How to Enroll

For more information about our courses and to register, click on www.registrar.ucla.edu.

 

THEATER COURSES FOR SPRING 2024

 

Click through the class name to see the course description on the Registrar's website.

 

1C / Introduction to Dance for Music Theater
Studio, four hours. Designed for Theater majors. Introduction to basic music theater dance technique. May be repeated once for credit. Letter grading.


14B / Introduction to Design
Lecture, three hours; studio, six hours. Exploration of visual interpretation of drama. Study of styles and techniques of design, collaborative role of designer, principles of design for scenery, lighting, costumes, and sound. Both technical and aesthetic groundwork for further study. Letter grading.


19 / Fiat Lux Freshman Seminars
Seminar, one hour. Discussion of and critical thinking about topics of current intellectual importance, taught by faculty members in their areas of expertise and illuminating many paths of discovery at UCLA. P/NP grading.


20 / Acting Fundamentals
Studio, four hours. Introduction to interpretation of drama through art of actor. Development of individual insights, skills, and disciplines in presentation of dramatic material to audiences. P/NP or letter grading.


23B / Advanced Musical Literacy for Singing Actors
Studio, three hours. Requisite: course 23A. More advanced sight-singing, incorporating minor keys, chromatic scales, internal key changes, and bass clef; exploration of song form, musical theater score formats, and harmonic/contrapuntal singing. Letter grading.


28A / Acting, Voice, and Movement Workshop I
Studio, three to six hours. Study of beginning acting technique, scene study, and development of voice and movement skills. May be repeated for maximum of 12 units. Letter grading.


34C / Ballet II
Studio, five hours. Development of dance and movement techniques for musical theater. Letter grading.


99 / Student Research Program
Tutorial (supervised research or other scholarly work), three hours per week per unit. Entry-level research for lower-division students under guidance of faculty mentor. Students must be in good academic standing and enrolled in minimum of 12 units (excluding this course). Individual contract required; consult Undergraduate Research Center. May be repeated. P/NP grading.


101B / Global Histories of Theater and Performance II
Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Introduction to histories and historiographies of theater and performance from across world, with emphasis from 18th century through 21st century. Introduction to representational modalities from melodrama to performance art and theoretical approaches from Marxism to poststructuralism. Letter grading.


102D / Trans Theater and Performance
Lecture, three hours. Consideration of what it means to construct a history of trans theater; how terms trans and theater are defined, and if it is desired to and to what ends; and if there is such a thing as trans (dramatic) form. Historical and literary exploration of theater and performance made by trans, nonbinary, two-spirit, and intersex people in the U.S. Letter grading.


C104E / History of Design Décor Part I: Architecture and Décor--Antiquity to Early Neoclassical
Lecture, four hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C. Study of pre-Renaissance architectural and interior décor as manifestation of cultural, social, economic, and political influences to provide historical framework for design of scenery, costumes, and lighting for theater, film, and television. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C404E. Letter grading.


116B / Psychological Systems of Acting: Practice
Studio, six hours. Requisites: courses 24A, 24B, 25, and 116A, or 28A, 28B, 28C, and 116A. Examination of characterization exercises and their application to contemporary scenes. Letter grading.


118C / Interactive Theater
Laboratory, four hours. Active, problem-solving process of theater exercises and games designed to examine racial stereotypes, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and other issues that divide members of campus community, as well as issues that divide campus from Los Angeles community. Selected to increase social and political awareness of problems and ideas fundamental to intellectual development, exercises and games nurture skills and attitudes useful in facilitating discussions between actors and audience participants. Use of techniques of sensory awareness, movement, pantomime, improvisation, and characterization. Letter grading.


119 / Puppetry Fundamentals
Lecture, 90 minutes; studio, two and one half hours. Introduction to fundamental techniques used for construction and performance of various styles of puppetry ranging from hand-rod, large and small scale, to shadow play. Emphasis on learning about Los Angeles puppetry community and professional components of the industry and deepening an appreciation of the diversity of global puppetry traditions. Letter grading.


120B / Acting and Performance in Film
Lecture, six hours. Exploration of acting and performance in film. Through screenings of performance-driven films, class discussion, and acting exercises, examination of methods, styles, and performances of some of world's most highly regarded actors and their work. P/NP or letter grading.


121 / Acting Workshop
Studio, to be arranged. Requisite: course 20. Courses 160, 163A, 163B, and 163C may be taken concurrently. Workshop that provides students with opportunity to rehearse, perform, and criticize scenes. May be repeated once for credit. P/NP or letter grading.


124B / Intermediate Voice and Speech II: Creating Complete Warm-Up for Theatrical Productions
Studio, three to four hours. Requisites: courses 24A, 24B, and 124A, or 28A, 28B, and 124A. Working with contemporary texts to learn all simple vowels (lip, tongue, open, neutral) and to communicate sound consistently forward and connected through whole body. Creation of complete warm-up for theatrical production using these methods. Letter grading.


124C / Dialects
Studio, three to four hours. Requisite: course 124B. Development of techniques in approaching dialects in performance. Letter grading.


125A / Alexander Technique
Studio, three to four hours. Requisite: course 25 or 28C. Study and practice in Alexander technique as method of developing balance, poise, and coordination of body and mind. Exploration of use of rhythm to expand movement potential of actors and use of visual arts and animal studies for character development. Letter grading.


125C / Physical Awareness and Combat for Theater, Film, and Television II
Studio, three to four hours. Requisite: course 125B. Combat training for actors in theater, film, and television. Concentration on warm-up, relaxation, control, stunts, gymnastics, martial arts, and use of weapons. Letter grading.


128A / Acting, Voice, and Movement Workshop II
Studio, four to six hours. Study of advanced acting technique, scene study, and development of voice and movement skills. May be repeated for maximum of 12 units. Letter grading.


CM129 / Contemporary Topics in Theater, Film, and Television
(Same as Film and Television CM129.) Lecture, two hours; screenings, two hours. Limited to junior/senior and graduate theater/film and television students. Examination of creative process in theater, film, and television, with consideration of writing, direction, production, and performance. Overview of individual contributions in collaborative effort; examination of distinctiveness and interrelations among these arts. Individual units include participation of leading members of theater, film, and television professions. May be repeated twice for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course CM229. P/NP or letter grading.


130 / Fundamentals of Playwriting
Studio, three hours. Designed for departmental majors and minors. Exploration of writing for live performance. Students develop and workshop short plays. May be repeated once for credit. Letter grading.


132 / Manuscript Evaluation for Theater
Lecture, three hours. Requisite: course 130A. Principles and practices in evaluation of manuscripts for theater. May be repeated once for credit. P/NP or letter grading.


134C / Dance for Musical Theater II
Studio, five hours. Designed for Theater majors. Development of dance and movement techniques for musical theater. Letter grading.


134F / Dance for Musical Theater III
Studio, five hours. Designed for Theater majors. Development of dance and movement techniques for musical theater. Letter grading.


135A / Musical Theater Vocal Styles: Gospel
Studio, three hours. Designed for Theater majors. Part of five-course series of musical theater performance techniques in which students explore and master variety of vocal styles and/or acting approaches necessary to be competitive in field of professional musical theater. Exploration of strategies and techniques for singing gospel and rhythm and blues music, with solo and group improvisation as foundation. Letter grading.


135C / Musical Theater Vocal Styles: Legitimate/Operetta
Studio, three hours. Designed for Theater majors. Part of five-course series of musical theater performance techniques in which students explore and master variety of vocal styles and/or acting approaches necessary to be competitive in field of professional musical theater. Exploration of strategies and techniques for singing legitimate/operetta music, with emphasis on vocal and body strengthening exercises and solo song coaching. Letter grading.


135F / Singing: Individual Instruction
Studio, one hour. Requisite: course 35B. Designed to advance proper vocal technique, focusing on breath support, vowel shape, range expression, and overall mastery of vocal instrument. May be repeated four times for credit. Letter grading.


135G / Musical Theater Duets: Singing in Relationship
Studio, three hours. Designed for Theater majors. Study and practice of musical theater duets with emphasis on establishing, exploring, and maintaining relationship and intention while singing. Development of vocal technique and the ability to hold melody and harmony lines while singing in relationship. Research of duet history using song selections covering history of musical theater from early 20th century through contemporary, incorporating and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion values while not being restricted to original casting models in practice. Letter grading.


137 / Acting for the Camera
Lecture/studio, four to six hours. Requisite: course 116B. Designed to aid the actor in the transition from stage to film work. Examination of film production and its physical characteristics and the acting style needed for work in film and television. Students may perform in simulated studio setting on camera. May be repeated once for credit with instructor change. Letter grading.


148 / Special Courses in Design and Technical Theater
Lecture, three hours. Group study of selected subjects in design and technical theater. May be repeated twice for credit. P/NP or letter grading.


150 / Theater Production and Performance
Laboratory, three to six hours. Laboratory experience in various aspects of theater production, including performance in project or production, stage management, member of crew, or assignment as designer or assistant on production. May be repeated for maximum of 8 units. Letter grading.


C151B / Scenic Design for Theater
Lecture/studio, four hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C. Study of scenic design for proscenium, thrust, and arena configurations, multiset productions, and music theater. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C451B. Letter grading.


C153E / History of Costume Design in Movies
Lecture, three hours; screenings, two to six hours. History of costume design within context of 20th-century fashion and film history, including evolution of role of costume designer since early days of film industry. Role of costume designer and contribution of costume design to cinematic storytelling. Concurrently scheduled with course C453E. Letter grading.


C154B / Sound Design for Musicals
Lecture/studio, four hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C, C154A. Exploration of sound design for theater and techniques for mixing, reinforcement, and signal processing. Topics include use of delay, equalization, and microphone placement for theater sound reinforcement with focus on mixing musicals. Covers paperwork needed to complete show. Tuning space, equalization, and some advanced projects involving programming and mixing on various consoles. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C454B. Letter grading.


C154G / Music Technology for Sound Design
Lecture/studio, four hours. Requisites: courses C154A, C154B. Overview of music, musical genres, and their structure with goal of understanding music composition. Students use software to create musical ideas and sound design components. Concurrently scheduled with course C454G. Letter grading.


C155G / Graphic Representation of Design: Scene Painting Techniques
Studio, four hours. Requisite: course 147A or 147B. Study of scenic painting techniques and materials and their realization of color design and elevations. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C455G. Letter grading.


C156E / Advanced Computer-Assisted Drafting
Studio, four hours. Requisite: course 147A. Investigation of drafting techniques for scenic and lighting designs using Vectorworks. Concurrently scheduled with course C456E. Letter grading.


C156F / Introduction to Computer-Assisted Rendering
Studio, four hours. Investigation of three-dimensional lighting and scenic design previsualization: wire-frame perspective drawing and photo-realistic computer rendering techniques using Vectorworks. Concurrently scheduled with course C456F. Letter grading.


C157C / Costume Construction Techniques
Studio, four hours. Requisites: courses C157A, C157B. Study of theory and application of drafting, pattern making, fitting, and construction techniques for period costumes and undergarments to achieve authentic-appearing costume using contemporary methods. Draping, patterning, and fitting techniques for period garments. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C457C. P/NP or letter grading.


159 / Design Portfolio Project
Lecture/studio, four hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C. Preparation of complete designs and drawings for production and assembly of design portfolio and résumé. Projects prepared under guidance of faculty adviser. Letter grading.


163B / Directing for Stage
Lecture/studio, four hours. Requisite: course 15. Further development of craft elements of directorial method, with additional emphasis on psychological aspects of director/actor communication. Students direct scenes under laboratory conditions in alternative stage configurations. Letter grading.


170 / Design and Production Project
Laboratory, eight hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C. Experience as stage manager or designer, including participation in preparation and realization of scenic, lighting, costume, or sound designs, or stage management in production. May be repeated once for credit. Letter grading.


172 / Production Practice in Theater, Film, Video, and Digital Media
Studio, three to eight hours. Exploration and laboratory experience in one or more various aspects of production and postproduction practice for entertainment media, including theater, film, video, and digital media. May be repeated for maximum of 24 units. Letter grading.


173A / Design Assignment: Assistant Designer
Studio, six hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C. Laboratory experience as assistant designer, including participation in preparation and realization of scenic, lighting, costume, or sound designs. May be repeated twice. Letter grading.


173B / Production Design Assignment: Designer
Studio, six hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C. Laboratory experience as designer, including preparation and realization of scenic, lighting, costume, or sound designs. May be repeated twice. Letter grading.


174B / Project in Stage Management
Studio, nine hours. Requisite: course 174A. Laboratory experience in professional duties of assistant stage manager, including participation as assistant stage manager in preproduction, rehearsal, and performance phases of productions. May be repeated once for credit. Letter grading.


174C / Project in Stage Management
Studio, 12 hours. Requisite: course 174A. Laboratory experience in professional duties of stage manager, including participation as stage manager in preproduction, rehearsal, and performance phases of productions. Problems of unions, auditions, organization, scheduling, and responsibilities of lengthy run. May be repeated three times for credit. Letter grading.


C176B / Production Practice in Theater with Emerging Technologies II
Studio/laboratory, four to six hours. Collaborative creative and technical development of all aspects of theatrical production incorporating emerging and/or advanced technologies, culminating in rehearsal and public presentation. Offered as series of up to three courses in cases where multiple quarters are needed to prepare production. Concurrently scheduled with course C476B. Letter grading.


180 / Senior Project
Lecture or studio, three hours. Requisites: courses 101A, 101B. Preparation of conceptual or creative project to provide culminating experience in production of creative or research work. May be repeated twice for credit. Letter grading.


181 / Career Development for Actors
Lecture, three hours; fieldwork, three hours. Limited to seniors. Study of business practices, career entry, and development for actors. P/NP or letter grading.


188SC / Individual Studies for USIE Facilitators
Tutorial, to be arranged. Enforced requisite: course 188SB. Limited to junior/senior USIE facilitators. Individual study in regularly scheduled meetings with faculty mentor while facilitating USIE 88S course. Individual contract with faculty mentor required. May not be repeated. Letter grading.


195 / Community or Corporate Internships in Theater, Film, and Television
Tutorial, eight, 16, or 24 hours. Limited to juniors/seniors. Internship at various theaters, studios, or entertainment organizations accentuating creative contributions, organization, and work of professionals in their various specialties. Students meet on regular basis with instructor and provide periodic reports of their experience. May be taken for maximum of 8 units. Individual contract with supervising faculty member required. Letter grading.


199 / Directed Research or Senior Project in Theater
Tutorial, to be arranged. Limited to juniors/seniors. Research under guidance of faculty mentor. Supervised individual research or investigation. Culminating paper or project required. May be repeated for credit. Individual contract required. P/NP or letter grading.


216B / Approaches to History
Lecture, three hours; laboratory, one hour. Overview of key methodologies, theories, and debates in historiography of theater and performance linked to plays and performances appropriate to approach. Letter grading.


220 / Graduate Forum
Seminar, one to four hours. Limited to graduate theater students. Presentation and discussion of issues informing and affecting contemporary theater. May be repeated four times for credit. S/U grading.


230C / Writing for Contemporary Theater: Performance and Text
Lecture, three hours; studio, two hours. Designed for graduate students. Exploration of structural strategies, political implications, and technical demands of selected contemporary American plays leading to guided completion and critique of student work. Letter grading.


261 / Directing Post-Realist Drama
Lecture, four hours; studio, 30 hours. Designed for graduate students. Problems in direction of post-realist plays through interpretation and laboratory scene work. Letter grading.


298A / Special Studies in Theater Arts
Lecture/discussion, two or four hours. Designed for graduate students. Seminar study of problems in theater arts, organized on topic basis. May be repeated once for credit. S/U or letter grading.


375 / Teaching Apprentice Practicum
Seminar, to be arranged. Preparation: apprentice personnel employment as teaching assistant, associate, or fellow. Teaching apprenticeship under active guidance and supervision of regular faculty member responsible for curriculum and instruction at UCLA. May be repeated for credit. S/U grading.


C404E / History of Design Décor Part I: Architecture and Décor--Antiquity to Early Neoclassical
Lecture, four hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C. Study of pre-Renaissance architectural and interior décor as manifestation of cultural, social, economic, and political influences to provide historical framework for design of scenery, costumes, and lighting for theater, film, and television. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C104E. Letter grading.


430C / Advanced Studies in Playwriting
Lecture, three hours. Limited to MFA playwriting program students. Guided completion of full-length scripts for stage. S/U or letter grading.


C433A / Script Development Workshop
Lecture, three hours; studio, four to 24 hours. Designed for graduate students. Guided process of script development, with emphasis on communication, artistic growth, and professional process. May be taken for maximum of 8 units. Concurrently scheduled with course C133A. Letter grading.


433B / Script Development Workshop
Lecture, three hours; studio, four to 24 hours. Designed for graduate students. Guided process of script development, with emphasis on communication, artistic growth, and professional process. May be taken for maximum of 8 units. Letter grading.


435AS / Problems in Advanced Writing for Stage
Lecture, two hours. Limited to MFA candidates. Review discussion and critique of playwriting projects. May be repeated for maximum of 6 units. S/U grading.


443C / Advanced Scenic Design
Studio, four hours. Advanced study and practice of scenic design for theater, with emphasis on cultivating imagination as impetus for design, text analysis, metaphor, and conceptualization. Investigation of design research process, composition, and style leading to visual presentation of design, as well as exploration of students' individual cognitive and artistic process and refinement of techniques. May be repeated twice for credit. S/U or letter grading.


445C / Production Design for Film, Television, and Entertainment Media
Lecture/studio, four hours. Study and practice in design of scenic environment for film, video, and entertainment media, including effect of differing media on design choices, role of production designers and art directors, and design for single- and multiple-camera production. May be repeated once for credit. Letter grading.


448A / Costume Design for Film, Television, and Entertainment Media
Lecture/studio, four hours. Study and practice in design of costumes for live and virtual characters in film, television, and entertainment media, including effect of differing media on design choices. May be repeated once for credit. Letter grading.


448C / Costume Design for Film, Television, and Entertainment Media
Lecture/studio, four hours. Study and practice in design of costumes for live and virtual characters in film, television, and entertainment media, including effect of differing media on design choices. May be repeated twice for credit. Letter grading.


449C / Design Thesis Project
Lecture/studio, four hours. Series of group design projects that serve as comprehensive examination for MFA degree in entertainment design. Review and evaluation of projects by design faculty members from all areas of curriculum. Letter grading.


449D / Thesis for Costume Design in Theater, Film, and Television
Lecture/studio, four hours. For costume design students. One major scenography design project that serves as comprehensive examination for MFA degree in entertainment design. Review and evaluation of projects by design faculty members from all areas of curriculum. May be repeated once for credit. Letter grading.


C451B / Scenic Design for Theater
Lecture/studio, four hours. Study of scenic design for proscenium, thrust, and arena configurations, multiset productions, and music theater. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C151B. Letter grading.


C453E / History of Costume Design in Movies
Lecture, three hours; screenings, two to six hours. History of costume design within context of 20th-century fashion and film history, including evolution of role of costume designer since early days of film industry. Role of costume designer and contribution of costume design to cinematic storytelling. Concurrently scheduled with course C153E. Letter grading.


C454B / Sound Design for Musicals
Lecture/studio, four hours. Exploration of sound design for theater and techniques for mixing, reinforcement, and signal processing. Topics include use of delay, equalization, and microphone placement for theater sound reinforcement with focus on mixing musicals. Covers paperwork needed to complete show. Tuning space, equalization, and some advanced projects involving programming and mixing on various consoles. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C154B. Letter grading.


C454G / Music Technology for Sound Design
Lecture/studio, four hours. Requisites: courses C454A, C454B. Overview of music, musical genres, and their structure with goal of understanding music composition. Students use software to create musical ideas and sound design components. Concurrently scheduled with course C154G. Letter grading.


C455G / Graphic Representation of Design: Scene Painting Techniques
Studio, four hours. Requisite: course 147A or 147B. Study of scenic painting techniques and materials and their realization of color design and elevations. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C155G. Letter grading.


C456E / Advanced Computer-Assisted Drafting
Studio, four hours. Requisite: course 147A. Investigation of drafting techniques for scenic and lighting designs using Vectorworks. Concurrently scheduled with course C156E. Letter grading.


C456F / Introduction to Computer-Assisted Rendering
Studio, four hours. Investigation of three-dimensional lighting and scenic design previsualization: wire-frame perspective drawing and photo-realistic computer rendering techniques using Vectorworks. Concurrently scheduled with course C156F. Letter grading.


C457C / Costume Construction Techniques
Studio, four hours. Requisites: courses C457A, C457B. Study of theory and application of drafting, pattern making, fitting, and construction techniques for period costumes and undergarments to achieve authentic-appearing costume using contemporary methods. Draping, patterning, and fitting techniques for period garments. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C157C. S/U or letter grading.


460AS / Contemporary Issues in Direction
Discussion, three hours. Designed for graduate students. Discussion of role of director in contemporary professional practice. Review discussion and critique of directing projects. May be repeated for maximum of 4 units. Letter grading.


463 / Production Project in Direction for Stage
Studio, 24 hours. Designed for graduate students. Creative participation as director in conceptualization and preparation of dramatic work. Letter grading.


472 / Production Practice in Theater, Film, Video, and Digital Media
Studio, three to eight hours. Exploration and laboratory experience in one or more various aspects of production and postproduction practice for entertainment media, including theater, film, video, and digital media. May be repeated for maximum of 24 units. Letter grading.


474 / Advanced Projects in Design and Production
Lecture/studio, four hours. Study and practice in preparation and execution of designs for theater, film, video, and related entertainment forms. As contributing artistic member of design team, creative responsibilities include designer, technical supervisor, or production manager. May be repeated for maximum of 16 units. Letter grading.


475C / Graduate Design Portfolio Project: Costume Design
Lecture, four hours; studio, four to eight hours. Preparation: at least six master costume design courses. Preparation of complete designs and drawings for theatrical, film, operatic, and theoretical productions and assembling of design portfolio and résumé. Information about industry demands and protocol for portfolio presentation and review, with projects prepared under guidance of respective design faculty adviser. Letter grading.


C476B / Production Practice in Theater with Emerging Technologies II
Studio/laboratory, four to six hours. Collaborative creative and technical development of all aspects of theatrical production incorporating emerging and/or advanced technologies, culminating in rehearsal and public presentation. Offered as series of up to three courses in cases where multiple quarters are needed to prepare production. Concurrently scheduled with course C176B. Letter grading.


596A / Directed Individual Studies: Research
Tutorial, to be arranged. Designed for graduate students. May be repeated with consent of instructor. S/U or letter grading.


596B / Directed Individual Studies: Writing
Tutorial, to be arranged. Designed for graduate students. May be repeated with consent of instructor. S/U or letter grading.


596C / Directed Individual Studies: Directing
Tutorial, to be arranged. Designed for graduate students. May be repeated with consent of instructor. S/U or letter grading.


596D / Directed Individual Studies: Design
Tutorial, to be arranged. Designed for graduate students. May be repeated with consent of instructor. S/U or letter grading.


596E / Directed Individual Studies: Acting
Tutorial, to be arranged. Designed for graduate students. May be repeated with consent of instructor. S/U or letter grading.


596F / Directed Individual Studies: Production
Tutorial, to be arranged. Designed for graduate students. May be repeated with consent of instructor. S/U or letter grading.


597 / Preparation for PhD Qualifying Examinations in Theater Arts
Tutorial, to be arranged. Writing of prospectus and three reading lists. May be repeated for credit. S/U grading.


599 / PhD Dissertation in Theater Arts
Tutorial, to be arranged. Preparation: advancement to PhD candidacy. Research for and writing of PhD dissertation. May be repeated for credit. S/U grading.