School of Drama 

General Information 

The School of Drama strives to prepare students for professional careers in theatre. As a vital artistic training unit within a major university, the school believes the student’s experience should include all aspects of theatre production along with a strong academic component of theatre history and general education. The school seeks to train and educate theatrical artists, craftsmen and educators of the future. 

The student/faculty ratio in the School of Drama assures the student extensive individual attention and guidance during each step of the program. Visiting artists supplement our resident faculty and staff in providing a wide range of experience for students as part of their growth and training as artists. 

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS 

• Drama Student Senate 
• Alphi Psi Omega 
• Spacechangers 

Programs for Excellence 

OU’s School of Drama is the second oldest in the nation, and has a long and distinctive history as well as a reputation for excellence. This performance-based degree is supported by a multitude of diverse theatrical options. On the main-stages, an average of five plays, two musicals, and three dance productions comprise the University Theatre season (nine-month academic year). In the Lab Theatre in Old Science Hall and the Gilson Studio Theatre another 3-5 plays are mounted. Throughout the year, students hone their studio skills in a professional and challenging setting. 

The University of Oklahoma School of Drama has been the birthplace of several world and regional premieres. The school’s commitment to new works adds to the exciting atmosphere that permeates the student’s academic career. Students are encouraged to attend a number of professional auditions each year. The School of Drama is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and is active in the American College Theatre Festival. 

Performance majors must audition each semester for upcoming productions. Auditions are held twice a year, August for the Fall semester, and November for the spring semester. Additional auditions are held as needed for added productions which may include children’s theatre shows, directing scenes, or MFA directing qualifiers. Design and stage management assignments are made at the beginning of each semester. In addition, students have opportunities to work as dramaturgs, assistant stage managers, audience development assistants, and technicians in scenery, costume, lighting, properties, and sound. 

Special Facilities and Programs 

The School of Drama administrative offices are located at 121 Old Science Hall, on the North Oval. The University Theatre building - the Fine Arts Center - is at 563 Elm on the northwest corner of the Norman campus. Completed in 1965, the center contains faculty offices; classrooms; dance studios; construction shops and storage spaces for scenery, costumes, lights, and properties; a computer-aided design lab; the highly flexible 600-seat Rupel J. Jones Theatre; and the more intimate, 250-seat Weitzenhoffer Theatre. The close proximity to the other schools in the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts gives students easy access to the Museum of Art, the Fine Arts Library and the Reynolds Performing Arts Center. In addition to the facilities in the Fine Arts Center, Old Science Hall houses the 80-seat Lab Theatre, the 80-seat Gilson Studio Theatre, faculty offices, a design lab, the Drama Library, and administrative offices. 

The production auditions are open to all students in the University. Many classes in every aspect of theatre are offered to nonmajors for elective credit. 

Scholarship Information 

A number of scholarships and awards are available to qualified students. Applications for scholarships are available from the School of Drama office. Students who wish to have their scholarships renewed must reapply each year. Additional non-drama scholarships and financial aid are available through the University of Oklahoma Office of Financial Aid Services. These applications must be made separately. March 1 is the application deadline for these awards. The following drama scholarships are available to qualified students: 

• Ben Barnett Scholarships 
• Theatre Guild Scholarships 
• A. Max Weitzenhoffer Scholarship in Scene Design 
• Mary Clarke Miley Minority Scholarships 
• Fee Waiver Scholarships 
• Non-Resident Fee Waiver Scholarships 
• The E. Franklin Gilson Professional Development Grant 
• The Nicole Poole Scholarship 

At the close of each academic year the School of Drama recognizes individual achievement in an awards ceremony. Many awards carry cash prizes. The awards include: 

• The Van Heflin Award 
• The Buffalo Mask Awards 
• Rupel J. Jones Directing Award 
• Ida Z. Kirk Acting Awards 
• Charles C. Suggs Stage Management Award 
• A. L. Mortensen Award for Technical Excellence 
• Helen F. Lauterer Costuming Award 
• Raymond D. Larson Scene Design Award 
• Oscar G. Brockett Dramaturgy Award 

Undergraduate Study 

The School of Drama offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama degree. The degree is designed to provide the student with a solid foundation in each basic area of the theatre, with an opportunity to begin specialization in the sophomore year. The concentrations are in the following areas: 

• Acting—for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career as a performer in professional theatre, television or film; 
• Design—for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in scenic, costume or lighting design; 
• Dramaturgy—for undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers and/or graduate study in dramaturgy, theatre history, directing or playwriting; 
• Stage Management—for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in stage management; 
• Technical Production—for undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers in scenic technology or costume technology. 

Coursework at the undergraduate level includes acting, directing, voice and speech, stage movement and combat, graphics, stagecraft, costume construction and design, basic lighting fundamentals and design, scene design, sound techniques and design, theatre history, costume history, play structure and analysis, and theatre and stage management. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of coursework offered by the School of Dance and the A. Max Weitzenhoffer Department of Musical Theatre. 

ADMISSION 

The School of Drama, follows the basic admission requirements of the University of Oklahoma and the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts. Please refer to those sections in this catalog for specific details. In addition, admission to the OU School of Drama is by audition and/or interview only and requires an on-campus audition (for acting emphasis) or portfolio review (for design or technology emphasis), and/or interview (for dramaturgy or stage management emphasis). Students must be officially accepted into the School of Drama by audition and/or interview before being allowed to enroll for classes. 

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 

The undergraduate degree consists of a minimum of 126 credit hours, of which approximately 86 hours come from within the school. The University’s general education requirements and electives make up the remaining hours. Drama majors at the undergraduate level must meet and maintain college admission requirements as outlined above and must have a grade of C or higher in each course in his/her major field. At least 40 hours must be taken at the upper-division level (3000 and 4000-level courses). Students are advised each semester by the school faculty concerning enrollments, admission, advancement toward degree and career options. 

Students considering a major in drama should contact the School of Drama Office 121 Old Science Hall for curriculum plans outlining the above program and information covering auditions, admission policies and guidelines, awards and scholarships, and additional regulations, policies and practices. 

Graduate Study 

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION 

• Master of Arts: theatre history, dramatic literature and criticism, and dramaturgy. 
• Master of Fine Arts in Drama: directing; costume, scenic or lighting design. 

PREREQUISITES FOR FULL GRADUATE STANDING 

In addition to meeting the general requirements of the Graduate College, the student should have completed the following undergraduate coursework or its professional equivalent: six hours in acting, six hours in directing, three hours in stagecraft, three hours in costume construction, three hours in costume history, three hours each in scene, costume and lighting design, three hours in dramatic structure and analysis, and six hours in theatre history. 

Students with deficiencies in any of these areas may be required to take coursework judged necessary to correct the deficiencies, without receiving graduate credit for the coursework. Once full graduate standing is achieved, the student must maintain a 3.00 grade point average and make satisfactory progress toward the degree to maintain full graduate standing. 

MASTER OF ARTS 

The M.A. is a scholarly degree with emphasis on theatre history, dramatic literature and criticism, and dramaturgy. The program is structured with the student’s particular needs and interests in mind. It requires 30 hours of coursework and contains 13 hours of core requirements and 17 hours of electives. It requires a thesis. Contact the School of Drama Office for further details. 

MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN DRAMA 

Directing 

The area of specialization in directing leading to the M.F.A. in Drama is normally a three-year program requiring between 54 and 60 hours of coursework and the direction of at least three full-length productions. The individual student’s course of study is worked out in consultation with the student’s adviser. Contact the School of Drama Office for further details. 

Design 

The area of specialization in design for the MFA in Drama is normally a three-year program requiring between 54 and 60 hours of coursework. Students may emphasize scenic, costume or lighting design, or may concentrate in more than one of the traditional design areas. Contact the School of Drama Office for further details.