Senior Capstone Project: TDF 492

All senior Theatre Majors must plan and carry out an independent study project related to a particular area of interest within theatre. Capstone projects should build on the individual student’s prior knowledge acquired through course work or significant experiential learning. They are intended to be carefully planned artistic and/or scholarly projects that synthesize past knowledge.

Capstone Project components

A. The Capstone project (Directing, acting, playwriting, research paper, etc), and a 15 minute public presentation about the project.
B. Two, five page papers
a. Paper #1: A reflection of the student’s capstone project
b. Paper #2: A reflection of your experience as a theatre major

Grading Breakdown

Capstone project & public presentation 60%
Reflection Papers 40%
Total grade 100%

Capstone Guidelines

1. A detailed capstone proposal must be submitted to the faculty for review. (See proposal below)
2. All Theatre majors are required to attend the senior capstones of their classmates.
3. Students are required to have a capstone advisor for their project who is a member of the ordinary faculty of the Department of Theatre, Dance and Film. (Not an adjunct or visiting professor.)
4. Capstones that would require licensing from a play publisher are not permitted unless it is a Playmakers Independent Student Production. *Licensed musicals will not be accepted as capstone projects or Playmakers Independent Student Productions.
5. Capstones that have a performance focus may take one of two routes:
a. A performance project, that may be devised or include published material, that is bound by a specific theme or idea. The published material, if taken out of context of the play or musical, may only be selections, and cannot include more than two selections from the same published play or musical.
*Students in the Musical Theatre Track are expected to have a musical component to their capstone.
*Students will only be considered the “director” of their capstone if they have taken the Principles of Directing course (TDF 309). Otherwise, the student is considered the “coordinator/originator” of their capstone.
b. Directing or designing one or more elements of Playmakers Independent Student Production to be presented by TDF as part of the annual production season. (See Playmakers Independent Guidelines for more details)
• Students may not direct a Playmakers production unless they have completed the Principles of Directing course (TDF 309)
6. Other capstone projects may include, but are not limited to:
a. Writing an original play
b. Writing an extensive research paper in theatre history, theatrical criticism, arts management, etc.
c. Design planning and documentation for an unrealized, paper production
7. Stage Management or Acting in a Mainstage production cannot be used as a capstone project.

Faculty Review and Response to Capstone projects

1. The TDF faculty will review all capstone project proposals.
2. A proposal must receive written approval by the TDF faculty in order to be authorized as a capstone experience.
3. The student project leader or director will be informed of the status of the proposal no later than one week after a determination has been made by members of the TDF faculty.
4. Approved projects will be:
a. Assigned a faculty advisor if one has not already been identified.
b. Provided with specific information concerning the use of rehearsal and performance facilities for the project, and the final performance date once the production season calendar has been finalized.
c. Provided with specific information related to departmental funding or resources for the project, if any. *Capstones involving live music will be provided with rehearsal tracks and live piano accompaniment for performances. Arrangements for accompaniment will be made by the department and within the Providence College faculty community when possible.

Capstone Proposal Form

For all those proposing to direct an independent student production, please use the application form that has been provided to all theatre majors. It is available online on the TDF website.

All other students should respond to the ten points listed below with detailed answers, and submit your proposal to the Chair of the Department of Theatre, Dance & Film as a Microsoft Word document.

1. Project Title:
2. Project type (Performance, research, other, etc):
3. Semester in which you would request the project to be completed: fall or spring?
4. Brief description of project:
5. Learning objectives:
6. General time line (How long you expect to work on the project):
7. Resources required (facilities, funding, number of people etc.):
8. What do you hope to learn from this project, and why does it excite you?
9. How will this project build upon and synthesize knowledge and skills you have already acquired within the major?
10. How will you know if you have succeeded at this project?

Playmakers Independent Student Production Guidelines
(See the Playmakers proposal form on the Student Resources page for more details)

a. Only small cast plays with manageable production values will be given consideration for independent student production.
b. Several students may participate in the same project. For example, a fully realized, student-directed and designed production in the Bowab Studio Theatre might serve as the capstone experience for two or more students. However, each student must write up a separate proposal that reflects his or her specific learning activities and objectives within the production and receive individual approval by the TDF faculty.
c. Final decisions regarding Independent Student Productions will need to wait until after the main stage season selection process is completed.

(Revised) 4/25/24 ejs Printable Version

---