Axe ’Em, Jacks!
The School of Theatre and Dance offers students the opportunity to pursue their passion for becoming a professional artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre. The program offers three types of BFA concentrations:
- acting and directing
- stage management
- and technical theatre and design.
The degree is appropriate preparation for those planning to seek admission to a graduate training program or going into a professional position, and the curriculum provides holistic training in all aspects of theatre arts.
To enrich your academic experience, you'll have the opportunity to study abroad, complete an internship and participate in theatre productions. You'll also network and meet like-minded peers through theatre clubs and organizations.
Career opportunities
There are a vast number of career opportunities for those with a BFA in theatre, including:
- working as an actor or singer, remaining on the stage or transitioning to television and film
- specializing in production design, bringing to life the costumes and scenery of stage and film shows
- directing and managing plays, adding your own ideas to the performances you help engineer
- or even working in local theatre and production companies or join traveling troupes.
If you study abroad, consider returning to that country or one nearby to be an international performer.
Careers as acting coaches and choreographers also are possible. If you decide to attend graduate school, you can find work as an educator, advisor, professor or administrator.
Audition required
All students coming in as a theatre major begin in the Bachelor of Arts in theatre program or the theatre education program. Those seeking the BFA in theatre must audition for admittance. Contact your advisor for details on the process.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre
Concentrations
Acting and directing
A competitive and rewarding experience
Depending on your concentration, Lumberjacks take courses emphasizing their specialties before acquiring hands-on experience. Acting students will have the opportunity for internships at major professional theatres here and abroad. Directing students will direct short plays, a fully produced one-act play with multiple ticketed performances and, should the opportunity arise, a full-length play.
Getting you ready for a high-performance career
There’s no shortage of production opportunities for both actors and directors. Theatre students will receive all the hands-on experience they’ll need to succeed in the professional world. Additionally, they’ll hear lectures and attend workshops from guest professionals. In addition, our faculty includes a two-time Daytime Emmy Award-nominated actor, an award-winning film actor and a critically acclaimed Off-Broadway and regional theatre director.
Acting and directing abroad
SFA has strong connections to the American professional theatre and the international scene. You'll have the opportunity to work alongside international students who travel to SFA to study under our faculty and work on our productions. You can learn and explore at London’s leading international drama school, Rose Bruford College, where you can also participate in their programs in Spain’s Institut del Teatre or Estonia’s national performing arts school. Learn more about study abroad opportunities.
Stage management
Run the stage your way
Since stage managers work closely with actors, directors, designers and technicians, students in this concentration take a wide variety of courses to familiarize themselves with all these sub-disciplines. This combination of experience in all of the theatre fields provides our students with intensive preparation for professional work as stage managers.
Gain valuable experience
You'll be able to work on a considerable number of productions of different sizes and genres, not only as a stage manager or assistant stage manager but also as control board operators, crew leaders, assistant directors or even actors! You can then undertake a full-season internship at a major regional theatre or a year of study abroad.
Manage stages here and abroad
Are you looking to take your skills overseas? Learn more about study aboard opportunities.
Technical theatre and design
Experience that bridges multiple disciplines
Our program is competitive but equips our students with the experience needed to work professionally in scenery, costuming, lighting, sound, makeup, props and more. You will be encouraged to identify primary and secondary areas of interest (costuming and lighting, for example). You will get extensive coursework in these interests as well as classes in art, interior design or fashion. Not to mention, you will receive plenty of opportunities to flex these muscles in one of our many extensive production programs.
Learn what you need to succeed
With a wide range of production opportunities at SFA, highly motivated students will often get the opportunity to design in our faculty-directed Mainstage Series. Extensive student crews make these major productions possible, and all the student-directed productions in the Downstage Theatre are also student-designed and executed.
Facilities equipped for hands-on learning
Setting the stage is crucial to any production. Students who concentrate on theatre design and technology at SFA have a wide range of well-equipped facilities in which to learn and create. You will build, craft and design in our recently renovated 5,000 square-foot scenic and props complex.
Turner Auditorium has a Broadway-sized stage house, a full fly system, a trap space, a hydraulic apron/orchestra pit, a large control room atop the balcony and up-to-date lighting and sound systems. Additionally, the “black box” theatre has a key laboratory for student designers, and our Upstage Theatre was recently renovated.