UCD Theatre & Dance Dept.

Urinetown

The UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance is a part of the College of Letters and Science and is housed in Wright Hall. It offers one undergraduate major (dramatic art, with a focus in either theater or dance), a minor, an M.F.A. program (geared towards those pursuing a career in theater) and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Performance Studies.

The department includes over 120 undergraduate students majoring in dramatic art, 40-45 graduate students, as well as 5-10 visiting professional artists and teachers each quarter. This mix of college students, mid-career professionals, and seasoned theater practitioners and scholars provides a dynamic environment for learning, experimentation, and growth, and a diverse, supportive community for all of its members.

Undergraduate Program

Man of La Mancha The major in dramatic art provides a liberal arts education and pre-professional training in theater. Students develop their abilities through a wide range of courses combining practical and theoretical skills that emphasize critical thought and independence in a context of challenging cooperative work. From the first year, majors may participate in every aspect of bringing a work to the stage: acting, dance, directing, playwriting, choreography, stage management and design. Technical practice in the design and creation of sets, costumes, sound and lighting accompanies a firm grounding in dramatic literature, dance and theatre history, performance theory and criticism. This combination of theory and practice prepares students for a broad range of career opportunities.

It is strongly recommended that all UCD students take DRA 010 at some point in their college careers; this is the non-majors' variation of Drama 20, which is the major's required Intro to Dramatic Art course. It is taught by graduate students. A very basic overview of theatrical styles and history is given, along with basics of acting and speech, with emphasis on actually getting up and doing things. If you have to have class at 8 am, this is the one.

Graduate Program

The M.F.A. program offers a collaborative curriculum of interdisciplinary, team-taught seminars that cover a full spectrum of performance practices, including acting, directing, choreography and design. Students in any area may elect to extend their expertise through advanced study in another discipline.

For information regarding academic programs, visit https://arts.ucdavis.edu/theatre-and-dance.

Granada Artists-In-Residence Program

The department's Granada Artists-in-Residence program is unique in American university theater, bringing prominent artists — directors, playwrights, choreographers, or filmmakers — to Davis during two academic quarters each year to teach and create a work for public performance. A special opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students to work closely with major theater and dance practitioners, it is a unique cross-cultural experience.

Department Buildings

Undergraduate students in the dramatic art major or minor (or even simply taking drama classes) can often be found in the Green Room.

The building houses not only a full proscenium theatre with raked seating (also known as the Main Stage), but also features a fully-operational set shop, costume shop, and prop room. While the set shop is on the building's ground level, the costume shop and prop room are in the basement.