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What is the difference between the Bachelor of Fine
Arts (BFA) and the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees?
The BA is a liberal arts degree which is intended to introduce the student
to a wide variety of subjects within the discipline. The BA philosophy
maintains that the student will become "well rounded" by working
in and experiencing all areas of the theatrical arts through a broad-based
course of study.
The BFA degree, with concentrations in Performance, Musical Theatre and
Design/Technology, is a focused course of study in a concentrated area
that uniquely blends a broad variety of interdisciplinary courses for
those students who have already decided upon their career path. The BFA
is not intended for those who are interested in theatre as an extra-curricular
activity. The philosophy of the BFA is that students are pursuing in-depth
study intended to provide a competitive edge for either entering the job
market or gaining admission to a graduate program.
The BFA is a one hundred ten (110) credit program where the BA degree
is limited to seventy-five (75) credits.
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How do I gain admission into the BFA program?
Admission to the BFA is by audition/interview only. Auditions/interviews
are held each spring quarter, in mid-April for new students and in mid-May
for continuing BFA candidates. New student applications can be found on
line at http://www.cwu.edu/~theatre/program/undergrad/apply.html.
Current students will sign up for audition/interview appointments as part
of the annual BFA juries.
I am a transfer student. How do I find out
about entrance into the program and what classes do I need to take?
Transfer students gain entrance into the theatre program by the same process
as freshmen. However, transfer students need to make an appointment with
the theatre chair who, in consultation with faculty advisors, will discuss
their previous theatre courses and determine placement within the required
theatre curriculum. It is critical for transfer students to meet with
the chair prior to registration to ensure they are no taking duplicate
courses. Transfer credit for theatre course are also outlined at www.cwu.edu/~theatre/transfer_guides/
Do I need to audition to become a theatre
major?
Students only need to audition if they are applying for one of the BFA
programs. All students are welcome to audition for scholarships.
I am a transfer student. How do I find out about entrance into the program
and what classes do I need to take?
Transfer students gain entrance into the theatre program by the same process
as freshmen. However, transfer students need to make an appointment with
the theatre chair who, in consultation with faculty advisors, will discuss
your previous theatre courses and determine placement within the required
theatre curriculum. It is critical for transfer students to meet with
the chair prior to registration to ensure they are no taking duplicate
courses. Transfer credit for theatre course are also outlined at www.cwu.edu/~theatre/transfer_guides/
Who is eligible to audition/interview
for the BFA program?
All current and prospective Theatre Arts majors may audition. Please note
that the curriculum has been designed in sequential tracks. Entering the
program as a transfer student may extend your graduation date.
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What if I don't make it into the BFA
program?
Many courses are open BA students who are welcome to complete the BA in
Theatre arts without auditioning.
Students who are not accepted into the BFA on their first attempt may
audition one additional time in the spring of the following year. Students
are encouraged to meet with an advisor, prior to the second audition,
in order to fully understand the criteria for acceptance into the BFA
program. Each student is limited to two entrance auditions for the BFA
program
What is the criterion for acceptance
to the BFA program?
The Theatre Arts Department is looking for students who display potential
to succeed in professional theatre careers.
Department faculty will consider students who:
Evaluation in these areas will be based heavily upon the student's performance
in both class work and production assignments.
Participation in valuable work experience, not only in Central Theatre
Ensemble productions but in outside work in reputable theatre companies,
will be highly encouraged.
A faculty committee will also consider if the potential BFA student will
reflect well on the Department when placed in outside employment, graduate
programs and internship programs.
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How does the BFA at CWU differ from other
BFA and conservatory programs?
At CWU we feel strongly that the undergraduate years be balanced
between skill, development in the major, and obtaining a broad base of
knowledge about the world in which we live.
Both the BA and BFA programs require completion of the University General
Education Requirements, including two years of foreign language at the
high school level or one full year at the college level, and electives
(which can be taken within or outside of the major concentration.)
The BFA at Central Washington University embraces an interdisciplinary
model in which concentrated and focused study of Theatre Arts is joined
with related course study in other academic departments in order to build
skills and knowledge essential for success.
The BA program requires 75 credits in the major, and the BFA requires
110 credits
Generally speaking, many BFA and conservatory programs do not require
as much general education CWU. We consider this broad base of knowledge
a key to building strong actors, artists, and citizens.
I have two majors, is this program for
me?
It is possible to graduate with another major and the BFA, but
it will extend your graduation date significantly. Because the BFA is
a pre-professional program, those who want to pursue two majors may be
better suited for the BA in Theatre Arts.
Can I get a minor in another department
with a BFA?
Yes, however most minors require 20-30 credit hours in that subject,
which means students seeking a minor should expect to add up to one additional
year of study.
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Can I get a minor in theatre?
Theatre Education students can minor in Musical Theatre and students pursuing
a major in another academic field can minor in general theatre. However,
BFA students may not minor in Theatre Arts
What kind of a commitment does the BFA
require?
This program is designed for the serious and devoted Theatre
major. It is expected that the BFA student would become an integral part
of the department either by auditioning for shows and/or assisting in
the design, build, and/or construction process.
Would a BFA look better on my resume?
A BFA implies more specific training in the area of your career
path. It signifies to potential employers and graduate schools that you
are serious about a career in the industry and prepared to do the extra
work that it may entail.
BFA, Scholarship, and Musical Theatre
Summer Conservatory Audition and Interviews Procedures
Scholarship audition requirements are the same for students seeking admission
into the BFA programs, with the exception of those students who are seeking
scholarships in the area of Teaching Theatre K-12. Bachelor of Arts students
should choose an area of concentration in which to apply for scholarship
opportunities.
If you would like to audition for a scholarship, fill out the scholarship
application form. Application deadline is April 1 of each year. Your
audition time will be sent to you via email on or about April 1. Scholarship
and BFA auditions are April 18 and 19, 2008.
Teaching Theatre K-12 Scholarship Application Procedures:
Write an essay, 1-2 pages double spaced, answering the question: “Why
do you want to teach theatre?”
Essays are due by April 1 and should be mailed to:
You will participate in an interview process at CWU April 18 or 19. If
you are applying from out of state and are unable to participate in an
on-campus interview, please indicate this in your application packet so
we can make alternate arrangements for you.
Performance BFA and Scholarship Auditions Procedures
When you audition you must:
• Perform an age-appropriate monologue of your choice that is no
more than 90 seconds in length;
• Take part in an interview process with faculty members from the
Performance program;
• Memorize a scene from a play and work with Performance faculty
in pairs on the memorized scene.
• Display an ability to connect with your scene partner, as well
as invention and versatility the scene and monologue.
• Provide a current photo, resume, and official
BFA application form and/or scholarship
form.
Please note time requirements will be observed and those auditioning
may be cut off if they run over the specified time allotments.
Theatre Design/Technology BFA and Scholarship Interview Procedures
When you interview you must:
• Take part in an interview process with faculty members from the
Design/Technology program, which should include information about your
career goals;
• Provide a current portfolio, resume, and official
BFA application form and/or scholarship
form.
As United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) members, the
faculty follows the portfolio standards and expectations established USITT
which can be found at www.cwu.edu/~theatre/program/undergrad/bfa/designstandards.pdf
Musical Theatre BFA and Scholarship Audition Procedures
(also applies to Musical Theatre Summer Conservatory)
When you audition you must:
• Wear comfortable attire suitable for dancing;
• Sing one comedic or up-tempo number that is no more than one minute
in length;
• Sing one ballad that is no more than one minute in length;
• Perform a contemporary monologue that is no more than one minute
in length;
• Perform a prepared ballet or jazz combination dance, (for which
the student provides prepared music on a CD) that is no more than one
minute in length;
• Take part in an interview process with faculty members from the
Musical Theatre program;
• Participate in a "call back" dance audition on the same
day in a group setting in which the student will learn and perform two
dance combinations.
• Provide a current photo,resume, and official
BFA application form and/or scholarship
form and/or the Musical
Theatre Summer Conservatory form.
Please note time requirements will be observed and those auditioning
may be cut off if they run over the specified time allotments.
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What theatre facilities are available?
www.cwu.edu/~theatre/production/spaces/spaces.htm
Can I complete a BFA degree and get
a teaching certificate?
It is possible to combine the BFA program with the teaching program,
with additional advisement. However, this highly specialized combination
will take at least an extra year of study.
How many courses can I take in theatre?
Generally you may take as many as you wish but you must fill
the component areas in order to graduate.
What non-theatre courses are required
for graduation?
As with most universities, you must complete the University General
Education requirements.
Can I have a minor?
If you are a BA student you may minor in any number of areas,
depending upon your interests and abilities. The BFA degree does not require
a minor and completing a minor will extend your studies and delay your
graduation date.
How many hours do I need to graduate?
180 quarter hours is the minimum, which means in 4 years you
need to average at least15 credits per quarter.
Is there a summer program?
Some general education courses are offered at CWU each summer.
However, BFA candidates are encouraged to leave campus to work, or participate
in internships, in summer theatres around the country. The department
also operates the Musical Theatre Summer Conservatory (MTSC) which allows
participants to earn some course credits in Musical Theatre and design/technology
courses related to the work in the MTSC.
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Can I transfer courses to CWU?
Yes. If you have attended a Junior/Community College or another
university, virtually all of your courses will transfer. The final determination
will be made by the Registrar for courses outside theatre and the Chairman
of the Department of Theatre Arts for theatre related courses.
How many plays does the department do
a year?
Central Theatre Ensemble offers a variety of production options each year,
providing a wide range of opportunities for students to participate and
succeed in production work. Each season there are three large, fully-produced
major productions and numerous studio productions. Studio productions
might include reader's theatre, staged readings, and minimally-produced
scenes and one-act plays. Additionally CTE hosts the annual Dr. Betty
Evans Original One Act Festival, which highlights new student plays and
provided students the opportunity to direct plays. The Youth Theatre Tour,
produced annually, opens in Ellensburg then tours to schools and community
theatres throughout the Northwest. Participation in the Kennedy Center
American College Theatre Festival, Region VII, allows students the opportunity
to compete for regional and national recognition and scholarship opportunities.
Technology and design students provide lighting designs for the annual
Orchesis Dance concert, and also find opportunities to work backstage
when regional and national productions and guest speakers visit campus.
Additionally students participate in class projects and "showcase
performances" specific to their areas of study.
Do all theatre students have an opportunity
to act?
Yes. Ninety-five percent of CTE casting involves theatre majors
and minors. At CWU all students actively participate in productions. And
every student has an opportunity to participate in class projects, which
include acting.
How much individual attention do students
receive?
No matter what your course of study, you will find individual attention
to your academic success at CWU. The Department is at once large enough
to have a full compliment of highly qualified faculty specialists, and
small enough to provide personal attention to and opportunities for students.
There are currently approximately 120 theatre arts majors served by a
full-time faculty of 10, supported by six full time staff members, and
several guest lecturers and artists in any given academic year. Production
and performance classes are limited to a maximum of 15 students per section.
Most acting, directing, design/technology and vocal courses have roughly
15 students, which makes individual instruction possible. Enrollment in
the BFA programs is limited to only a few students each year. All students
are required to meet with their academic advisor every quarter to ensure
they are staying on track not only with their major requirements, but
also with their General Education Requirements.
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Which courses are taught by graduate
assistants?
Some General Education offerings (TH 101, TH 107) are taught
by graduate teaching assistants, but in Theatre Arts core program courses
are taught by full-time faculty.
Is there a graduate program in theatre
at CWU?
CWU offers a Master of Arts in Theatre Production degree for
specifically designed for teachers at the middle school, high school and
junior college level with all course work completed through the Summer
Institute for Theatre Arts. There are currently more than 50 MA candidates
enrolled in the program.
During the academic year the focus of the program is solely on the undergraduate
program. This means that undergraduate students are not competing with
more advanced graduate students for opportunities in production. Occasionally
graduate students will serve a year-long residency during the academic
year during which they teach General Education courses and, occasionally,
direct shows.
Does CWU offer courses in TV and film?
We do not have an extensive program in Radio-TV-Film. The Department does
include some work in television and film acting as a part of our program,
and the Communications Department offers a broadcast concentration. A
new interdisciplinary Film and Video Studies major also serves students
with an interest in these areas. The University also hosts a public access
station that allows students opportunities in front of and behind the
camera.
Are there student drama organizations
on campus?
The Department currently has several active clubs for students
at all levels of theatre interest. Central Theatre Company is a general
interest club for any student with an interest in theatre and is not limited
to theatre majors. The Stage Combat Troupe, comprised primarily of theatre
majors and those who have had extensive training in theatre combat techniques,
performs at high school and college conferences and festivals through
the region. Orchesis Dance Company, which is housed in the division of
Dance, produces an annual concert in cooperation with the design/technology
students. There is also a student chapter of the United States Institute
for Theatre Technology (USITT) at CWU. The clubs all conduct annual fundraisers,
including concession sales for the CTE season. Monies earned are used
to take field trips, see touring productions, and to provide small scholarships
to students attending regional and national conferences.
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Is your department active in state,
regional, and national activities?
The Department and its student clubs are all very active in several organizations
including: USITT, Northwest Theatre Conference, Washington Alliance for
Theatre Education, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Faculty members hold offices in these and other theatre organizations,
and are frequently called upon to conduct workshops and seminars at professional
conventions. Additionally most of our faculty members belong, or have
belonged, to professional unions and can share that information with students.
Are there paying jobs in the department
for students?
Yes. Each year there are a number of student employment opportunities
in the Department lighting, scenic, and costume shops, and the marketing
and front offices. These are generally supervisory positions and employment
is based upon evidence of ability to perform the required tasks in a responsible
manner. Students earn from $800 to $1,200 a year. Priority is given to
students who qualify for the Federal and State Work Study programs.
Are scholarships available?
The Department offers a limited number of scholarships to outstanding
students, and the university has numerous scholarships, grants, and other
forms of financial aid available for outstanding students/artists.
For information regarding Theatre Arts scholarships, see http://www.cwu.edu/~theatre/program/scholarship/
For information regarding university scholarships, fellowships, grants,
and other forms of financial assistance, see Scholarship Central http://www.cwu.edu/~scholar/
Application for most University wide scholarships is facilitated through
the Safari student information system upon application.
Out-of-state tuition waivers are available, but are competitive and initiated
through the Department of Theatre Arts Chair.
How do I obtain information about University
admissions requirements, and the appropriate application forms to attend
CWU?
http://www.cwu.edu/~cwuadmis/
Are freshmen permitted to audition for
productions?
We believe that audition experience, on stage performance and backstage
production opportunities are a significant aspect of each student's training.
Freshmen are not required to participate in production, but we encourage
freshman to audition and seek technical opportunities as soon as they
feel they are ready to participate while maintaining their academic progress,
which includes many General Education Requirements in the freshman year.
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If I've had a lot of dance training,
will I still need to take beginning level classes?
All BFA - Musical Theatre majors are required to take a several stage
dance courses in several areas of dance. Students will most likely find
areas of study that will benefit personal growth and still fill the requirements
of the program
Do I have to take classes
in music theory and piano?
Students in the BFA program are required to take one year of Music Theory
and have basic piano proficiency. Students may test out of the course
and replace the credits with an alternative course recommended by their
advisor.
Can I take more acting or dance classes
than those required?
Absolutely. Students in the BFA concentration are encouraged to enroll
in as many skill-development courses as they can manage while at CWU.
Students will find a wide variety of optional courses within their listed
program component areas.
What audition tips can you give me?
Use the following guidelines in preparing for the audition:
- Choose something in the appropriate age range that does not contain
a dialect.
- Secure assistance in the preparation of the audition material.
- Introduce the audition pieces by stating only the play's title and the
character's name.
- Background information on the scene or plot is not necessary. Maintain
a positive attitude, dress comfortably, and most importantly, have fun!
Special note for auditions:
To increase your competitive edge, please avoid auditioning with major
characters from the following plays: Getting Out, Glass Menagerie, Hamlet,
Macbeth, 'night, Mother , and Spoon River Anthology . We also find that
these playwrights are generally overdone or are more difficult for high
school seniors to deliver successfully: Mamet, O'Neill, Pinter, Shakespeare,
Shepard and Williams.
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What is the student population in the
department and the university?
The department has 120 majors and minors, the University approximately
11,000 students at five campuses, with slightly more than 9,000 at the
Ellensburg campus.
Do you have guest artists?
Guest Artists are an integral part of the program at CWU year.
These guest artists conduct master classes and participate in productions
from time to time. Theatre CWU believes that it is in the student's best
interest to work with as many professional artists as possible and to
experience and investigate as many different styles of working as possible.
Some recent guest artists have included:
Nike Umoru - Casting agent and Regional Director/Actor, Spokane, WA
Masako Hojo - Specialist in Suzuki Movement, Japan
Marty Gallagher - Sound Engineering, Portland, OR
James Moore - Vocal Performance, Erie, PA
Ronn Campbell - Sound Design, Kennewick, WA
Rich Orloff - Playwright, New York, NY
James K. Moore - Vocal performance specialist, Washington, DC
Spring Hermann - Author and playwright, West Hartford, CT
David Boushey - Fight Master Emeritus and Founder, Society for American
Fight Directors, Seattle, WA
Are there employment opportunities for
graduates of theatre?
While a degree no longer means instant employment, as a general rule,
the best students get the available jobs. For the past two years, each
of our Theatre Education graduates who sought a teaching position was
hired. A number of our graduates are working in film and television in
California, as well as in professional theatres throughout the regional
and nation as actors and technicians. The Department also encourages internships,
which have led many graduates to permanent employment in the past. The
theatre faculty will do its best to assist its graduates as they seek
professional jobs. The Department provides job-seeking tools for students,
such as a subscription to ArtSearch, the premiere publication for theatre
jobs, and regular postings provided by potential employers. We urge our
best students to consider graduate study.
What kind of success does the program
have?
CWU's Theatre Arts Department is proud of the success that our
graduates have found, not only in some of the nation's top MFA programs
and regional theatres, but also working in professional organizations
as varied as national touring companies, cruise ships, circuses, theme
parks and casinos. And still more of our graduates are working and auditioning
in Seattle, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
In the past several years our graduates have been placed in MFA programs,
in acting, design and technology, and theatre management at: University
of Wisconsin Milwaukee; University of Delaware; University of Cincinnati;
Southern Methodist University; University of Florida/Asolo Conservatory;
Northern Illinois University; Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgars University;
Brooklyn College at the City University of New York; University of California
Fullerton; University of North Carolina; University of California at Davis;
Southern Illinois University; University of California School of Film;
University of Missouri-Kansas City; University of California-Irvine; Cal
Arts; and the University of Washington. Several have already earned advanced
terminal degrees and are teaching at colleges and universities.
Many of our education graduates are working in elementary, middle and
high schools throughout Washington, Oregon and California, while others
are working abroad at international schools.
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Who are some of the alumni and what are
they doing now?
http://www.cwu.edu/~theatre/news/alumni.html
Where do I find monologues?
The best place to start is by reading full-length plays that
contain characters within your age group. Collections of monologues can
be found in libraries and theatre book stores. The department strongly
recommends the prospective student obtain monologues from their high school
drama teacher.
What is the department retention rate?
Only the most dedicated, talented and serious individuals will complete
this program and have a successful career. However, the rewards are worth
the extra effort. Theatre is not a career for those who are not willing
to continually step up to the plate and prove themselves. In similar programs
about 35% of entering students will graduate.
What is the application deadline?
http://www.cwu.edu/~cwuadmis/apply.html
Please note the scholarship deadline March 1 for CWU Foundation awards
and April 1 for Theatre Art Department awards.
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