UCD Theatre & Dance Dept.

Urinetown

Location(s)

222 Wright Hall

Office Hours

8am-12pm & 1pm-5pm

Phone

(530) 752-0888

Fax

(530) 752-8818

E-mail

Web site

http://theatredance.ucdavis.edu

The UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance is a part of the College of Letters and Science and is housed in Wright Hall. It offers one undergraduate major (Dramatic Art, with a focus in either Theatre or Dance), a minor, an MFA program (geared towards those actually pursuing a career in theatre) and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Performance Studies.

The department includes over 120 undergraduate majors in Theatre and Dance, 40-45 graduate students in the MFA in Dramatic Art and the PhD in Performance Studies, as well as 5-10 visiting professional artists and teachers each quarter. This mix of college students, mid-career professionals, and seasoned theatre practitioners and scholars provides a dynamic environment for learning, experimentation, and growth, and a diverse, supportive community for all of its members.

Man of La Mancha

The major in Dramatic Art provides a liberal arts education and pre-professional training in theater. Students develop their abilities through a wide range of courses combining practical and theoretical skills that emphasize critical thought and independence in a context of challenging cooperative work. From the first year, majors may participate in every aspect of bringing a work to the stage: acting, dance, directing, playwriting, choreography, stage management and design. Technical practice in the design and creation of sets, costumes, sound and lighting accompanies a firm grounding in dramatic literature, dance and theatre history, performance theory and criticism. This combination of theory and practice prepares students for a broad range of career opportunities.

It is strongly recommended that all UCD students take DRA 010 at some point in their college careers; this is the non-majors' variation of Drama 20, which is the major's required Intro to Dramatic Art course. It is taught by graduate students. A very basic overview of theatrical styles and history is given, along with basics of acting and speech, with emphasis on actually getting up and doing things. If you have to have class at 8 am, this is the one.

The Department altered its course offerings in the Winter quarter of 2006, specifically the 156 series (156A, 156B, and 156C) classes, which had formerly covered the history of Theatre and Dance (from ancient history to 1650, from 1650 to 1900, and from 1900 to today, respectively.) These history classes were, quite reasonably, required for both major programs and the minor. The classes are now on the analysis of dramatic art, with DRA 156A (Winter 2006) entitled Irony, Satire and Protest, Lynette Hunter's 156B Theatre, History, Place, and Jon Rossini's 156C 20th Century Theatre. The department no longer offers any courses specifically on theatre/dance history, though much history is incorporated in other theatre classes. Professor Lynette Hunter commented to her 156B class on March 29, 2006 that the faculty is more concerned with students' awareness of the scope and evolution of theatre, rather than its extensive and complex chronology and minutia. As of Winter 2007, the new classes were renamed 156AN/156BN/156CN, and the originals dropped from course listings, to clarify the change.

The MFA Program offers a collaborative curriculum of interdisciplinary, team-taught seminars that cover a full spectrum of performance practices, including acting, directing, choreography and design. Students in any area may elect to extend their expertise through advanced study in another discipline.

For information regarding academic programs, visit http://theatredance.ucdavis.edu.

One of the assets to the Department is the Granada Artists-in-Residence program. It is unique in American university theatre, bringing prominent theatre artists — directors, playwrights, choreographers, or filmmakers — to Davis each academic quarter to teach and create a work for public performance. A special opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students to work closely with major theatre and dance practitioners, it is a unique cross-cultural experience.http://theatredance.ucdavis.edu/proartists/granada_history.aspx

Undergraduate students in the Dramatic Art major or minor (or even simply taking Drama classes) can often be found in the Green Room.

The building houses not only a full proscenium theatre with raked seating (also known as the Main Stage), but also features a fully-operational set shop, costume shop, and prop room. While the set shop is on the building's ground level, the costume shop and prop room are in the basement.

For information about auditions, upcoming performances, visiting artists, and other events, sign up for the Theatre and Dance e-News.

For more info, visit:
http://theatredance.ucdavis.edu/season/current.aspx