Theatre
Program Description
An Associate in Arts (AA) degree in Theatre prepares students to transfer to a university with a solid understanding of theatre history and the fundamentals in acting or stagecraft, which includes the technical aspects of theatrical production. Theatre majors also have the opportunity to include their performances as cast or crew members as departmental credit.
Graduates of these programs will successfully complete the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge of theatre literature and historical periods that includes Western and non-Western traditions
- Demonstrate basic skills in acting, directing, technical theatre, and design
- Demonstrate effective communication and/or criticism in theatre performance/production
- Demonstrate the ability to create theatre events, projects, or productions through practicums, independent projects, or internships
- Describe the value of theatre as a fine art and the necessity to become an informed audience member with an understanding of theatre as a way of learning about broader issues
Degree(s) / Certificates(s)
| Title | Local Bachelor's |
|---|---|
| Theatre - A.A. Transfer Degree | - |
Career Outlook
Successful completion of this program can open doors to various employment opportunities, many of which require further higher education at the university level. Below are examples of related occupations and their annual mean wages in Arizona, based on career and wage data from Pipeline AZ, which utilizes government sources for its reports and forecasts.
Description
Play parts in stage, television, radio, video, or film productions, or other settings for entertainment, information, or instruction. Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. May dance and sing.
Duties/Tasks
- Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
- Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
- Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
- Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
- Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
- Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.
- Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.
- Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.
- Work with other crew members responsible for lighting, costumes, make-up, and props.
- Tell jokes, perform comic dances, songs and skits, impersonate mannerisms and voices of others, contort face, and use other devices to amuse audiences.
Salary Information (AZ)
Average Salary
N/A
N/A
Entry Level Salary
N/A
N/A
Mid Level Salary
N/A
N/A
Expert Level Salary
N/A
N/A
Average Hourly Wage
$29.71
$29.71
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$13.97
$13.97
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$20.00
$20.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$61.05
$61.05
Typical Education Level
Less Than A High School Diploma
Description
Select, fit, and take care of costumes for cast members, and aid entertainers. May assist with multiple costume changes during performances.
Duties/Tasks
- Create worksheets for dressing lists, show notes, or costume checks.
- Provide dressing assistance to cast members or assign cast dressers to assist specific cast members with costume changes.
- Arrange costumes in order of use to facilitate quick-change procedures for performances.
- Design or construct costumes or send them to tailors for construction, major repairs, or alterations.
- Examine costume fit on cast members and sketch or write notes for alterations.
- Distribute costumes or related equipment and keep records of item status.
- Check the appearance of costumes on stage or under lights to determine whether desired effects are being achieved.
- Clean and press costumes before and after performances and perform any minor repairs.
- Collaborate with production designers, costume designers, or other production staff to discuss and execute costume design details.
- Monitor, maintain, or secure inventories of costumes, wigs, or makeup, providing keys or access to assigned directors, costume designers, or wardrobe mistresses/masters.
Salary Information (AZ)
Average Salary
$34,980
$34,980
Entry Level Salary
$25,270
$25,270
Mid Level Salary
$35,860
$35,860
Expert Level Salary
$48,370
$48,370
Average Hourly Wage
$16.82
$16.82
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$12.15
$12.15
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$17.00
$17.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$23.25
$23.25
Typical Education Level
High School Diploma
Description
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
Duties/Tasks
- Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies.
- Select desired makeup shades from stock, or mix oil, grease, and coloring to achieve specific color effects.
- Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis.
- Cleanse and tone the skin to prepare it for makeup application.
- Assess performers' skin type to ensure that makeup will not cause break-outs or skin irritations.
- Study production information, such as character descriptions, period settings, and situations, to determine makeup requirements.
- Alter or maintain makeup during productions as necessary to compensate for lighting changes or to achieve continuity of effect.
- Analyze a script, noting events that affect each character's appearance, so that plans can be made for each scene.
- Confer with stage or motion picture officials and performers to determine desired effects.
- Establish budgets, and work within budgetary limits.
Typical Education Level
Post Secondary Certificate
Description
Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.
Duties/Tasks
- Switch between video sources in a studio or on multi-camera remotes, using equipment such as switchers, video slide projectors, and video effects generators.
- Observe pictures through monitors and direct camera and video staff concerning shading and composition.
- Supervise and assign duties to workers engaged in technical control and production of radio and television programs.
- Monitor broadcasts to ensure that programs conform to station or network policies and regulations.
- Operate equipment to produce programs or broadcast live programs from remote locations.
- Test equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Train workers in use of equipment, such as switchers, cameras, monitors, microphones, and lights.
- Direct technical aspects of newscasts and other productions, checking and switching between video sources and taking responsibility for the on-air product, including camera shots and graphics.
- Follow instructions from production managers and directors during productions, such as commands for camera cuts, effects, graphics, and takes.
- Set up and execute video transitions and special effects, such as fades, dissolves, cuts, keys, and supers, using computers to manipulate pictures as necessary.
Salary Information (AZ)
Average Salary
$60,490
$60,490
Entry Level Salary
$25,270
$25,270
Mid Level Salary
$50,500
$50,500
Expert Level Salary
$102,000
$102,000
Average Hourly Wage
$29.08
$29.08
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$12.15
$12.15
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$24.00
$24.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$49.04
$49.04
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Description
Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography.
Duties/Tasks
- Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
- Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
- Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
- Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
- Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.
- Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
- Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members.
- Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes.
- Perform management activities, such as budgeting, scheduling, planning, and marketing.
- Write and submit proposals to bid on contracts for projects.
Salary Information (AZ)
Average Salary
$60,490
$60,490
Entry Level Salary
$25,270
$25,270
Mid Level Salary
$50,500
$50,500
Expert Level Salary
$102,000
$102,000
Average Hourly Wage
$29.08
$29.08
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$12.15
$12.15
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$24.00
$24.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$49.04
$49.04
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Description
Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.
Duties/Tasks
- Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
- Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
- Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
- Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
- Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
- Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
- Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
- Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.
- Observe sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles.
- Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.
Salary Information (AZ)
Average Salary
$54,410
$54,410
Entry Level Salary
$38,360
$38,360
Mid Level Salary
$53,610
$53,610
Expert Level Salary
$64,790
$64,790
Average Hourly Wage
$26.16
$26.16
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$18.44
$18.44
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$25.00
$25.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$31.15
$31.15
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Contact Information
Department Contact(s)
Liberal Arts & Education
Hours of Operation
- Normal Hours
- Monday - Thursday: 7:00am - 5:00pm
Faculty/Staff Contact(s)
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodney Abriol, DMA | Professor of Music - Piano | (928) 317-6019 | rodney.abriol@azwestern.edu |
| William Blomquist, MFA | Professor of Visual Arts-2D | (928) 317-6060 | william.blomquist@azwestern.edu |
| Julie Floss, MFA | Professor of Visual Arts-2D, SYC | (928) 314-9434 | julie.floss@azwestern.edu |
| Deltrina Grimes, MM | Professor of Music: Voice | (928) 344-7574 | deltrina.grimes@azwestern.edu |
| Brad Pease, MFA | Professor of Computer Graphics and Visual Arts | (928) 344-7707 | brad.pease@azwestern.edu |
| Louis Pollard III, DMA | Professor of Instrumental Music | (928) 344-7573 | Shawn.Pollard@azwestern.edu |
| Rebecca Shelby, MFA | Professor of Visual Arts-3D | (928) 344-7756 | Rebecca.Shelby@azwestern.edu |