Theatre

Program Description

The AUM Theatre program’s strength is preparing emerging artists for careers in production as performers, directors, designers, technicians, stage managers and more.

You’ll learn through faculty coaching and practical experience. At AUM, as you learn about all aspects of production, you’ll also cultivate valuable traits that will serve you well– communication, leadership, confidence, self-discipline, work ethic, dedication, creativity, and teamwork.

The training in this department is designed to develop well-rounded, effective communicators. Many employers say that communication skills are some of the most important career skills to have. As a graduate from our Theatre program, there are a variety of career positions you might seek.

Students in the Theatre option of the Communication and Theatre department put classroom training and skills to work in every aspect of the department’s mainstage theatre lab productions. This award-winning program participates in and provides leadership for state, regional and national theatre organizations such as the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Southeastern Theatre Conference, United States Institute of Theatre Technology and the Alabama Conference of Theatre.

It is our goal to help Theatre and Communication majors graduate from AUM with strong and versatile communication skills. Consistently, employers in all industries and business arenas tell us that communication skills are highly prized in a job candidate. Here are some of the career possibilities for graduates in Theatre and Communication.

Points of Pride

This award-winning program participates in and provides leadership for state, regional and national theatre organizations such as the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Southeastern Theatre Conference, United States Institute of Theatre Technology, and the Alabama Conference of Theatre.
It is our goal to help Theatre and Communication majors graduate from AUM with strong and versatile communication skills. Consistently, employers in all industries and business arenas tell us that communication skills are highly prized in a job candidate. Here are some of the career possibilities for graduates in Theatre and Communication.

Put Your Degree to Work

AUM students and alumni have earned paid summer internships or entry level positions all over the country at venues such as: Alabama Dance Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Brevard Music Center, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Davis Theatre, Florida Repertory Theatre, Gateway Playhouse, Horn in the West, The Lost Colony, The National Theatre for Children, Pioneer Playhouse, Red Mountain Theatre Company, Theatre at Monmouth, Theatre West Virginia, Tecumseh Outdoor Drama, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Trinity Rep, Weston Playhouse, and Utah Shakespeare Festival.

Note: While salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education and training, and geography and industry, here is a sampling of future job growth projections nationally.

U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics sample data
Jobs	Median Annual Pay	Job Growth through 2028
Producers and Directors	$69,100	9%
Costume Designers	$63,670	3%
Set and Exhibit Designers	$54,270	5%

For More Information

Department of Communication and Theatre
Auburn University at Montgomery
Liberal Arts 223
334-244-3379
communicationtheatre@aum.edu

Program Overview

The course listings below are a representation of what this academic program requires. For a full review of this program in detail please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor. This listing does not include the core curriculum courses required for all majors and may not include some program-specific information, such as admissions, retention and termination standards.

Total semester hours for the Theatre program (including core courses) — (minimum) 120–124

Theatre Plan of Study

Course sampling specific to the Theatre major includes:

Required Courses

Course #	Course Name	Course Description
COMM 1010 or COMM 2212	Introduction to Human Communication or Public Speaking	Introduction to Human Communication: An introduction to the basic concepts involved in the study of speech communication and the application of these concepts through performance in various contexts, such as interpersonal, small group and public address. Public Speaking: Structure, style and delivery of various types of speeches for different occasions. Theory and study of current examples combined with practice.
THEA 2040	Theatre Appreciation
THEA 2103	Stagecraft	Stagecraft: Study and practice in theatre stagecraft, focusing on construction methods, scene painting, rigging and handling of scenery and backstage organization.
THEA 2113 and/or THEA 2123	Stage Lighting and/or Costume Constructions	Stage Lighting: Study and practice in theatre lighting, including designing, hanging, focusing, maintaining and repairing stage lighting instruments. Students will produce light plots and paperwork needed for production. Costume Construction: Study and practice in theatre costuming, including pattern drafting and cutting, basic sewing techniques, construction methods and backstage organization and maintenance. Students in this course construct costumes and may serve as running crew during the semester’s productions.
THEA 3413	Fundamentals of Acting	Fundamentals of Acting: Study and practice of basic acting theory and technique.
THEA 3613	Scene Design	Scene Design: A fundamental design course geared toward enhancing basic principles of scenic design and developing a practical knowledge of all drawings pertaining to theatrical design.
THEA 4310	Dramatic Literature and Theatre History of the Western World I	Dramatic Literature and Theatre History of the Western World I: Traces dramatic literature and theatre history from the rituals of ancient civilizations to the middle of the 19th-century.
THEA 4320	Dramatic Literature and Theatre History of the Western World II	Dramatic Literature and Theatre History of the Western World II: Traces dramatic literature and theatre history from the mid-19thcentury to today.
THEA 2914	Theatre Practicum (4 semester hours)	Theatre Practicum: One-hour credit in any aspect of production (acting, directing, construction, design or management) in any one semester. Work completed in this course must be exclusive of laboratory hours required in other Theatre courses. May be repeated for additional credit.
ENGL 3050	Advanced Expository Writing	Advanced Expository Writing: The practice and theory of expository writing; the command of language for clear and forceful communication of ideas. Attention given to practical composition, including research writing and writing in special fields.
ENGL 4080	Literary Criticism	Literary Criticism: A study of the history and fundamental principles of literary criticism from Aristotle to the present.

Electives
ENGL Drama Course
Foreign Language (8 semester hours)
Social Science
Theatre Electives (12 semester hours)

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Theatre

Theatre

Points of Pride

Put Your Degree to Work

For More Information

Program Overview

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