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The Theatre for Youth Program is a
comprehensive program for undergraduate
and graduate students who are interested
in theatre and drama with, by, and for
children and youth. Students can
specialize in Theatre for Youth on the
B.A., B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. levels. They
will be trained in the artistic and
educational aspects of theatre and
drama, theoretical and practical, formal
and informal, production and process
oriented, with and for youth. A strong
emphasis is placed on community outreach
and involvement. The Theatre for Youth
Program at UW-Madison stresses the
potential and value of theatre and drama
both as an art form and as a teaching
method. Courses offered incorporate
theory, methodology, and practice. For
more information contact
Dr.
Manon van
de Water, Theatre for
Youth Program Head.
Theatre for youth specialization
Qualified students may pursue a MA or
PhD degree in the broad area of
Theatre For Youth which
includes Theatre for Young Audiences,
Drama in Education (creative drama) and
Theatre in Education. The student is
expected to develop a thorough
background in traditional theatre, i.e.,
world drama, history, criticism, and
production. In addition, the student may
develop and pursue special interests,
research, and production in theatre and
drama as it applies specifically to
young people, grades K-12. Considerable
coursework is expected in other
departments of the University to enhance
this area of specialization.
Degrees
BA or BS With AN EMPhASIS In Theatre for youth
Suggested Curriculum for a Major in
Theatre and Drama, with an Individual
Emphasis in Theatre for Youth:
40 credits minimum with a minimum GPA of
2.0
Core studies (12 credits): 150, 161,
162, 170 or 163, and 120 Comm B
Theatre Research (9 credits): 224, 324,
424
Production (2-6 credits): 361 and 561;
or 462
Design, Directing (3-4 credits): 363 or
366 or 368 or 372
Theatre For Youth (minimum 14 credits):
362, 562, 426, 462, or 525 plus
additional elective courses in the
department
TOTAL CREDITS: minimum 40 credits
Graduates from the Theatre for Youth
Program will be proficient to implement
theatre and drama in community centers,
after-school programs, and theatres for
young audiences, as well as theatres in
general that offer educational and
community outreach and drama courses
Rev. Fall 2007
MA With A Specialization In
Theatre
For Youth
Course Requirements
-
Significant participation
in one theatre production as
director, assistant director,
dramaturg, stage manager, actor,
designer, or technician. The
production assignment will be
determined in consultation with the
student's major professor and
committee. Students are encourage to
participate in a University Theatre
production if this is possible and
appropriate.
-
30 credits
comprised of:
-
3 credits for a Research course
(Theatre & Drama 700 Proseminar:
Introduction to Research in
Theatre)
-
3 credits for thesis work
-
15 credits for other Theatre &
Drama courses (including at
least 12 credits of Theatre For
Youth courses)
-
9 credits for courses which may
be taken outside Theatre & Drama
*This course is normally
required except where a course
in a related field of education
research is more appropriate.
-
Thesis.
A candidate for the master's degree
with a specialization in theatre for
youth must prepare a thesis under
the guidance of his/her major
professor on an aspect of theatre or
drama as it pertains to young
people. The thesis must be approved
by a committee of three faculty -
including the major professor, if
appropriate a professor from the
College of Education and at least
one other professor of the
Department of Theatre and Drama -
and filed in Memorial Library
according to Graduate School
deadlines before the degree can be
conferred. The thesis should be a
product of the student's independent
research and the counsel of the
major professor and other faculty
with expertise in the area.
-
A one-hour oral examination on the
thesis
PhD with Specialization in
Theatre
for Youth
Qualified students may pursue a Ph.D.
degree in Theatre for Youth. In addition
to developing special interests in K-12
theatre and drama education and
production, students are expected to
develop a thorough background in
traditional theatre (i.e. world drama,
history, criticism, and production) and
are encouraged to take relevant courses
in other departments such as Curriculum
and Instruction, Sociology, Psychology,
and English.
Ph.D. students in Theatre for Youth will
take the theatre for youth courses
offered by the department in the course
of their studies
Click here to see
Courses Page. In
addition, these students will gear one
of their preliminary papers, as well as
their dissertation, to an aspect of
theatre and drama for youth.
When funding allows, doctoral students
who specialize in Theatre for Youth are
given priority in obtaining teaching
experience by teaching a section of
T&D/C&I 362, Drama in Education. Click
here for general requirements of the
Ph.D. Program.
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Courses
The Theatre for Youth Program offers
courses at the undergraduate (junior
status) and graduate level. The courses
can be roughly divided into process
oriented Drama in Education courses
(T&D/C&I 362, 562); production oriented
Theatre for Young Audiences/Theatre In
Education courses (T&D/C&I 462,525); and
academic courses (T&D/C&I 426, T&D 619,
T&D 911). Most courses have a
theoretical and a practical component
and involve young people from the
community. All courses (except T&D 619
Special Topics in Theatre/Drama
Education and the seminar T&D 911) are
cross-listed with Curriculum and
Instruction. Click here for
Pictures of
the Drama Education Classes!
Click here for
Community
Outreach!
T&D/C&I 362 Drama in Education
An introduction to the philosophy,
methodologies, and practice of drama in
education. A unique feature of the class
is its lab, which consists of
demonstrations with children from the
community.
T&D/C&I 426 History, Theory, and
Criticism in Theatre for Young Audiences
Historiographical perspectives in
theatre for young audiences, including
the analysis of plays for young people
and theoretical implications and
assumptions. Discussions of current
developments in TYA.
T&D/C&I 462 Theatre for Young Audiences,
Production
A production class which includes the
preparation and performance of a
main-stage production for young
audiences, as well as the development of
educational materials and in-school
implementation of post-show drama
workshops.
T&D/C&I 525 Theatre in Education
An overview of the practical and
theoretical perspectives on the use of
formal theatre techniques in elementary
and secondary educational settings.
Students in this course devise, script,
and present programs as actor-teachers
and interact with audiences.
T&D/C&I 562 Drama in Education, Advanced
Studies
An in-depth exploration of practical and
theoretical perspectives on the place of
drama in education. Focus is on the
development of a philosophy for drama in
education and its integration into a
short-term drama curriculum. Students
conduct lab sessions in an educational
setting in the community.
T&D 619 Special Topics in Theatre/Drama
With and For Youth
A graduate-level course on specialized
subjects of current interest in the
history, theory, and pedagogy of theatre
and drama by, with, and for young
people.
T&D 911 Seminar: Problems in Theatre and
Drama
A graduate seminar on specialized
subjects of current interest in the
history, theory, and pedagogy of theatre
and drama by, with, and for young
people.
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PRODUCTIONS
The mission of the Theatre for Young
Audiences Program is to offer quality
productions that respect young people's
capacity to construct meaning, both on
an emotional and intellectual level. Our
productions will not talk down to
children, nor shy away from subjects
that occupy their minds and hearts.
Productions aim to be diverse and
multicultural, in content, casting, and
design.
THE THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES PROGRAM
(TYA):
The University of Wisconsin-Madison
Theatre for Young Audiences Program
offers a yearly production specifically
geared to young people. This program,
organized in conjunction with the
Elvehjem Museum of Art (a department of
the College of Letters and Sciences)
includes guided tours of both
facilities, a performance geared to a
specific age group, extensive
educational packets from each department
with both pre- and post-visit
activities, and follow-up workshops by
students involved in the production. The
students involved in the production
develop the study guides for the theatre
production under the supervision of the
director/theatre for youth professor.
The study guides contain materials
pertaining to specific content and form
issues raised by the production as well
as to the general role and function of
theatre in society. Study guides are
sent to the schools prior to the
performances. In addition, a special
session to introduce and answer
questions on the study guides is offered
for interested teachers.
Current production:
Past productions:
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH
The Theatre for Youth Program is
committed to involving the community in
practicing theatre and drama. Community
outreach is an important aspect of the
academic mission, and theatre for youth
is a logical avenue to forge links
between education and aesthetic
experiences:
-
By offering lab classes in drama in education
where students can directly
experience the power and educational
values of drama in working with
young people, rather than creating
artificial class simulations;
-
By offering advanced drama in education classes
where students practice in the
actual classroom;
-
By offering theatre productions that both travel
to the schools (TIE) and invite the
schools to the theatre (TYA),
providing workshops and pre- and
post-performance materials that
might enhance and deepen the
experience; and
-
By offering ongoing research from both practical
and theoretical perspectives that
will continue to inform the field,
making it actively monitor and
reevaluate its own ideological,
cultural, and social pursuits.
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DRAMA IN EDUCATION
Click Here
to see pictures of the Drama in
Education classes! The
Drama in Education classes, both
introductory and advanced, maintain
close links with the school communities.
The introductory Drama in Education
classes (T&D/C&I 362) contain 10
demonstration labs during which 16
elementary students (grades K-5) per
section come to campus for one-hour
drama classes. The demonstration classes
have the double function of offering
hands-on experience to college students,
and drama experience to grade-school
students. A few weeks before the start
of every semester more than 20,000
flyers are sent out to all elementary
schools in the Madison school district
to announce the free classes. Parents or
guardians come to sign their child up at
designated times. A special off-campus
section of 362 is offered in one of
Madison's community centers which serves
some children who have no access to
transportation. In the advanced Drama in
Education classes (T&D/C&I 562),
students are required to conduct a mini
lab of 5 drama sessions in an in-school
or after-school program. At least one of
these classes is observed by the
professor of the class.
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THEATRE
IN EDUCATION (TIE)
In addition, the TIE program aims at
forging close links to the schools, both
in Madison and the surrounding areas, by
offering Theatre in Education sessions.
The Theatre in Education class (T&D/C&I
525) consists of devising and enacting
specific thematic or curricular
scenarios, which are then presented for
and with target age groups and
populations, often in school or
after-school programs. Students of the
class function as actor-teachers, and
interact with audiences.
UW DRAMA IN THE NEWS
UW-MADISON STUDENTS BUILD BRIDGES
TO YOUTH THROUGH DRAMA
By Shayna X Kramer
Released on April 6, 2000
Madison, Wisconsin--Through an
innovative program, UW-Madison students
tap the creativity of elementary school
children in free drama workshops. The
Theatre for Youth Program, co-sponsored
by the College of Letters and Science
and School of Education, uses drama to
teach children about important issues
like diversity and peer pressure.
Ten times each semester about 80
elementary school children engage in a
series of drama workshops hosted by the
Theatre and Drama Department, part of
the College of Letters and Science.
These classes, composed of five groups
of 15 children, explore meaningful
topics ina non-traditional way. For
example, youth can explore implications
of moving from a familiar to an
unfamiliar environment by dramatizing a
move from a farm to a city. These
workshops, taught year-round by
undergraduate students and supervised by
theatre graduate students, emphasize
critical thinking skills, self-image
enhancement, and communication skills.
Phillip Certain, Dean of the College of
Letters and Science, which includes the
Theatre and Drama Department, says the
Theatre for Youth Program is another
strong example of the humanities
building bridges to local communities.
"We are particularly proud of the
'Theatre for Youth Program' because it
builds a strong link between the
university and surrounding communities,"
Certain said. "In addition, the drama
workshops promote the same ideas as the
College of Letters and Science. They
both encourage the ability to receive
information, think critically and
understand complex ideas. Through this
outreach program, the Drama Department
teaches young children the benefits of a
liberal arts education early."
UW-Madison undergraduate students also
profit from leading the workshops. This
learning opportunity for students from
throughout the College of Letters and
Science and School of Education combines
theoretical work with practical
application in a hands-on class. In a
more advanced class, Professor Manon van
de Water, head of the Theatre for Youth
Program, instructs UW-Madison students
to create a five-session practicum to
take to schools, youth centers, and
homeless shelters. For example,
undergraduate Philip Valle works in
LaPointe, Wisconsin on a project with 14
teenage girls about coming of age.
Professor van de Water elaborates on how
drama is making a difference with youth
in the community: "As a teaching method,
drama can deepen the perception and
understanding through experiencing
certain actions, time periods, and
roles. Drama questions and it activates;
rather than providing clear-cut answers
it opens up a dialogue, which is really
what teaching is all about."
The College of Letters and Science is
the largest academic unit of the
University of Wisconsin-Madison. It
accounts for 59 percent of the
undergraduate population and teaches 95
percent of freshmen and sophomore
credits. Since its establishment in
1889, the College of Letters and
Science, which is led by Dean Phillip
Certain, continues to dedicate itself to
affirming the lifelong value of a
well-rounded liberal arts education. The
administration offices of Letters and
Science are housed in South Hall,
located at 1055 Bascom Mall.
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