Rice Theatre Program

Rice Theatre Program curriculum offers a solid foundation in all aspects of theatrical production from acting and directing to technology and design for students who wish to pursue a professional career in theatre or continue on to a graduate program.  Theatre courses are also open to non-majors who want to gain a greater appreciation for the art of theatre.

There are two main-stage productions and two student showcases offered each year in Hamman Hall-a 500 seat proscenium theatre facility.  Participation in productions is open to all students currently enrolled in theatre courses as well as students who have taken theatre courses as non-majors.  The end of semester showcases feature the work of students currently enrolled in theatre courses.

Theatre Program faculty are actively involved in professional theatre and film locally, nationally, and internationally and actively pursue opportunities to involve advanced students in that work.  In addition, advanced students are encouraged to apply for internship positions whenever possible.  Rice students have been accepted in competitive internships such as The Alley Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and The Peter Hall Company.  In addition, students are encouraged to study theatre abroad and transfer course credit back to Rice.  Approval for transfer credit must be sought prior to enrollment in a study-abroad program by contacting the director of the Theatre Program.

In even number years, the Theatre Program, sponsored by the Alan and Shirley Grob Endowment for Shakespeare in Performance, hosts the Actors From the London Stage- one of the oldest established touring Shakespeare theatre companies in the world-for a week-long residency of workshops, performances, and lectures.  Each tour presents a full-length play by Shakespeare performed by five classically trained actors who come from such prestigioius companies as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre of Great Britian, and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

Single Major
(13 courses required)
ARTS 225, Basic Drawing or ARTS 101 accepted as equivalent
THEA 100, Theatre Technology or THEA 101, Costume/Clothing Construction
THEA 300, Introduction to Theatre Design or THEA 301, Acting I
THEA 303, Introduction to Theatre
ARTS 499, Special Problems: Sr. Exhibition/Theatre Production
Six (6) elective courses in theatre (THEA)
Two (2) elective courses in studio practice (ARTS), film production, history, or theory/criticism (FILM), dramatic literature (ENGL), or art history (HART).

Double Major
(11 courses required)
ARTS 225,  Basic Drawing or ARTS 101 accepted as equivalent
THEA 100, Theatre Technology or THEA 101, Costume/Clothing Construction
THEA 300, Introduction to Theatre Design or THEA 301, Acting I
THEA 303, Introduction to Theatre
ARTS 499, Special Problems: Sr. Exhibition/Theatre Production
Four (4) elective courses in theatre (THEA)
Two (2) elective courses in studio practice (ARTS), film production, history, or theory/criticism (FILM), dramatic literature (ENGL), or art history (HART).

Transfer Credit
No more than two courses may be tranferred for the single or double major to satisfy degree requirements for the BA in Visual and Dramatic Arts degree.  The two transfer credit courses must be studio or theatre practice courses required for all majors.  Advanced placement credit may not be used to fulfill department degree requirements.

Entering transfer students who are transferring coursework from another ac credited college or university will be allowed to transfer their undergraduate art courses.  Students must speak with the department chairman immediately upon transferring to Rice.

All art, film or theatre courses taken during the NYU/Rice spring residencies will be transferred for the major or double-major.

On Location in New York
Majors and double-majors are encouraged to compete for two academic residencies in studio, theatre, or film each spring at the prestigious Tisch School of Arts and the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University (NYU) in New York City.  These one-semester residenciees are offered each spring and are chosen through competitive proposal and portfolio review during the fall semester.

The NYU/Rice residencies allow our students to study their chosen craft in the international epicenter for the arts.  The residencies offer rigorous, concentrated curriculum in arts theory, criticism, and practice and provide extraordinary opportunities for independent exploration and research in New York's world-renown art galleries, museums, alternative and mainstream film companies, and theatre production.