University
of Maryland Department of Theatre
Undergraduate Frequently Asked
Questions
How
Do I Change My Major to Theatre?
Email to make an appointment with the Coordinator of Student Services.
This cannot be done as a walk-in. They will explain the curriculum and
give basic departmental information as well as signing a Change of Major
Form. Make an appointment with a College Advisor in the office of Student
Affairs at the College of Arts and Humanities (Francis
Scott Key Hall). Take them this form to be processed. Double majors need
permission of both departments.
Return
to Frequently Asked Questions.
How
Do I Declare a Double Major or Pursue a Double Degree?
What is the difference? In both cases, the transcript will show
that the student completed all university, college, and major requirements
for
both programs. For a double degree, a student must earn a minimum of 150
credits and will receive two diplomas. The student earning a double major
must complete only 120 credits and will receive only one diploma. (If you
pursue a double major, your one diploma will reflect the degree (for example,
B.A. or B.S.) of your "primary" major.) You must make an appointment with
the Coordinator of Student Services to fill out the paperwork - this cannot
be done as a walk-in.
Return to Frequently
Asked Questions.
How Do I Add a second Major?
Part of the process of adding a major is to declare which will be your
primary major and which will be the secondary. Your choice may matter in
several different ways. For instance, if you are pursuing a double major
(which results in a single diploma) and one of the majors grants a B.A.
and the other a B.S., your primary major will determine the degree that
appears on your diploma. If you want to apply for a scholarship that is
limited to Theatre majors, you need to have THET as your primary major.
Make an appointment with the Coordinator of Sudent Services to complete
the Theatre requirements portion and sign and stamp the 'Add a
Major' form.This cannot be done as a walk-in.
Then, make an appointment and meet with an advisor in the ARHU Office
of Student Affairs to be advised on university and college requirements
and to be officially added to your second major.
What Courses Should I Take as
a First-Semester, First-Year Theatre Major?
The first year you should take 2 courses in the Foundation
Series the first semester and two the second semester. You will
complete the 5th course in your third semester to complete the
sequence. You register for THET 288
- the Fundamentals Project in either your 3rd or 4th semester.
After 4 of 5 fundamentals have been completed, courses in the Area
Menu may be taken. All freshmen entering the University as of Fall
2005 must create a 4-year Plan and meet specific Benchmarks. Failure
to do so could result in being asked to leave the major.
Return to Frequently
Asked Questions.
What Courses Should I Take as a First-Semester
Transfer Theatre Major?
1. After having your transcript evaluated for equivalent courses,
you should begin by taking the Fundamentals courses (THET 112-116) that
you have not completed. You will most likely be allowed to enter area
menus in the areas that you have credit for the corresponding fundamentals
course. For example - if you have credit for Fundamentals of Acting you
can go on to take Acting I even though you may not have completed 4 of
5 fundamentals. Certain courses (THET 290, 291 for example) that are
designated CORE by the University can be taken without any prerequisites.
2. You must meet with the Theatre advisor to see if any of your other
Theatre coursework is equivalent to UM courses. A catalog listing and
syllabus for the course is required for evaluation.
3. Our program is uniquely based on a Foundation Series where the courses "speak to each other." Most
of these courses will not be equivalent to coursework at outside universities
and the transfer student will be
required to take the UM courses before continuing to the Area Menus.
4. It is not our intention to impede
progress and in any circumstance possible we will give equivalent credit
and allow the student to continue the sequence of that course into the
area menu. Please note classes which require an audition. Auditions are
completed in the prior semester; there are no late opportunities to audition
for courses.
Return to Frequently Asked Questions.
How
Do I Transfer Non-Theatre Courses from Another College or
University?
Check your transfer credit evaluation as early as
possible. Don't assume a transfer course meets a requirement
unless it is specifically applied to that requirement
through the transfer evaluation. Consult with an advisor in
the College of Arts and Humanities Office of Student Affairs
located at 1120 Francis Scott Key Hall and be sure to get a
copy of advising records showing how transfer credits will
be applied to CORE requirements. Don't wait a few semesters,
or until just before graduation to seek changes or
adjustments to any transfer evaluations that you may
question. You may be asked to provide materials from the
course for additional review. To determine whether or not a
specific course is transferable, you may contact the
Transfer Center at 301-314-8240, 1130 Mitchell Building. You
may also e-mail the Transfer Center at tccinfo@deans.umd.edu
or conduct a Transfer Credit Equivalency Search
at
http://www.sis.umd.edu/TCC.
Special transfer agreements apply for students transferring
from a Maryland public 2-year or 4-year institution. These
agreements ease transition between the institutions. Please
refer to "Maryland Higher Education Commission Transfer
Policies" in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Return
to Frequently Asked Questions.
How Do I Transfer Theatre Courses
from Another College or University?
1. If you have taken any accredited institution's "Introduction
to the Theatre" course, you will most likely be given CORE credit
for THET 110. This course is no longer included as a required course
in Theatre curriculum. Other courses which often match up are Fundamentals
of Theatre Craft (course work must cover scenic, costume, lighting),
Acting I, Directing I, Fundamentals of Theatre History (Greek to modern),
Fundamentals of Play Analysis, Stage Makeup, Drafting, and Costume
Construction.
2. You must meet with the Theatre advisor to see if any of your
other Theatre coursework is equivalent to UM courses. A catalog
listing and syllabus for the course is required for evaluation.
3. Our program is uniquely based on a Foundation Series where the
courses "speak to each other." Most
of these courses will not be equivalent to coursework at outside
universities and the transfer student will be
required to take the UM courses before continuing to the Area Menus.
4. It is not our intention to impede
progress and in any circumstance possible we will give equivalent credit
and allow the student to continue the sequence of that course into the
area menu. Please note classes which require an audition. Auditions are
completed in the prior semester; there are no late opportunities to audition
for courses.
What are the lab requirements for Fundamentals
of Craft?
The Craft course requires a weekly 3-hour lab. The lab periods are divided
between instructional meetings and working in one or more of the appropriate
shops.
How
do I Register for THET 429 Credit?
When you are cast in a major production, you may register for THET
429. Although THET 429 credits are not required, you should take advantage
of this opportunity to earn academic credit for your work. Actors receive
two credits, and understudies receive one credit. If the director is a
faculty member, you register under his or her section number. If the director
is a guest artist, you will be notified on the cast reflector as to the
section to register under.
How do I audition for courses that require auditions?
Auditions are held about two weeks
before the pre-registration period for the next semester. Audition dates
and times are announced in the undergraduate newsletter and on the callboard.
Requirements will be listed. Usually, acting class auditions for require
a one-minute contemporary monologue from a play written between the 1960s
and the present. Please select something in your age and range.
Auditions for Musical Theatre Workshop require 32 bars of a musical theatre
song.
How do I audition for major productions?
Auditions for mainstage productions are typically held sometime during
the semester before the production opens. Auditions, which are open to
all members of the campus community, are announced in the undergraduate
newsletter and on the callboard.
How do I audition for Off Center Productions?
Off-Center Productions are usually directed by students (undergraduate
or graduate) in the Laboratory Theatre. Directors typically hold auditions
during the semester in which they mount the production. Auditions, which
are open to all members of the campus community, are announced in the
undergraduate newsletter and on the callboard.
Advice About Auditioning
About
Auditioning
by Mitchell Hébert, Head of Performance Area
Many folks have asked me what they did "wrong" at an
audition—based on their not being called back or
cast. The truth is, you can give a great audition and not
be called back. There are issues of "type" and are you
"right" for the part. Is the fit right between you and
the role, and that's out of your control.
First,
in my opinion, the only thing you can do "wrong" at an audition
is not share your authentic self with the director and
others in the room. That's what we're looking for—YOU.
It is so important to make the audition about sharing
yourself and your work and not about a validation of you
or your work. Assume you can act. Directors cast
confidence as much as anything.
Second, unless
your character is talking to the audience, don't make the
director your scene partner. Look just to left or right
of the director at your eye level.
Third, don't use
any empty chair as your scene partner, your vision
invariably drops down to seat and, well, 'nuff
said.
Fourth,
bring a TYPED resume. No one wants to try to decipher your
handwriting. It also speaks positively about your focus
and professionalism if you have the "tools" of the
audition with you. A photo, while not strictly a
requirement here, is helpful as well. It helps the
director remember you.
Finally,
ask yourself these questions: "How did I prepare for the
audition? Did I practice my breathing? Did I take some
quiet time when I got to the audition to focus or did I
gab in the hall? Did I read the play? When did I learn my
audition material? How long and in how much detail did I
work on it?"It makes a
difference.
And Some
Auditioning Tips from a Recent Guest
Director
1. If the director
gives you a choice to make, make it. Don't, in an attempt
to be obliging, try to put all decisions back on the
director. It's a little test. Those who make an immediate
and definite choice show confidence and
preparation.
2.
In making the choice of which to do first, do not reveal which you
think is your stronger skill. Those that say, "I'll do X
first and get it over with," start with a negative mark
against them before they've even begun.
3. NEVER APOLOGIZE
for anything at the end of an audition.
4.
If the director gives an adjustment, LISTEN to it and TAKE IT. The
test
is not about making the "right" adjustment or making the
"right" choice—it's about the ability to make
different choices and take any adjustments.
5. If you are
called back, FAMILIARIZE yourself with the
material.
6. In the choice
of audition pieces, steer away from the sexual, the
scatological and the violent.
7. Have a title
for your piece and an author. Know how to pronounce names
and words.
8. The ability to
walk on the stage and take it with confidence is a big
part of the audition.
9.
Don't ask the director "when will we know." Ask the stage manager or
the person at the front desk.
10. Finally, if
there is a multi-day audition, don't wait until the last
day. This sends the signal that you leave everything to
the last minute. Will you be that way with learning
lines?
When to Complete CORE
Courses
You should aim to complete all CORE courses, including
Advanced Studies, in your first 2 to 2 1/2 years. You may
want to consider taking CORE courses during the winter term
or during summer school.
Return
to Tips for Undergraduate Theatre
Majors.
Taking CORE Courses at Other
Institutions
You may take CORE courses at other institutions, but you
should verify that they are transferable as the equivalent
of CORE courses before you take them. First, conduct a
Transfer Credit Equivalency Search at http://www.sis.umd.edu/TCC.
If you don't find a match between the non-UM course and the
UM CORE course you'd like to replace, you may ask the
Transfer Center to evaluate the particular non-UM course.
Send an e-mail message 3-4 weeks before the course is
scheduled to start to the Transfer Center at
tccinfo@deans.umd.edu. Be sure to include the name of the
institution where you want to take the course and that
institution's name and number of the course plus the name
and number of the UM course.
Return
to Tips for Undergraduate Theatre
Majors.
Fulfilling the Arts and
Humanities Foreign Language Requirement
If you believe your foreign language proficiency is
demonstrated by your high school coursework, meet with an
advisor in the College of Arts and Humanities Office of
Student Affairs to verify this and ask the advisor to make
this part of your permanent record. If you need to take
foreign language coursework at the university, we suggest
you do this as early as possible.
Waitlisting--A Good Rule of
Thumb
A good rule of thumb is that you may get into a course for which your
number on the waitlist is a figure that is within 10% of the course's
total capacity. For instance, if the course has a total of 250 seats,
your chances are good if you're in the first 25 people on the waitlist.
Or if you're within the first 3 or 4 waitlisted for a course with 35 seats.
Or if you're within the first 1 or 2 for a course with 12 seats. If you're
planning a schedule that includes courses for which you will be waitlisted,
you must be certain you understand and follow the waitlist procedure.
Fulfill 479
Requirements As Early as Possible
You should try to meet these requirements as early in your academic
career as possible because you will probably become more and more committed
to other activities as your career progresses. A good way to satisfy
1
credit of THET 479 is to take part in a "Fire Sale" in the last full
week before fall and spring classes begin. Click
here for more information
about THET 479.
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