Choose Why Choose This Program?
Why Study Theatre at Goucher?
The Theatre Program is designed to offer a balance between the varied artistic elements of theatre and an intellectual understanding of the diverse theoretical, historical, and cultural aspects of this art. Theatre students prepare for careers in theatre and other performance media, for further studies in theatre at the graduate level, or for the pursuit of careers in diverse fields outside of professional theatre. Students pair the minor in theatre with any area of major study at the college. Students also connect the minor to arts related majors including Integrative Art Studies Major or the Arts Management Concentration.
LearnWhat Will You Learn?
What Will You Learn?
At Goucher, the study of theatre is firmly rooted in the liberal arts tradition. Ours is not a conservatory program. We encourage our students to pursue excellence in all the multiple facets of theatre study, including performance, design and technical theatre production, collaborative stagecraft, playwriting and directing, and dramaturgy. Students are expected to balance the rigors of their academic classes with the requirements of a demanding production season. Learn More
DoWhat Will You Do?
What Will You Do?
Students who minor in theatre at Goucher will complete courses in performance, technical theatre and design, history/criticism/dramatic literature, integrative skills courses (such as directing, playwriting, or theatre for social change), and professional development/extramural experience. The Theatre Program also sponsors an annual theatre season in the Mildred Dunnock black box theatre. Our seasons are made up of a diverse array of theatrical productions that include classical and contemporary plays from around the world, student written original works, works in languages other than English, and pieces that experiment with form and content. In the production season students hone skills learned in courses but also collaborate with one another, working together toward common goals.
Course Curriculum
Faculty
Program Contact
Kendall Kennison, Department Chair, Professor of Music, Bennett-Harwood Distinguished Professor
Full-Time and Half-Time Faculty
Allison Campbell, Associate Professor of Theatre
Michael Curry, Professor of Integrative Arts Studies and Theatre
Professor Emeriti
Jean Wilhelm, Professor Emerita of Theatre
Instructional Staff
Todd Mion, lecturer in dance, lighting designer and head of production for dance, music, and theatre
Study Abroad
By studying abroad, choosing three-week intensive courses led by Goucher faculty or semester programs suited to their academic plans, Goucher theatre students gain a global perspective that enhances their course of study. Visit the Office of Global Education for more information.
Three-week intensives lead by Theatre Program faculty include:
Paris, Marseille, and Avignon, France: This course is an experiential introduction to the dynamic world of contemporary French theatre in three distinct parts of France: Avignon and rural Provence, Marseille, and Paris. Students get to know each area through French people, and improve language skills in immersion environments such as homestay families, theatre workshops, and cooking classes. Experienced theatre students profit from direct engagement with French traditions of performance, while beginners discover and develop skills such as vocal projection and characterization. For all students, theatre work offers tools for developing conversational ease in French while plays and performances provide a window into contemporary French culture. The capstone project is a Goucher Theatre Program production presented as part of the program's fall events. Each student's participation is based on the individual's skills and interests.
The Scottish Connection: A Cultural and Artistic Experience
This ICA includes a pre-departure course in the spring term and a three-week intensive course abroad in the summer.(1/3) During the pre-course, work will begin on developing a collaborative performance event that will be done for the public in ad hoc site specific locations in Edinburgh. During the international experience students will explore their interests through exposure to art forms from contemporary Europe to traditional Scottish arts via kinesthetic and visual experiences, performances, open discussions, classes, and workshops. The first half of the international experience draws upon the work begun in the pre-course. Students will collaborate to create a visual/kinesthetic/auditory event that will be presented to the public. In the second half students will be immersed in the International Arts Festival and Fringe Festival. Students will learn to navigate the festivals, which provide a truly international/cultural experience comprised of numerous art forms (theatre, music, physical theatre, dance, circus, caberet, comedy, improv, visual arts etc.), and are encouraged to select experiences/performances/events/etc. that will inform their own artistic work and outlook.
ARTS, CULTURE AND MUSIC IN BALI (5: 4+1) This 4 credit interdisciplinary course invites students to experience Bali through intensive immersion in its music, dance, and visual arts, and exploration of its culture and history. In this intensive course abroad, students will have opportunities to document their experiences and share their reflections on Bali, grappling with such questions as the everyday nuances of cultural difference, the impact of the creative economy and tourism on Balinese culture, the transformative power of Balinese performance and art, and their own role as global consumers and citizens. We will explore Bali’s rich history, performing and visual arts, traditions and heritage through workshops, lectures, performances, and site visits led by Balinese scholars and artists. Students will come away from this course with a deep, informed, and experiential appreciation of Bali’s unique artistic gifts, the ability to document, describe and critically reflect on Balinese cultural performances, and an understanding of the unique Balinese response to challenges of cultural sustainability in our global era. The 1 credit pre-departure course focuses on ethnographic practices of participant-observation, reflexivity, and cultural documentation, and introduces key readings and concepts in the study of Balinese culture and society and encourages awareness of the body through exercises focusing on body movement. Turner, Free.
Opportunities & Internships
Internships
Internships help students explore possibilities, apply classroom learning, and gain experience. Explore internships and credit options.
A detailed description of the off-campus experience is published by the Career Education Office each year and fully describes the guidelines and timetable for internships. Students interested in arranging an internship should contact their individual academic advisors.
THE 290: INTERNSHIP IN THEATRE (3-4)
Full- or part-time internships with professional production companies. Prerequisite:
at least one course in theatre. Preliminary application and interview required. May
be taken for a letter grade or pass/no pass.
Instructor: Michael Curry
Community-Based Learning
Community-based learning, or service learning, is a way for students to actively connect their academic work with direct experience in the community. By combining hands-on work in the community with the academic framework provided by course work across the curriculum, students gain a rich experience of social issues. Students learn about the workings of community, encounter differences related to race, class and privilege, gain a deeper understanding about social justice, and are able to do work that is beneficial to others. They also gain a greater understanding of themselves. Community-based learning emphasizes academic rigor, reflection, and developing ongoing community partnerships. Community-based learning can be part of any discipline and any academic division: humanities, social sciences, sciences and the arts.
At Goucher, community-based learning is part of a growing number of academic courses, including Theatre for Social Change. More information is available from Michael Curry or by visiting the Community-Based Learning website.
Student Clubs
See the Office of Student Engagement for more information about student organizations like the Open Circle Theatre, Pizzazz, and more.
Student Employment
Student employment connects students to both on and off-campus opportunities. The Career Education Office provides resources and support to students with or without Federal Work Study to find jobs, submit applications, and learn more about the job search process. Students have access to Handshake — a website for job postings, events, resumes/cover letters, and career management.
The Theatre Program has many opportunities for students to work on its stage crews
and production teams. See Todd Mion for more information.
Major & Career Exploration
Exploring career options, choosing a major, and making career decisions is a multi-step process in which all students are encouraged to engage early and often. Goucher students have a variety of resources available through the Majors and Career page to assist them in this process.
Job Search
A Goucher education prepares students for today’s job market and beyond. Students can explore job opportunities and access job search resources through the CEO Job Search page.
Graduate & Professional School
Students access resources for searching and applying to graduate and professional school through the CEO Graduate and Professional School page, through faculty and staff members, or utilizing their own resources, network and tools.
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School 4+1 BA/MS Program
Goucher College and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School are offering Goucher students a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program. This 4+1 program combines a bachelor’s degree from Goucher with a master of science degree from Johns Hopkins in business analytics and risk management, information systems, health care management, finance, or marketing. Students can apply during their junior year. GRE or GMAT tests have been waived but applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better and have passed some quantitative reasoning courses with a grade of B or better.