Currently pending approval by the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting is a potential new program that the School of the Arts, Media and Culture (SAMC) hopes to launch in fall 2010.
Students are anxiously awaiting final news regarding the program and are not only excited for the production classes they would have to take, but also the required courses, such as directing and playwriting.
Brittany Gainer, a potential BFA student, is looking forward to expand her repertoire through such a program. “I think it will be a great opportunity to get to know other perspectives through required courses that I wouldn’t normally take,” said Gainer. “In the end, I would be able to be a better actor.”
Instead of specializing in a certain area such as acting, dramatic literature or stage managing, as theatre students normally would, acting students would be challenged in all areas of the field, as well as theatre history, literature and practice.
The acting program would differ from the theatre program, as it would require students to take twice as many courses. Many of the students are looking forward to the community that could be built due to so many classes that they would have to take with one another over the next couple of years.
“[Students] would be immersed in productions that enable them to exercise the muscles and test the ideas they are acquiring in their courses,” said Angela Konrad, chair of the theatre department and assistant dean of SAMC.
“We encourage and challenge each other to think critically about the art and its intersection with our faith,” said Konrad. “We want to make that art better.”
With twice the amount of obligatory courses, students would be able to refine their skills so as to exceed in the acting industry, and by living with integrity through their work and their faith, they may touch others’ lives while working in the industry.
The program would better be able to prepare its students for life after TWU, according to Konrad.
Students would be pushed to excel in all aspects, developing creative minds, acquiring an extensive amount of knowledge and skills, fervour for their work, as well as strengthen their faith, which will ultimately enable students to excel when they leave TWU to pursue a career in the industry.
For more information on SAMC and its programs and special events visit twu.ca/SAMC.
