Handbook for the Department of Theatre & Dance
Assessment Activities
Departmental Policies
Other Information
Organizations
Our mission as teacher-artists and student-artists is to stimulate and develop, in concert with our audiences, an imaginative and honest engagement with performance as both method and subject of inquiry. As lifelong learners and active participants in our communities, we explore important ideas, peoples and perspectives of the world at large, as well as the spirit and intellect of the individual, through the practice of our craft in the classroom and on the stage as disciplined theatre professionals and committed artists.
All students in the performance BFA programs are subject to end-of-the-year evaluations. Since the end of a student's first year is of particular importance, students must re-audition to continue on in their program at this time. Transfer students who have not yet passed the Advanced Scene Study course will also be evaluated to make sure satisfactory progress is being made. These auditions will be held near the end of the term in April.
The Acting "hurdle" for all performance majors (Acting and Musical Theatre) consists of the performance of a scene done at the end of the second course in the first-year acting sequence (Acting II).
Musical Theatre majors are also required to learn and perform two songs (up-tempo and ballad), and a dance, which are performed for all of the faculty in the performance area (acting, music, and dance). The dance sequence is taught a few days prior to the hurdle audition.
Possible results of the hurdle for all students include:
1. Unqualified acceptance
2. Probation, which indicates a qualified acceptance assuming competencies
in the specified area(s) will be met within a designated time period
(usually 1 year).
3. Denial and redirection to another major
Musical Theatre students also perform prescribed material for Private Voice juries at the end of each semester.
For Design/Technical BFA students, the hurdle consists of an evaluation of their portfolios, which should contain specific projects as required by the design faculty.
For Directing, Stage Management, or Theatre Administration BFA students, the hurdle will consist of an evaluative discussion and portfolio review with the student, the department chair, another faculty member, and the departmental Production Manager. This discussion will also serve as the first "Year-End Conference"
All Freshmen, Sophomore and Junior Theatre majors will be required to attend an end-of-year conference usually with two or more faculty/staff members as selected by the department; students may not change the faculty/staff members assigned to them; however, a student may request an additional instructor join the conference. Seniors are not required to attend a conference. .
All seniors graduating from the Department of Theatre and Dance will be asked to participate in a group senior exit interview process. The interview will consist of two steps. First, all seniors will be asked to complete a written exit interview survey that will then be tabulated by the department secretary. Secondly, students will meet with the full faculty in an open forum for discussion of their thoughts about the department and their experience while at Millikin University. Typically, this group meeting is held just prior to the end-of-year departmental picnic.
The faculty of the Department of Theatre and Dance believes that attendance and discipline are vital to the success of each student. The following attendance policy has been formulated and will be used in every class in the department.
A class may be missed without penalty as many times as that class meets in one week. For example, if the class meets three times each week, you are allowed a total of three absences. If a class meets two times each week, you are allowed a total of two absences.
Each time you miss class, you receive one absence. Therefore, if you are sick you receive an absence the same as you would if you simply overslept. If you are ill for an extended period (such as have surgery) or if there are extenuating circumstances (such as a death in the family), special consideration will be extended.
Each absence in excess of the limit will result in the lowering of your final grade as determined by each professor.
Scene work or rehearsals shall not be considered adequate reasons for excused absences. It is each student’s responsibility to inform an instructor of any anticipated absence before occurrence.
Special Circumstances for excused absences:
• College of Fine Arts sanctioned events
• Classes missed because of professional theatre related obligations
that require a student to either leave school early or return late will
not be counted. It is assumed, however, that if a student is extended
this privilege, no absences will occur during the remainder of the term
unless for illness.
Perpetual tardiness will simply not be tolerated. Professors establish their own policies concerning this matter.
Performance and the development of artistic responsibility are emphasized throughout a student's career. A wide variety of opportunities for performance (acting, directing) and design are available during the year.
Non-performance majors (i.e. BFA students in Design/Technical, Stage Management, Theatre Administration and Directing) are required to perform at least once before graduation (mainstage, Pipe Dreams, directing scenes, dance concert).
Technicians and designers are required to work on each mainstage production as assigned.
All BFA performance students must participate in the unified auditions. Because the auditions are used to evaluate your audition skills, everyone can benefit from the experience. The only exception to this policy for any BFA performance student are jobs that keep you out of school through the week of unifieds, or if you have received the permission of the performance faculty.
If you feel you have a legitimate reason for not being considered for a role, be it a chorus role or otherwise, you must file a petition in the office, which is then considered by all faculty members. Do not go to individual directors. The decision to release you from a role is the decision of the full performance faculty.
To the issue of declining roles: while there may be legitimate reasons for turning down a role in a semester (i.e. JMS project, other creative challenges, etc.) please understand that your continuance in the BFA performance program rightfully falls into question. Turning down a role makes no sense for students calling themselves professional actors. Working is always more profitable than not working, unless you have very good personal or academic reasons.
BFA Performance majors (musical theatre and acting) are required to complete six Theatre Practicum credits, typically one per semester. Because quality of work is more important than quantity of work, students may participate in two Pipe Dreams shows or one Mainstage and one Pipe Dreams show at any one time. For the Dance Concert, a student may be involved in up to five pieces either as a choreographer or as a dancer.
All freshmen BFA performance majors (musical theatre and acting) are required to audition for all Pipe Dreams projects, unless otherwise noted on the audition announcement. Students who are unable to be considered for a project because they are already involved in two projects should still audition, but designate unavailability on the audition form.
Any Theatre major may audition for any choir or musical ensemble. When auditioning at Unifieds all of these rehearsal and performance times and dates should be listed on the audition sheet. If conflicts between mainstage and musical ensemble rehearsals/performances cannot be resolved by the faculty, then a Theatre student will be asked to drop the musical ensemble in favor of the performance opportunity in the major.
All performance majors are required to audition at the Unified Auditions held at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters unless a typed petition is submitted to the Department Chair at least one day prior to the audition. The petition must state the reason the student wishes not to audition.
Usually acceptable reasons include:
Students who have been put on academic probation, or are having trouble academically may not be considered for mainstage roles until the student returns to a satisfactory academic standing. Students are still required to audition at the unified auditions as part of their degree requirements.
Students who flunk Practicum will be ineligible for Mainstage casting in the next semester.
Freshmen and sophomore BFA acting students are required to sing and dance at Unified Auditions. Junior and senior acting majors may petition out of this requirement by submitting a written request to the department chair.
The Student Advisory Council meets with the Department Chair throughout the course of the year and serves in an advisory capacity. The council does not hold decision-making authority; rather, it serves as an aid to the decision-making process.
Council regulations include:
Alpha Psi Omega is a national honorary dramatic society. The purpose of this organization is to stimulate interest in theatre activities at Millikin and to secure for the college all the advantages and mutual helpfulness provided by a large national honorary fraternity. Members are admitted to Alpha Psi Omega after earning 50 points for participating in theatrical productions, as described by the organization's point chart. For example, stage-managing a Pipe Dreams production earns 15 points; dancing in a piece for the dance concert earns 3 points. Candidates must also perform a Shakespearean monologue and be approved by the current members. A minimum of 25 points must be earned each year to remain a member in good standing.
There are many spaces available for rehearsals and meetings when classes are not in them: PD1, PD2, Old Gym Dance Studio, Old Gym Changing Room, Old Gym West End Room, Aston Classroom, Aston Dance Studio, DISC 1, and DISC 2. Go through R25 to view available spaces and to request spaces.
The office is a place of business and should be regarded as such. Students should not call the office to leave messages for other students. Office equipment including the telephone is NOT for student use. Copier use by students is absolutely prohibited unless arranged specifically through a class and a lab fee paid. Always ask the departmental secretary to use the copier.
The bulletin boards located in Nue Mue and hallway on the west end
of second floor Shilling are used as a general message center. READ
THE CALL BOARD OFTEN!!!
The Call Board includes:
Notes should be dated and kept neat, small and in good taste. Remove old notices.
We are interested in having security be diligent.
Millikin students may receive 1 free ticket to designated shows in Kirkland and Albert Taylor Theatre. Check with box office for availability
Each student who works on a designated production is entitled to receive one complimentary ticket to one performance of that show. A "comps" list will be provided to the Kirkland Fine Arts Center box office, and the ticket may be picked up there.