Student Resources

This page is a repository for resources
for current Theatre & Dance students.

Other useful resources for Theatre & Dance Students are:

 

Theatre Major Worksheets
for Spring 2022 course registration

Last revised: 1 Nov. 2021

Dear Theatre Majors —

Here are some helpful documents for you to use as you prepare to register for courses for Spring 2022.

Classes of 2022 & 2023

Theatre Concentration Tracker
Theatre Scholarship Course Tracker
Theatre Scholarship Courses for Spring 2022
GAR Tracking Worksheet

Class of 2024 & 2025

Theatre Major Tracker — all inclusive
Theatre Scholarship Courses for Spring 2022
GAR Tracking Worksheet

Not sure which you are?

Students who entered with the Class of '22 and '23 and took some time away will still complete the major requirements for those Class Years. This is true even if your official class designation might have changed.

Transfer students who began their studies at Muhlenberg prior to Fall 2020 will complete the requirements of the old curriculum.

Your academic advisor will be able to help you understand all the nuances of the curriculum if you have questions. Please be sure to consult as often as necessary with your advisor.

Musical Theatre Opportunity:
Actors, Singers, Musicians
& Creative Staff Needed
for Our New Town

Presented in conjunction with this spring's course
THR 483: Collaborative Process & the New Musical

Audition/Application deadline:
Friday, Nov. 5

Be part of the development team of the new musical Our New Town by award-winning writing duo Gabriel Jason Dean and Jessie Dean, and Emmy-nominated composer David Dabbon, and be part of a public performance presented by the Department of Theatre & Dance in April ’22.

How? By taking THR 483: Collaborative Process & the New Musical in the spring!

Collaborative Process & the New Musical is a new 1-credit course offered this spring, co-taught by Jessie Dean & Troy Dwyer, and featuring collaborative guests Gabriel Jason Dean and David Dabbon. Enrollment in the course is by audition only (for acting/musician roles) and application only (for non-acting positions, such as directing, playwriting, stage management, design, musical direction and dramaturgy). Click here for a full course description.

About the musical Our New Town…

In the aftermath of the deadliest shooting on a college campus in US history, surviving cast members of Thornton Wilder’s OUR TOWN put together an unauthorized show as a way to reclaim their theatre space and heal their broken community. But when the event is stopped mid-performance, the cast and audience must decide between compliance and defiance. A hyper-theatrical blend of truth with fiction, of scene with song, OUR NEW TOWN is an immersive musical that puts the audience at the center of an American crisis.

"Our New Town is about that moment of finding loveliness amidst the chaos. It does not offer a solution for systemic gun violence — rather, it acknowledges and validates a whole generation's perpetual fear and heartache while reminding them of the power and strength in community… the catharsis we look for when we buy a ticket and sit down in a theatre.”

—Broadway World

Some quick facts...

  • The course does satisfy Theatre major requirements! For Acting concentrators in the Class of '22 & '23, it counts as an upper-level acting course. For the Class of '24 & '25, it fulfills the Elective requirement.
  • Taking this course won't disqualify you from also participating in a Spring ’22 theatre production, except for Firebringer the Musical, for which production schedules conflict.
  • The course is organized around developing Our New Town. It will impact the musical's finished published form, and will result in a public performance in the spring.

Dates to know...

Audition videos and applications are due by Friday, Nov. 5.
Callbacks and interviews will take place on Monday, Nov. 8 and Tuesday, Nov. 9.
Invitations into the course will be made before the Class of '22 registers on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

Click here for the official audition/application form.

You can view a full list of the questions on the audition/application form without filling it out by clicking here.

Questions: ONTberg@gmail.com

Special Projects Course &
Performance Opportunity
w/ Fredrick Earl Mosley,
Baker Artist-in-Residence

Opportunity for ALL STUDENTS —
dancers, actors, singers, musicians,
and other interested students

DNC 381: Collaborative Process: Unconquered
Audition: Sunday, Nov. 7, 11 am - 1 pm

Sign up here to audition

Collaborative Process: Unconquered
DNC 381 — Half-credit Course 
and Public Performance

In this course, we will create a workshop production inspired by the Screendance film Unconquered, by choreographer Fredrick Earl Mosley, to be presented by the Theatre & Dance Department. Through the collaborative workshop process, we will reflect upon what we've all had to endure as we’ve dealt with collective traumas such as the Covid pandemic, isolation, social issues, and racial and social injustices while adapting new ways of communicating and being in community virtually. How can we, through empathy, take what we've learned and develop a blueprint that leads to a more diverse and inclusive world?

This course is intended not only for dancers, but also for actors, singers, musicians, and any other student interested within the broader Muhlenberg College community. This shared experience will be used to develop a culminating performance that will include students, faculty, and professional artists. 

To participate in the course students must audition.

In the words of George Coleman, “Art and beauty conquer ugliness! Collaboration conquers isolation and self-doubt; Love conquers hate! Hope and perseverance conquer fear! The beautiful Diversity we represent conquers distrust and the delusion of racial or gender supremacy. As we share the joy of nurturing and performing our Art together, we are one in mind, body and spirit. WE ARE UNCONQUERED!”

All auditioners should bring any style of dance shoes they feel most comfortable improvising in. Ie: Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap, Jazz, etc. Folks who don't think of themselves as dancers may wear or bring whatever shoes they like. Everyone should be prepared to read from a script if you are asked to do so.

Course Title: Collaborative Process: Unconquered
DNC 381    .5 credits
Course meets Fridays @ 11 am

Rehearsal Schedule:
  January 10-14 *
  January 21-23
  February 11-13
  February 28-3
March 4 — performance

* Company members will need to return to campus for a week-long intensive during Winter Break, Jan. 10-14.

Signing Out Studio Space

updated Nov. 1, 2021

To reserve studio spaces for next week, please take the following steps:

  1. Read the first tab of this space schedule spreadsheet that explains "Everything You Need to Know About Reserving Spaces!" Maya will be sending weekly versions of this spreadsheet out every Friday.
  2. View the space specific tabs of the space schedule spreadsheet for the upcoming week and make note of what spaces are available at the times you are interested in. A white, blank rectangle means that a 30 minute time slot is available.
  3. Email Maya at mayacostanzo@muhlenberg.edu with your space request at least 24 hours in advance of when you hope to occupy a studio. Include the time frame (or frames), date, and spaces you are hopeful for.
  4. You will be good to go when Maya confirm the reservation with you and plug it into our weekly spreadsheet! Instead of waiting for an email response, you can always visit Maya at her new office hours (explained below!) for an instantaneous confirmation.

For the current spreadsheet, please go here.

Maya's office hours for the rest of this semester will remain as follows:

Mondays: 10 am - noon
Wednesdays: noon - 2 pm
Fridays: 2 pm - 4 pm
Any other time the box office window is open

 

Dance Costume Loan Requests

The Theatre & Dance Department maintains a stock of props and costumes from past productions that students can borrow for their work in scenes and class projects. Please note, not all items are available for loan.
It's important that you plan ahead to ensure that you have the items you need in time for your project.
Here's how it works…

1. Choose your items

Contact Katrina in Props or Lex in the Costume Shop to see what they have that will fill your needs. See below for details. They might just be able to leave your items at the Box Office, or you might need to come in and take a look.
 

2. Pay your deposit

Once you've determined that there are items that meet your needs, come to the Box Office to pay your $20 refundable deposit. You can do this when you pick up items left for you. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, noon – 6 pm.

3. Get your stuff

If items are left for you, just pick them up at the box office. If you need to take a look at stock, you can take your items with you when you find them (after you've paid your deposit, of course).

4. Use the stuff

Break a leg — but not your props and costumes! Take care of 'em! You're responsible for their safe, intact return.

5. Bring it back

You can return your items to the Box Office, again Monday through Friday, noon to 6 pm. You'll get your deposit back when the stuff comes back on time and in good condition.

Deposits

You can pay the $20 refundable deposit at the Box Office, via cash, check, or credit card. Each deposit covers up to five items. If you need both costumes and props, you'll need to pay two separate $20 deposits. Be sure hang onto the receipt for your deposit.

Prop Loans

To borrow props, email Katrina at props@muhlenberg.edu, to see if we have what you're looking for. Katrina can let you know what's available, or make an appointment for you to come take a look. If she has what you're looking for, you can arrange to have her leave it at the box office for pickup.
You may also come visit Prop Storage, in the Empie stage-right wing, during the posted hours of Friday noon to 2 pm to look through the stock of props. You must pay your $20 deposit before you take your items.
   Studio Productions may reserve furniture and leave it in prop storage until tech rehearsals. All other props should be taken with you at the time you select them.

Costume Loans

To borrow costumes from theatre costume stock or dance stock, fill out one of these forms:
Upon receipt of the form, Lex will determine whether Costume Stock includes any items that will suit your needs, and/or contact you to make an appointment to look through stock. There's no guarantee that requests can be fulfilled.
   You can view available dance stock using the online Dance Stock Catalogue. Multiple options should be provided, in case the costume(s) being requested are unavailable. Feel free to include photos and/or links in the form. If we have what you need, Lex will leave it for pickup at the box office.
   For Studio Productions, a z-rack can be made available for costumes to be held. All other costumes need to be taken at the time of rental.
   Costumes must be returned no later than the end of the semester they were borrowed — by Friday of Finals Week.

Lockers in the Box Office Lobby

For the Spring 2021 semester, the lockers in the Trexler Pavilion box office lobby will be available ONLY to students who are taking class in the Dance Studio Theatre.

Please watch this charming instructional video, featuring our own Gianna Neal!

Instructions:

  • Choose a locker!
  • Remember the location!
  • Lift the handle to open the locker.
  • Place your items inside the locker and lift the handle to close the door.

TO LOCK:

On the keypad:

  • Press the C button
  • Choose and enter a 4-digit code. (Choose something you will remember!)
  • Press the “key” button

The lock will then engage with a beep, and the indicator light with flash red. Your items are then secured until you choose to unlock the unit.

TO UNLOCK (the same process as locking):

  • Press the C button
  • Then enter the 4-digit code you chose
  • Press the “key” button

The lock will disengage and you can lift the handle and open the unit.

Some things to remember about the lockers:

  • The lockers are NOT overnight, indefinite storage. They are for use during classes and rehearsals. Items should not be left overnight or for extended periods of time.
  • The staff will open ALL of the lockers following the master classes on Friday afternoons to prevent folks from taking over the lockers indefinitely.
  • Staff will periodically AND FREQUENTLY unlock all units and remove all items — especially during breaks.
  • Please avoid placing ANY open containers or any particularly smelly items in the lockers.
  • Should you spill ANYTHING in a locker, it is your responsibility to clean it up immediately and if you need assistance, please seek assistance at either the box office or the administrative office upstairs.

If you forget your code, you can seek assistance in the Theatre and Dance office between the hours of 9 am AND 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

These videos give you a first-person look at how to get from point A to point B in the world of Theatre & Dance. Thanks to Mia Shmariahu '19 for the video assist!

  1. Baker Center for the Arts —> Trexler Pavilion
    1. Empie Theatre
    2. Baker Theatre
    3. Studio Theatre (Black Box)
    4. Box Office
  2. Trexler Pavilion —> Baker Center for the Arts
    1. Box Office
    2. Studio Theatre (Black Box)
    3. Baker Theatre
    4. Empie Theatre
  3. Brown Dance Studio
  4. CA 226 — The Tap Box (Center for the Arts)
  5. Dance Wellness Center & Pilates Studio
  6. Hillside House & Rehearsal House
  7. Lav Lounge / Lavender Lounge / Green Room
  8. Theatre & Dance Offices
  9. Scene Shop & Environs
    1. Scene Shop
    2. Damon Gelb's Office
    3. Eric Covell's Office
    4. Loading Dock
    5. Dumpster
  10. Other Tech Locations in the Center for the Arts
    1. the Vault (electrics)
    2. Paul Theisen's Office
    3. Prop Storage
  11. Bonus Round! The Baker Closet

Performance & Production Policy
(formerly known as 'The Two-Rule')

MTA members enrolled in any number of studio courses may be involved in only one production of any classification (except for Performance Ensembles) per semester, on or off campus. A member who is not enrolled in a studio course may be involved in up to two productions of any classification per semester, on or off campus. Members may be involved as designers in up to three productions of any classification, on or off campus.