The mission of the Butte College Drama Department is to provide theatre classes and the production of plays and musicals to enhance student envelopment in the ancient and contemporary dramatic arts. Butte College drama students are trained to embody literature to share stories with the community of Butte and Glenn counties. Theatre majors and students who take theatre classes for their General Education requirements earn skills in acting, singing, dancing, set construction, props, costumes, lighting, sound and other areas of the theatre arts, in addition to collaboration, communication, interpretation, memorization, and other important academic skills.
The Butte College Drama Department offers a sequence of courses at the collegiate level designed to focus on the art of theatre as a dynamic medium of human expression. The AA-T in Theatre for Transfer creates a transfer pathway for students who plan to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at a California State University. With the completion of the AA-T in Theatre Arts, students will possess foundational knowledge and skill in the areas of acting, set design, costumes and lighting that comprise the core content of the first two years of many four-year programs in Theatre. For students fulfilling General Education requirements, the department offers a Theatre Arts Appreciation course designed to introduce students to concepts of theatre as an art form. The program also provides an intensive one-year Theatre Arts certificate for the Theatre Arts majors to find career choices in live theatre, film and television. Above all, the department is committed to promoting theatre as an in-depth study of the human condition whose purpose is to awaken sensitivity and consider a deeper understanding of oneself and others. Courses are designed for General Education students or students who are pursuing theatre as a major.
By reviewing the Fall 2017 Drama Department faculty's SLOs, the faculty has found that nearly all of the students who took Drama classes successfully fulfilled their SLOs. The primary impediments to the fulfillment of the SLOs were students either not attending class, thus not earning the skills of the SLOs, or the students’ inability to attend required live theatre events and writing papers of the shows.
For example, in Drama 8 (Acting 1), one faculty member reported that 27/29 students fulfilled the following SLOs by doing the theatre work in class and by doing the major assignments (vocabulary mid-term, scenes and monologues). The primary reason why 2/29 students did not fulfill their SLOs was due to missing class and/or missing assignments:
- Demonstrate basic skills of acting, including physical, vocal, imaginative, analytical, and emotional elements. 27/29
- Compose a character analysis. 27/29
- Analyze dramatic textual components as they pertain to performance. 27/29
- Critique a scene from an observer’s point of view, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the presentation. 27/29
- Utilize appropriate theatrical terminology and jargon. 29/29
- Use and apply a basic craft of acting in performance. 27/29
Noticing that more students were failing the midterm vocabular test, the faculty of the drama department have decided to move away from the practice of assigning a book to read. Instead, the instructor chose to teach vocabulary directing, including having the students research vocabulary words in small groups, as well as presenting their findings to the entire class, as well as a review of the midterm via the online app "Kahoot". One Acting 1 class went from 23/29 passing the midterm in the fall of 2016 to 29/29 receiving a C or higher on the midterm. The utliization of direct instruction, group work, and an interactive review have improved student learning outcomes on vocabulary, over the use of a book, and this practice will remain.
| 2012FA | 76.9% | |
| 2013FA | 78.26% | |
| 2014FA | 77.74% | |
| 2015FA | 86.61% | |
| 2016FA | 86.6% | |
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The Drama Department supports the college in meeting its Strategic Direction and Priorities by:
Work has begun in the Drama Department to create Guided Pathways for the AA-T and Theatre Certificates to help students complete their program in a timely manner. (Initiative 1.a.1)
The Drama Department is actively collaborating with K-12 drama departments to provide future students with production opportunities so that they can continue to develop their skills in acting, technical theatre, promotion, marketing, and other theatrical skillsets. Specifically, the Butte College Drama Department and Inspire School of the Arts have begun discussions on a more formalized collaboration. (Initiative 1.b.1)
The Drama Department has completed the implementation of Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs). (Initiative 1.d.1)
The Drama Department provides effective electronically mediated communication, for example, the new www.ButteDrama.com website, an active Facebook community, including advertising/recruiting via Facebook, Instagram, the GroupMe texting app, and the use of email to communicate with students (initiative 2.a.3)
When casting shows, the Drama Department is committed to casting the best person for the role, regardless of ability, age, culture, education, ethnicity, gender identity, language, religious belief, sex, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status. Sometimes, casting the ‘best’ person for the role, includes having an eye toward equity, so we attempt to minimize the casting based on ‘previous experience and privilege (such as access to private coaching) to give all students a shot at academic and artistic success. (Initiative 6.a.5)
The Drama Department is scheduled to write its next Self-Study in 2017-2018. We hired a new fulltime instructor this year to replace Barry Piccinino. He reviewed the previous Program Review Recommendations, and commented as follows:
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The self-study did a fine job in part III.1.C on analyzing the discipline’s current status in implementing student learning outcomes (SLO’s). While Drama students have been surveyed on how they feel they have progressed, we agree with the self-study that the next step must be that student achievement is more comprehensively assessed throughout the discipline. In order to meet accreditation standards, once this more sophisticated approach is applied, the faculty must also “close the loop” by analyzing the results of the approach and applying their findings to future practice.
I don’t know much information on this piece. -JM
2. Work with Speech department to articulate an interpersonal speech class that will satisfy the public speaking A.I. requirement for CSU.
? I can imagine this positively impacting our enrollment numbers and would provide more teaching opportunities for our associate faculty. I’m in favor of exploring this, but I don’t believe that this has happened yet. -JM
3. Ensure that Drama courses articulate with both CSU/UC to maximize value of course offerings.
4. Articulate major specific lower division requirements with more 4 year colleges to provide students greater opportunities to develop and meet prerequisites upon matriculating.
5. Theatre Boosters: Develop a “friends of the theatre” to assist in fundraising, and promotion of Drama productions.
6. The team supports the restoration of funding to increase offerings in Fall and Spring for productions on and off campus.
7. The validation team recommends institutional support for a full time technician to support areas of lighting, stage craft, and sound. As a secondary consideration the department should explore the cross training of the existing technical arts staff to support these needs.
8. The department should explore receiving funding from the associated students, public events, and the foundation to provide funds in support of the productions, or to promote special theatrical events.
The Drama Department is committed to building its enrollment and working with local music and theatre high school programs to serve the needs of our students. We will continue to develop SLO measures and evaluate implementation strategies. We have committed to maintaining a yearly theatre production schedule and support for these performances.
We have identified our goals for the year in the following areas:
•Expanding the Drama Department to accommodate student needs
•Black Box Theatre Support
•Promoting Drama Department’s Academic Programs
•Stage Production Assistance
•Shop and Maintenance Supplies
•Advertising for Theatre Events in the Black Box Theatre
•Support for props and sets
•Outreach to K-12 schools
•Equipment
Strategy 1 - Black Box Theatre Support
Hire a Theatre Technician-paraprofessional
The Theatre Technician is critical on a continual basis to educate and assist students in the successful safe-use of theatre tools and lighting equipment so they are prepared to enter into baccalaureate programs and/or industry employment. Such a position is appropriate for the program's effectiveness and safety. Â This would also be equitable because other disciplines with technical needs already have such personnel.
Strategy 2 - Promoting Theatre Arts Programs
Hire an Arts Coordinator
The Drama Department, as well as the Music and Art Departments, would benefit from an Arts Coordinator. At present, it is a challenge to get area residents to make the drive to our main campus on the weekends to see a show and too many people in the area simply do not know about the productions we are producing. The cost of hiring a coordinator would be off-set by having a coordinated, comprehensive use of the space for performances, conferences, workshops, musical presentations, gala events, and more. These events have the potential to create revenue for the college, as well as increase the profile of the college in terms of its academic programming in art-related disciplines.
Strategy 3 - Stage Production Assistance
Hire a Student Assistant
The student assistant is needed to support the main stage productions for fall and spring.
Strategy 4 - Advertising for events in the Black Box Theatre
Outdoor Marquis
Meeting sustainabilty, reduce the paper banners and flyers and promote campus events. A margui has been discussed and requested for many years to be placed at both entrances to the college. These marquis would inform our student body and staff of the many campus events that they simply don't know about.
Strategy 5 - Support for props and sets
Performance and events budget
Due to the increase in production costs i.e royalties from New York, lumber, paint and materials for costumes, the budget would require an increase. This would maintain quality musicals and main stage performances, and generate revenue for future productions.
Strategy 6 - Outreach to K-12 Schools
Travel budget for Shakespeare in the Schools
Currently, the faculty and students must use their own vehicles to travel to rural school locations.
Strategy 7 - Shop and Maintenance Supplies
Supply Budget for shop and maintenance
Tools and supplies are needed to enchance student learning during productions in the the theatre shop classes. Also, safety issues and maintenance that need to be maintained.
Strategy 8 - Equipment
Work to insure that instructors and staff have the right equipment in good working order to effectively do their jobs.
The capabilities of instuctors and staff should not be limited by lack of appropriate equipment, supplies, or materials.
Sale of tickets to Drama performances are deposited into a Foundation account, revenue amounts vary. The department is also depositing donations into the Foundation account.
| Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
| Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
| 1 | Drama - Technical Theater | Equipment | 11-000-611-1-100700 | 53300 | $39,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Wireless Microphone System for the Black Box Theatre | The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has allowed the spectrum purchase of our wireless microphone system in the Black Box Theatre to be sold to TV stations. Thus, our current system is obsolete and we can no longer purchase new replacement packs as it violates federal law for manufactures to create new wireless microphone packs that are in the old spectrum. Our students need to be working on the latest technology. TOP CODE 1006.00 - TECHNICAL THEATER |
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| 2 | Drama - Technical Theater | Personnel | 11-000-611-1-100700 | 52210 | $0.00 | $60,000.00 |
| Theatre Technician-Paraprofessional | Focusing on Student Success, the Theatre Technician Paraprofessional is critical, on a continual basis, to educate and assist students in the successful, safe use of theatre tools and equipment so they are prepared to enter into four year university programs and/or industry employment. In addition to assisting with the sets, props, costumes, lighting and sound for the Butte College productions, the Theatre Technician would also support campus-wide use of the Black Box Theatre, summer theatre programs, as well as potential outside groups who could rent the facility. TOP CODE - 1006.00 - TECHNICAL THEATER |
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| 3 | Drama | Equipment | 11-000-611-1-100700 | 56410 | $6,300.00 | $0.00 |
| Outdoor Marquee (Solar model) | Modeling Sustainability, Reduce the paper banners and flyers and promote campus events. An Outdoor Marquee (solar) would positively impact attendance at Butte College Drama productions, which would increase enrollment, and other events on campus would see increased attendance. TOP CODE 1006.00 - TECHNICAL THEATER |
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| 4 | Drama | Operating Expenses | 11-000-611-1-100700 | 55820 | $1,400.00 | $0.00 |
| Marketing and Advertising | Valuing a Culture of Learning, Focus on rural and high school populations to attend performances. |
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| 5 | Drama | Equipment | 11-00-611-1-100700 | 56411 | $2,150.00 | $0.00 |
| iMac- 27 Inch | The new full-time faculty member in the Drama Department inherited a 2008 Mac Pro and a 2012 MacBook Pro. Neither have the speed or capacity for efficient video editing, which is required for the promotion of theatre productions |
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| 6 | Drama | Operating Expenses | 11-000-611-1-100700 | 55000 | $0.00 | $7,500.00 |
| Performance and events budget | Each year, the Drama Department would contract outside groups to perform in the Black Box Theatre and enhance our sets, props, costumes, lighting, sound, music, and projections for the Butte Drama season of plays and musicals. |
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| 7 | Drama - Technical Theater | Facilities | 11-000-611-1-100700 | 56410 | $10,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Plumb the arts building compressor into the theatre set building shop. | The current arts building compressor system does not extend to the nearby building-wide compressor system. The system actually works better if it gets more use. If the theatre's set building shop was plumbed into the building-wide system, the college would save money on maintenance of the current system. |
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| 8 | Drama | Personnel | 11-000-611-1-100700 | 51240 | $6,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Theatre Production Coordinator | Enhancing an Innovative, Flexible, Responsive, and Accountable Culture, Opportunities for revenue generating special performances and guest artists and cost savings with streamlining processes. |
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| 9 | Drama | Operating Expenses | 11-000-611-1-100700 | 54500 | $1,700.00 | $0.00 |
| Supply budget for shop and maintenance | Focusing on Student Success, Tools and supplies are needed to enhance student learning during productions in shop classes. Also, safety issues need maintenance. |
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| 10 | Drama | Equipment | 11-000-611-1-1007c | 55000 | $4,940.00 | $0.00 |
| lycian midget model followspot with dimmer | The current followspots we use for the productions are very old and need to be replaced for more efficient ones. |
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