Theater

www.linnbenton.edu/current-students/involvement/performing-arts/theater

The theater arts degree is a practical liberal arts degree. The broad range of subjects studied enable the theater student to qualify for a wide variety of fields. Theater majors are found in the professional areas of live theatre, film, television, corporate and media training, radio, public relations, advertising, business law, teaching, and higher education. The diverse nature of theater explores expressions of human interactions and conflict.

The Theater program at Linn-Benton Community College is dedicated and focused on using the Arts to serve the communities in Linn and Benton counties. Through Touring Children’s Theater and the Annual Children’s Play, LBCC Theater provides opportunities to engage young audiences in the Arts and allows LBCC students a hands-on, dynamic learning experience. LBCC Theater’s emphasis on Community Engaged and Devised Theater provides the student an opportunity to explore and experience one’s community more fully, create partnerships within the community, and then produce a collaborative creation that both values the citizenry of the district and empowers the community to connect through story-telling and the Arts.

This study develops intellectual awareness about the human condition. It helps develop skills for working as a theater artist and as an individual who understands team work. Liberal studies majors will benefit from a departmental philosophy that good theater training is also excellent teacher training. Many courses in the department have no prerequisites, and they will help liberal studies students to prepare for careers in teaching.

In addition to acting and backstage opportunities, theater students are encouraged to work with faculty as assistant directors, designers, stage managers, and in theater administration. Theater faculty encourage highly motivated and qualified students to develop their own creative efforts. New student play scripts and innovative approaches to theater are strongly encouraged. Theater arts students choose to concentrate in one of three areas once they have completed a common core of courses: acting, design/ technical, and children’s theater.

The theater department offers two transfer degrees for students wishing to study theater. The AS degree is designed to facilitate a seamless transfer to the theater option within the Speech Communications major at Oregon State University. The AAOT degree is for students wishing to transfer to another four-year institution, such as Southern Oregon University or Western Oregon University. Students pursuing the AAOT should speak with Dan Stone as soon as possible to best tailor their course choices to the school that they plan to transfer to, as requirements differ at each program.

Both the AS and the AAOT degrees are designed to be completed in two years, but this assumes that the entering student has college level skills in writing and math.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete an Associate of Science degree with an emphasis in Theater will:

• Students who successfully complete an Associate of Science degree with an emphasis in Theater will:
• Demonstrate basic performance and production skills.
• Develop an understanding of dramatic literature.
• Develop an understanding of theater in a cultural context.
• Develop an ability to engage the broader community in the Arts and communicate the importance and impact of the Arts within one’s community
• Be prepared to competently audition and interview for a variety of Theater-related positions.