The Department of Theatre provides a student-focused liberal arts education that trains theatre artists, scholars and teachers to investigate current best practices and emerging entrepreneurial methods in professional theatre. Aligning with the university’s commitment to open-access education, we integrate the values of equity and inclusion to drive vibrant intellectual inquiry, ethical and informed community engagement, and innovative creative research practices.

Led by a faculty of nationally recognized theatre artists and scholars, the curriculum promotes creativity, inquisitiveness, critical thinking, communication skills (oral and written), and cultural competency through classroom experience, individual and collaborative study, and actualized stage productions.  Students learn to participate in current critical discourse while engaging with the theory, history, and material conditions of performance; the program thus creates a rigorous intellectual environment firmly rooted in the theatrical art form.

Theatre majors develop a working knowledge of the art form by taking four semesters of core curriculum courses followed by an additional four semesters of study in one of the following concentrations: Performance; Design/Tech; Directing, Devising and Dramatic Writing (3-D); Applied Theatre; or Theatre Education (with the goal of attaining a North Carolina teaching license).  All majors take a culminating 3-credit hour senior seminar during the final year.

In addition to required coursework, the department sponsors a wide range of master classes (led by theatre artists and scholars from around the world), lecture-discussions, workshops, and other learning opportunities.  Throughout their training, students work both as faculty-mentored individuals and in collaborative groups, so that in addition to making significant contributions to the cultural life of the campus and the Charlotte region through departmental productions, they emerge ready for theatrical internships, graduate programs, or for employment in any profession which places value on critical and analytical thinking, collaborative practice, and effective communication skills.

As part of the curriculum, the department presents a season of faculty-directed, student-acted MainStage productions, workshop-level performances, and professional guest performance events.  Auditions are open to all members of the University community.  Performances are held in Robinson Hall and Rowe Arts, which contain three performance spaces and specialized rehearsal, design, and construction laboratories, as well as additional classrooms and department offices.   

Programs

• Theatre, Applied Theatre Concentration, B.A.
• Theatre, Design/Tech Concentration, B.A.
• Theatre, Directing, Dramaturgy, and Dramatic Writing Concentration, B.A.
• Theatre, Performance Concentration, B.A.
• Theatre, Theatre Education (K-12) Concentration, B.A.

• Theatre, Minor