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Theatre Department Survival Guide
Answers to common questions for UCSD
Undergraduates / 2006-2007 Edition
DEPARTMENT OFFICES
The Department is located on the second floor of Galbraith Hall on the opposite side of the building from the CLICS Library, facing "Stonehenge" and the Mandell Weiss Center on the Revelle campus.
OFFICE HOURS
Faculty and teaching assistants (TAs) set their own office hours. These may vary each quarter. The Theatre Department Administrative Office is open Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., except for published University holidays. The mailroom is open from 8:00 - 4:30 Monday through Friday, and is located in Galbraith Hall 220.
CONTACTING YOUR INSTRUCTOR OR TA
All instructors are required to hold office hours during the quarter in which they are teaching a class. You should refer to your syllabus for their preferences for appointments or walk-in visits during these hours. Most instructors also post their office hours on their office doors. If you have any questions about a class, or your progress in a class, you should definitely contact the instructor to discuss your options.
In addition to in-office hours, most faculty members also have voice mail and email. Office hours and contact information are posted on the bulletin board in the lobby of Galbraith Hall by the end of the third week each quarter or as we receive it from the instructors. TAs do not have voicemail or phones in their offices. The Front Desk does not take messages for faculty or teaching assistants from students. Be sure to ask your TA how they can best be contacted if they do not provide you with that information in the syllabus or on a hand-out.All faculty and graduate students have mailboxes in the mailroom on the main level of Galbraith Hall, adjacent to the elevator (GH 220). You may leave written messages for them there. The Department encourages instructors and teaching assistants to check their mailboxes regularly.
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UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING
The Undergraduate Coordinator, Jan Noz, is available for both walk-in and appointment advising. Appointments can be made through e-mail (theatredance-ug@ucsd.edu) or by phone (858-534-3619).
Walk-ins: Tuesday & Thursday 9:00-11:30am and 1:00-3:00pm
Appointments: Monday 9:00-11:30am & Friday 9:00-11:30am and 1:00-3:00pm.
**Appointments can be scheduled on walk-in days in advance.**
The Undergraduate Intake Coordinator, Andy Fenack (email: afenack@ucsd.edu, phone: 858-822-2199), can assist with general and procedural issues, including degree requirements and progress checks, enrollment questions, and special petitions, including degree requirements and progress checks, enrollment problems, and petitions. The Theatre Faculty Advisor (Ursula Meyer at umeyer@ucsd.edu) and the Dance Faculty Advisor (Margaret Marshall at mmarshall@ucsd.edu) are available to offer more in-depth academic advising, such as what types of courses you might take or internships to pursue to further your particular career interests. You can also speak with any Faculty member working in your area of interest about your goals and the best way to reach them. Students should visit their College advising office for information pertaining to College and general education requirements.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
Volunteer Student Representatives from both of our majors are available to answer your questions. The Reps meet with prospective and incoming students, show students and parents around the facilities, and host an undergraduate meeting each quarter. This informal meeting is open to all interested students (from within and outside the Department) and is typically held on Wednesday evening of the third week of classes each quarter. Upcoming events, special projects, and general information, along with the occasional guest speaker, are presented at the meeting. Students are encouraged to offer feedback to the Department at these meetings, to pass along information about what is working or not working for them, and to tell us what sorts of opportunities for special topics classes they would like to see offered in future quarters. We hope students will feel free to contact the Reps with questions or comments regarding the student side of the Department. The Representatives serve as student liaisons, and will bring any special problems or concerns to the attention of the Department for our students. (Students may remain anonymous, if they choose.) You can contact the reps via e-mail: tdugrep@ucsd.edu.
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EMAIL, LISTSERVERS, & WWW
All incoming students receive a UCSD email account. Be sure to check your email regularly. If you are using an off-campus email address (i.e., AOL, Juno, Earthlink, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.), please contact the Network Operations in the AP&M building to have your @ucsd.edu account mail forwarded to your off-campus account at no charge. You can also reach NetOps through their web page at http://www-no.ucsd.edu/services/mboxchange.html.
The Theatre and Dance Department often sends information to students by way of our undergraduate mail listserv. Listserv messages may include announcements about courses, scholarship information, upcoming auditions, performance opportunities, and other useful information, so we recommend that you subscribe to it. To suscribe to the mailing list, send mail to listserv@ucsd.edu with a blank subject line. In the body of the message, type in:
add networkusername@ucsd.edu ug-theatre
ex: add johnsmith@ucsd.edu ug-theatre
To remove yourself from the list, do exactly the same, but change the add to delete. You may leave the subject line blank, if you wish. List problems should be addressed to Postmaster@ucsd.edu. Unfortunately, Department staff cannot assist you with technical problems with the listserver.
Many instructors are now creating and using class web pages. Information about the addresses of the web pages, if applicable, should be found in class syllabi. Unfortunately, Department staff are unable to assist you with class web pages. Please contact your TA or instructor if you are having difficulty finding or opening a class web page.
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REQUIRED COURSES
The courses required for the major are those listed in the Catalog your first quarter at UCSD. With few exceptions, transfer students will be held to the requirements in effect when they first entered their higher education, even if the requirements have changed at UCSD since then. If you lose your UCSD Catalog, the Geisel Library, your College advising office, and the Department all have copies. The Catalog is also available online. http://www.ucsd.edu/catalog/ You should read and be familiar with (at a minimum) your major and minor requirements. Remember, ultimately, you are responsible for completing all the requirements. University policies and procedures, including those for challenging a grade or for matters relating to residency, are listed in your Catalog.
Visit or email the Undergraduate Coordinator if you are confused about what is required for a Department major or minor after you have read your catalog and/or the Department web site at http://theatre.ucsd.edu. You can also pick up major and minor checklists at the Department office. You will find them in the flyers rack as you enter the office.
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IMPORTANT PRACTICUM INFORMATION
Practicum experience is a requirement for all Theatre and Dance majors and minors. Starting in the Fall of 2003, incoming Freshman Theatre majors are required to take two different practicum courses. (Continuing students will follow the rules in effect in the quarter in which they first attended UCSD.) Transfer students who enter higher education during or after the Fall of 2003 may petition to transfer one practicum course from their community college toward the Department requirement. If the petition is approved, the student will then take a second practicum course at UCSD in an area different from the petitioned course. The changes to the Theatre major do not impact the requirements for the minor, which will remain the same as in previous years.
Practicum is an opportunity to gain “on the job” experience while working behind the scenes on a production. You are strongly encouraged to start your practicum work within your first year of declaring your major, as space in the classes is extremely limited and you must finish the practicum requirement to major or minor in Theatre or Dance. The practicum requirement will not be waived due to your not "having had time" to take the class prior to your expected graduation date. Practicum is available every quarter (F/W/SP).
Introductory (lower-division) practicum courses are offered in Scenery, Lighting, Sound, and Costumes. Each practicum meets twice a week, 1 lecture/1 lab, for the entire quarter and will require that you work on a project at other times, as arranged. The instructor will tell you what is required at the first class meeting. The assignment may require you to be present at a production, which will be held in the evening hours. PLAN YOUR QUARTER ACCORDINGLY. As long as you are aware that this is a one-time, but significant, time commitment, you can learn a great deal and have fun while doing it.
You can not pre-register for a lower-division practicum. You must go to the first class meeting if you are interested in getting into the class. Assignments to show crews will be made on the first day of class. If you do not attend the first day of class, you will have few or no options as to which crew you commit to that quarter. You may be exempted (by petition) from taking a practicum class if you have significant prior professional experience. You will still need to take the Department's safety test even if your class requirement is waived. Please contact the Department if you need to arrange to have the requirement waived due to prior professional experience.Advanced practicum opportunities are often available for students interested in further work in technical Theatre. You can use these opportunities to earn upper-division credit for your major or minor while gaining useful (and valuable) technical skills. Contact the instructor of the class if you have completed your lower-division practicum requirements and want to work on a production. An upper division practicum class (TDPR104) is available for students interested in working in Stage Management. Please contact Lisa Porter, lporter@ucsd.edu to discuss Stage Management opportunities that may be available each quarter. It is best to investigate these options well ahead of the quarter in which you would like to use them.
DANCE MAJORS – PLEASE NOTE: You are only required to take one practicum course for your major. You are also required to take an upper-division design course, TDDE121 (prerequisites either TDDE1 or TDPR3) or TDDE113 (prerequisite TDDE 1).
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PRODUCTIONS/CABARETS
There are three plays and two Dance concerts staged specifically for undergraduate performers each year. Additionally, some advanced Acting classes (TDAC108 or TDAC120) may hold a performance at the end of a quarter's studies. Past class projects have included a "Street Theatre" project staged in the Price Center courtyard, a collaborative work that traveled to Los Angeles, and a "Page-to-Stage" project in which students (as a class) wrote, designed, and performed their own, original piece.
Undergraduate students may propose and produce their own "Cabaret" productions. Cabaret performances are entirely student-run - from casting to acting to directing to the technical effort involved with putting on a small show. It's your chance to explore and stretch your boundaries! The Department provides rehearsal and performance space in Galbraith Hall 157 and, very often, a small budget for promotion of Cabaret performances. Michael Francis, the Department's Assistant Production Manager, can provide more information about cabarets. You can email him at mdfrancis@ucsd.edu. Application forms are usually available at the front counter of the Department office at the beginning of each quarter. Watch the bulletin board for announcements.
While most of the Mainstage Theatre works in the Department are designated as graduate productions, undergraduates often audition for and perform smaller roles in these works. Be sure to have audition material ready to go and take advantage of this chance to work with the grad students. Information on audition opportunities will be posted on the bulletin board in the main lobby of Galbraith Hall as it becomes available. Check the board often!
Dancers have two main performance opportunities in the Department during the year. The Winter Dance Concert, designed by our faculty members and visiting choreographers, takes place at the end of the Winter quarter. Students join the choreographers in repertory classes and receive academic credit for their work on the Winter Concert. Our dancers create, choreograph, and audition new works to be performed by their peers in a Mainstage concert each Spring. Faculty select the most interesting pieces and work with the dancers to help them perfect their performances. Academic credit is given for participation in Dance concerts. Dancers may also stage Cabarets, normally held in the Molli and Arthur Wagner Dance Facility.
Family and friends are a welcome audience at all Department performances. Ticket prices are minimal for Mainstage productions, and Cabarets are free of charge (although seating is usually limited). Previews of upcoming performances can be found on the Department website at http://theatre.ucsd.edu .
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AUDITIONS
Theatre production audition calls are posted on the Galbraith Hall bulletin board. Many students have adopted the habit of making regular (if not daily) visits to Galbraith Hall in order to check the bulletin boards in the main lobby, outside the main Department office, for audition and casting notices and special announcements. Any student who has completed TDAC1 can audition for any Theatre production, unless otherwise advertised.
Dance production auditions are handled differently. Dancers should remain alert for announcements posted in the Molli and Arthur Wagner Dance Facility regarding requirements and opportunities. (Dancers who have completed TDAC1 are, of course, encouraged to audition for Theatre productions.)
TICKETS TO DEPARTMENT PRODUCTIONS
Declared theatre or dance majors are eligible to receive one free complimentary ticket per departmental production. The complimentary tickets are on a first-come-first-serve basis. Majors can go to (http://www-theatre.ucsd.edu/onstage/tickets/comprequest.html) for a ticket request; copy and paste the request in an e-mail to comprequest@ucsd.edu. Majors will be notified through e-mail if the request is unable to be filled. For the complete Complimentary Ticket Policy please visit our website (http://www-theatre.ucsd.edu/onstage/tickets/default.html).
Another way to see a show is to be a volunterr usher. When a student volunteers, he or she will receive a complimentary ticket and a guaranteed seat to a predetermined performance in exchange for carrying out easy but important front of house tasks (such as tearing tickets, seating patrons, or handing out programs). Ushering is fun and easy - no experience is required and all majors are welcome.
To inquire about usher availability, contact the Theatre and Dance promotions manager at promotions@ucsd.edu and put the word "USHER" (in all caps) in the subject line. Someone will respond to your inquiry with more information in a timely matter.
Other opportunities may present themselves during the year. Keep and eye on the bulletin boards for any other chances to see free shows.
Tickets can be purchased at the Potiker Theatre Box Office or by calling (858) 534-4574. Their hours are noon to 6PM and two hours prior to scheduled performances.
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RESERVING REHEARSAL SPACE
Students currently enrolled in any Theatre or Dance class are encouraged to use rehearsal space in the Dance Studios and in Galbraith Hall to work on assignments, and can reserve space in the "Space Sign-out Book" at the Theatre and Dance front desk office located in Galbraith Hall. Rehearsal space is not available on Sundays. Reservations for a given week can be made as early as 8:00 a.m. the previous Friday morning (and often are). Be sure to list a phone number next to your name in the reservations books in the unlikely event that we need to notify you of any changes. It is always a good idea to check the schedule book on the day of the reservation to confirm you still have a space.
The La Jolla Playhouse is a professional Theatre company founded in the early 1960’s. In the early 1980’s the La Jolla Playhouse (LJP) joined with the UCSD Theatre and Dance Department and an incredibly generous Theatre patron, Mandell Weiss, to build the main Weiss Theatre. In 1992, Mr. Weiss made another substantial donation that resulted in the construction of the Forum Theatre. A new "black box" Theatre will open. The LJP and the Department share all of the facilities and production staff. The LJP season runs from Spring to late Fall, during which time they have priority use of the performance facilities. There are many opportunities for internships, apprenticeships and part-time jobs with this Tony-award winning organization, but you need to plan ahead. Application deadlines for Summer are usually April 1 for Internships, and May 1 for Apprenticeships. Units received through work at the Playhouse do not usually count toward your major, but exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis. Check their website at http://www.lajollaplayhouse.com for more information.
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GRADUATE PROGRAMS AND DEGREES
Approximately 70 graduate students are enrolled in the Department’s professional Master of Fine Arts and the Ph.D. programs. MFA students work in one of five specific areas of study: Acting, Directing, Stage Management, Design, or Playwriting. Grad students are TAs for the lower division Theatre History and introductory Design classes, and also teach the introductory Acting and Public Speaking classes (under faculty supervision). Some of our MFA and Ph.D. students work as Assistant and Managing Editors of Theatre Forum, a well-respected international Theatre magazine published by the Department. Our graduate students typically come to us with very strong backgrounds gained from having done professional or semi-professional work in their fields prior to applying for graduate study. They are a helpful networking resource for our undergraduate students.
Admission to the MFA program is extremely competitive. Applications are due in January, and auditions are held each year at locations across the country. There is no set policy regarding the acceptance of UCSD alumni. Though there have been 14 UCSD graduates admitted to the various programs in the last 6 years, no preference or prejudice toward UCSD alumni should be assumed. Information on the Graduate programs is available on the web at http://theatre.ucsd.edu. There currently is no graduate program in Dance at UCSD.
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LOCAL RESOURCES
Some of the Theatres in San Diego that offer student discounts for performances are the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park, the San Diego Repertory Theatre in Horton Plaza, Sledgehammer Theatre, and the La Jolla Playhouse. If you feel industrious, you can plan a Theatre party for your friends by contacting the group sales manager at any of the Theatres - you can sometimes get a group rate for as few as 10 students. Often you can get half-priced tickets (also known as rush) by visiting the box office immediately before a performance is to begin.
The Theatre Alliance, located in downtown San Diego, offers a student membership rate. They have information on obtaining head shots, maintain a talent bank, and run an audition hot line for members. There is also a newsletter for community Theatres in the San Diego Area called ACTion that lists audition information.
The UCSD library has a great selection of plays. The Library Research Services Department has made available some great handouts on Theatre Research, including Playscripts, Subject Searches for Books on Theatre and Drama, and Information in Reference Books. These are free at the library reference desk, and can be great help in locating information for Theatre History papers. Also, the San Diego Public Library has plays, you can check the availability of specific books from your home computer if you have a San Diego Library card.
Most stores will order books for you, and arrive fairly quickly. You can also order play scripts directly from Samuel French, Dramatists, etc. and they are surprisingly quick in getting them to you. A catalog from these companies can make a nice addition to your personal library.
For Dancers, your best bet for learning about the local Dance scene is to stay connected with the Dance instructors. There may be opportunities to participate in the Dance Ensemble run by faculty members and in various faculty-sponsored workshops during the year. Several of the instructors also have their own Dance companies outside the University. Vendors regularly visit the Molli and Arthur Wagner Dance Facility to offer discounted Dance apparel and supplies. Watch the bulletin boards near the faculty office (between Studio 1 and Studio 2) in the Dance Facility for flyers and announcements.
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HOW CAN I BE INVOLVED?
You don’t have to wait for someone to ask you to help! Share your ideas, talents, and abilities. If something you want to do is not happening, make it happen! Bring up your ideas at the undergraduate meetings or share them with your Reps. Share your ideas for making Undergraduate Theatre and Dance at UCSD a great place to spend four years!
CONTACT INFORMATION
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