Theatre
The Central College theatre program is designed to make available a broad and comprehensive exposure to the theatre arts. Intellectual and artistic developments are carefully balanced within a production-oriented atmosphere. A variety of courses are offered including acting, directing, history, literature, Arts Management, stagecraft, design and technical production. Independent study is encouraged and students have the opportunity to earn credits while working on their craft under close mentorship by faculty and staff.
Program Highlights
- Four main stage productions and multiple student productions occur each year, including the student run Fringe Festival.
- Each term an informal trip open to the entire student body is organized for students to travel to see professional productions and visit artistic venues in Minneapolis, Kansas City and Des Moines.
- Many Central theatre majors plan a term at one of the Central College International campus locations. There they can engage in internships, explore the theatre scene and expand their knowledge of the performing arts.
- The department partners with the Pella Shakespeare Company to provide summer internships in acting, directing and stagecraft.
- The department presents a wide range of classical and contemporary theatre. In recent years, students have also worked with playwrights in residence to develop and write exciting new works for the stage.
- A versatile main stage and studio theatre are both housed in the technically well-equipped, up to date facility.
Faculty
- Greg Gillette, M.F.A., visiting professor, gilletteg@central.edu
- Dottie McGee, costume shop manager, mikeanddottie@iowatelecom.net
- Mary Jo Sodd, Ph.D., professor of theatre, soddmj@central.edu
- Thomas Thatcher, M.F.A. technical director, thatchert@central.edu
- Ann Wilkinson, theatre arts associate, wilkinsona@central.edu
Successful Careers
- Sound designer and composer for over 45 East Coast and regional theatres from the Eugene O’Neill Playwrights, Manhattan Theatre Club, to the Alley Theatre
- Production manager “From the Top” National Public Radio; production coordinator for 13-part TV series “From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall” for PBS, Boston, Mass.
- Development director of the Omaha Community Playhouse, Omaha, Neb.
- Lecturer in theatre at Grimsby Institute, North East Lincolnshire, England
- Costume shop manager at the Sacramento Theatre Company, Sacramento, Calif.
- Actors cast in multiple major motion pictures, Iowa
- Professional actors affiliated with the Tangerine Arts Group, Studio 1509, Film Star Pictures and Nogrades Productions
- Old Town School of Folk Music (programs include music, theatre and dance) Chicago, Ill.
- Talent Agent Assistant, Des Moines, Iowa
- Actor, Second City, Chicago, Ill.
- Education director for the Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Roswell, Ga.
- Scene shop construction at the Studio Theatre, Washington, D.C.
- Chicago free-lance stage manager and a part of Chicago Dance Crash, Chicago, Ill.
- Iowa freelance lighting designer
- Scene shop supervisor at the Des Moines Playhouse, Des Moines, Iowa
- Co-creators of the 7/11 Theatre Project, Des Moines, Iowa
- Founding member Theatre … for a Change, Des Moines, Iowa
- Scene shop construction at the Sacramento Theatre Company, Sacramento, Calif.
- GEAR UP adviser for the Des Moines Public Schools and Hoover High School drama coach, Des Moines, Iowa
- Various positions utilizing theatre at the Des Moines Science Center, Des Moines, Iowa
- Production Assistants, multiple major motion pictures, Iowa
- Associate services coordinator, recruitment and training at Shure Incorporated, Niles, Ill.
- Admission adviser, University at Buffalo (SUNY), Buffalo, N.Y.
Internships
Learn more about internships at Central.
Courses
- Introduction to Theatre
- Acting I
- Acting II: Classical Acting
- Theatre history and dramatic literature I: Ancient world to Medieval
- Theatre history and dramatic literature II: Renaissance to Modernism
- Stage management
- Directing I and II
- Costume design and construction
- Advanced costume design and construction
- Scene design
- Advanced scene design
- Lighting design
- Advanced lighting design
- Introduction to theatrical design
- Play production
- Voice and movement
- Arts management
- Makeup design
- Children's Theatre
- Arts Management
- Acting for the Camera
Sample Schedule
Freshman year
- Introduction to theatre
- Acting I
- Introduction to theatrical production
- Stage management
- Core courses and/or electives
Sophomore year
- Directing I
- One course from theatre history sequence
- Practicum in theatre
- Costume design and construction or scene design or lighting design
- Core courses and/or electives
Junior year
- Practicum in theatre
- Theatre electives
- Core courses and/or electives
- A semester studying abroad is recommended
Senior year
- Practicum in theatre
- Theatre electives
- Core courses and/or electives
Get more details from the course catalog! (Note: this is a PDF file)
Facilities
The Kruidenier Center houses the theatre department and includes two black box theatres — a 200-seat main-stage theatre and a 75-seat studio theatre. A scene shop, costume shop, makeup and dressing rooms, box office, lounge (greenroom), classrooms and faculty offices are also part of the Kruidenier Center. The equipment is professional quality. Both the main-stage and studio theatres have state-of-the-art light boards and a computerized sound-editing program is available for sound design.
Department Web site
Central’s theatre department maintains its own Web site with even more information about majoring in theatre.
Organizations
No matter what your interests are, Central has a student group or organization that you’ll want to join including:
- Alpha Psi Omega
- Improv Your Vision
- CCFMCGGU Film and Movie Club
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to study abroad with one of Central’s eight international programs to enhance their development as global citizens, or with Central’s Chicago program and the Washington, D.C., program. Learn more about Central’s study abroad programs.
Scholarships
Central offers theatre scholarships of up to $2,000 for all students (majors and non-majors) planning to continue involvement in theatre at the college level. Click here for more information!
2009-10 Season
Oct. 7-10, 2009, student-directed shows:
“Afternoon of the Elves” by Y. York; director Jenna Vik
Adapted from the Newbery Honor Book by Janet Taylor Lisle, Afternoon of the Elves is a beautiful story about the wonder of imagination and the strength of friendship. It is a must-see for the upper elementary and middle school student. Touching on moral relativism, bullying, class differences and foster care, the play is recommended for grades 3 and up.
“Abstnercranth” by Jon Berry; director Andy McGuire
A fantastical scientific romp.
Nov. 18- 21, 2009
“Radium Girls” by D.W. Gregory; director Ann Wilkinson
Called a "powerful" and "engrossing" drama by critics, Radium Girls by Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright D.W. Gregory offers a wry, unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsessions with health, wealth and the commercialization of science. It is based on the tragic true story surrounding the U.S. Radium Corporation scandal of the 1920s.
March 3-6, 2010
“Urinetown” the musical by Hollman & Kotis; directed by Ann Wilkinson in collaboration with the music department
Urinetown is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. This uproarishly funny Tony Award-winning musical is about a town not too different from our own, except for one major aspect of daily life: a water shortage has made private toilets illegal. Every day the hard-pressed citizens of the city stand in line to pay a fee for the public facilities. Anyone who can't pay the fee is sent to the horrible and mysterious Urinetown. To save his fellow citizens, Bobby Strong leads the rebellion against Urine Good Company.
April 28-May 1, 2010
“The Doctor In Spite of Himself” by Moliere as translated by Albert Bermel; directed by Mary Jo Sodd
Moliere‘s scalpel sharp satire of the medical profession and the improbable adventures of a woodcutter who is mistaken for a doctor.
