Cowley Theatre Program
"Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't." (William Shakespeare, “Hamlet”: Act II, Scene II).
There is “method in the madness” here at Cowley. “ The method” is to equip students with the knowledge and experience to pursue a career in theatre. Through our productions, trips and real world experiences, our students gain invaluable preparation for the future.

Facilities
Robert Brown Theatre
This theatre is an 800 seat, state-of-the-art, proscenium theatre. The building was completed in the Fall of 1995 and serves as a center piece for the arts in Cowley County, and accommodates over 10,000 patrons annually. We have a fully equipped scene shop and costume shop, along with pristine dressing rooms, green room, and back stage space. The lighting and sound systems are top notch and rank among the industries best. The theatre also provides a full fly system and hydraulic orchestra pit.

Performing Arts Studio
Beginning spring of 2006, a newly created performing arts studio was added to the theatre program. In this space we are able to conduct rehearsals and stage intimate productions. This new space gives the students more opportunities to perform, direct, and experience theatre hands-on.

Travel Series
Each year the Act One Drama Club travels to a major city to experience the theatre and cultural events that each has to offer. Typically the trip lasts 5-6 days and is held over the first weekend of spring break. Usually taking an average of 20 students, at least one “Broadway” show is paid for by the club. Hotel costs for New York were completely paid for by the club so students only had to pay their airfare. These trips offer amazing opportunity for personal growth.

2006 New York – “The Producers”
2007 Chicago – “Wicked”
2008 London – “Woman in Black”
2009 Chicago – “Jersey Boys”
2010 New York

Main Stage Series
Our main stage series consists of a fall musical and a spring play. Each year we produce the biggest and best of well known plays and musicals. This series is geared towards drawing in enormous audience attendance, involving over one hundred students annually, and accomplishing the highest level of quality capable through a very robust budget and excellent facilities.
Past Productions:

Children’s Theatre Series
Each fall semester our students present a children’s theatre production to over 2,000 school children from the surrounding communities. These productions introduce children to live theatre. For many children, this is their first, and hopefully not their last, exposure to live theatre. The shows are well budgeted and provide our students additional performance opportunities in quality productions.
Past Productions:
“Alice in Wonderland”
“Pinocchio”
“Big Bad, The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf”

Shakespeare at Cowley Series
Kicked off in 2005 by the National Players touring performance of “Romeo and Juliet,” this series provides students the opportunity to experience Shakespeare on an intimate level. In the spring semester we tackle one of William Shakespeare’s full length plays. These productions are housed in our new Performing Arts Studio and are fully realized with lighting, scenery, costumes and sound.
Past Productions:
“Twelfth Night”
“Much Ado About Nothing”

Academic Highlights
Our theatre curriculum is designed to provide a solid introduction to theatre. Each class offered easily transfers to four year colleges and universities. This gives student’s maximum amount of flexibility in furthering their college education.

Theatre Appreciation (3hr.)
Stagecraft (3hr.)
Acting I (3hr.)
Fundamentals of Costuming (3hr.)
Introduction to Dance (1hr.)
Musical Theatre Dance (1hr.)
Dramatic Activities (1hr.)

Theater Scholarship Courses
The following classes are required courses for Theatre Scholarship students, but all students are encouraged to enroll. Theatre Appreciation fulfills a Humanities credit; the others are electives.

Theatre Appreciation
This is a theatre overview course. Units of study include a basic introduction to the exciting world of theatre performance and technology, a focus on the lives and styles of contemporary actors of merit, famous playwrights, as well as a brief study on the contributions of the early Greeks and Shakespeare. No acting required! Rather, the class is highly interactive and enthusiastically paced. There's a lot of wonderful information to cover together! (Fall and Spring, 3 hours)
Stagecraft
This course is designed to introduce students to the technical side of theatre. Emphasis is placed on set design and construction, lighting, and sound technology, as well as painting and building techniques. Scene shop safety is stressed. A major project of this course is to provide the set, and technical support for the semester's major production. Each student will achieve a great deal of hands-on training and practice in technical theatre, and most of this is done with the radio on! (Fall and Spring, 3 hours)
Acting
Good acting can be taught! This course provides a concrete process that each student that each student can use to develop and sharpen their performance skills. Each class meeting provides opportunity to practice the skill learned that day. Students enjoy solo, duet and ensemble acting exercises, as well as performing for an audience. No matter what your major, acting skills can make you more effective. Come join the fun! (Spring only, 3 hours)
Dramatic Activities
This is an application/practicum course. College credit is awarded to those enrolled students who are actively involved in a semester's major production (perform a role, work in a technical position, and/or both.) Dramatic Activities students should be highly interested in theatre and be self-motivating, independent workers. (Fall and Spring, 1 hour. Open enrollment: 2 hours requires instructor approval.)

Degree Program
Cowley offers an Associate of Arts Degree in Theatre.

Course Procedures

• Acting THE2735
• Theatre Appreciation THE2730
• Stagecraft THE2742
• Dramatic Activities THE2743 - 2746

Transfer Options
The theatre courses transfer to virtually any four-year institution, with Theatre Appreciation fulfilling a Humanities credit. Counselors can work with individual students to coordinate their program of study so transfer to a four-year school is smooth.

For the Techie…
Our facilities are among the elite in the nation. We have upgraded technical aspects of our program every year for the last four years. Some of the recent additions are a $100,000.00 hydraulic spiral orchestra lift from Gala Systems, 20 Shure ULX wireless microphones with Countryman B-2 mics, and a brand new ETC Emphasis Lighting Control System. Future upgrades include a new 42 channel sound mixing console, and six intelligent lighting fixtures.
In addition to the amazing equipment, our students have several opportunities each semester to work with professional performers and professional stage crews. Our students have worked recently for The Rolling Stones, The Marshall Tucker Band, Rockapella, Pro Audio Systems, Wichita Local IATSE #190, just to name a few.

Scholarships
Scholarship Information

You need to see it to believe it!!!!

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