Theatre & Dance Option Concentrations

Acting and Musical Theatre Program

 CSUEB has produced successful productions in Drama and Musical Theatre for over 50 years. This concentration is a performance-oriented program. We encourage students to audition and perform in productions starting in their first year. Our faculty to student ratio provides an intimate teaching environment in which students thrive.

We pride ourselves with our faculty who are working Bay Area professionals, who give our students the personal mentoring they need to develop vital singing, acting, and dance techniques. Our ensemble approach provides opportunities for our students to perform each year in a main stage musical, department dramatic plays, dance concerts, and choirs.

Each fall, our department presents a full production of a play either drawn from the classics or by an emerging artist. Each spring, our department presents a full production of a musical drawn from classics of the golden age of theater as well as up and coming contemporary musicals. Our program embraces the ethnic and racial diversity of our community, demonstrating a commitment to producing, developing and providing a multi-cultural musical theatre experience. 

In addition, a large number of our graduates go on to continue their training in graduate programs and professional schools, as well as move on to find employment in all levels of theater.

Required Courses and Elective Classes

**Please meet with a Theatre and Dance Advisor to plot a course for the option concentration you prefer to focus on. Classes could be subject to change. **

Core Classes

• THEA 100 - Theatre: A Spotlight on Life
• THEA 151 - Fundamentals of Acting
• THEA 350 or 370 - Theatre Performance or Musical Theater Performance (Must be taken 4 times)
• THEA 381 or 382 - Production Support: Stage, Lights, and Sound Shop/Crew or Production Support: Costume and Makeup Shop/Crew
• THEA 432 - Exploration of Dramatic Literature Characters
• THEA 461 - Scenery, Lighting and Sound Design
• THEA 462 - Costume and Makeup Design
• THEA 493 - Theatre Projects Capstone
• MUS   108  -The Language of Music
• DANC 362 - Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble

Concentration Classes

• THEA 112 - Makeup Techniques
• THEA 114 - Sound Production Techniques
• THEA 251 - Stage Voice and Classical Repertoire
• THEA 252 - Voice and Movement for Actors
• THEA 351 - Intermediate Acting
• THEA 431 - Exploration of Dramatic Literature Characters

Must take 4 dance classes that are 1 unit each such as: 

• DANC 110 and 310 Contemporary Ballet (I & II)
• DANC 114, 214, 314 - Modern Jazz Dance (I, II & III) 
• DANC 115, 215, 315 - Modern Dance (I, II & III)
• DANC 117 - Rhythm Tap Dance
• DANC 217 - Musical TheatreDance

Concentration Electives

Acting

• THEA 231 - Creating Theatre from Personal Experience
• THEA 234 - Social Justice Theatre Ensemble
• THEA 254 - Acting and Diversity
• THEA 331 - Solo and Devised Theatre Ensemble
• THEA 352 - Acting and Classical Repertoire

Musical Theatre

• THEA 231 - Creating Theatre from Personal Experience
• THEA 234 - Social Justice Theatre Ensemble
• THEA 254 - Acting and Diversity
• THEA 322 - History of Musical Theatre
• THEA 331 - Solo and Devised Theatre Ensemble
• THEA 352 - Acting and Classical Repertoire
• THEA 371 - Musical Theatre Techniques

Acting and Musical Theatre Elective Alternatives

• THEA 255 - Acting on Camera
• THEA 359 - Directing

Acting Advisors

Ann Fajilan

Phone: (510) 885-2385
Email: Ann.Fajilan@csueastbay.edu

Marc Jacobs

Phone: (510) 885-3129
Email: Marc.Jacobs@csueastbay.edu

Darryl V. Jones

Phone: (510) 885-3926
Email: Darryl.Jones@csueastbay.edu

Musical Theatre Advisors

Marc Jacobs

Phone: (510) 885-3129
Email: Marc.Jacobs@csueastbay.edu

Darryl V. Jones

Phone: (510) 885-3926
Email: Darryl.Jones@csueastbay.edu

 Dance and Inclusive Performance Program

CSUEB'S Dance and Inclusive Performance Program is committed to dance training and performance that celebrates diverse cultures, styles, body sizes & shapes, abilities/disabilities, ages, and neurodiversity. We are rooted in the study of dance, but embrace collaboration with diverse forms of expression, including theater, music, spoken word, social activism, critical theory, ceremony, healing, and interdisciplinary research. Our students enjoy countless opportunities to choreograph, perform, collaborate with other disciplines and integrate dance into their communities. Students interested in professional dance performance, inclusive dance, physically integrated dance, choreography, teaching, dance for all bodies and abilities, musical theatre, cultural performance forms, psycho-spiritual exploration, dance on camera, solo performance, ensemble performance, body politics, and theatre for social change are encouraged to join our growing community.

The Dance and Inclusive Performance Program thrives on ongoing, accessible opportunities for performance and production. These range in scope from in-class showings, to mainstage productions, and local and national tours.

There are two tracks within our concentration, the Dance Track, which focuses more on dance performance and choreography training, and the Inclusive Performance Track, which focuses more on interdisciplinary research, starting with dance and branching out into music, theater, social activism, and the exploration of performance for people of all body identities and abilities.

There are also two minors in our program, a minor in Dance and a minor in Inclusive and Social Justice Performance.

All students are encouraged to take part in our program’s ensembles in some way. Some students participate for all four years of their college career, others just for one or two semesters, and some find that it works best for them to land somewhere in the middle of these two approaches. The ensembles are both classes and creative communities, translating the in-class learning into live art creation and performance. Our current ensembles are:

Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble (IIE): Directed by Professor Eric Kupers, this ensemble brings together rigorous experimentation in inclusive dance, music, and theater, with people from highly diverse life experiences and abilities. Each year IIE creates performances, dance films, original music, and more. IIE is made up of the IIE Afternoon Class, the DanceSing Drum Company for more experienced performers, and Creativity Lab for Autistic artists and their allies.

Dance Ensemble: Directed by Professor Nina Haft, the Dance Ensemble offers students an in-depth exploration of dance techniques, choreographic approaches, injury prevention, and somatic modalities. The Dance Touring Company creates new dance works each year and includes students from Dance Ensemble who have demonstrated strong commitment, technical abilities, and communication skills.

Us in the U.S.: Led by Professor Ann Fajilan, Us in the U.S. is a social justice theatre ensemble, made up of students and alumni who want to use performance as a vehicle for embodied social change activism. The ensemble creates original work based on current socio-political issues, aimed at dismantling prejudice and helping us build a more just world.

Required Courses and Elective Classes

**Please meet with a Theatre and Dance Advisor to plot a course for the option concentration you prefer to focus on. Classes could be subject to change. **

Core Classes

• THEA 100 - Theatre: A Spotlight on Life
• THEA 151 - Fundamentals of Acting
• THEA 350 or 370 - Theatre Performance or Musical Theater Performance (Must be taken 4 times)
• THEA 381 or 382 - Production Support: Stage, Lights and Sound Shop/Crew or Production Support: Costume and Makeup Shop/Crew
• THEA 432 - Exploration of Dramatic Literature Characters
• THEA 461 - Scenery, Lighting and Sound Design
• THEA 462 - Costume and Makeup Design
• THEA 493 - Theatre Projects Capstone
• MUS   108  -The Language of Music
• DANC 362 - Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble

Concentration Classes

• THEA 111 - Costume Techniques
• THEA 113 - Stage Lighting Techniques

Complete two classes from the following First or Second Level Dance Courses:

• DANC 110 - Contemporary Ballet
• DANC 113 - Jazz Dance I
• DANC 115 - Modern Dance I
• DANC 210 - Contemporary Ballet II
• DANC 211 - Hip Hop Dance II
• DANC 212 - African Dance
• DANC 213 - Jazz Dance II
• DANC 214 - Modern Jazz Dance II
• DANC 215 - Modern Dance II
• DANC 216 - Dance Partnering II
• DANC 217 - Musical Theater Dance

Students must take a class from the following Dance History Courses:

• DANC 233 - Street to Stage: History of Hip Hop Dance
• DANC 234 - Tap and Musical Theatre Dance on Stage and Film

Students must take all of the following Ensemble Courses:

• DANC 362 - Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble
• DANC 371 - Dance Stage and Screen Ensemble
• DANC 371 - Dance Creative Process Ensemble

Concentration Electives

Coming Soon!

Dance and Inclusive Performance Advisors

Ann Fajilan

(Inclusive Performance Advisor)

Nina Haft 

(Dance Advisor)

Phone: (510) 885-4898
Email: Nina.Haft@csueastbay.edu

Eric Kupers

(Dance and Inclusive Performance Advisor)

Phone: (510) 885-3154
Email: Eric.Kupers@csueastbay.edu

Technology and Design Program

Scenery, Costumes, Lighting, Sound, Props, and Multimedia all work together to enrich the story of a play on stage. The Stage Technology and Design Program at CSUEB builds broad skill sets among our students, as well as strong resumes to prepare for work in the entertainment industry or for advanced training.

Our department Faculty and Staff are working professionals who actively work in the Bay Area Theater Community, so personal mentoring makes the program experience similar to an apprenticeship. Our focus on production aspects means that students work with fellow students as well as faculty as their peers in creating the shows on our stages. 

In addition, another aspect of our program is that students are often hired to work campus and community events in our theater as well as departmental productions. This immersive approach provides students with professional skills, opportunities to solve production challenges, and creative learning through communication and collaboration.

A large number of our students who have graduated from our Stage Technology and Design Program have gone on to advance their training through graduate school as well as develop thriving careers as Theatre Designers, Theatre Technicians, and Stage Managers locally in the Bay Area and nationally.

Required Courses and Elective Classes

**Please meet with a Theatre and Dance Advisor to plot a course for the option concentration you prefer to focus on. Classes could be subject to change.**

Core Classes

• THEA 100 - Theatre: A Spotlight on Life
• THEA 151 - Fundamentals of Acting
• THEA 350 or 370 - Theatre Performance or Musical Theater Performance (Must be taken 4 times)
• THEA 381 or 382 - Production Support: Stage, Lights, and Sound Shop/Crew or Production Support: Costume and Makeup Shop/Crew
• THEA 432 - Exploration of Dramatic Literature Characters
• THEA 461 - Scenery, Lighting and Sound Design
• THEA 462 - Costume and Makeup Design
• THEA 493 - Theatre Projects Capstone
• MUS   108  -The Language of Music
• DANC 362 - Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble

Concentration Classes

• THEA 111 - Costume Techniques
• THEA 112 - Makeup Techniques
• THEA 113 - Stage Lighting Techniques
• THEA 114 - Sound Production Techniques
• THEA 260 - Architecture and Costume History
• THEA 261 - Stage Management
• THEA 262 - Pencil and Color Sketching
• THEA 360 - Technology and Design Studio (Must be taken 4 times) 
• THEA 431 - Character in Dramatic Literature

Must take 6 units of FOCUS List classes:

• THEA 263 - Wood & Metal Construction
• THEA 264 - Non-Western Costume
• THEA 265 - Fashion History and Design
• THEA 361 - Scene Painting
• THEA 362 - Computer Aided Design (CAD) & Model Making
• THEA 363 - Advanced Costume Construction
• THEA 365 - Masks & Specialized Makeup

Richard Olmsted

Phone: (510) 885-3374
Email: Richard.Olmsted@csueastbay.edu