Document text
SOU theater arts in growth period By AMBER FOSSEN Ashland Daily Tidings Southern Oregon University's Theater Department is upgrading and expanding. A $496,750 U.S. Department of Education grant will aid SOU in developing a summer theater arts training program for high school teachers in addition to developing theater technology curriculum. The grant will allow SOU to enhance current curriculum as the department continues to grow. According to Dr. Ed Battistella, dean of the School of Arts and Letters, the Theatre Arts building had 30 students in 1980. By 1989, that number jumped to 103, and last fall 208 students registered as theater majors. "It's one of the fastest growing programs in the country," Battistella said, noting more than 1,200 patrons come each year to attend six theater arts productions on the SOU campus. The grant will provide students with more opportunities, Battistella said. Students will have more access to specialized computers and software, which will enable theater majors to do computer-assisted design and digital cueing of light and sound. "This grant will let them do more ambitious projects that will make them even more competitive than they are now," he said. Between 25 and 30 computers will be purchased with the grant, which will improve student access for projects. Battistella said technology curriculum will need to be developed, and for the time being, the technology will be used to enhance existing courses. "We'll be offering new opportunities, not necessarily new courses right away," he said. In addition to offering SOU theater majors more advanced technology, the grant will create a new masters degree program for high school theater teachers. The program - which will operate during summer term - is designed for high school teachers to improve upon existing skills and to focus on areas that are not their specialty. Battistella said teachers would be assessed at the beginning and end of the program to see how they did. Summer workshops may also be created for youths interested in learning about theater technology. University officials applied for the grant in November and hope to have computer and software equipment in place this fall. The masters program for high school teachers is set to begin summer term 2004. Battistella said the university hopes to get application materials for the summer program out this fall. A curriculum and technology specialist will be hired for the duration of the grant. School officials and outside consultants will review the program after 16 months. As the theater department continues to grow, university officials are looking to expand the Theatre Arts building. A $3.5 million renovation project would add more classroom space, improve current lab facilities, add rehearsal space and costume shop space, and improve the stage. The building would be expanded on the east side and second floor. "Our plan is to both renovate the facility and expand it," Battistella said. "We're hoping to do it as soon as possible but we can't put a particular timeline on it yet." The grant cannot be used toward construction, SOU officials said, and the university is in the early stages of planning a fund-raising campaign for the project. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -