All the world's a stage...
Theatre and Film Projects
Program Review
Mission StatementThe mission of the Theatre Arts Department at Westmont College is to develop students’ creativity, technical skills, and disciplinary knowledge within a rigorous, collaborative environment. Rooted in an incarnational perspective on theater and faith, the Theatre Arts Department helps prepare students for lives in the professional, educational, and/or community theatres; provides distinctive artistic experiences for Westmont and the immediate Santa Barbara communities; and offers opportunities to all students for developing personal, social, and artistic skills essential for life-long learning and creativity. Program Review ResourcesCurriculum Map PLO Alignment Chart Multi-year Assessment Plan Annual and Six-Year Reports | Program Learning OutcomesThe links below lead to information about the department's most recent assessment of student learning relative to our program learning outcomes.
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Box Office
Little Women
by Kate Hamill
Adapted from the novel by Louisa May Alcott
Directed by Madeline Fanton
February 27 at 7:30pm at Porter Theater
February 28 at 2pm and 7:30pm at Porter Theater
March 6 at 7:30pm at Porter Theater
March 7 at 2pm and 7:30pm at Porter Theater
March 8 at 2pm at Porter Theater
Alumni Stories
Christine Yari Nathanson ’16, is co-founder and artistic director of the MaArte Theatre Collective, which creates artistic space for the Filipino-American experience in our diverse and dynamic culture.
Sam Stroming ’21, explored the full range of theatrical expression at Westmont, from performing in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui to devising new work in the student-led Fringe Festival. She is currently a Chicago-based actor, passionate about creating theatre that inspires activism
Rachel Herriges ’23, wrote plays for Westmont’s Fringe Festival and was recognized for her capstone project, Hysteria. She is currently building a life in Chicago, drawing on her rich experiences at Westmont.
Career Opportunities
Actor
Director
Educator
Arts Management Producer
Designer
Playwright
Dramaturge
Worship artist
Casting director
Stage Manager
Technical Direction
Public relations and marketing
Faculty Highlights
Globe Series
The Westmont Theatre Arts department enjoys a long, distinguished history of hosting international scholars, artists, and practitioners, providing transformative educational experience for Westmont students and offering important outreach and programming opportunities for the local community.
The goals of the Globe Series are in line with the mission and vision of the college and department, will enhance student learning, faculty development, community outreach and partnerships, and bolster the national and international impact and reputation of the college.
The rising tide of our global economy, international politics, and greater interconnectedness is making it imperative that we can understand and appreciate the rich diversity of the various cultures and peoples of the world. The Globe Series will continue to explore, enact, and create new ways to envision global interconnection, and develop tools for redemptive, reconciliatory work in the field of international theatre practice in the following ways:
- Host residencies by international practitioners, for Westmont students
- Present International Theatre productions to the Westmont and SB Communities
- Convene conferences, symposia, and festivals on topics of global import
- Publish and disseminate proceedings to local, national, and international audiences
- Inspire competencies in international teaching and practice
- Create opportunities for international artistic and cultural exchange
Opportunities Abroad
- England Semester
- London Theatre Mayterm
- Westmont in San Francisco
- NYC Theatre Mayterm
Madeline Fanton remembers the first chapter book she read as a child: “Little Women.” Now, the visiting professor of theater arts directs Westmont’s production of the novel by Louisa May Alcott, adapted by Kate Hamill, on Feb. 27-28 and March 6-7 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 28 and March 7-8 at 2 p.m., all in Porter Theatre.
Westmont senior Ashley Clark, an English and theater arts double major from Henderson, Nevada, participated in the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s competitive five-month filmmaking program.
Wendy Eley Jackson, assistant professor of English and film studies at Westmont, recently joined the board of directors for the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara.
Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded a nearly $5 million grant to Westmont for the college’s Sacred Stories Project, which will uncover, share and celebrate the vocational journeys of Christian young adults.
Pratt Plays a Leading Role in Filmmaking
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
“It's important for the students to make films and tell stories from what they know and are passionate about. I push them to be creative and make their films visually expressive and experimental. I want to see something I haven’t seen before.”
Theatre Arts Tracks Areas of Concentration & Requirements
Required Lower-Division Core Courses: 16 units
TA 001 Great Literature of the Stage (4)
TA 037 Scenic Technology (4)
One of the following:
- TA 010 Acting I (4)
- TA 051 Acting the Song (4)
One of the following:
- TA 035 Costume Design for the Theatre (4)
- TA 036 Design for Theatre (4)
- TA 038 Lighting Design (4)
Upper-Division Breadth Requirements: 14 units
TA 125 Directing for the Theatre (4)
TA 153 Contemporary Theatre and Film Performance (4)
TA 193 Senior Project (2)
One of the following:
- TA 120 Theatre History I (4)
- TA 121 Theatre History II (4)
Required Applied Theatre Arts: 6 units
Take 6 units of the following:
- TA 050/150 Rehearsal and Performance (1-2)
- TA 060/160 Technical Production (1-2)
Theatre Arts Electives: 8 units
- TA 009 Voice and Speech Through Performance (4)
- TA 010 Acting I: Foundations (4)
- TA 011 Acting II (4)
- TA 036 Scenic Design (4)
- TA 038 Lighting Design (4)
- TA 051 Acting the Song (4)
- TA 111 Acting III: Shakespeare and Clown (4)
- TA 120 History of the Theatre I (4)
- TA 121 History of the Theatre II (4)
- TA 124 Survey of Dramatic Theory and Criticism (4)
- TA 137 Design for Performance (4)
- TA 140 Race and Gender on the American Stage (4)
- TA 142 Global Theatre (4)
- TA 145 Writing for Performance (4)
- TA 153 Contemporary Theatre and Film Performance (4)
- TA 186 World Theatre I (4)
- TA 187 World Theatre II (4)
- TA 190 Internship (1-8)
- TA 195 Seminar: Special Topics (2, 4)
- TA 196 Senior Seminar: Launchpad (4)
- England Semester (up to 8 units)
- London Mayterm (up to 8 units)
- Up to 4 additional units of TA 150, and/or TA 160
Required Courses: 20 units
TA 001 Great Literature of the Stage (4)
One of the following: (4)
- TA 010 Acting I (4)
- TA 051 Acting the Song (4)
One of the following: (4)
- TA 035 Costume Design for the Theatre (4)
- TA 036 Design for Theatre (4)
- TA 037 Scenic Technology (4)
- TA 038 Lighting Design (4)
- TA 125 Directing for the Theatre (4)
TA 050/150 Rehearsal and Performance (2)
TA 060/160 Technical Production (2)
TA 120 or TA 121 History of Theatre I, II (4)
Elective: 4 units
Choose any of the following electives: (4)
- TA 009 Voice and Speech Through Performance (4)
- TA 011 Acting II: Devised Theatre (4)
- TA 036 Design for the Theatre (4)
- TA 037 Scenic Technology (4)
- TA 038 Lighting Design (4)
- TA 051 Acting the Song (4)
- TA 111 Acting III: Shakespeare and Clown (4)
- TA 120 History of the Theatre I (4)
- TA 121 History of the Theatre II (4)
- TA 124 Survey of Dramatic Theory and Criticism (4)
- TA 125 Directing for the Theatre (4)
- TA 127 Directing II (4)
- TA 137 Design for Performance (4)
- TA 140 Race and Gender on the American Stage (4)
- TA 142 Global Theatre (4)
- TA 145 Writing for Performance (4)
- TA 153 Contemporary Theatre and Film Performance (4)
- TA 186 World Theatre I (4)
- TA 187 World Theatre II (4)
- TA 190 Internship (1-8)
- TA 195 Seminar: Special Topics (2,4)
Required Lower-Division Core Courses: 16 units
TA 001 Great Literature of the Stage (4)
TA 037 Scenic Technology (4)
One of the following:(4)
- TA 010 Acting I (4)
- TA 051 Acting the Song (4)
One of the following: (4)
- TA 035 Costume Design for the Theatre (4)
- TA 036 Design for Theatre (4)
- TA 038 Lighting Design (4)
Upper-Division Breadth Requirements: 22 units
- TA 120 Theatre History I (4)
- TA 121 Theatre History II (4)
- TA 125 Directing for the Theatre (4)
- TA 153 Contemporary Theatre and Film Performance (4)
- TA 193 Senior Project (2)
- TA 196 Senior Seminar: Launchpad (4)
Required Applied Theatre Arts: 6 units
- TA 050/150 Rehearsal and Performance (1-2)
- TA 060/160 Technical Production (1-2)
Theatre Arts Electives: 16 units
Students’ elective choices can emphasize a particular specialized part of the field, such as acting and directing, design and technology, or literature and history, or can maintain a broader approach, relative to student interest and vocational goals.
- TA 009 Voice and Speech Through Performance (4)
- TA 010 Acting I: Foundations (4)
- TA 011 Acting II: Devised Theatre (4)
- TA 035 Costume Design for the Theatre (4)
- TA 036 Scenic Design (4)
- TA 038 Lighting Design (4)
- TA 051 Acting the Song (4)
- TA 111 Acting III: Shakespeare and Clown (4)
- TA 124 Survey of Dramatic Theory and Criticism (4)
- TA 137 Design for Performance (4)
- TA 140 Race and Gender on the American Stage (4)
- TA 145 Writing for Performance (4)
- TA 153 Contemporary Theatre and Film Performance (4)
- TA 186 World Theatre I (4)
- TA 187 World Theatre II (4)
- TA 190 Internship (1-8)
- TA 195 Seminar: Special Topics (2,4)
- Up to 4 additional units of TA 150, and/or TA 160
- ART 010 2-D Design (4)
- ART 015 Drawing I (4)
- ART 070 3D Sculptural Explorations (4)
- ART 131 Art Theory and Criticism (4)
- EB 080 Principles of Management (4)
- ENG 101 Film Studies (4)
- ENG 111 Screenwriting I (4)
- ENG 112 Screenwriting II (4)
- ENG 113 Screenwriting III (4)
- ENG 117 Shakespeare (4)
- ENG 183 20th Century Drama (4)
- England Semester (up to 8 units)
- London Mayterm (up to 8 units)
- MUA 070 Private Voice I (1)
- MUA 170 Private Voice II (1)
Film Theory & Criticism: 4 units
ENG 101 Film Studies (4)
OR
COM 107 Focus on Film (1 unit each, 4 total units required)
Film in Context: 4 units
One of the following:
- COM 148 Postmodern Narratives (4)
- HIS 082 History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict through Film (4)
- POL 142 The Politics of Film (4)
- RS 132 Theology in Film (4)
- SP 130 Hispanic Film and Literature (4)
Film Practice: 4 units
One of the following:
- FLM 030 Introduction to Digital Filmmaking (4)
- APP 190 Internship (1-4) as approved by the minor advisor
- ENG 111 Screenwriting I (4)
- RS 162 Religion and Filmmaking (4)
- TA 153 Contemporary Theatre and Film Performance (4)
Portfolio or Capstone Project (up to 2 units) This project will be completed in the context of an internship or existing course as approved by the minor advisor.
Electives: 8 units Two of the following, not taken above:
- APP 060/160 Film Production (1-2)
- APP 190 Internship (1-4) as approved by minor advisor
- ART 065 Digital Tools (4)
- ART 131 Theory & Criticism in the Arts (4)
- COM 107 Focus on Film (1 unit, may be repeated for up to 4 units as topics change)
- COM 125 Media and Mass Communication (4)
- COM 129 Persuasion & Propaganda (4)
- COM 140 Communication Ethics (4)
- COM 148 Postmodern Narratives (4)
- ENG 101 Film Studies (4)
- ENG 111 Screenwriting I (4)
- ENG 112 Screenwriting II (4)
- ENG 113 Screenwriting III (4)
- FLM 030 Introduction to Digital Filmmaking (4)
- FLM 130 Documentary Filmmaking (4)
- HIS 082 History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict through Film (4)
- POL 142 The Politics of Film (4)
- RS 132 Theology in Film (4)
- RS 162 Religion and Filmmaking (4)
- SP 130 Hispanic Film and Literature (4)
- TA 010 Acting I: Foundations (4)
- TA 036 Design for the Theatre (4)
- TA 037 Scenic Technology (4)
- TA 038 Lighting Design (4)
- TA 125 Directing for the Theatre (4)
- TA 145 Writing for Performance (4)
- TA 153 Contemporary Theatre and Film Performance (4)
- Film courses from off-campus programs, as approved by the Registrar and minor advisor (Los Angeles Film Studies Semester, etc.)
No more than 10 units may come from a single department, and no more than 6 units may overlap with a major.
