83 courses with the subject THEA, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
THEA 100THEATER PRODUCTION PRACTICUM4
This hands-on practicum introduces students to the fundamental aspects of theatre production, exploring the behind-the-scenes elements that bring productions to life. Students rotate through modules in costume technology, set construction, lighting technology, audio technology, stage management, and producing, developing essential skills they can then apply to ongoing theatre department productions while experiencing the collaborative nature of theatrical work firsthand. Lab hours will be required. No prerequisites are required. Open to first-year students. Offered Term 1. (F)
THEA 102INTRODUCTION FOR IMPROVISATION FOR THE THEATRE4
Students will learn the foundations of improvisation and their applications both onstage and off. Through exercises and games, students practice core tenets: communication, storytelling, active listening, collaboration, spontaneity, physicality, accepting and advancing offers, and editing scenes. Students leave with practical skills they will use throughout their lives. The semester culminates in a shared public performance. No prerequisites are required. Open to first-year students. (C&I, F)
Introduction to script analysis techniques from the varying perspectives of designers, directors, actors, and playwrights. Through the examination of several plays, students learn to analyze a theatrical script for production. Open to first-year students. No prerequisite. Offered Term 2. (SMN, F)
An introduction to technical theatre, emphasizing the development of basic knowledge and craftsmanship necessary for scenery construction, stage lighting, and backstage crew assignments. Students will gain practical lab experience through work on the semester project. Intended primarily for first-year students and sophomores, with preference to theatre majors for whom it is required. Course fee is required. Prerequisites: q. Offered Term 2. (Q, CRE, C&I) See tuition and fees rate table for course fee.
Students will learn essential audition skills and techniques with a focus on how to select, prepare, and perform audition material. Through practical application and guided reflection, students will develop effective communication skills applicable to campus productions, job interviews, academic presentations, professional networking, and career advancement Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 423
Emphasizes the appreciation and evaluation of theatre in production. The course examines, at the introductory level, the functions of playwrights, actors, directors, and designers in the production process. Students are required to attend several evening performances (which may be extended beyond designated class time) and to view theatre productions on videotape. Lab fee for theatre tickets. Open to first-year students. No prerequisite. See tuition and fees rate table for course fee.
This departmental workshop is open to students interested in working in any phase of a main stage theatre production, including acting, set construction, lighting, sound, box office, stage management, run crew, etc. Students must audition or interview and be assigned a role (either on stage or backstage) and will be registered by the director. May be repeated for credit. Open to first-year students. Offered both terms. (F)
This course offers an introduction to the craft of acting for non-actors and a review of the basics for students with acting experience. Training involves exercises in movement, voice, imagination, and community building with an emphasis on improvisation and class participation. This course is intended to introduce students to a broader awareness of the art of acting. Open to first-year students. No prerequisite. Offered Term 2. (C&I, F)
A critical review of musical theatre from the 18th century to present. Styles, forms, and social and artistic significance are discussed. Open to first-year students. No prerequisite. Also listed and described as MUS 163. (AES) 250
Students will learn how to perform moments of violence and physical conflict on stage. They will build basic stage combat skills like how to fall safely, throw and react to stage punches, and work with basic stage weapons like swords or knives in a way that is safe and believable to an audience. No prerequisites are required. Open to first-year students. Offered Term 1.
This studio course will expose students to various dance styles often found in musical theatre choreography, including jazz, ballet, and tap. Students will learn basic techniques, while acquiring a vocabulary and awareness of the styles frequently used in musical theatre. Also listed and described as MUS 165 and DANC 165. Open to first-year students.
Students will learn basic hand sewing and machine sewing techniques. By the end of the course, students should be able to demonstrate basic proficiency in hand sewing, machine sewing, and understanding of basic commercial pattern information. Open to first years. No prerequisite. Offered Term 1. See Tuition and Fees rate table for course fee. (F)
How can theatre create social change? Drawing on the work of Augusto Boal and the Theatre of the Oppressed, this course explores applied theatre as a tool for community engagement and transformation. Students examine frameworks from performance studies, philosophy, and queer and feminist theory, then apply that learning to the creation of a socially engaged performance. Also listed and described as GWST 206. Open to first years. No prerequisite. Offered Term 2. (DJP, F)
This is a studio course in which students get hands-on experience at how to manipulate the materials of stage makeup on the canvas of a human face. Projects include age, injuries, animals, and fantasy characters among others. Students may also work with latex prosthetics. Open to theatre majors/minors only or by permission of department chair. (CRE) See tuition and fees rate table for course fee.
In this studio course, students will build their actor’s toolbox as they learn to develop and integrate their physical and vocal instruments through various theatre techniques. Skills will be synthesized into a final showcase performance. This class enhances the work of dancers, actors, singers, poets, and anyone who stands before an audience. No prerequisite. Open to first-year students. (CRE)
The costume shop is often thought of as the heart of a theatre. This hands-on course introduces students to equipment, procedures, and personnel involved in designing and executing costumes for theatrical productions. Through a series of projects building in difficulty, students learn construction techniques using machine and hand sewing, patterning, and draping. Garments will be produced utilizing machine and manual industry sewing techniques. Lab hours will be required. Open to first-year students. No prerequisite. See Tuition and Fees rate table for course fee. (C&I, F)
This course focuses on creating a costume within budgetary restrictions. With guidance from the professor, students will budget, purchase supplies, and create the costume of their choice. Projects include making a Tinker Day or Halloween costume. Lab hours will be required. Open to first years. No prerequisite. Offered Term 1. See Tuition and Fees rate table for course fee. (F)
This introductory course will take you through the visual landscape of theatre design. Explore the processes, technologies, and aesthetics of costume, scenery, audio, video, and lighting design through historical and contemporary theatre practice. Enjoy the collaborative process with fellow students as you enter the world of the play through visual imagery to create Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 425
This class covers the fundamentals of production management, from planning calendars and organizing and managing production teams to overseeing a budget and running production meetings. Students will learn essential skills in organization, execution, and oversight for all aspects of theatrical production. Emphasis will be placed on building skills that prepare students for careers in theatre and beyond.
This hands-on course breaks down self-producing into four essential steps: selecting the right project, creating a realistic budget, developing an effective marketing strategy, and booking the perfect performance space. By the end of the course, students will have a complete, actionable production plan for their own theatrical project. No prior producing experience needed. Open to first-year students. Prerequisite: THEA 100.
This course provides a foundation in stagecraft, focusing on set construction, rigging, and shop safety. Through lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on projects, students develop confidence with power tools and progress from basic to moderately challenging techniques for building and finishing scenic elements. The course also introduces theatrical rigging and our computerized fly system, preparing students for specialized work in theatre production. Lab hours will be required. Prerequisite: THEA 100. Open to first-year students. Offered Term 2, See Tuition and Fees rate table for course fee. (F)
THEA 250SPECIAL TOPICS: WOMEN PLAYWRIGHTS: BREAKING BOUNDARIES4
This course explores how women playwrights have challenged, redefined, and revolutionized theatrical traditions throughout time. Students will investigate how these writers navigated cultural barriers, developed innovative dramatic forms, and addressed gender, power, and identity through their work. The course combines historical analysis, close reading of texts, and creative exploration of contemporary women's voices in theatre. Open to first-year students. No prerequisite. (INQ, F) Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 426
Designed to teach the basic principles and practices of executing technical drawings as they relate to scenic and lighting design. Open to first-year students with permission.
THEA 100. See Tuition and Fees rate table for course fee.
THEA 252SCENE DESIGN4
Students will engage in the processes used in designing environments for production of theatrical texts. Script-based projects include development of graphics skills such as drafting, rendering techniques, and model making, as well as concept development and collaboration. Open to first-year students with permission. Prerequisite: THEA 100 or instructor permission. Offered Term 1. See Tuition and Fees rate table for course fee. (C&I)
Students examine the potentials and problems of theatrical lighting through lab exploration with standard industry equipment. These studies are applied to script-based design projects that include development of all the technical support information needed to produce a design.
THEA 100. See Tuition and Fees rate table for course fee.
THEA 254INTRODUCTION TO STAGE MANAGMENT2
This class covers the fundamentals of the stage manger role, from planning calendars to managing rehearsals, filing reports, and running performances from backstage and the booth ("Mission Control"). Students will learn essential skills in organization, execution, and oversight for theatrical productions, which are highly transferable to project management roles in various industries.
Students study the special challenges of designing costumes for the stage, focusing on character analysis and the potentials of different fabrics. Development of graphics skills include figure drawing, rendering techniques, and collage. No prerequisite. (o, CRE) See tuition and fees rate table for course fee.
Learn the tricks of the trade for creating properties for the stage. Students learn to think creatively to see items not only for their intended uses, but for the possibilities of what they Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 427
This course deepens the foundational skills introduced in our 100-level production course, with a focused exploration of theatre lighting, sound, and projection technologies. Students will learn to hang and focus lights, program lighting consoles, operate audio systems, and run sound and projection cues, developing practical technical skills applicable to a wide range of professional and creative careers. Lab hours will be required. Prerequisite: THEA 100. Open to first-year students. (C&I)
A studio class in which students study and practice the basic techniques used in theatrical scene painting. Students are expected to develop an understanding of these techniques, as well as how to combine them effectively on advanced projects. Topics range from basic brush techniques to paint-mixing skills and ratios, to color matching from primary sources, to exercises in graphic layout on the large scale. Open to first-year students with permission. Prerequisite: q and theatre major or permission of department chair. (Q, CRE) See tuition and fees rate table for course fee.
THEA 260INTERMEDIATE PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTION WORKSHOP1
This departmental workshop is open to theatre majors and minors seeking practical experience in a fully realized theatrical production. Students may focus on performance or technical theatre, including set/props construction, costuming, stage crew, board operation, or assistant stage management. Students must audition or interview and be assigned a role and will be registered by the director. repeated for credit as roles vary each semester.
Audition/technical interview and permission of instructor/production manager. May be
THEA 261CONTEMPORARY SCENE STUDY4
Using the work done in Acting Dynamics and/or Script Analysis as a foundation, this course focuses on the analysis of contemporary scenes and characters and on performance techniques used to bring those analyses to life on stage. Daily scene work.
Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog (revised 9/7/2026 3:36 PM) SPR 2026 SPR 2026 SPR 2026 SPR 2026 SPR 2027 FA 2026 FA 2024 FA 2024 SPR 2025 SPR 2025 SPR 2026 SPR 2027 SPR 2026 SPR 2025 SPR 2025 SPR 2026 FA 2023 SPR 2026 FA 2025 FA 2025 FA 2024 FA 2025 FA 2025 FA 2025 FA 2024 FA 2024 SPR 2026 FA 2023 FA 2025 FA 2026 FA 2025 SPR 2025 FA 2023 Page 194
This course is intended for advanced acting students to expand their understanding of the fundamentals of acting, voice, and movement, and begin to interface with text analysis and various acting methods, including those established by Stanislavski, Chekhov, Hagen, and Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 428
The process of recording and creating high quality sound is a critical skill and art form to master when making films, videos, webcasts, and numerous other visual and performing arts. This course will broadly cover the methods, technology, and artistry of sound design while introducing students to the resources of the film department's SoundCraft recording studio. Assignments include short production exercises and a final project. Also listed and described as FILM 282. Open to first-year students. No prerequisite.
This course will focus on the creation of original performance pieces where the writer will be the principal performer. The course will have a strong writing component, taking ideas from various sources (current events, adaptation, memoir/journal, etc.) and guiding their development from initial inspiration to completed text. There will also be instruction in performance styles and skills, including acting and directing, along with objective peer evaluations of student work using established methods of criticism. By the end of the course, each student should have a collected body of work suitable for performance or for use as audition pieces. Open to first-year students. No prerequisite.
A survey of the history of theatre from the late 19th century to the present, focusing primarily on trends from the 20th century, and including the study of a broad range of dramatic literature. This course builds on the foundations of historical research, analysis, and criticism laid in Episodes of Theatre History: Season I.
Intensive study of exemplary tragedies from Aeschylus (Oresteia trilogy), Sophocles (Oedipus plays), Euripides (Medea, Hecuba, Electra), and Shakespeare (Hamlet, Macbeth, Lear). Topics will include justice, revenge, and murder; the development of tragedy in classical Athens and early modern England; the effects of ancient and premodern staging conditions and practices; the role of tragedy as reflector and generator of social tensions; the portrayal of gender in tragedy; the place of Aristotle’s Poetics as a touchstone for the evaluation of the tragic genre; ideas of tradition, reception, and confluence among authors and audiences. Videos and live performances will enhance our exploration beyond the scripts. Also listed and described as CLAS 342. Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 429
This advanced theatre technology class focuses on filling the gap between theatrical design and its implementation. Students will be required to work with video projectors, lighting, sound, computers, Q-lab, pneumatics, rigging and scenic automation equipment. Students will demonstrate proficiency in problem-solving techniques and theatre technology through major projects related to the season productions.
THEA 354ADVANCED TECHNIQUES IN THEATRICAL SOUND DESIGN2
Building on the foundational concepts from Theatrical Design, this course provides an in-depth exploration of sound's role in supporting and enhancing theatrical productions. Students will use industry-standard software (QLab and Audacity) and learn live microphoning techniques for performers and instruments, as well as original sound creation, and the use of licensed audio files.
THEA 360ADVANCED PERFORMANCE & PRODUCTION WORKSHOP1
This advanced departmental workshop is open to theatre majors and minors seeking leadership roles in a fully realized theatrical production. Students may focus on advanced performance, design (set/props, costume, lighting, projection, or sound), producing, production management, or stage management. Students must audition or interview and be assigned a role and will be registered by the director. or production manager. May be repeated for credit as roles vary each semester.
Subject
THEA
Credits (min)
1
Credits (max)
1
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated for credit as roles vary each semester.
Audition/technical interview, THEA 260: Production Workshop, and permission of instructor
THEA 361CLASSICAL SCENE STUDY4
An advanced acting class focusing on period styles and an actor’s approach to the classics. Scene study includes the plays of Ancient Greece, Shakespeare, Moliere, and the Restoration.
An introduction to the creative and aesthetic challenges faced by the director. Included is an examination of the director’s relationship to the text, the actor, and the audience. The approach is both theoretical and practical, involving reading, class exercises, papers, and attendance at theatre events. Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 430
THEA 100, THEA 113, and one 200 level or higher design course or my instructor permission.
THEA 364PLAYWRITING FUNDAMENTALS4
An introductory workshop in the creation and development of scripted material for the stage. Each week students explore a different theatrical element through written exercises. Each student’s work culminates in the writing of a one-act or full-length play. Students also read selected contemporary plays that provide models for meeting the challenges inherent in writing for the stage.
THEA 113, THEA 263, or permission from the instructor. (C&I)
THEA 365JUNIOR SEMINAR: PURPOSE, PASSION, AND POSSIBILITIES2
This course examines theatre-making as a way of living in and seeing the world. Students will explore the stories they want to tell and why and examine personal and communal values as the foundation for creating a theatre company. Together, students will develop an artistic vision statement and present their company philosophy and proposed collaborative senior production project to faculty for approval. This course serves as a Junior Seminar for theatre majors and minors.
junior standing and theatre major or minor. Offered Term 1.
THEA 384PLAYWRITING STYLES4
This course builds on the foundations of playwriting, and, through targeted exercises, students will explore a broader range of styles, genres, and approaches to writing for the stage. Students will read representative texts in a variety of styles and write several original ten-minute plays in those styles. A 25-35 page one-act play will serve as their final project. Students will also provide feedback on the work of their peers as well as be expected to take every opportunity to see productions of plays at theatre venues on and off campus.
Senior theatre majors are required to enroll for a project in the senior year. This project will consist of a faculty-approved and mentored collaborative production experience planned, designed, directed, and produced by all senior theatre majors as a company. Offered Term 1 or Term 2. Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 431
All students, faculty, staff, and guests meet for four weeks each summer during which time development readings and full workshop productions are prepared to be presented to the Roanoke community as part of the Festival of Student Work. Students submit an example of their best work that they have been developing throughout the year for these opportunities. 101
Intensive critical analysis of the playscript as a blueprint for production covering representative texts from a range of theatre styles, genres, and periods. Plays are considered in both their original historical/cultural circumstances and implications for contemporary audiences. The course covers major approaches to dramatic criticism and the tools used in theatre research. Required course for first-year students. This course is offered during the summer session only.
Intensive study in theoretical and practical approaches to the realization of a text on the stage. Historical research, criticism, play analysis, conceptualization for production, cutting, adaptation, literary management, evaluation of text, advocacy of new writers, development of new plays, audience development, public relations, publicity, and arts education are all touched upon in this comprehensive survey of the role of the dramaturge. Not currently required but strongly encouraged as part of your plan of study.
A focused study of specific areas within the expertise of the instructor pertaining to theatre styles and genres. This course is offered with subtitles descriptive of the content, which is dependent on the interests and expertise of the individual instructor. Relevant examples are: - ABSURDISM AND SURREALISM - EPIC THEATRE 102
A focused study of specific areas in the subject of theatre history. This course is offered with subtitles descriptive of the content, which is dependent on the interests and expertise of the individual instructor. Relevant examples are: - MEDIEVAL AND LITURGICAL DRAMA - MUSICAL THEATRE - ORIGINS OF THEATRE - THE NEGRO UNIT - THE LITTLE THEATRE MOVEMENT
Focused study pertaining to the cultural impact of theatre and theatre as a force for either societal stasis or change. Specific content of the course offered is dependent on the interests and expertise of the instructor. - AFRICAN AMERICAN THEATRE - AMERICAN WOMEN PLAYWRIGHTS - BANNED PLAYS - CHRISTIAN DRAMA - POLITICAL THEATRE - QUEER DRAMA - THEATRE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
Detailed analysis of a single author, their biographical background, and body of work. Some authors who may be examined are William Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen, Federico Garcia Lorca, Bertolt Brecht, Samuel Beckett, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, Sam Shepard, Maria Irene Fornes, and Suzan Lori Parks. The particular content will be dependent on the interests and expertise of the individual instructor. 103
Introduction to the basics of storytelling and the creation of dramatic texts using both organic and formulaic models with an emphasis on the one act play. Students will learn to observe the world for meaning, build characters, place characters in settings, write monologues, create dialogue between characters, and lay the groundwork for longer, more substantive work. This is a required course for first-year students. This course is offered during the summer session only.
Taken by playwrights, directors, and performers to build ensemble and open new avenues of collaboration on found, created, devised, and scripted text. Will include techniques for collaboration, building ensemble, group dynamics, psychophysical acting and improvisation, crafting theatre pieces based on found, devised, and scripted text.
This course provides an advanced foundation in stagecraft, with an emphasis on set construction, rigging, and shop safety. Students develop technical proficiency with power tools and construction techniques for building and finishing scenic elements, along with an understanding of theatrical rigging and computerized fly systems. Coursework emphasizes practical, transferable skills applicable across a variety of theatre production contexts and settings.
An exploration of how to write, produce and perform solo work which may include the writer as the principle performer. The course will look at examples of successful solo performers and performances from the past and guide the students through the creation of an original performance piece designed for a single actor.
THEA 534WRITING PLAYS FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES (4) Department
Exploration of the creation of dramas designed to be performed both for and by children and young adults. While adaptation of existing children’s literature will be addressed, the focus is on the creation of original plays for young audiences.
Writers are given guided instruction in creating stage plays which incorporate music. Students will be given some historical background in American Musical Theatre, Revues, and straight plays which incorporate original compositions. Students will have an opportunity to meet with and possibly work with a composer on short pieces which use music to help tell the story.
Introduction to writing for television, film, and other alternative media. Students in the course will be introduced to differences in style, format, and role of the writer outside of the theatre. The course is designed specifically for playwrights who want to be in control of their own work when adapting to another medium and/or preparation to join the growing number of playwrights who are now writing for television.
Intensive instruction in creating a dramatic text from historical documents or real-life events. Before creating their own original works, students will study the form by examining existing docudramas and exploring the legal and ethical dilemmas peculiar to this form of writing.
A variety of focused examinations of specific areas of playwriting, as determined by the instructor PRODUCTION COURSES Class size in these courses is limited to 10 students per section.
THEA 561DIRECTORS AND PLAYWRIGHTS IN COLLABORATION2
This course is designed to guide students through a deeper and more engaged process of collaboration and revision using practical exercises to ensure that the playwright is clear on their narrative intent and director and actors are incorporated into the development process. Offered online each spring. CREATIVE WORKSHOP COURSES Class size in these courses is limited to 10 students per section. (Except for THEA 522, which takes up to ten students from each discipline: playwriting, directing, and performance.)
Students will be guided in the creation of nonlinear and nontraditional approaches to the drama, as well as study the work of recent avant-garde playwrights both in this country and abroad. (Previously taught as “Experimental Playwriting.”) 61
This course is designed to introduce the student to short works as a viable form by exploring venues, publication opportunities, contests, festivals for scripts whose lengths run from one minute to ten. MASTER CLASSES (3 courses for 12 credits) Class size in these courses limited to four to six students per section.
In this intensive workshop students come to each class with a completely new play resulting in four new first drafts over the four-week course, each in a different style or genre and incorporating a set list of prompts. While it is possible that these first drafts might eventually be developed and revised into final drafts, the emphasis is on mastering the discipline necessary to produce substantive work on a deadline as well as reinforcing the student’s understanding of the fundamentals of play structure. This course is offered during the summer session only. 104
A workshop course in which students further develop skills in the writing and analysis of stage plays. Designed for students with prior experience in playwriting. Students will bring to the class a project they would like to further develop through the workshop format – involving analysis by other students and careful, intentional questioning by the instructor. The notes received will then be incorporated into a revised submission ready draft, properly formatted and ready for production. This will be a virtual online course taken during the Fall Semester.
Writers are given guided individual instruction on full-length play revision helping to shape a text that will be ready for production, and suitable for submission. This course is similar in structure to THEA 571, but where that course uses an advanced collaborative workshop structure, this course places emphasis on targeted exercise, exploratory writing, and narrative structure to guide the revision process and to reinforce tools that can be used in the shaping of future work. As with Advanced Workshop, the play must not have been submitted in any previous course for credit without the prior approval of the program director as well as the current instructor as well as the instructor of the course for which it was originally submitted. 105
An introduction to the structure of the non-profit theatre and how-to guide for creating a new company dedicated to the production and presentation of new plays. Concepts covered include arts administration, crafting a mission statement, forming a board of trustees, filing for non-profit status, legal issues and potential liabilities, fund raising, publicity, contracts, rental agreements, and other aspects of producing new work as part of a season or just a single showcase. 60
When students have an off campus reading, internship, or production opportunity in a legitimate theatre, they may register for this course and receive academic credit for the experience. They will be required to maintain a journal and document every aspect of the production and, if possible, provide a DVD of the event. The quality of the production is not the focus of the grade, but rather the objective analysis of the process, which must be detailed and chronicled in a scholarly portfolio with a written dramaturgical analysis of the experience. May be repeated. Prior approval required.
