The Theatre Program at BMCC offers a competitive edge to students who are considering a career in the entertainment field as well as for students who want to continue their education toward a baccalaureate degree at a four-year college. BMCC Theatre students graduate with an Associate in Science degree (A.S.) and a solid foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, and with real-life experience in the theatre.
Performance-based Theatre Major
BMCC offers the only performance-based theatre major at a community college in New York. You will study acting, technical theatre and theatre history. Students produce a play, taking it from page through final production. In addition, there are opportunities to intern with the Tribeca Performing Arts Center and other New York theatres. The program includes:
- Character Development
- Voice and Movement
- Performance Opportunities
You can study playwriting as an elective, offered through our English Department.
Technical Theatre
At BMCC you will be able to learn about and experience roles in technical theatre such as:
- Scenery and Costume Design
- Sound and Lighting
- Stage Management
Knowledge of technical theatre opens the door to a wide range of behind the scenes roles such as director, producer, stage manager, stage hand, costume designer, make-up artist, sound technician, lighting technician and many more. Whichever direction you choose, you will be well-versed in all aspects of theatre production — also used in television and film.
After Class
Center Stage Club
The BMCC Center Stage Club gives theatre majors a chance to further explore their interests and future possibilities. They offer a variety of workshops and classes for all levels of experience, from beginners just discovering their love for theatre, to professionals looking for advanced training. Performances feature both established performers as well as up-and-coming talent in exciting new works as part of our regular season. In addition, they host special events throughout the year that focus on certain aspects of theater such as playwriting, set design, and more.
Email centerstagebmcc@gmail.com for more information. Follow us on Instagram.
Cinema Arts Club
The BMCC Cinema Arts Club is dedicated to celebrating and exploring the art of film through weekly meetings, special screenings and events, and other activities. Club members come from diverse backgrounds and have varied interests in the film industry. Student work together to learn more about film production, writing, directing, acting, cinematography, editing, sound design, visual effects and more.
Email Anatassios Riggopoulos at arigopoulos@bmcc.cuny.edu for more information.
Transfer Options
BMCC has articulation agreements with several four year colleges to allow you to seamlessly continue your education there without any loss of credits.
Explore Careers
BMCC is committed to students’ long-term success and will help you explore professional opportunities. Undecided? No problem. The college offers Career Coach for salary and employment information, job postings and a self-discovery assessment to help students find their academic and career paths. Visit Career Express to make an appointment with a career advisor, search for jobs or sign-up for professional development activities with the Center for Career Development. Students can also visit the Office of Internships and Experiential Learning to gain real world experience in preparation for a four-year degree and beyond. These opportunities are available to help BMCC students build a foundation for future success.
Explore career paths for Theatre (pdf)
Contact
- Professor Charles Burks
Program Coordinator
cburks@bmcc.cuny.edu - Professor Rebecca Collier
Program Coordinator
rcollier@bmcc.cuny.edu
Related Communities
Requirements
Theatre Academic Program Maps
Required Common Core
| English Composition | 6 |
| Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning1 | 3 |
| Life and Physical Sciences2 | 3 |
| TOTAL REQUIRED COMMON CORE | 12 |
Flexible Core3
| Creative Expression | 6 |
| Individual and Society | 3 |
| Scientific World2 | 3 |
| U.S. Experience in Its Diversity | 3 |
| World Cultures and Global Issues | 3 |
| TOTAL FLEXIBLE COMMON CORE | 18 |
| TOTAL COMMON CORE | 30 |
Curriculum Requirements
- The collaborative nature of the theatrical event will be explored in readings, presentations, play attendance, papers and creative projects. Contributions of the playwright, actor, director, designer, architect, critic, producer and audience will be investigated through selected periods, genres, theatre spaces and styles of production. The student's potential roles and responsibilities in creating theatre will be emphasized.
- Basic acting skills, a method of approaching a role, a working vocabulary, and the responsibilities of the actor will be studied through improvisations, theatre games, and performance of scenes or monologues from plays and other dramatic material studied in class.
- An introduction to voice and body work. Students will participate in warm-ups and exercises that promote concentration, relaxation, trust, vocal resonance, physical flexibility, and strength.
- This course is designed to give the student a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of professional theatre production, including the basic skills and technical theories involved in scene design, stagecraft, stage properties, costuming, lighting, and sound. Physical theatre layout, crew organization and responsibilities, safety requirements, and practical experience in building and running a production will be taught. Students will serve on a crew for a BMCC theatre event. Prerequisite: THE 100
- This course is designed to give the student experience in all the aspects of bringing a play to production. As the play is cast, rehearsed, designed, built, advertised, and performed for an audience, students will learn about the responsibilities and collaboration between the different participants involved in theatre production. Students will have the opportunity to hone their acting skills, and must also contribute to at least one other aspect of the production.
Prerequisites: THE 125 or THE 126 or THE 127 or THE 128 - A survey of theatre of the world from its ritual origins to Jacobean England. Major periods explored through reading and viewing significant plays, studying the sociological forces that led to different theatrical forms, theatre architecture, methods of production, playwrights and the relevance of these plays and theatrical forms today.
Prerequisite: THE 100 and ENG 201 or ENG 121
Choose 1 course from:
- This course is designed to help students develop the skills and knowledge essential to execute stage management duties in preproduction work, rehearsal and performance of theatrical productions. Students will examine dramatic texts from the perspective of the stage manager. The stage management skills gained will also provide practical insights into many fields, including film, television, special events, and any business where timely, effective communication and coordination between groups is essential.
Prerequisite: THE 100
- Drawing from examples and occasional guest speakers from the New York theatre world, this course provides an introduction to the theory, principles and practices of theatre management. Students will create their own fictional theatre company, applying the principles of mission structure, and financial planning. Practical experience in management is gained through crew assignments. Oral and written presentations, resulting in a casework, aim to sharpen communication skills and prepare students for further study in theatre management.
Prerequisite: THE 100
Choose 2 courses from:
- This course provides practical training, working side-by- side with designers and technicians to build and run the current production. Focus is on scenic and prop creation, including an introduction to common tools and basic construction techniques with an emphasis on safety. The areas in which students gain experience are determined by their interest and availability.
Prerequisite: THE 121
- This course provides practical training, working side-by- side with designers and technicians to build and run the current production. Focus is on costume technology and wardrobe crew. The areas a student gains experience are determined by their interest and availability.
Prerequisite: THE 121
- This variable topics course provides practical training in rehearsal, performance and production practices, including acting, stage management, and running crew. The play to be produced will be announced at registration. Enrollment is by audition only. Course may be taken up to three times for credit.
- This variable topics course provides practical training in an aspect of theatre production, such as lighting, scenic painting, or sound. The student will be introduced to the specialized tools and techniques of the topic, with an emphasis on safety. The major content of the course will focus on the needs of the current production, and the topic for each section announced at registration. May be taken for credit up to three times in three different topic areas.
Prerequisite: THE 121
Choose 2 courses from:
- This course is designed for those students who wish to improve their speech communication in the business and professional environment. Study of voice and articulation, development of auditory discrimination, utilization of individual and group exercises, and application of speech in group discussions and interviews are covered. This class is particularly recommended for those whose native language is not English as well as those desiring additional improvement in speech and language. Prerequisite: SPE 100 or SPE 102
- This course is designed to help students develop the skills and knowledge essential to execute stage management duties in preproduction work, rehearsal and performance of theatrical productions. Students will examine dramatic texts from the perspective of the stage manager. The stage management skills gained will also provide practical insights into many fields, including film, television, special events, and any business where timely, effective communication and coordination between groups is essential.
Prerequisite: THE 100
- Drawing from examples and occasional guest speakers from the New York theatre world, this course provides an introduction to the theory, principles and practices of theatre management. Students will create their own fictional theatre company, applying the principles of mission structure, and financial planning. Practical experience in management is gained through crew assignments. Oral and written presentations, resulting in a casework, aim to sharpen communication skills and prepare students for further study in theatre management.
Prerequisite: THE 100
- This course continues the study of methods and exercises introduced in Acting I to develop the actor's skills, and moves on to an in-depth study of scene analysis and characterization. Creating an ensemble and exposure to different historical periods will be emphasized. Prerequisite: THE 110
- Students serve as interns for a production company in the entertainment industry. The work of the internship can include technical skills, front-of-house, marketing, performance, directing, choreography or other aspects of production, including publications and other media.
Prerequisite: THE 125 and departmental approval
- This course will train the advanced acting student in natural, proficient acting for the camera. Techniques and acting methods will be taught in BMCC's state-of-the-art studio; students will work in front of the camera and will be able to view their own performances on tape. Prerequisite: THE 210 and audition
- This studio course is designed to provide students with advanced creative techniques to deepen their skills as performers. Topics are presented by visiting theatre practitioners in a workshop series. Focus is on creating original work in the following areas: devised work, dance and movement for actors, and solo work. Exercises and improvisation are designed to enhance concentration, imagination, resonance, movement and will culminate into performances after each section. Students will create and workshop performances with a focus on learning new approaches to language, structure and movement. The course emphasizes the collaborative nature of theatre. Appropriate research and reading will be required in addition to artistic assignments. Prerequisite: THE 110, THE 121 and audition or departmental permission
Choose 3 courses from:
- This course provides practical training, working side-by- side with designers and technicians to build and run the current production. Focus is on scenic and prop creation, including an introduction to common tools and basic construction techniques with an emphasis on safety. The areas in which students gain experience are determined by their interest and availability.
Prerequisite: THE 121
- This course provides practical training, working side-by- side with designers and technicians to build and run the current production. Focus is on costume technology and wardrobe crew. The areas a student gains experience are determined by their interest and availability.
Prerequisite: THE 121
- This variable topics course provides practical training in rehearsal, performance and production practices, including acting, stage management, and running crew. The play to be produced will be announced at registration. Enrollment is by audition only. Course may be taken up to three times for credit.
- This variable topics course provides practical training in an aspect of theatre production, such as lighting, scenic painting, or sound. The student will be introduced to the specialized tools and techniques of the topic, with an emphasis on safety. The major content of the course will focus on the needs of the current production, and the topic for each section announced at registration. May be taken for credit up to three times in three different topic areas.
Prerequisite: THE 121
Choose 1 course from:
- This course explores, analyzes, and examines women??A?A?s contribution to US-American theater, beginning with Colonial women up to contemporary women. The course will investigate how omen have contributed and continue to contribute as playwrights, actors, directors, managers, producers, and through women??A?A?s collectives to the evolution of US-American theater. Most materials are available to students without costs, through open source material, e-resources, or on reserve in the BMCC library.
Prerequisite: ENG 201
- The objective of ENG 315: Playwriting is to sharpen students' creative writing skills and to teach them the elements of playwriting and character development. Through the reading of one-act plays and practice writing exercises each week, students will learn the craft of playwriting. They will write scenes and create their own one act plays.
Pre-Requisite: ENG101 and ENG201 or ENG121
Course Syllabus
- This course provides careful, in-depth readings from Shakespeare's tragedies, histories and comedies. The course examines some of the main characteristics of his work, including his major themes, the development of character and plot, and the special worlds that he creates through his poetic language.
Course Syllabus
Note
Please note, these requirements are effective the 2017-2018 catalog year. Please check your DegreeWorks account for your specific degree requirements as when you began at BMCC will determine your program requirements.
Footnotes
- Consult with an advisor on which courses to take to satisfy these areas.
- These areas can be satisfied by taking a STEM variant.
- No more than two courses in any discipline or interdisciplinary field can be used to satisfy Flexible Core requirements.
