All sections are ZERO TEXTBOOK COST

3 units | Meets IGETC 3A; CSU C1
Instructor: ROBERT CUCUZZA

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Lecture meets Mon/Wed 10:35-12:00 pm

Students examine all elements of live theatre, its cultural and historical background, the contributions of various theatre artists, and its overall purpose and influence within our society. Students explore all aspects of play production: playwriting, directing, acting, criticism, theatre architecture, set design, costume design, lighting design, and the role of the audience. Fully online sections will be conducted entirely through Canvas and will not involve any mandatory Zoom or in-person meetings. Lecture sections will meet in in-person and involve the production of small in-class plays.

Run more like a creative lab than a traditional academic script analysis course, this class is sixteen weeks of imaginative exploration. It’s custom-made for students who have interests in anything from writing and directing, to all design disciplines in film, TV, and theatre. The focus is on world-building, so it’s also great for future game developers, fiction writers, and storytellers in any medium. I teach the mechanics of storytelling and script analysis, then put those tools in your hands and everyone writes a script. Then, you use those scripts to imagine worlds for them, involving scenery, lights, costumes, or entire universes. 

Robert Cucuzza returns to teach this fun and physical introduction to the craft of acting. Cucuzza combines games and exercises from decades of experience and training with time-tested techniques from his work as an acting teacher in New York City, CalArts, and the Strasburg Institute. This class is as appropriate for newcomers as it is for those with experience. If you’re interested in acting as a career, trying something new, of getting out of your shell, this class is for you. Cucuzza creates a supportive community where all are welcome, regardless of who you are, where you’re coming from, or what you want to be. 

This course expands upon the fundamentals of Introduction to Acting and dives deeper into the actor’s craft. With units on commedia dell’arte, Shakespeare, character development, and long-form contemporary scenes, this course further prepares students to take on challenging roles in more complex scenes. Continue to develop their skills in vocal and physical expression, improvisation, script analysis, incorporating coaching and direction, speech skills, and creating original characters.

This course will be offered as a combined class with TH273 Advanced Acting, which is the third level of the acting series taught at LA Mission College. Students in Advanced Acting will work on even more challenging material including complete Shakespeare scenes, entire short plays, and the creation of original work, sharing their skills and development with those in Intermediate Acting.

Introduces the student to all aspects of lighting for television, film, and stage. Practical experience and problem solving are highlighted, including the study of color, procedures, control, and safe handling of lighting equipment.

In this class, students learn the fundamentals of scenic design by studying the practice and problem-solving skills of designing scenery for the stage. The course covers the development of scenic design through major historical periods and how scenery is used in storytelling. Students will be introduced to the language of scenery, which they will then apply in their own scenic designs. Although the emphasis is on design for theatre, the techniques can be used for a wide range of storytelling mediums, including film, animation, experience design, and game design.

Students will learn aspects of script analysis, concept design development, construction and painting techniques, sketching and rendering media, and model making.

This hands-on course presents an overview of all design and technical aspects of theatre and film production, including scenic, props, rigging, costumes, lighting, sound, video and projection, and stage management. In our state-of-the-art scene shop and theatre, students will focus on using a wide variety of tools, both hand and power, and apply them in the construction of basic stage scenery.

Students will learn proper storage, handling, hanging, circuiting, and focusing of theatrical lighting equipment. Emphasis is placed on practical application, communication, and collaborative skills. The students in this course often put their skills to use by assisting on the production of our mainstage shows.

Instruction and practice in a lecture/laboratory setting in all phases of makeup specifically designed for theatrical use. Analysis of character, script and production in terms of makeup style and design. Make-up is performed by the student on their own face.

ZERO TEXTBOOK COST

3 units | UC/CSU transferable
Instructor: Lena Sands

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In this class, students learn the fundamentals of costume design meaning, history, process, and technique. The course covers the development of clothing through major historical periods and locations and how garments are used to enhance storytelling. Students will be introduced to the language of clothes, which they will then apply in their costume designs for characters. Although the emphasis is on costuming for theatre, the techniques can be used for a wide range of storytelling mediums, including film, animation, game design, and cosplay. Students will learn aspects of garment construction, hand and/or machine sewing, character analysis, color theory, and figure drawing. 

We added this advanced level class for students who want to take their craft more deeply into the level of acting for performance. Associate Professor Robert Cucuzza will coach and direct actors in the classroom production of short plays in a variety of styles and genres, focusing excusively on acting technique. These plays will then be presented during class time for an audience in our acting studio, AMP120, with minimal props and costumes.

Conducted more like a workshop than a class, this exciting long-form class moves our program deeper into the practical application of skills.

Students are actively involved in the production of a play to be presented before a public audience. All areas of the production process are incorporated including acting, design, stage management, technical theatre and backstage crews, and house management.

Students are actively involved in the production of a play to be presented before a public audience. All areas of the production process are incorporated including acting, design, stage management, technical theatre and backstage crews, and house management.