Theatre arts

Statement of programs and library needs

The Department of Theatre Arts, a unit of the School of the Arts, offers programs leading to the B.A. and M.F.A. degrees. The M.F.A. is a three-year professional, terminal degree offering two major areas of concentration, Arts and Stage Management, and Production (technical, design, directing), which prepares students to enter practical fields of theatre in the commercial and non-commercial worlds. The curriculum in theatre arts is designed to provide the student with the essential approaches necessary to an informed understanding of theater art in both its literature and its practice. The three basic aspects of the discipline are emphasized - the theoretical, the historical, and the practical.

I. Collection areas

A. Area: Theatre Arts

 

B. Classes and Levels

GT              Manners and Customs (General)            Study
GV 1580-1799    Dancing           			 Study
NA              Architecture     			 Research
NC              Graphic Arts (General), Drawing, Design  Study
NX              Arts in General  			 Study
PN 1010-1590    Poetry, the Performing Arts, Show Biz    Study
PN 1600-1657    The Drama, Periodicals, Yearbooks.
                  General Works  			 Study
PN 1660-1864    Technique of Dramatic Composition.
                  History of Drama                       Study
PN 1865-1989    Historical & Religious Plays.
                  Tragedy, etc.  			 Study
PN 2000-2081    The Theater: General                     Study
PN 2085-2219    The Theater: The Stage, Accessories.
                  History by Period                      Study
PN 2220-2298    The Theater in the United States         Study
PN 2300-2554    The Theater in the Americas Except U.S.  Study
PN 2570-2859    The Theater in Europe                    Study
PN 2860-3030    The Theater in Asia, Africa.
                  and Oceania    			 Study
PN3035          Jewish Theater   			 Study
PN 3151-3191    The Theater: Amateur and College
                  Theatricals    			 Study
PN 3195-3300    The Theater: Minstrel Shows.
                  Spectacles, Tableaux                   Study
PN 6099-6120    Collections of Poetry and Drama          Study
PR 2411-2416    English Renaissance Drama.
                  Anonymous Plays			 Study
PR 2417-2749    English Renaissance Drama: Plays
                  by Playwrights A-Shaj                  Study
PR 2750-3112    Shakespeare      			 Study
PR 3135-3198    English Renaissance Drama: Plays
                  by Playwrights Shar-Z                  Study
QC 221-246      Sound            			 Research
QC 350-496      Light, Optics,  Radiation (General)      Research

C. Chronology

Materials will be acquired covering the origins of theatre to the present, with the greatest emphasis on modern and contemporary theatre.

D. Geographic Guidelines

In order of priority, materials will be acquired on Anglo-American, European, Asian, Russian, Latin American, African drama.

E. Languages

English is the primary language of the collection. Other languages are purchased if requested by faculty.

F. Treatment

The emphasis is on building a collection of plays in all periods of theatre and accompanying this, the most seminal critical, theoretical, and historical works. The Center for Alternative Media houses an extensive script collection in support of the performance component of the program. As the focus of the M.F.A. program is towards the technical and managerial aspects of theater, there is an especially strong interest in acquiring a sizable body of literature on theater crafts and maintenance.

G. Formats

Primarily print for monographs and most journals, though electronic full-text is also of growing importance for journals. Bibliographic databases are available through the Internet. Videos are acquired upon faculty requests, funds permitting.

H. Multiple copies

Multiple copies are not acquired, as a rule, unless they are heavily used titles. Newer editions are acquired when possible.

II. Acquisition Strategy

The theatre arts bibliographer selects materials for purchase, with priority being given to faculty requests. The libraries maintain an approval plan for university press publications and significant trade publishers. There are standing orders for important serial titles. Retrospective purchases are limited to filling in journal holdings or adding important older titles.

III. Collection Notes

Theses and dissertations from other institutions are not acquired except when requested by faculty or graduate students. Since theatre arts majors must complete a course in Shakespeare plus music and art courses, theater arts is an interdisciplinary program which depends on a strong collection in several humanities areas.

Revised 10/2000