The Department of Theatre and Dance offers a B.A. in Theatre with concentrations in Performance, Design/Technical Theatre, Musical Theatre, or Teacher Certification (K-12).
The B.A. degree in theatre aligns with the university's liberal arts-based vision of education that encourages breadth of knowledge. Faculty shape class projects and mentor students in production work in a way that promotes collaboration — an essential skill for success in the performing arts and a very valuable skill in any profession. For example, the one-act festivals involve students enrolled in lighting design, stage management, sound design, and advanced directing courses. All theatre majors have opportunities to assume artistic leadership roles during their academic careers in the department. Advanced students take on lead acting roles, design duties, stage management positions, technical direction responsibilities, box office management, direction of one-act dramas. Select students direct their own productions of full-length dramas in the studio theatre.
Faculty members mentor all the majors in career development skills. The department
offers an annual alumni career forum, where alums currently working in the entertainment
industry or K-12 teaching share their wisdom and experience with current students.
The department also offers elective courses in auditioning and portfolio development
that help students prepare for professional job opportunities. All theatre majors
are required to complete a sophomore review (in their third semester) and a junior
review (in their sixth semester. In these reviews the students present audition monologues
or portfolios. Faculty members work with the students to improve their presentation
skills and discuss with each student their progress in the program and their future
goals. In their final semester, all majors complete an exit interview as a final
step to prepare them to secure employment.
Our season of productions typically includes three faculty-directed shows in our mainstage
proscenium space: Johnson Theatre. One of these shows will be a musical, often produced in collaboration with the
Department of Music. The season also includes two one-act festivals (directed by
advanced directing students) and two or more dramas directed by advanced students.
All these student productions occur in Johnson Studio Theatre.
For details about the curriculum, go to the navigation bar at the left and click on "About the Subject." In the drop-down menu, click on "The Major."
Due to the prescriptive and evolving nature of the various degree programs within the Department of Theatre and Dance, the Department Chair and Theatre faculty have identified the following recommendations to students intending to study abroad.
The third or fourth semester sophomore year (in addition to multiple summer study
options) is generally the best semester to study abroad. Through a combination of
general education requirements, theatre or dance performance, studio, humanities and
arts administrative courses at the abroad institution and Winthrop distance learning,
students are able to study abroad without delaying graduation. It is imperative however,
that students work with their theatre advisor, or the department chair, prior to selecting
a study abroad institution and planned course of study abroad to insure transfer and
major credit.
Perhaps the only option that Theatre Education majors have to study abroad and graduate on time, is during summer study options. As the Theatre Education program is lock-step, it is imperative that Theatre and Education foundations be completed in advance of a summer option. Required performance, tech/design or general education courses during the summer option may be applied to their degree requirements, however, theatre education classes taken abroad will generally not apply. It is imperative that students work with their theatre advisor, or the department chair, prior to selecting a study abroad institution and planned course of study abroad to insure transfer and major credit.