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Theatre & Film Major

School of Arts and Sciences

Theatre at Concordia

Theatre at Concordia

The craft of acting, the art of design, and the nuance of directing are pursuits for students who care deeply about story and recognize the impact theatre, television, and video can have on shaping our world view.

Building on a well-rounded foundation of core courses, you can choose from two areas of specialization to focus your theatre degree:

Collaborating closely with instructors, Concordia’s Theatre Department is a tight-knit community that will nurture your individual growth in performance or production and allow you to learn by doing. Theatre majors have the opportunity to be a part of five full productions per season. With a legacy for bold, artistic productions, Concordia students are frequently recognized for their work at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, as well as within the community, and gain invaluable experience to pursue graduate school or immediate work in the performing arts.

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Where our Alumni Are Working

Our theatre & film graduates are working in the industry. Here are some additional highlights.

  • Disneyland
  • Universal Studios
  • Disney World
  • Utah Shakespeare Festival
  • Pfinix Creative Studios
  • GoButton Productions
  • Disney HD Channel
  • Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts
  • The Ned Show
  • Theatricum Botanicum
  • Two Rivers Theatre
  • North Coast Repertory Theatre
  • New Village Arts
  • San Diego Fringe Festival
  • Hollywood Fringe Festival
  • Chance Theater
  • South Coast Repertory Theater
  • The Imagination Machine
  • Phoenix Theatre
  • Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts
  • Downey Civic Theatre
  • Netflix
  • CollegeHumor
  • Los Angeles Opera
  • Long Beach Opera
  • Opera Pacific
  • Culture Project (NY)
  • KCRA/KQCA TV
  • Briggs Opera House
  • Missoula Children’s Theatre
  • Theophany Films

Opportunities for Theatre & Film Majors

The Theatre & Film department wants to provide a myriad of opportunities for our students to gain experience in the performing arts. Our University, Theatre & Film Department, and relationships within our surrounding community afford you the chance to practice the performing arts outside the classroom.

Academic Opportunities

As a Theatre & Film major, you can combine your degree with a related minor, or double major. Expand your worldview by studying abroad, or transition to graduate school.

Graduate Schools Attended

  • Cal State San Bernardino
  • Cal State Fullerton - Department of Cinema & Television Arts
  • Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University
  • National University of Ireland Galway
  • Northern Illinois University School of Theatre & Dance
  • NYU - Tisch School of the Arts
  • NYU - Steinhardt School for Education in the Arts
  • Regent University
  • Sarah Lawrence College MFA Theatre Program
  • Southern Utah University - Utah Shakespeare Festival
  • University of North Carolina School of the Arts
  • University of North Carolina School of the Arts (Film Production)

Extracurricular Activities

Theatre offers many opportunities for you to become involved with on-campus events, clubs, and organizations. Our students also regularly participate (and excel) in national competitions with performing arts students from other universities.

  • Improv-ceivable
  • Stage Door 141

Internships

Theatre majors can apply to do a senior project. Concordia enjoys good working relationships with a large number of organizations in Southern California. Below are just a few examples of where our students have interned.

  • The Chance Theatre
  • Actors Theatre of Louisville
  • La Jolla Playhouse
  • Disney Corporation
  • Utah Shakespeare Festival

Scholarships

Scholarships for majors AND non-majors participating in theatre range from $1000 up to half of the price of tuition.

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Past Productions

The Foolish Proposal actors preparing for a performance

The Foolish Proposal

Video
The Fantasticks opening scene of a sheet with silhouette shadows through a sheet

The Fantasticks

Video
Two actors performing a scene on stage

A Year with Frog and Toad

Video

Curriculum

Here at Concordia, you will benefit from a diverse set of core courses in a liberal arts context that allow you to pursue your vocation. You can choose to focus your degree in a specialized area of emphasis. Concordia’s Theatre and Film program is supported by ancillary classes as well, such as dance classes and private voice lessons from our Music department.

  • Theatre & Film Sample Courses
  • THR 251: Introduction to Theatre
  • 3
This course will provide an overview of the various conventions, forms, styles, and genres of the theatre, including principles of play analysis and exploration of theatre criticism from dramaturgical, literary, and cultural perspectives through the thematic discussions of representative contemporary plays. Field trips required.
  • THR 261: Acting 1
  • 3
As an introduction to basic acting techniques, students will examine ways to construct the interior, physical, and vocal life of a character, learn warm-up procedures, and staging principles, including experiences in scene analysis, performance of monologues, and improvisations. Field trips may be included. Prerequisite: THR 251 or consent of instructor.
  • THR 311: Introduction to Technical Production
  • 3
Through hands-on experiences, this course will introduce the practical application of theatrical design principles including techniques and practices of technical organization, set construction, lighting preparation, costume construction, makeup application, and sound preparation. Field trips and participation in on-campus production work required. A lab fee of $50 is required for this course. Prerequisite: THR 251 or consent of instructor.
  • THR 321: Introduction to Theatrical Design
  • 3
As an introduction to the theories and principles of theatrical design, this course will emphasize the holistic and scenographic approach, while exploring set, lighting, costume, makeup, and sound design with director/designer collaboration. Field trips and participation in on-campus production work required. A lab fee of $50 is required. Prerequisite: THR 251 or consent of instructor.
  • THR 351: Play Direction 1
  • 3
This course will introduce students to the following techniques: play selection and analysis, auditioning, scene design and staging, actor coaching, rehearsal strategies, and production management, including both the principles for proscenium and the open stage. Workshop scenes are presented and evaluated. Prerequisites: THR 251, 261 and 262, or consent of instructor.
  • THR 390: Practicum: Theatre
  • 2
A practical, hands-on learning experience where students will work on one or more theatre department productions. Earned in one-unit increments.

Meet your Professors

Professors in the Theatre & Film Department are active participants in mentoring students and nurturing individual artistic growth. Our curriculum is developed and delivered by faculty who integrate classroom techniques with hands-on experience.

Lori Siekman

Lori Siekman

Theatre Chair

Professor Siekmann is the 2015 recipient of the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival's Gold Medallion of Excellence - the highest award the Kennedy Center gives to educators. Three of her productions have been invited to appear at the regional festival of KC/ACTF.

Andrew Sierszyn

Andrew Sierszyn

Theatre Professor

Professor Sierszyn brings a wealth of experience and education to his work at Concordia. Andrew has served as a technical director for productions at Sunset Playhouse, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and Illinois State University, as well as being a prolific designer for Wisconsin Lutheran College and Illinois State University. Additionally, his work as a scenic designer and charge artist includes professional summer stock at the Monomoy Theatre in Chatham, Massachusetts.

Andrew Guttierrez

Andrew Gutierrez

Film and Digital Video Production Professor

Andrew Gutierrez teaches film history, film production and creative media classes. He has 31 years of video and film production experience but he began in theatre at El Teatro Campesino (The Farmworkers Theater) under the direction of Luis Valdez (director of La Bamba and Zoot Suit). Luis introduced Andrew to executive producer Moctesuma Esparza who brought Andrew onto the film Selena. Andrew worked his way up the ranks from Production Assistant to Production Coordinator, Production Manager to Editor, Segment Producer to Director. Having worked his way through every step of the production ladder provides him with a unique perspective which he provides to his students at Concordia.

"For me, telling stories is much more than just entertainment. We are storytelling people that teach, learn, caution, and grow through story. I am very fortunate to be able to touch people lives by sharing stories of inspiration."

Andrew has always pursued his desire to share stories of an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances through film, TV and stage and now shares that pursuit and knowledge to the next generation.

More Faculty

One of our greatest assets at Concordia University Irvine is our dedicated faculty. In a small learning environment, our professors care about you—not just your performance—and they cultivate lifelong mentoring relationships with the students they teach.

Theatre & FilmTalk to a Professor

Get in Touch

For more information about the Theatre major at Concordia University Irvine, we invite you to contact us directly.

Professor Tony Vezner
Theatre & Film Department
(949) 214-3425
[email protected]

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