The program in Theatre Arts is designed to provide students with a well-rounded theatre training experience, providing students with a diverse range of skills that will prepare them for professional careers in theatre or related fields, as well as entrance into graduate study. The departmental curriculum is rooted in the liberal arts tradition and exposes students to all aspects of work in theatre including scholarship, performance, and technical/design capacities. 

Student participation in the staging of plays, musicals, and dance performances for the public is a required part of the theatre major’s training. This hands-on production experience provides ample opportunity for practical application of course work. The combination of coursework and intensive practical experience ensures the development of the broad range of practical skills necessary for success in the field including a variety of technical trade skills, collaboration, creative problem solving, communicative clarity, organizational prowess, ethics, and time management skills. Departmental faculty facilitates students in planning and achieving career goals. To this end, students are encouraged to seek summer employment in theatrical endeavors according to their interests, to participate in professional organizations, to attend conferences and workshops (such as the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in which the department participates yearly), to work on Discovery projects, and to take on lead assignments in the mounting of departmental productions.

Program Mission

The mission of the Theatre Program is dedicated towards creating “total theatre-makers.” Performing arts provide the indispensable social functions of entertainment, enlightenment, and education. For the theatre artist, performing arts teaches practical skills including collaboration, creative problem solving, communicative clarity, organizational prowess, ethics, and time management skills through the execution of production. This execution is implemented onstage and in classroom simulation.

Program Outcomes

1. Comprehend how the techniques and practices of theatre arts and dance are used for creative thought and artistic expression.
2. Possess knowledge of diverse historical and multi-cultural dimensions and traditions of theatre arts and dance.
3. Execute basic production processes in the areas of acting, dance, stage direction, choreography, design, and the necessary technical operations related to production.
4. Graduates will be prepared for successful transfer to graduate or conservatory programs and/or to pursue professional careers in the theatre and dance performance, theatre and dance education or allied fields.

Program Requirements

Majors must participate in the college production program in four of the following capacities: assistant director or stage manager, box office and publicity or house management, performance, assistant or lead designer, and/or production crew positions.

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In lieu of the senior comprehensive examinations, departmental majors are provided the opportunity and privilege of culminating their undergraduate studies with a senior creative project. Students desiring this option take THTR-4950 Senior Creative Project.

Suggested Sequence of Courses for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Arts