This document summarizes the Theatre Arts program at San Jose State University. It provides information on the Bachelor of Arts and minor programs, including available concentrations and pathways. It describes opportunities for students to gain experience through mainstage productions, student films, and internships. Successful alumni who have found careers in film, television, and theater are highlighted.

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Department Of
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Department Of
TV-Radio-Film-Theatre
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San Jose State University
Theatre Arts
B.A. & Minor Programs
Paul R. Sawyer
Student Recruitment Coordinator
Office: HGH 234
Email: Paul.Sawyer@sjsu.edu
Our department is proud to count Peabody Award winner
and Golden Globe nominee Luis Valdez among its alumni.
In 1965, his first full-length play, The Shrunken Head Of Pancho
Villa was produced by our department in what is now the
Hal Todd Theatre. Valdez is also famous for his play/film
Zoot Suit, the Richie Valens biopic La Bamba, and his forma-
tion of the theatre troupe El Teatro Campesino. In 2008,
Luis Valdez returned to stage a production of his play The
Mummified Deer, directed by his son, Kinan Valdez.
Alumnus Luis Valdez
TheMummifiedDeer
Professor Amy Glazer
Theatre Arts Coordinator
Office: HGH 128
Email: Glazer@sjsu.edu

2. The minor in Theatre Arts is useful for a wide variety of career
paths. Majors from Business Administration, Nursing, Anima-
tion, English, Dance and many others utilize the minor to
learn the skills of performance and creative collaboration that
are necessary beyond the entertainment industry. The program
is designed with five different pathways: Performance, Design,
Directing, Dramatic Writing, and Musical Theatre.
The Theatre Arts - B.A. is a degree focused on a multi-faceted
approach to learning the craft of the performing arts. Students
have the choice to concentrate in one of five different emphases,
or work with an advisor to craft a multi-disciplinary degree. Con-
centrations are offered in Acting, Directing (for Stage and Screen),
Design & Technology, Writing & Research, Theatre Education
and Musical Theatre. Each area incorporates stage, cinematic, and
radio techniques within the curriculum.
Students in the Theatre Arts - B.A. often pursue minors in Radio-
Television & Film (where some major electives can be satisfied),
Musical Theatre, Dance, English or Psychology.
Theatre Arts majors focusing on scriptwriting have the support of
a department with a national reputation for new script develop-
ment in both playwriting and screenwriting. Our department regu-
larly produces student and faculty world premieres, having recently
developed the stage adaptation of The Kite Runner currently being
produced at leading regional theatres around the country.
Our rich network of Bay Area resources offers opportunities
for graduates to be placed through our internship program
with some of the most respected and influential film and thea-
tre companies in the industry.
Theatre Arts—B.A.
Theatre Arts Minor
Mainstage & Studio Theatre
Theatre Arts students from all emphases have many opportuni-
ties to showcase their talents in our mainstage season. Produc-
tions are done in both the 350 seat University Theatre, and the
150 seat, modular Hal Todd Theatre. Actors, directors, play-
wrights and designers collaborate during the four annual
mainstage productions, as well as in student productions and
many other additional works throughout the season. Advanced
performance students are also granted showcase auditions with
San Jose Repertory Theatre as well as other Bay Area regional
theatres and TV/Film casting directors and agents.
Stage And Screen
Courses are offered in acting and directing for the camera,
and our curriculum offers a myriad of opportunities to
work on student/faculty directed short and feature films.
Our department annually produces feature films, shot on
location in the Bay Area, and on our department’s two
state-of-the-art soundstages. Films produced in our de-
partment have been honored in major film festivals such
as Cinequest, Slamdance, Mill Valley Film Festival and the
Locarno International Film Festival and regularly receive
commercial distribution,
including VOD and
DVD. Students get the
chance to go beyond the
classroom and receive
hands-on mentoring
from industry profes-
sionals, faculty and staff.
Career Pathways
After leaving our department, students have found careers as
professional actors and directors in film, television and on the
stage, as well as positions as stage managers, scenic designers,
costume designers, sound designers, dramaturges, educators,
producers, agents and administrators both inside and outside of
the performing arts.
One of our most famous graduates, Omar
Benson Miller, has gone on to appear as a
regular on CSI: Miami as well as working on
such feature films as 8 Mile, The Express,
Spike Lee’s Miracle at St. Anna, and Walt
Disney Pictures’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
After graduating with her
BA in Theatre Arts, alumna Adrienne Muller
starred as Nala in the national tour of Disney’s The
Lion King, was a member of the original Las Ve-
gas cast of Mama Mia!, and continues to perform
with some of the region’s best professional thea-
tre companies.
Alumnus Coby Bell has gone on to star as
Officer Ty Davis, Jr. in the NBC drama
Third Watch, The CW comedy-drama The
Game, and USA Network action series Burn
Notice as well as co-producing and starring
in the feature film Drifting Elegant.
Professional Affiliations
Theatre Arts majors also have access to numerous opportuni-
ties with many companies connected to the department. Our
alliance with the award-winning San Jose Repertory Theatre
provides students with access to professional instruction and
experience in the theatre. San Jose Rep professionals and guest
artists will lecture or teach courses in playwriting, design, direct-
ing, acting and educational
theatre. Students will also have
the opportunity to pursue in-
ternships in acting, directing,
dramaturgy, stage management,
production design, development, arts marketing and more.
This affiliation between SJSU and San Jose Rep offers students
the opportunity to work closely with top professionals in the
field, gaining insight into the art and operations of a profes-
sional regional theatre through close interaction with members
of the theatre’s staff. Through this partnership, students learn
what the art form of theatre means to the life of a community,
and how the life of a community enriches its theatre.
www.TVRadioFilmTheatre.com
Omar Benson Miller
Coby Bell
Adrienne Muller
DavidHenryHwang’sYellowFace
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