THR 300

The THR 300 series are the Department’s practicum classes. The letters designate different types of projects but have no actual meaning. THR 300A is Production Practicum—this is participating in the cumulative process of theatrical production by working backstage on a crew or in one of the production shops creating the work that will be seen on stage. THR 300C is your Area of Emphasis—this is intensive experience participating in a departmental production as part of the creative team: actor, designer, director, etc. OR can also include any of the production categories from THR 300A. THR 300 is there for projects that do not fall into either of these categories—it can be any practical experience approved by a faculty member.  See the THR 300 Policy for specific projects that may be available in each category in a given semester.

You should start working toward your THR 300s after you successfully complete THR 111 and THR 111L. THR 111 teaches you the basics for participation in production work. One THR 300A credit will be required as a pre-requisite or co-requisite for THR 292: Sophomore Seminar. The second THR 300A credit will be required as a pre- or co-requisite for THR 492: Senior Seminar.  If you begin the THR 300s in your sophomore year you have plenty of time to complete the required credits (THR 300A x2 and THR 300C x2 for majors; THR 300A x1 and THR 300C x1 for minors) before you graduate. It’s best if you spread out the THR 300 experiences over your time at MSU so you don’t have to try and cram four of them in during your last semester—this may be impossible to accommodate due to there being a finite number of opportunities available each semester.

THR 111L is the lab requirement for that class. You are being trained to be an introductory level crew member or technician. THR 300A/C Production Practicums are the next level—you know the basics and are now ready to be a crew leader or to help with construction/creation of production elements. The curriculum is designed to give you a minimum of four practical theatrical experiences integrated into the major (two for minors).

When you are cast in a show or offered a design or assistant design/production role you should fill out a THR 300 form for C credit. Often these are available to cast members at the first rehearsal. Designers/production assistants should fill out these forms at the first meeting with their mentor/project advisor.  THR 300A projects opportunities are emailed to all majors and minors after cast lists are posted each semester.  This allows you to know your rehearsal requirements from casting before committing to another production’s technical rehearsal.  The email will tell you everything you need to know to request a THR 300A/C Production Practicum position for that semester.

These courses are enrolled by override only. You will be able to enroll after the THR 300 Application form has been approved.

Once you have been approved for the project, you will receive an email with instructions for filling out the THR 300 Application. Fill it out, return it via email as directed, and it will be forwarded to the Department office. The office will process enrollment as soon as possible, usually within one week of receipt of the form. Forms are currently due at the end of the first week of classes for projects approved prior to the semester start and within one week of approval for projects approved after the beginning of the semester. Need the credit added to your schedule sooner? Get the form filled out sooner!

Hold for future enrollment means you do the project in the current semester but pay for the credit in a future semester.  Why? We’re nice people and we understand that some semesters you may have time to complete a project but not money to enroll in another credit. We also understand that you may want a semester with a lighter class load but need to be enrolled in credits. By choosing to hold a THR 300 credit for the future, you will complete the project in the current semester, have it graded by the professor of record at the completion of the project, but it will not be added to your class schedule until you tell us you want it added.  With flat rate tuition, if you are enrolled for more than 12 credits, but less than 18 and working on a THR 300 project, you may want to consider adding the credit to the current semester since the tuition cost will be the same.

THR 300C’s are project based—the time commitment depends on how many hours of rehearsal you are called to; how many production meetings you need to attend; how long the show runs during tech week; etc. etc… It’s hard to say since every production is so different. 

Likewise, the time commitment for working backstage crew for THR 300A/C can be difficult to estimate. In general, crew is called for one week prior to opening night for the technical rehearsal process and are required to be in attendance for every technical rehearsal and performance and to participate in strike. Call times are approximately 5pm to 11pm, but can be earlier and/or later depending on the needs of a particular production.

Shop hours are the easy one—it’s a 50 hour commitment over the semester. This equals approximately four hours per week and most shops will ask that you work a minimum of two hour blocks.  The costume and scene shop are usually open 9am-noon, 1-5pm and you can schedule your hours around your classes. Media, lighting and sound may be either regular weekly hours or scheduled around load-in or projects—you can always find out more by talking with the supervisor/primary faculty member of the shop you are interested in working in.

In order to make you a well-rounded theatre professional, we want you to have a broad base of experiences by completing THR 300 Production Practicums in two different areas. All that means is that you cannot do the exact same job twice for THR 300A credit. But you CAN do more of the same project as THR 300C credit if you decide you really like it—it can become your area of emphasis.