Theatre Arts and Communication Studies

The department of theatre arts and communication studies provides courses of study as well as co-curricular activities to meet the interests of majors and the general student body. Studies in theatre are an integral part of the traditional curriculum in the arts, broadening understanding of human interaction as well as enhancing the appreciation of theatrical production. Studies in communication integrate humanistic and social scientific perspectives on human communication processes and phenomena in private and public contexts, deepening the understanding of human interaction as well as providing opportunities to increase communication skills central to the Hamline Plan and highly valued in the business and professional world.

Postgraduate Opportunities: Theatre

Students majoring in theatre pursue careers in teaching, professional or community theatre, or in the allied fields of television and film. Majors are encouraged to pursue graduate school opportunities in their respective fields of interest, and each year Hamline students participate in regional and national interviews and auditions for advanced training and professional work. Alumni are involved as actors, directors, designers, technicians, and administrators in the theatre arts as well as educators in the academic theatre at secondary school or college level. Other alumni are working as officers in foundations, TV production management, and in the computer game and education industries.

Postgraduate Opportunities: Communication Studies

Corporations typically cite knowledge and skills in communication as among the most important assets a college graduate brings to business. Students may pursue diverse career opportunities in wide- ranging fields related to communication. Career choices by majors include law, human resource development, higher education administration, social service work, community organizing, speech writing, legislative work, public relations, advertising, sales, management, performing arts management, work in broadcast or print media, journalism, teaching, and other areas.

Honors in Communication Studies

All junior Communication Studies majors who have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in major courses are invited to apply for the departmental honors program. The student undertaking honors identifies an area of interest in which to undertake independent research and discusses this with a faculty member in Communication Studies. Candidates for departmental honors must then complete an application form obtained from the department and submit it to the department for approval, no later than 14 months prior to expected graduation. If approved, the candidate works closely with the departmental advisor to complete an independent research project, which is documented in a written honors thesis and presented to an examination committee. If both the written thesis and the oral examination are deemed worthy of honors, a copy of the thesis is filed in the Hamline University Bush Library and departmental honors are awarded at graduation.

Facilities

The Hamline University Theatre mainstage performing facility is a fully equipped proscenium stage with continental seating for 300, computerized lighting control system, computerized sound recording and playback capability, orchestra pit, full flyloft, stage traps, a large scene shop with paint-frame, costume and lighting work rooms, dressing and makeup rooms, and Green Room. The Anne Simley Theatre is the site for all major productions and is used occasionally by outside professional theatre or dance companies.

A small flexible studio theatre is available in an adjacent building and is used for special projects in directing and design and as a performance space for one-act plays, readings, dance, and class activities. A well-equipped design classroom is used for classes in stagecraft and technical production courses. The department also operates a small television station with modern equipment. The station is connected to the campus-wide cable system and supports student film and video projects.

Faculty

Departmental faculty combine active professional work in their respective fields with their primary role as educators. All faculty in the theatre program are involved in performance, directing, or design in the active Twin Cities theatre community. Communication studies faculty are similarly involved in professional areas of their specializations beyond the campus, nationally and internationally.

Verna C. Corgan, associate professor. BA 1984, MA 1986, PhD 1992, University of Minnesota. Publications in communication ethics and legal communication. Teaching and research interests: legal rhetoric, communication ethics, argumentation, communication and rhetorical theory, persuasion, public speaking, small group communication, gender and communication.

George M. Gaetano, associate professor. BA 1977; MA 1979; PhD 1995, University of Minnesota. Teaching and research interests include organizational communication, persuasion, family communication, gendered communication, intercultural communication, public speaking, and humor research. Publications in humor theorizing and humor research.

Suda Ishida, assistant professor. BA 1988, Chiang Mai University, Thailand; MA 1996, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; PhD 2002, University of Iowa. Teaching and research interests include media studies, global media and social-political conflicts, cultural and critical theories, history of U.S. journalism, and intercultural communication.

Kaori Kenmotsu, assistant professor. BA 1993, University of Minnesota; MFA 2002, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dance educator, K-16; yoga instructor, professional dancer, actor, and choreographer.

Carolyn Levy, associate professor. AB 1973, Cornell University; MFA 1976, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Performance studies, acting, directing, creative dramatics. Freelance director (credits include Park Square Theatre, History Theatre, Playwright’s Center); Artistic Associate, Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company; Artistic Director and Co-Founder, Women’s Theatre Project.

Patricia R. Palmerton, professor, head of communication studies. BA 1972, Macalester College; MA 1979, PhD 1984, University of Minnesota. Publications in rhetoric, social change, curriculum development, communication education, and instructional communication. Teaching and research interests: communication and rhetorical theory, argumentation, gender and communication, small group communication, interpersonal communication, communication and conflict, research methods. Consultant in communication and education.

Jeff Turner, associate professor. AB 1984, Centre College; MA 1986, University of California-Los Angeles; MA 1991, Appalachian State University; PhD 2000, University of Colorado-Boulder. Teaching and research interests include American theatre history, directing, film studies, childhood studies, and popular culture studies.

William G. Wallace, associate professor, chair, designer, technical director. BA 1972, Concordia College, Illinois; MFA 1981, University of Minnesota. Stagecraft, technical production, theatre design fields (scenic, costume, lighting). Design consultant for area theatres.