Cascade Campus
Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building
971-722-5314
Rock Creek Campus
Building 3, Room 201
971-722-7235
Sylvania Campus
Performing Arts Center
971-722-4323
Box Office 971-722-4323
Description
The PCC Theatre Arts (TA) program offers a wide variety of courses on the Sylvania and the Cascade campuses. The program produces three main-stage productions per school year (Fall, Winter and Spring) spanning great works by Shakespeare, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jane Austen, Stan Sakai and Caryl Churchill among other notable dramatists.
The Sylvania campus’ Performing Arts Center (PAC) houses a state-of-the-art proscenium multi-use theater and facility, which doubles as PCC’s most popular rental facility for over 800 annual events. The skills taught in TA program classes and productions allow students to qualify for paid work in the PAC's numerous rentals throughout the academic year, often leading to employment in the theatre community.
The Sylvania TA program embraces collaboration in the classroom and its 3 annual main-stage productions. Our popular productions utilize student actors, technicians, crew and designers who collaborate with professional staff, faculty and guest artists. The TA courses at Sylvania prepare community college students in the arts of fundamentals and advanced acting; beginning and advanced improvisation; scenic, costume, lighting, make-up design; backstage crew positions; stage management and stagecraft. Our students often go on to obtain professional employment, are active in many areas of semi-professional and professional theatre, or excel with the hands-on skills obtained here when transferring to four-year academic programs. Many of our exceptional TA students in our program have competed in the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival and have brought home regional and national awards and recognition.
The Sylvania TA program follows a two-year cycle, including a commitment to Classical, a Musical, American Classics, among numerous other exciting theatre productions, often in collaboration with the Dance and Music programs. Students are required to take credit courses when involved in TA productions. Auditions and crew assignments are open to all.
Theatre Arts courses provide a nurturing atmosphere for exploration of this collaborative and compelling art form. In addition, the popular annual student Short Play Festival showcases short works directed, acted, crewed and designed by PCC students. The Theatre Arts Club also produces various projects each term, occasional original works and staged readings. The popular Improvisation Club (PANTS) performs regularly and has won local acclaim and competitions.
The emerging TA program at Cascade Campus includes courses in acting, improv, movement, theatre appreciation, and collaborative classes with Multimedia (Acting for Camera and Directing Actors for the Camera). In Spring 2015, Cascade offered its first Devised Performance, an original piece created jointly by students and faculty.
TA 101. Theatre Appreciation. 4 Credits.
Explores live theatre productions in Portland metro area, enriching the understanding and appreciation of the theatrical event. Includes reading, researching and evaluating a play to collaboratively create a unified design. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 or equivalent placement. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Arts and Letters/AAOT, Arts and Letters/AS, Arts and Letters/AAS, Arts and Letters/AGS, Arts and Letters/ASOT-B.
TA 111. Fundamentals of Technical Theatre. 4 Credits.
Covers basic principles and techniques of technical theatre such as stage design, lighting, properties and stage management. Explores the role of the technician in the theatre organization. Lecture and lab allows flexible scheduling. Audit available.
TA 112. Introduction to Set Design. 4 Credits.
Covers elements of technical theater including practical hands-on experience in designing a stage set, construction, the set design and stage rigging. Lecture/lab format provides time for individualized projects. Audit available.
TA 113. Introduction to Stage Lighting. 4 Credits.
Explores theater and studio lighting. Focuses on elements of electricity, optics, stage lighting design, color in light, stage lighting instruments and intensity controls. Participate in stage lab activities. Audit available.
TA 116. Stagecraft. 3 Credits.
Introduces the basic operation of the stage, scene shop and their related equipment in relation to actual production. Covers the use of power tools as well as, construction materials and techniques used in the modern theater. Gives the student knowledge of the fundamental aspects of technical theater leading to an understanding of an appreciation for the art of stagecraft. Students are required to do three hours of lab a week and participation in departmental productions presented that term. Prerequisite: MTH 20. Audit available.
TA 141. Fundamentals of Acting Techniques. 4 Credits.
Introduces basic theatrical techniques. Develops text analysis and performance skills. Develops the beginning level awareness of the physical and vocal skills required of a stage performer. Includes reading and analyzing plays to develop acting skills. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Arts and Letters/AAOT, Arts and Letters/AS, Arts and Letters/AAS, Arts and Letters/AGS, Arts and Letters/ASOT-B.
TA 142. Fundamentals of Acting Techniques. 4 Credits.
Acquire concentration and relaxation in approaching a role. Improve performance skills with focus on vocal and physical control. Scene study is used. Prerequisite: TA 141 and its prerequisite requirements. Audit available.
TA 143. Fundamentals of Acting Techniques. 4 Credits.
Practice skills from TA 141 and TA 142. Stresses further inquiry and use of knowledge and skills in performance. Includes audition techniques. Prerequisite: TA 141 and its prerequisite requirements. Audit available.
TA 144. Improvisational Theatre. 3 Credits.
Become more in touch with the body and senses as used to express yourself and communicate with others. Includes exercise, theatre games and impromptu scenes to tap the creative potential of the human imagination. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
TA 145. Acting for the Camera. 4 Credits.
Identifies, exercises and utilizes the actor's resources to develop acting techniques specifically meant for acting on a visually recorded medium (camera). Taught only in conjunction with Video Production 2. Prerequisite: TA 141. Audit available.
TA 147. Voice and Diction for the Theatre. 3 Credits.
Introduces vocal production through a series of exercises which will increase muscle awareness, flexibility and freedom. Includes the mechanics of blank verse, auditioning and material selection as well as voice projection, articulation and performance. Audit available.
TA 148. Movement for the Stage. 3 Credits.
Develops awareness and skills in movement as related to acting and communication. Focuses on body awareness, relaxation, energy, creating physical images and character, and communicating through body language. Explores expression through movement. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
TA 180A. Theater Rehearsal and Performance. 1 Credit.
Credit for performance in theater production, if cast. Gain first-hand experience in performance techniques. Audition required. Audit available.
TA 180B. Theater Rehearsal and Performance. 2 Credits.
Performance in theater production. Audition required. Audit available.
TA 180C. Theater Rehearsal and Performance. 3 Credits.
Performance in theater production. Audition required. Audit available.
TA 180D. Theater Rehearsal and Performance. 4 Credits.
Performance in theater production. Audition required. Audit available.
TA 190A. Projects in Theatre. 1 Credit.
Design an independent project associated with the theatre. Develop a contract with a theatre arts instructor covering the course content. May be repeated. Audit available.
TA 190B. Projects in Theatre. 2 Credits.
Develop a study contract emphasizing self-directed research, on an individualized basis allowing for maximum flexibility. May be repeated. Audit available.
TA 190C. Projects in Theatre. 3 Credits.
Develop a study contract emphasizing self-directed research, on an individualized basis allowing for maximum flexibility. May be repeated. Audit available.
TA 211. Intermediate Technical Theatre. 4 Credits.
Covers intermediate elements of technical theatre directly associated with current performing arts production(s). Includes practical hands-on experience in a leadership role for one or more of the following: scenery, lighting, projection, sound, stage management and properties management. Prerequisites: TA 111 or instructor permission, and (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
TA 227. Stage Make-up. 3 Credits.
Techniques of applying stage make-up including use of tools and products. Focuses on analyzing the character and theater to create the best make-up for various roles on any given stage. Class time is divided into lecture and student make-up projects. Audit available.
TA 241. Intermediate Acting Technique. 4 Credits.
Concentrate on in-depth study of the skills introduced in first year acting. One-act plays will be assigned as projects. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
TA 244. Advanced Improvisation. 3 Credits.
This class emphasizes the development of improvisational acting skills for sustained narrative and long-form of improvisational theater. Students are encouraged to trust their intuition and to focus their senses, their body awareness and vocal qualities on the creation of narrative structures. Team work and the development of group cohesion are stressed. Prerequisites: TA 144, (WR 115 or IRW 115) or placement into WR 121. Audit available.
TA 250A. Technical Theatre Production. 1 Credit.
Provides the opportunity to learn and apply elementary technical theatre skills. Participation in the main stage production required. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Prerequisite/concurrent: TA 111, TA 112, or TA 113.
TA 250B. Technical Theatre Production. 2 Credits.
Provides the opportunity to learn and apply basic technical theatre skills. Employee teamwork skills to collaborate throughout the production process. Participation in the main stage production required. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement, and TA 250A or Instructor Approval.
TA 250C. Technical Theatre Production. 3 Credits.
Provides the opportunity to learn and apply intermediate technical skills in one or more areas of technical theatre. Employ teamwork skills to collaborate throughout the production process. Participation in the main stage production required. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement, and TA 250B or Instructor approval.
TA 253A. Theatre Rehearsal and Performance. 1 Credit.
Performance in a play. May be repeated. Audition required. Audit available.
TA 253B. Theatre Rehearsal and Performance. 2 Credits.
Performance in a play. May be repeated. Prerequisite: Audition. Audit available.
TA 253C. Theatre Rehearsal and Performance. 3 Credits.
Performance in a play. May be repeated. Prerequisite: Audition. Audit available.
TA 261. Introduction to Costuming. 3 Credits.
Surveys costume history, design, and basic patterning-to-construction techniques. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
TA 290A. Projects in Theatre. 1 Credit.
Advanced independent study course. Contract with a theatre arts instructor for individual project. Examples of projects could be assistant directing, lighting design, costuming, dramaturge. May be repeated. Audit available.
TA 290B. Projects in Theatre. 2 Credits.
Develop a study contract emphasizing self-directed research, on an individualized basis allowing for maximum flexibility. May be repeated. Audit available.
TA 290C. Projects in Theatre. 3 Credits.
Develop a study contract emphasizing self-directed research, on an individualized basis allowing for maximum flexibility. May be repeated. Audit available.