Alan Litsey

Professor of Theatre

Alan Litsey Office:

College Theatre

Contact Information:

Birmingham-Southern College
Box 549026
900 Arkadelphia Rd
Birmingham, AL 35254
Office Phone: (205) 226-4788
Office Fax: (205) 226-3044
E-mail: [email protected]

Brief Career Background:

A member of the Southeastern Theatre Conference, Actors' Equity Association, The Dramatists Guild.
Individual Artist Fellowship in Playwriting, Alabama State Council on the Arts. Project: a play on 17th century novelist and playwright Aphra Behn.
2001-2002 Exemplary Teaching Award. Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry of the United Methodist Church. Birmingham Southern College.

Educational Background:

Ph.D. (Directing) Wayne State University, 1993.
M.F.A. (Acting) Michigan State University, 1984.
B.A. (Theatre) The University of LaVerne, 1981.

Areas of Academic Interest:

Acting
Directing
Playwriting

Courses Taught:

LS-200 Leadership Studies: Theory & Practice (1 Credit)
An introduction to the academic study of leadership from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Not limited to students in the Leadership Studies program. A “Community Interests” designated course. Prerequisite: at least sophomore standing. Fall.

THA 104 Theatre's Call to Action (1)
An introduction to post-modern theatre as an engagement of artists, technicians, audiences, and playwrights. This project-based course examines theatre as a collaborative art form that engages community critically, emotionally, and behaviorally. A Creative Expression (CE) and a Leadership Studies (LS) designated course. A service-learning integrated course.

THA 106 Theatre as Human Rights Activism (1)
An introduction to theatre literature utilizing the lens of Human Rights, Idea, and Character. The course examines the role of theatre in public discourse of human rights and civic responsibility. An Exploration in Scholarship (ES) course.

THA 120 Beginning Acting (1)
An introduction to the craft of acting, including focus on clarity and creativity in communication and performance skills, and the development of character analysis skills. The course reflects a “learning-by-doing,” “hands-on” approach. A Creative Expression (CE) designated course.

THA 201 Theatre Practicum (1⁄2)
Practical experience in performance or technical areas of theatre by participation in College Theatre productions. May be repeated for credit. Instructor consent required. Fall, Spring.

THA 230 Ancient and Modern Drama (1)
An in-depth study of Greek tragedy and comedy that considers how these plays reflect the social, political, and religious concerns of the ancient Athenians and why they continue to exert such influence on modern playwrights. Each ancient play will be paired with a modern work to demonstrate the various ways that contemporary dramatists engage with, react against, and draw inspiration from a genre that traces its beginnings to Greek antiquity. A Writing Reinforcement (WR) designated course. (Also, listed as GRS230.) Fall.

THA 341/MFS 341 Acting and Directing for Camera (1)
An in-depth laboratory for actors and directors. The course integrates single-camera and multi-camera techniques as well as diverse performance methodologies. (Also listed as MFS 341.) Prerequisite: MFS 220 or THA 120. Must be completed prior to taking this course.

THA 403 Directing and Stage Management (1)
A study of the techniques of directing and stage management approached through practical projects and the staging of a one-act play. A Leadership Studies (LS) designated course. Instructor consent required.

THA 404 Advanced Acting (1)
An open and collaborative actor laboratory for experimentation, discovery, growth, and risk: The course covers diverse methodologies, including those of Constantine Stanislavsky, Viola Spolin, and Sanford Meisner. Instructor consent required. Spring.