How to Enroll
For more information about our courses and to register, click on www.registrar.ucla.edu.
THEATER COURSES FOR SPRING 2020
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.
10 / Introduction to Theater
Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour (when scheduled). Exploration of theater in production, with emphasis on collaborative role of theater artists and active role of audience. Understanding of and access to live theatrical event and enhanced appreciation of value of theater to society; development of critical skills through consideration of representative examples of theatrical production from Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. P/NP or Letter grading.
11 / Approaches to Interpretation of Theater and Performance: Global Perspective
Seminar, four hours. Introduction to basic methods of interpretation in theater and performance throughout world. Topics illustrated by faculty members and guest speakers, visits to off-campus theaters, and reading from contemporary plays. Letter grading.
14C / 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.
23 / Musical Literacy for Singing Actors I
Studio, three to four hours. Introduction to reading and understanding musical notation, musical terminology, and basic to complex rhythm-reading and sight-singing in C major. Letter grading.
34C / Dance for Musical Theater I
Studio, five hours. Development of dance and movement techniques for musical theater. Letter grading.
35A / Singing for Musical Theater I
Studio, four to five hours. Exploration of musical literacy and development of singing techniques for musical theater. Basic voice training to explore how voice works, learn to maintain appropriate and consistent voice, and learn to preserve voice health. How to build stamina and range. Letter grading.
50 / Theater Production
Laboratory, three to six hours. Laboratory experience in various aspects of theater production, including stage management or member of production crew. May be repeated for maximum of 8 units. Letter 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.
104D / New Playwrights, New Playwriting
Seminar, three hours. Required for students in playwriting sequence. How to approach diverse range of new plays currently changing landscape of theater. Contemporary look at plays written in last 15 years and how they reflect society. Reading of plays to build skills of manuscript analysis; development of working vocabulary of dramaturgical concepts; exploration of different styles of acting, directing, and design that playwrights of today draw from. Letter grading.
C104J / History of Design for Performance Production: Selected Topics of Decor and Costume Design History
Lecture, four hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C. Historic survey and in-depth exploration of selected periods and subcategories of decor and costume. Visual representation, with emphasis on influences of global diverse cultures. May be repeated three times for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C404J. Letter grading.
116A / Psychological Systems of Acting: Foundations
Studio, six hours. Requisites: courses 24A, 24B, 25. Development of acting skills through sense memory, personalization, action, and objective exercises. 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.
117 / Topics in Physical Performance
Studio, three to four hours. Exploration of specific physical performance techniques, drawn from range of practices. Topics may include specific types of partnering, combat, martial arts, vintage dance, etc. May be repeated twice for credit. Letter grading.
120C / 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. 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.
C122 / Character Development through Makeup and Hair Design
(Formerly numbered 122.) Studio, four hours. Examination of importance of makeup and hair design in film. History and overview of hair and makeup in fashion and motion pictures. Collaboration of makeup artists and hairstylists with costume designer, actors, production designer, and director to conceptualize people in script. Exploration of makeup artist and hairstylist roles in current film, television, and theater productions and skills needed to design makeup and hair for film and television productions. Concurrently scheduled with course C222. 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.
126B / Acting Classical Texts
Studio, six hours. Requisite: course 126A. Advanced study of characterization, approach to verse, scansion, use of embodiment in classic texts. Personalization within heightened reality. Letter grading.
130 / Fundamentals of Playwriting
(Formerly numbered 130A.) 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.
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.
138 / Special Problems in Performance Techniques
Studio, four hours. Study of complex problems in voice, movement, and acting. May be repeated twice for credit. P/NP or letter grading.
C140B / Advanced Programming for Entertainment Design
Studio, three hours. Study and practice in object-based programming using MAX/MSP programming language to control sound and video. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C440B. Letter grading.
C146B / Art and Process of Entertainment Design
Lecture, three hours. Conceptualization, design, and prototyping of interactive theatrical events. Prototype development; two to five proposals to be more completely defined and developed. Students form collaborative teams for further conceptual development of their project proposals. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C446B. 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.
C152D / Lighting Design for Performances and Special Events
Lecture, four hours. Requisites: courses C152A, C152B, C152C. Advanced topics in lighting design, including live performances for concerts, exhibitions, and live events. Concurrently scheduled with course C452D. Letter grading.
C153C / Costume Design for Film and Television
Lecture/studio, four hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C; for transfer students: course 149. Study of current professional costume design and wardrobe practices in film and television, including effect of differing media on design choices. May be repeated twice for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C453C. Letter grading.
C158A / Scenic Design Technology
Lecture/studio, four hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C. Investigation of materials, systems, and techniques for realization of scenic designs for theater, film, and television. Study of advanced techniques and materials for construction, finishing, and rigging of scenery and properties. Concurrently scheduled with course C458A. 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.
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.
174D / Advanced Stage Management Techniques
Lecture, two hours; studio, two hours. Requisites: courses 147A, 174A. Professional duties of stage management. Practical training, including paper techniques, dry techniques, cue 2 cue, preshow setup, performance reports, and quick change rehearsals. 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, 101C. 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.
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.
210 / Topics in World Theater and Drama
Seminar, three hours. Designed for graduate students. Investigation of selected topics in world theater, drama, production, and architecture. May be repeated four times for credit. S/U or letter grading.
216A / Approaches to Representation
Lecture, three hours; laboratory, one hour. Overview of strategies of representation from classical aesthetic theories to postmodern deconstructions of them. May be repeated once for credit. 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.
C222 / Character Development through Makeup and Hair Design
Studio, four hours. Examination of importance of makeup and hair design in film. History and overview of hair and makeup in fashion and motion pictures. Collaboration of makeup artists and hairstylists with costume designer, actors, production designer, and director to conceptualize people in script. Exploration of makeup artist and hairstylist roles in current film, television, and theater productions and skills needed to design makeup and hair for film and television productions. Concurrently scheduled with course C122. Letter 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.
231 / Special Topics in Playwriting
Lecture, three hours. Analysis and practice of various aspects of playwriting. Variable content selected from topics such as comedy writing, docudrama, experimental theater, writing for alternative audiences, or children's theater. May be repeated twice for credit. Letter grading.
264 / Directing Classical and Historical Drama
Lecture, four hours; studio, 30 hours. Designed for graduate students. Problems in interpretation and direction of historical or classical drama through medium of laboratory scene work. May be repeated once for credit. Letter grading.
272 / 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.
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.
C404J / History of Design for Performance Production: Selected Topics of Decor and Costume Design History
Lecture, four hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C. Historic survey and in-depth exploration of selected periods and subcategories of decor and costume. Visual representation, with emphasis on influences of global diverse cultures. May be repeated three times for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C104J. Letter grading.
424B / Vowels and Voice Placement
Studio, three hours. Requisite: course 424A. Builds on course 424A. Introduction of vowel diphthongs and triphthongs; development of forward sound, including consistent thought energy. Exercises to develop, and text to implement forward sound, including consistent thought energy. Text and warm-up exercises also covered. Letter grading.
424C / Voice in Action
Studio, three hours. Requisite: course 424A. Physical explorations and techniques for breath sourcing and increasing awareness of voice in action. Sensory awareness work, Linklater and Barry technqisues, and Knight-Thompson model may also be explored. Letter grading.
424H / Classical Vocal Comedy and Performance
Studio, three hours. Creating characters using generative possibilities of rhyming couplets. Special focus on Molière's verse comedies. Letter grading.
424I / Phonetics, Dialects, and Accents
Studio, three hours. Use of phonetics to enhance actor's ability to create character using dialect and accents. Culminating dialect presentation project required. Letter grading.
426A / Alexander Techniques
Studio, three to six hours. Study and practice in Alexander techniques as method of developing balance, poise, and coordination of body and mind. Exploration of use of rhythm to expand movement potential of actors and relevant use of visual arts and animal studies to character development and to expansion of movement potential. Letter grading.
433B / Script Development Workshop
(Formerly numbered C433B.) 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.
C446B / Art and Process of Entertainment Design
Lecture, three hours. Conceptualization, design, and prototyping of interactive theatrical events. Prototype development; two to five proposals to be more completely defined and developed. Students form collaborative teams for further conceptual development of their project proposals. May be repeated once for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C146B. 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.
448D / Deconstructing Glamour
Lecture, three hours; screenings, two hours. Exploration of integration of costume design into filmmaking process and illumination of work required to bring characters from written page to life. Letter grading.
449C / Design Thesis Project
(Formerly numbered 449.) 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.
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.
C452D / Lighting Design for Performances and Special Events
Lecture, four hours. Requisites: courses C452A, C452B, C452C. Advanced topics in lighting design, including live performances for concerts, exhibitions, and live events. Concurrently scheduled with course C152D. Letter grading.
C453C / Costume Design for Film and Television
Lecture/studio, four hours. Study of current professional costume design and wardrobe practices in film and television, including effect of differing media on design choices. May be repeated twice for credit. Concurrently scheduled with course C153C. Letter grading.
C458A / Scenic Design Technology
Lecture/studio, four hours. Requisites: courses 14A, 14B, 14C. Investigation of materials, systems, and techniques for realization of scenic designs for theater, film, and television. Study of advanced techniques and materials for construction, finishing, and rigging of scenery and properties. Concurrently scheduled with course C158A. 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.
498 / Professional Internship in Theater, Film, and Television
Tutorial, to be arranged. Full- or part-time at studio or on professional project. Designed for advanced MFA students. Internship at various film, television, or theater facilities accentuating creative contribution, organization, and work of professionals in their various specialties. Given only when projects can be scheduled. S/U or 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.