Brand New Theater Minor Coming in Fall 2013!

Planning on becoming a professional actor or have an interest in Theater Arts? Coming in the fall of 2013, a brand spanking new Theater and Performance Studies (TAPS) minor will be offered at GSU. The minor was created by Dr. Patrick Santoro, Assistant Professor of Theater and Performance Studies. This program offers courses that will give students a basic understanding of performance and help prepare them for the world of theater. With a minor in TAPS, students can enhance their acting skills without having to commit as much time as you would for a major.

 President Elaine Maimon

This program fits perfectly with GSU’s intention to become a cultural hub in the south suburbs and a public square. Recently Elaine Maimon, president of GSU, wrote an article called Art Can Strengthen Education, Transform Lives.   In this article she explains that at GSU, art is also fundamental to human life and an essential part of the GSU curriculum.  Maimon says, “It is ironic that demands for education to get back to the basics frequently involve limiting the study of the studio and performing arts. Our goal is for the entire university to be open to the power of art to strengthen education and to transform lives.”

Professor Patrick Santoro

This philosophy will be applied across the colleges, but it will certainly have direct application in the TAPS program.  TAPS is an 18-credit performance minor, meaning that there are no technical classes.  “(Performance studies) is similar to theater in the sense both focus on presenting artistic work.  At the helm of this program is Dr. Santoro, who received his doctorate in Performance Studies from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.  He was hired by GSU in August of 2012 and has worked with a committee of faculty members and administration to write the minor. They are also currently writing a major that will go live in the fall of 2014, when the first freshmen class arrives.

            The minor has four required courses: Foundations of Theater and Performance Studies, Intro to Acting, Performing Culture and Identity (which was taught by Dr. Santoro in the spring), and Performance and Social Change. The Foundations of Theater and Performance Studies class is an average introductory course. The minor also requires at least six credit hours of electives.  Students can choose from a wide variety of electives like Solo Performance, where students will perform a 15 to 20 minute piece constructed from the ground up, and Performance of Literature, which will look at how prose and poetry are performed. Other electives include Voice and Movement for the Actor, Advanced Acting, Introduction to Directing, Writing as Performance, Performance Art, and a Special Topics course. Courses will be taught by Dr. Santoro himself, Professor Jans (who currently teaches acting), and possibly an occasional adjunct professor or two.

Technical classes, like lighting and costuming, will be offered later as part of the upcoming theater major.  So far, this is the only minor from a public university in Illinois, and soon the only major, that combines Theater and Performance Studies into one program.

Due to all these changes, students can look forward to an increase in student and staff productions. There will be two plays each academic year: one in the Fall and one in the Spring. The upcoming Spring show will be a musical held in Sherman Hall. The Fall play is yet to be determined because of a lack of male actors. So gentlemen, be sure to audition! Students in the minor will not be required to be involved with main-stage, meaning they do not have to participate in the productions that will be produced for the CPA, though it is definitely encouraged. Students in the major, however, will be required to be involved in at least three productions. It could be anything from acting, to costuming and other back stage work.

            Dr. Santoro currently teaches Performing Culture and Identity, Writing as Performance, Chicagoland Theatre, and Intercultural Communication here at GSU. He recently directed his first production at GSU, Transformations by Anne Sexton, to a sold out audience.  Transformations is the first all student and staff play produced here at GSU since the new CPA was built.

Cast of Transformations. Photo By Jerry Slowik

            Kimberly Hudson, a student of Dr. Santoro’s who also performed in Transformations, had nothing but good things to say about him. “It was a fun experience,” she said. “You could really tell that he was really into the theater…he knows it like the back of his hand, and I think its very important for teachers to have a passion for what they do.” Hudson then told me that taking his classes is part of the reason why she auditioned for Transformations in the first place. Hudson was excited to hear about the new theater minor. “I’ve already told Dr. Santoro that I’m going to be sneaking into all of his classes.” She said, laughing.

With that glowing recommendation, I encourage you to check out the upcoming Theater and Performance Studies courses.  Sound off in the comment section below or contact Dr. Patrick Santoro (psantoro@govst.edu) for more information on the new minor.

Until next time Tweaders…TWAG ON!