B.F.A, B.A. or B.S. in Theatre
Do you dream of taking center stage as an actor or leading performances as a director? Are you interested in learning the importance of costumes or technical departments, and how they help to create a successful show? As a Theatre student, you will learn how to influence any audience through creative expression and change the world doing it. The bachelor degree in Theatre allows you to gain an understanding of all facets of theatre, as well as become an expert in a chosen concentration. B.A. or B.S. students will select and audition for one of the following concentrations: General Theatre, Acting, Costumes, Stage Management, or Theatre Education with licensure. B.F.A. students will choose from the following concentrations: Design/Technical Theatre, Directing, or Musical Theatre. Both degrees prepare you for graduate school, as well as provide you with the skills to succeed in any related career.
Course Requirements
Students pursuing this major must complete the requirements linked below.
Students majoring in Theatre must earn a concentration in one of the following areas:
Acting
The Acting emphasis provides rigorous acting training in a liberal-arts setting, with classes focusing on Stanislavski, Meisner, Shakespeare, auditions, and acting for the camera. Students will have the opportunity to audition for shows from the start of their freshman year. By the end of the student’s education at Greensboro College, actors will be fully prepared to take the next step towards graduate school, internships, or work in the professional theatre. Students pursuing this concentration must complete the requirements linked below.
Costume
The Costuming concentration gives students hands-on experience in cutting, draping, sewing, serging, and patterning in garments used in yearly productions. Students learn the design process, including costume plots, renderings, and shop management, and are trained to design for main stage and student-directed productions. Students pursuing this concentration must complete the requirements linked below.
Design/Technical
Students train in the art of design and technical production with equipment that mirrors the regional professional production work they will experience after graduation. They have the opportunity to work in all areas of Technical Production in order to develop all the tools they need to pursue careers professionally or in graduate theatre programs. Students pursuing this concentration must complete the requirements linked below.
Directing
Students on the directing track are immediately afforded hands-on opportunities to practice their craft within studio classes. Directing assignments in the department’s main stage season are available. Guidance and mentorship comes from our seasoned professors and also from the college’s relationships within the nearby professional world. Students pursuing this concentration must complete the requirements linked below.
Musical Theatre
The Musical Theatre concentration provides intensive training from the Acting, Dance, Music, and Voice faculty. Performance opportunities include the Musical Theatre Ensemble, Cabaret Performance Class, Junior and Senior Recitals, and Main Stage productions. Created and taught by working Theatre professionals, this program offers our graduates the ability to enter the profession confident in themselves and their training. Students pursuing this concentration must complete the requirements linked below.
Stage Management
Students will take a combination of courses taught by both professors and professionals actively working in the area. Training includes opportunities to stage manage and production manage fully realized performances. Internships are often available at the North Carolina Theatre Conference, and the Southeastern Theatre Conference to prepare students for opportunities in professional theatre or graduate school. Students pursuing this concentration must complete the requirements linked below.
Theatre with K-12 Teacher Licensure
Theatre Education students are trained in all aspects of theatre – costuming, design, performance, and more, with an emphasis on management and leadership positions. Projects include student-directed productions to be performed at area schools and on campus. Students in the Theatre Education concentration will also complete a number of fieldwork teaching experiences with various age groups, culminating in a semester of full-time student teaching. Students pursuing this concentration must complete the requirements linked below.
Audition/Interview Requirement
All Theatre majors are required to complete an audition and an interview and provide a headshot, resume, and two letters of recommendation. Concentration-specific requirements are listed below.
- Acting and Musical Theatre concentrations must provide:
- Two memorized contrasting one-minute monologues
- Two contrasting songs from Classical American Musical Theatre Literature, with sheet music in the correct key
- Costume, Design/Technical, Directing, Stage Management, and Theatre Education
- Presentation of an updated portfolio of theatre materials related to student’s work
Why Choose This Degree?
B.A., B.F.A., or B.S. in Theatre allows flexible career options and you can:
- Embark on a career dedicated to performance, entertainment, and the arts.
- Gain essential management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Why Earn it at Greensboro College?
At Greensboro College, earning a B.A., B.F.A., or B.S. in Theatre means you will have the unique opportunities to:
- Choose from a variety of theatre concentrations.
- Small class sizes create opportunity for individual attention from your professors.
- Practice your craft in a production setting beginning in your first semester.
What Can I Do After Graduation?
With your B.A., B.F.A., or B.S. in Theatre, you can continue your studies as a graduate student in theatre or begin your theatre career in the arts. These professions include:
- Producer, Theatre Administrator
- Director, Assistant Director, Casting Director
- Actor
- Musical Theatre Performer
- Costume Designer, Costume Technician, Draper, Cutter, Stitcher
- Wardrobe Manager, Wardrobe Technician, Makeup Artist
- Set Designer
- Technical Director, Stage Technician
- Lighting Designer, Lighting Technician
- Sound Designer, Audio Technician
- Properties Manager, Properties Artisan
- Scenic Artist, Painter
- Stage Manager, Production Manager, Front of House
- Theatre Educator
