Theatre Courses Course Offerings Franciscan University offers a wide variety of courses designed to acquaint students with all aspects of the theatre. Each year, the faculty teaches beginning courses in Acting, Directing, Theatre History, Oral Interpretation, and Stagecraft, as well as upper division courses in Design, Theatre Literature, and special topics courses, according to the needs of the students in the program. A special course called Theatre Practicum allows students to earn academic credit for acting in University productions, or working backstage on set construction.
Production encompasses the practical side of theatre.
In this course, each senior produces and directs a one-act play of his or her choice. Students frequently find this to be a most educational and practical theatre experience. I surveys the major developments of theatre history in Western civilization from its ancient beginnings to the Renaissance period. Theatre History II continues the study of the development of Western theatre from the Restoration to the present day. Introduction to the Theatre introduces the student to a wide range of theatrical information, including the basic elements and terminology of theatre in such areas as acting, directing, and stagecraft.