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Mission and Learning Goals
The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University theater department is dedicated to the education of the general student as well as the theater major. This is achieved by helping the general student understand that theater is formalization of human experience intended to serve several functions. These functions include:
- A confrontation with our humanity
- An illumination of diverse constructions of reality and a celebration of our spirits
- A developed appreciation of the many artistic contributions necessary to the making of theater art
For the theater major, the department is committed to scholarly and artistic creativity, to the integration of theory and experience, to the dynamics of theatrical process and to positive human values. The program emphasizes the importance of a broad base of knowledge and theatrical experience as a foundation for later specialization. The faculty perceives the theatrical process as being a collaborative endeavor, unifying the diverse disciplines of costume, set and lighting with the acting of text. This collaboration establishes a strong creative community building integrated theatrical events.
The curriculum and performance schedule is structured with sufficient range to supply the fundamentals for all the production and scholarly areas. The department vigorously encourages students to accept a life long responsibility for expressing their artistic ideas; this requires a personal awareness and cultivation of their integrity, intelligence and talent, as well as competence in basic theatrical skills.
To encounter work other than their own, the department requires that students attend a variety of performances both off and on campus.