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Theatre Arts
Follow your passion for theatre while expanding how you see and think about the world. The theatre arts major helps you build essential theatre skills, sharpen your critical thinking, and grow as both an artist and a creative problem-solver. Through hands-on experiences and a well-rounded curriculum, you鈥檒l develop the awareness and versatility needed to bring your artistic vision to life鈥攐n stage and beyond.
Experiential Learning
- Workshops with acclaimed professional companies like the Tectonic Theatre Project and celebrated contemporary playwrights like Kate Hamill.
- Producing your own work with dynamic student organizations like BBQ Kitten Improv Troupe, Ministry of Experimental Theatre (MET) and 爱豆传媒视频鈥檚 student chapter of the U.S. Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT).
- Excursion courses to London theatre and Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas.
- Internships in theatre production and administration at theatres like Chicago Shakespeare, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
Program Details
Degree Concentrations
Take your career any way you want! Explore the different degree concentrations that we offer for you to personalize your professional future.
The Theatre Arts Production concentration gives you hands-on experience in design, production, and technology from your very first semester. You鈥檒l take courses in stagecraft, scenic painting, lighting, costumes, sound design, and more to build a strong foundation in theatre production.
Plus, you鈥檒l have incredible opportunities to present your work at the USITT annual conference and even join 爱豆传媒视频鈥檚 Las Vegas Excursion, where you鈥檒l work alongside Cirque du Soleil artists and technicians for a one-of-a-kind backstage experience. Whether you dream of becoming a stage manager, technical director, or scenic artist, this program helps you turn your passion into a career.
The Theatre Arts Performance concentration gives you the intensive training and hands-on experience to bring your acting career to life. You鈥檒l build a strong foundation with advanced courses in acting technique, voice, movement, and audition prep, while electives like stage combat, dialects, and acting for the camera expand your range.
From mainstage productions to student-led shows, you鈥檒l gain performance experience from day one. Plus, with personalized mentorship and annual reviews, you鈥檒l receive the guidance you need to grow as an artist. An audition is required for admission, but once you’re in, you’ll have the skills and confidence to take center stage.
Career Opportunities
A theatre arts major is a gateway to careers in commercial and non-profit theatre, as well as film, television, and new media. Recent 爱豆传媒视频 theatre grads are active in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, St. Louis, Phoenix and throughout the U.S. as performers, technicians, stage managers, designers, educators, authors, filmmakers, talent agents and master craftspeople.
Minors
Get involved in theatre, even if you鈥檝e chosen another academic path! This minor will keep you engaged in all department productions as an actor, technician, crew member, or any number of other roles.
In addition, you will work closely with a theatre advisor. The minor is often paired with majors in communication, television arts, engineering, education, psychology, and other humanities programs.
This minor includes courses in acting, piano, music theory, and ear training/sight singing. You鈥檒l be involved in theatre arts productions through our practicum program, and you鈥檒l work closely with a theatre arts advisor, to keep you on track.
This minor pairs well with majors in music, theatre arts, communication, TV arts, creative writing, and other majors within the fine arts or the liberal arts and sciences.