Study Guide
Test Design and Test Objectives
Field 49: Theater
Test Overview
Format | Computer-based test (CBT) |
---|---|
Number of Questions | 100 selected-response questions |
Time | 2 hours and 30 minutes (does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial) |
Passing Score | 240 |
Test Objectives
Subareas | Range of Objectives | Approximate Test Proportions | |
---|---|---|---|
I | Playwriting, Performance, and Direction of Dramatic Works | 01–03 | 37% |
II | Design, Production, and Management of Dramatic Works | 04–05 | 19% |
III | Theater History and Dramatic Literature | 06–09 | 31% |
IV | Theater Education | 10–11 | 13% |
Total Proportion | 100% |
Subarea I–Playwriting, Performance, and Direction of Dramatic Works
Objective 0001: Understand principles of playwriting and dramatic structure.
For example:- principles and skills involved in writing and adapting a play
- use of various techniques (e.g., multiple methods of research/information gathering, playmaking, self-scripting, improvisation) for generating ideas for stories, actions, characters, and dramatic environments
- ways of structuring a script to communicate ideas and feelings (e.g., plot, characters, setting, theme, mood)
- use of various dramatic styles, forms, and genres
Objective 0002: Understand principles of acting.
For example:- characteristics associated with historical styles of acting
- methods and characteristics associated with modern and contemporary actor training
- techniques for developing actors' tools (i.e., voice, body, and mind)
- characterization techniques
- uses and techniques of improvisation
Objective 0003: Understand principles of directing.
For example:- the roles and functions of the director
- script selection
- methods for audition and casting
- concept and design decisions
- script analysis
- staging a production
- effective collaboration with cast, production staff, and community
Subarea II–Design, Production, and Management of Dramatic Works
Objective 0004: Understand principles of producing and managing theatrical performances.
For example:- roles and responsibilities of individuals involved in theatrical management (e.g., producer, stage manager, technical director)
- factors and considerations involved in selecting a play for theatrical production
- legal issues (e.g., royalties, copyrights, liability, contracts, safety) related to theatrical producing
- procedures for selecting artistic and technical staff
- procedures for scheduling, budgeting, planning, promoting, and managing theatrical productions
Objective 0005: Understand set, costume, and lighting design and execution.
For example:- essential design principles and elements as they relate to theater (e.g., space, color, line, shape, texture, repetition, balance, emphasis, contrast, unity)
- historical periods and styles
- fundamentals of stagecraft (e.g., set, costume, property, and mask construction; hang/focus of lighting instruments; sound production; makeup; safety)
- the application of principles of design and production in various situations
Subarea III–Theater History and Dramatic Literature
Objective 0006: Understand the history of drama and theater.
For example:- the various purposes of theater throughout history
- basic elements of a theatrical performance
- types and characteristics of various dramatic forms
- the relationship of cultural, economic, political, and other factors to theater
Objective 0007: Understand British and other European dramatic literature from ancient times through the present.
For example:- characteristics of European theater and dramatic literature from the classical age through the present
- major playwrights and their works
- prominent developments in European theatrical performance and production
- major themes, characteristics, and developments in British and other European drama of different periods
Objective 0008: Understand the dramatic literature of the United States.
For example:- characteristics of American theater and dramatic literature
- major American playwrights (e.g., O'Neill, Miller, A. Wilson, Hansberry, Wilder, Mamet) and their works
- prominent individuals and developments in American theatrical performance and production
- themes, characteristics, and developments in American drama through the present
Objective 0009: Understand dramatic literature from other cultural traditions.
For example:- characteristics of theater and dramatic literature of Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas
- major playwrights and their works
- prominent individuals
- major themes, characteristics, and developments in drama
Subarea IV–Theater Education
Objective 0010: Understand principles of theater education for children and adolescents.
For example:- teaching methods and approaches in theater arts education
- the artistic development of children and adolescents in the theater arts
- criteria for evaluating acting, theatrical performance, and theater crafts at different age levels
Objective 0011: Understand the interdisciplinary nature of theater.
For example:- theater in connection to related arts (e.g., opera, puppetry, mime, music, dance, visual arts, radio, television, video, film, digital media)
- theater in relation to the humanities