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David Howey, School Dean
jhowey@uarts.edu
(215) 717-6568

C O N T E N T S

• Mission Statement
• Overview
• School Objectives
• School Learning Outcomes
• Facilities
• Productions & Auditions
• Extracurricular Activities

Mission Statement

The Ira Brind School of Theater Arts is committed to developing the individual artistic voice of each student. Each student will develop both skills and an expanded point of view. Upon graduation, our students are ready to engage the medium and the world with a strong sense of themselves as citizen artists.

Overview

The curriculum is conservatory-inspired, celebrating acting instruction as the focal point of training in both the Acting and Musical Theater programs, with a deep investment in vocal and physical training as principal support areas. In both the Theater Design and Technology and Directing, Playwriting, and Production programs, the focus upon technique holds true, supported by extended collaborative learning opportunities in production. Opportunities for master classes, guest speakers, internships, and apprenticeships with both nationally prominent guest artists and the many local professional companies are among the experiences open to all Brind School students.

The highly focused and demanding training is complimented by a strong concentration in Critical Studies. We believe that the theater artist, charged with reflecting the human condition, is best developed hand in hand with a strong grounding in Critical Studies.

School Objectives

The Brind School at the University of the Arts:

• serves its students by developing their artistic point of view and cultivating a way of looking at their worldly experiences to enhance expression and meaning in their work.
• trains these students in their craft, prepares them for careers in the theater, and offers performance opportunities appropriate to that training and preparation.
• serves the University and the community at large by producing theater that is thoughtful, provocative and entertaining and communicates a strong artistic and social point of view.
• serves the theater community by producing new works and neglected masterpieces, and seeking ongoing experimentation with new materials, techniques and technologies.

School Learning Outcomes

• A Brind Artist will CREATE and INNOVATE.
  They will make work that exhibits imagination and a strong personal point of view that contributes to and challenges all aspects of performance media .
• A Brind Artist will ENGAGE and CONNECT as a citizen-artist across communities and ideas.
  They will demonstrate an awareness of how the theater artist serves society and the breadth of opportunity available to engage in that service; exhibiting curiosity and empathy supported by a knowledge of the history of their art and the humanities.
• A Brind Artist will possess CRAFT, TECHNIQUE, and PROFESSIONALISM.
  They will demonstrate the ability to assess their own work and that of others, to manage time and resources, to read and analyze plays and source material and to innovate, collaborate and iterate in the service of theater-making under a wide range of conditions.
• A Brind Artist will be ADAPTABLE.
  They will be flexible and fearless in their integration of studio and classroom techniques to meet the varying demands of dramatic forms and theatrical styles in preparation and performance.

Facilities

The majority of facilities for the Brind School are located in the Terra Building at 211 South Broad Street. These include seminar and classroom spaces and studios for individual voice, speech, dance, movement, and acting instruction. In addition, The Brind School enjoys the use of 6 public performance venues.

• Laurie Beechman Cabaret Theater - 60 seat
• Caplan Studio Theater - 100 seat
• Caplan Recital Hall - 200 seat
• ArtsBank Theater - 230 seat
• Levitt Auditorium - 700 seat
• Merriam Theater - 1800 seat

Design and technical support are provided by a production shop, a costume shop, a design studio, a lighting lab, areas for both property and costume stock, and a fully-equipped video editing studio.

Productions and Auditions

The Brind School presents an annual season of work which includes projects helmed by students, faculty and celebrated guest artists from the national and local theater scenes. Auditions for the season are open to all Brind School students.

Extracurricular Activities

Students in the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts may participate in approved theater projects outside the University. We believe professional work can foster the growth and imagination of our students. The approval process will include consideration of student academic standing, program head and school dean advisement.

Programs

• Devised Performance, GC
• Devised Performance, MFA

• Acting, BFA
• Directing, Playwriting + Production, BFA
• Musical Theater, BFA
• Theater Design + Technology, BFA

• Musical Theater

Courses

• DVPP 601 Devised Performance Ensemble I
• DVPP 602 Devised Performance Ensemble II
• DVPP 603 Devised Performance Ensemble III
• DVPP 604 Devised Performance Ensemble IV
• DVPP 610 Music Skills
• DVPP 621 Seminar: Contemporary Art and Culture
• DVPP 622 Seminar: Being a Critical Consumer of Live Art
• DVPP 623 Seminar: Thinking Like a Producer
• DVPP 624 Seminar: History, Theory, and Practice Of Ensemble
• DVPP 631 Foundations of Teaching and Learning Theory
• DVPP 632 Pedagogies of Performance/Teaching Methods
• DVPP 680 Selected Topics in Devised Performance
• DVPP 701 Devised Performance Development/ Production
• DVPP 721 Seminar: Creating and Leading a Healthy & Fulfilling Life As an Artist
• DVPP 741 Teaching Practicum
• DVPP 751 Seminar: MFA Thesis
• DVPP 752 Seminar: Performance Documentation
• TDTC 120 Theater Sketching and Rendering
• TDTC 201 Drafting and Model-Making
• TDTC 202 Cutting and Draping
• TDTC 203 Vectorworks Drafting
• TDTC 204 Scenic Painting
• TDTC 205 Costume Crafts
• TDTC 207 Theater Photography
• TDTC 208 Costume Construction
• TDTC 209 Production Planning
• TDTC 210 Props for Theater and Film
• TDTC 211 Theater Drafting
• TDTC 212 Theater Rigging
• TDTC 217 Theatrical Modelmaking
• TDTP 331 Set Practicum
• TDTP 332 Costume Practicum
• TDTP 333 Lighting Practicum
• TDTP 334 Sound Practicum
• TDTP 335 Tech Practicum
• THEA 151 Survey of Theater Arts
• THEA 152 Script Analysis
• THEA 161 Collaboration in Theater
• THEA 201 The Teaching Artist
• THEA 220 Exploration of Style
• THEA 221 Dramaturgy
• THEA 251 Theater History I
• THEA 252 Theater History II
• THEA 272 Study Abroad: London Theater
• THEA 353 Musical Theater History I
• THEA 354 Musical Theater History II
• THEA 355 Playwriting I
• THEA 356 Playwriting II
• THEA 358 History of Costume & Decor
• THEA 456 Playwriting III
• THEA 457 Playwrights’ Workshop
• THEA 460 Business of Theater
• THEA 475 Special Studies in Theater Arts
• THEA 490 Independent Study
• THEA 499 Internship
• THEA 690 Graduate Independent Study
• THEA 699 Topics: Theater
• THMD 115 Introduction to Ballet I
• THMD 116 Introduction to Ballet II
• THMD 120 Introduction to Jazz Dance I
• THMD 123 Introduction to Jazz Dance II
• THMD 130 Introduction to Tap I
• THMD 133 Introduction to Tap II
• THMD 144 Movement & Dance for Musical Theater II
• THMD 160 Movement for Actors I
• THMD 163 Neutral Mask
• THMD 164 Mask Characterization
• THMD 165 Movement for Actors II
• THMD 171 Stage Combat I
• THMD 172 Stage Combat II
• THMD 175 Stage Combat II
• THMD 183 Movement for Musical Theater
• THMD 210 Beginning Fundamentals of Ballet
• THMD 215 Intermediate Fundamentals of Ballet
• THMD 220 Beginning Fundamentals of Jazz Dance
• THMD 223 Intermediate Fundamentals of Jazz Dance
• THMD 230 Beginning Fundamentals of Tap
• THMD 234 Intermediate Fundamentals of Tap
• THMD 261 Movement for Actors III
• THMD 262 Movement for Actors IV
• THMD 263 Movement for Actors Lab
• THMD 271 Stage Combat III
• THMD 272 Stage Combat IV
• THMD 273 Stage Combat III
• THMD 274 Stage Combat IV
• THMD 313 Advanced Fundamentals of Ballet
• THMD 323 Advanced Fundamentals of Jazz Dance
• THMD 331 Advanced Fundamentals of Tap
• THMD 339 Partnering
• THMD 351 Musical Theater Dance Repertory I
• THMD 352 Musical Theater Dance Repertory II
• THMD 361 Movement for Actors V
• THMD 362 Movement for Actors VI
• THMD 371 Stage Combat V
• THMD 372 Stage Combat VI
• THMD 373 Stage Combat V
• THMD 374 Stage Combat VI
• THMD 381 Ensemble Devising
• THMD 390 Mentored Dance Technique Training
• THMD 452 Musical Theater Dance Auditioning
• THMD 461 Movement for Actors VII

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