Theatre

About this opportunity

Any Barrett student who is considering a major in Theatre in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre should make an appointment as soon as possible with the Faculty Honors Advisor.

Barrett Honors students who work with faculty mentors or thesis directors in theatre create multiple advantages for themselves in securing internships, research opportunities, or other opportunities related to the major that often become the source of thesis topics. Barrett students who work closely with faculty through the thesis/creative project process have unique advantages in demonstrating their scholarly and artistic commitment. ASU Faculty and Barrett alumni are often available to discuss the value of the thesis/creative project not only as good preparation for graduate and professional school, but in securing a meaningful letter of recommendation from a professor who has worked through the process with you, values your commitment and is often willing to place you in contact with colleagues at other prestigious graduate programs nationwide.

Your thesis/creative project may help you get admitted to the graduate school of your choice. Graduate schools frequently require writing or research samples as part of the application process and this criteria is often weighted heavily in evaluating your skills and preparation for succeeding in their program. The honors creative project may serve as your bridge to the professional world of theatre. The completion of a solo performance piece, for example, may provide the opportunity to perform or exhibit in a variety of venues including local theatres or national and international theatre festivals.

Thesis

The thesis/creative project may be conceived as a synthesis of the student's previous work and experiences or an immersion in a particular area of interest.
The goal of the project is quality, not quantity (e.g., a one-act, not a three-act, production).
Students may choose to work individually or collaboratively. Theses/creative projects typically fulfill the theatre major's senior capstone requirement in lieu of THF 497. Please note that Barrett students using the thesis as their theatre senior capstone should only enroll in THE 493, not THF 497.

Examples of Performance/Production Projects

• Directing a play or performing in a major role
• Solo or collaborative work on an original production (e.g., collaborative work: one student writes, another directs, a third designs, and the fourth performs)
• Forum Theatre workshops (e.g., Augusto Boal) on social issues for a participatory audience
• Performance art
• Dance/movement concert
• Puppetry performance
• Storytelling concert
• Musical theatre/opera (excerpts) concerts, revues

Examples of Writing Projects

• An original play, teleplay, or screenplay
• Research paper (geared for conference presentation or publication)
• Curriculum design
• Empirical/survey research (e.g., audience preferences/attitudes, market research, evaluation research)
• A manifesto/credo for a new theatre production company
• Director's prompt book
• Stage Manager's book

Design/Technology Projects

• Schematics or product incorporating new technology for theatre production practice
• Sketches, renderings, sample costume construction for a frequently produced play, or an original play by a student
• Ground plans, working drawings, set models for a frequently produced play, or an original play by a student
• With faculty supervision, a realized lighting design for a student production in a studio space, the Lyceum, etc.
• Virtual scenery
• Portfolio of design work
• Software for the theatre
• Photo/visual art exhibition
• Video, web site/CD-rom presentation
• Sound presentation

The minimum number of committee members will be two: a director and second committee member. The director MUST be an ASU faculty member.

Academic Preparation

Coursework in the major or minor, including Honors Contracts, will prepare the student to complete a thesis. Prior to enrolling in THE HON 492 or 493, all students must complete a thesis/creative project information session. This requirement may be fulfilled by
completing one of the following:

• HON 498 "Thesis Prep Course," a one-credit hour course offered on the downtown campus.
• One of the Thesis Workshop Sessions periodically offered by Barrett.
• The online thesis workshop offered by Barrett.

Recommended Timeline

Six (6) credit hours are the maximum amount of credit hours allowed in the SoMDT for the Honors Thesis/Creative Project. Students have the option of taking three (3) credit hours for THE 492 Honors Directed Study in their junior year or first semester of their senior year. They are required to conduct their thesis/creative project in their junior or senior year by taking three (3) credit hours for THE 493 Honors Thesis. THE 493 requires a successful completion of the thesis/creative project and a formal defense before the student's committee.

Other Honors Opportunities

Honors Theater Courses taught in the SoMDT include:

• HON 294 Acting Introduction
• HON 394 Performance Seminar: Myth and Ritual
• THE 492 Honors Directed Study
• THE 493 Honors Thesis
• THP 385/HON 394 Acting: Classical and Poetic Drama

Students may enroll in Honors Enrichment Contracts in most Theater courses by collaborating with the instructor to determine an appropriate enrichment project for the course and the student's unique learning goals.