
As an educational process, theatre is part discipline, part craft, and part art. As discipline, there are certain facts and concepts to be learned or explored. As craft, there are individual skills to developed and perfected. As art, there is the whole matter of personal development to be cultivated and enriched. Ideally, an educational theatre program should provide a suitable balance between the three- educating theatre scholars, theatre crafters, and theatre artists.
The University of Nevada, Reno Speech Communication & Theatre Department offers two undergraduate degree programs: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in theatre and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in a selected emphasis. The BA gives the student both classroom and production opportunities which develop scholarly and practical skills in theatre arts including acting, directing, designing and other areas of technical theatre, and children's theatre. The BFA allows the student to choose either a performance or design/technical track to provide for further study and practice in his or her specialization. Application for the BFA program may be made to the theatre faculty only after completing certain theatre course requirements, gaining a minimum GPA of 3.0, and completing at least 60 total credits.
Some students majoring in theatre have plans for a professional career in theatre or a related performing arts field but many choose this field to more deeply explore an area that they have developed a passion for. Students are welcomed into the program regardless of their level of experience in theatre.
The Nevada Repertory Company is the producing wing of the theatre program and presents the four mainstage productions offered during the regular school year and one show during the summer. Any UNR student may participate in Nevada Rep productions regardless of major or minor. Opportunities for gaining credit for working on a mainstage production (as actor, designer, technician, etc.) are also available through the THTR 208/408 course. The Nevada Rep web site offers information on auditions, upcoming shows, and past productions. Find it at: Nevada Repertory Company
There are three student organizations within the theatre program:
- Alpha Psi Omega, Upsilon Chapter
- WAFU: Japanese Student Theatre Club
- Dragons of Thespis: Children's Theatre Club
Nevada Rep's all-female cast production of MACBETH. Left: Macbeth (Annie V. Scanlon) murders Young Siward (Sarah Potts). Right: Macbeth and Macduff (April Clelia Grenot) face off. Director: Sue Klemp. Scenic Design: Erika Lore Frank. Costume Design: Michelle Spencer Davidson. Lighting Design: Michael Fernbach.
Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. Fall 2006. Left to Right: Mike Rapisora (Readymoney Matt), Brian Ennis (Walt Dreary), Ryan Bobbett (Macheath), Hana Freeman (Polly Peachum), Aukai Almeida (Bob the Saw), and Bernie-Man Russell (Crookfinger Jake). Director: Sue Klemp. Musical Director: Damon Stevens. Choreography: Diane Rugg. Scenic design: Larry Walters. Lighting design: Mike Fernbach. Costume design: Michelle Davidson.
Student Productions: Student's are offered a unique artistic opportunity to produce their own show for performance in our student production space (CFA Room 19). These productions give students the chance to work more independently, with the guidance of a faculty advisor, to develop shows they wish to direct or original scripts they have written. Past shows have included experimental and new scripts as well as small cast pieces from the established theatre canon.
