About This Program
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program provides intensive preparation for professional careers on stage or behind the scenes. We believe in using the tools of theatre to train the whole person for creative, academic and professional success in the worlds of theatre and beyond.
As a BFA, you’ll further your craft in your chosen emphasis, as well as gain experience in all the areas of how theatre gets made and the skills to analyze and articulate why theatre matters in our world. We offer Performance emphases in acting and in musical theatre, and Design and Production emphases in costume design, lighting/sound design, scenic design, technical theatre, or stage management.
Working with our talented and supportive faculty and staff, and alongside peers who share your passion for theatre, you’ll have meaningful opportunities both in production and in the classroom to hone your skills and express your perspectives through a variety of methods and styles. Your coursework in theatre is supplemented with a grounding in the liberal arts that means you’ll broaden your worldview and the contexts you bring to your creative work.
Join our community of storytellers and become the best creative artist you can be.
Program Highlights
- Longtime member of Region 5 of the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF). You’ll have opportunities to attend and participate in the annual festival which features performances, workshops and masterclasses with faculty from peer institutions and guest artists from around the country.
- Our home in the Marshall Performing Arts Center features two fully equipped performance spaces (the 550 seat Mainstage and 100 seat Dudley Experimental Theatre), multiple studios, and our own scenic, costume, and lighting/sound shops.
- Our main theatre season will always include at least one musical, one dance concert, and three plays, as well as our lab series. Students have input in our season selection process.
- As an all undergraduate program, you are our main focus and will work closely with our faculty and staff on a regular basis.
- Our BFA alums are working on stage and onscreen across our local, regional, and national theatre communities.
Research & Experiential Learning
- Working onstage and/or behind the scenes in our main season productions
- The Lab Series, our incubator for original student work and a space for creative risk-taking
- Teaching Assistant (TA) opportunities for upper level students
- Internships with professional theatre organizations in a range of disciplines
Student Internships
- Milwaukee Repertory Theatre
- The Rev Production Company
- Northern News Now
- Pangea World Theater
- The Santa Fe Opera
Potential Careers
- Performer
- Theatrical designer (scenic, costume/hair/makeup, lighting, sound)
- Stage manager
- Voice talent
- Director
- Producer
- Teacher
- Choreographer
- Artistic director
- Arts administrator
- Dramaturg
- Literary manager
- Playwright
- Stage combat choreographer
- Intimacy coordinator
- Technical director
- Production manager
- Project manager
- Master electrician
- Theatre technician
- Wardrobe head
Scholarships
As a CAHSS student, you will automatically be considered for scholarships for which you are eligible on a yearly basis, and have the option to submit a centralized application where you can share supplemental information that may open up additional opportunities.
Get Involved
- Stage 2 Theatre Company: Theatre by students for students. As a registered student organization affiliated with the Department of Theatre, Stage 2 Theatre Company produces its own student-run theatrical season every academic year. Students manage every aspect of production and is a great way for you to get involved whether you are a major, minor, or -non-major. All are welcome!
- United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT): We are one of a relatively small number of departments to have a student chapter and we invite you to join us to promote learning among peers and to support theatre design and technology on campus. You will also have the opportunity to attend the annual USITT national conference, where you will learn about new design elements, technologies and theories, and connect with peers from around the country.
- Attitudes Dance Association: If you love to dance, Attitudes is currently one of the biggest student organizations on campus, with more than 100 members. It is a student-run group that welcomes anyone who is a student at UMD, College of St. Scholastica, or Lake Superior College; anyone who wants to dance! ADA gives you the opportunity to both perform and choreograph in their annual spring performances.
Requirements
Refer to the link below for more detailed information about the program, admission requirements, sample plans, and contact information.
Theatre B.F.A. Courses & Requirements