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Guidelines for Theatre

1. Purpose
2. General Collection Guidelines
    A. Language
    B. Chronology
    C. Geography
    D. Publication Date
    E. Treatment of Subject
    F. Types of Materials and Formats
3. Area Resources
4. Subjects and Collecting Levels
5. Methodology

1. Purpose.

To support teaching and research through the Master's level. The primary goal of the program is to provide the student with preprofessional and professional training based on related practical and theoretical studies of the theatre in all of its aspects, whether the student's ultimate goal be performance, design/production, or theatre education. Because of the nature of the theatre profession, all aspects of theatre -- as art, craft, business, and education -- are blended into the Theatre Department's curriculum.

The Theatre Department offers two B.F.A. degrees, one emphasizing either performance or design/technical, and the other, theatre education, leading to the necessary certification for teaching theatre, speech, and English in the public schools. M.F.A. degree programs are offered in two advanced degree options: the professional studio, and theatre education. Studio degrees are offered in acting, directing, scene design, and costume design. The Theatre Education program prepares the theatre educator to enter the academic theatre profession at the university or college teaching level. Areas of concentration can be chosen from acting, directing, scene design, costume design, voice and speech for the stage, movement for actors and stage combat, theatre history, literature and dramatic criticism.

2. General Collection Guidelines.

A. Language.
English or English-language translations are preferred, unless the primary value of the material lies in its illustrations (e.g. costumes, set design, staging, etc.).

B. Chronology.
No specific limitations, due to the interest in an historical overview of dramatic literature, costume, stage design, etc.

C. Geography.
The American theatre is of primary interest, but collecting emphasis is also placed on a broad spectrum of theatrical literature, ranging from classical to Western European, to Russian works.

D. Publication Date.
Collecting efforts center on current imprints, but there are generally no restrictions on date of publication if the material is of importance to the historical coverage of the discipline.

E. Treatment of Subject.
Juvenilia is generally excluded, except where it may be appropriate for Theatre Education. Upper-level textbooks and "how to" books are acquired on a selective basis, and only if they provide especially thorough explanations of techniques useful to the applied areas (staging, lighting, etc.).

F. Types of Materials and Formats.
Monographic literature and reference works, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and directories, are acquired, as are pertinent serial titles. An effort is also made to collect dramatic works by contemporary playwrights of note. Because of the performance aspect of the program, films/videos of dramatic presentations are purchased on a selective basis. In this area, duplication of holdings is permissible, in order to provide comparative stage versions of the same play. In addition, microfiche and slide sets pertinent to the history of costume design may also be acquired.

Unpublished dissertations and theses are generally excluded, as are instruction manuals and unless they offer a unique source of information on technical matters, such as lighting or costume design, or on performance aspects.

Electronic information resources (CD-ROMs, online resources, etc.) may also be acquired on a selective basis.

3. Area Resources.

VCU is a member of the Richmond Area Film/Video Cooperative, which provides access to area members' film and video holdings.

4. Subjects and Collecting Levels.

Subject	Call Number Range	Present	Desired
Costume	NK4700-4890	C2	C1
Dress/Fashion	GT500-2370	C2	C1
Dramatic representation (incl. art of acting, mgt., dramatic representation by period, stage & accessories, etc.)	PN2000-3299	C2	C1
Dramatic Composition	PN1660-1692	D	C2
History of Theatre	PN1720-1861	C2	C1
Special types of drama	PN1865-1999	C2	C1
Oratory, elocution, etc.	PN4001-4355	C2	C1
Electric lighting of theatres	TK4399.T6	D	C1
Electric devices for stage/stage lighting	PN2091.E4	D	C1
Electronic sound control	TK7882.T5	D	C1

5. Methodology.

Collection centered: List-checking, using samplings from:

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