About VCUarts Theatre
The Department of Theatre educates and trains students in the fields of performance, design / technology, and theatre pedagogy. The department provides students with the professional and cultural foundations essential for achieving the highest standards of the art of theatre.
Our faculty and alumni practice their craft as artists locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. They work on the stage, in TV and films, author books in their disciplines, and hold elected offices in some of the nation’s most prestigious organizations. Collectively, the faculty and staff pride themselves on their ability to help you bridge the gap between life as a student and life as a professional beyond VCU.
The faculty and staff of the Department of Theatre at VCUarts unequivocally condemn all forms of bigotry, racism, and anti-Blackness. We are determined to support all our students by mindfully creating a culture of both safety and accountability within our department where BIPOC students feel seen and all our students feel valued.
Read the department’s entire Anti-Racism Statement here.
SPRING 2021 MAINSTAGE SEASON
The Department of Theatre proudly presents an annual season of mainstage productions which showcase the acting and design talents of our students. While we cannot wait to get back in theaters, this new socially distanced and virtual world offers some exciting opportunities for theatre production and education! We are artists at heart, and finding new formats requires creative solutions and breaking our preconceived notions of theatre.
THE DENTIST by Terry Glaser
Directed by Jeff Darland
Love, vengeance……and slapstick.
April 8th – April 16th, performances outdoors, socially distanced, and masks required. Read more.
I AND YOU by Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Chelsea Burke
An ode to youth, life, love, and the strange beauty of human connectedness.
Streaming April 29th- May 1st. More info soon.
SPRING AWAKENING, Book and Lyrics by Steven Sater, Music by Duncan Sheik
Direction by Kikau Alvaro
Musical Direction by Anthony Smith
Film Direction by Dorie Barton
An angsty rock musical adaptation about the trials and tribulations of teenage life, set in 19th century Germany.
Streaming in May. More info soon.
Mainstage productions
Sense and Sensibility
(Fall 2019)
Image by Aaron Sutten
She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms
(October 2020)
In the Red and Brown Water
(Spring 2019)
Image by Aaron Sutten
Into The Woods
(Spring 2018)
Image by Aaron Sutten
The Three Musketeers
(April 2019)
Image by Aaron Sutten
UNDERGRAD PROGRAMS
The theatre department offers a variety of degree options. Regardless of your degree track or area of concentration, the collaborative atmosphere, emphasis on communication and teamwork, emphasis on public speaking skills, and critical thinking of our curriculum can provide you with the skills to pursue many different paths. Not only do we have alumni working in all aspects of theatre and in film and television, but we also have alumni who are lawyers, healthcare professionals, writers, educators, business owners, designers, administrative professionals and more.
Bachelor of Arts in Theatre
The BA track is designed for students who desire a strong emphasis in theatre combined with a liberal arts education and a minor in another course of study. Students in our BA program pursue interests in areas such as Business, English, Mass Communications, Gender Studies, and Religious Studies to name a few.
Students can apply directly into the BA track as incoming freshmen. (Unlike the BFA track—admittance to the BFA track requires an assessment by faculty in the Spring semester of a student’s sophomore year).
Photo by Aaron Sutten
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre
The BFA track is a competitive pre-professional training program with concentrations in Performance, Scenic Design / Tech, Costume Design / Tech, and Lighting Design /Tech. The BFA curriculum and schedule is intense and focused.
Students are not immediately accepted into the BFA program. After successfully completing their first two years of Theatre Foundation courses, students may be admitted to the BFA program after an assessment by faculty.
Photo by Aaron Sutten
Minor in Musical Theatre
The Minor in Musical Theatre is available for non-theatre majors. (Theatre majors with a Concentration in Performance can take all of the classes available for the minor).
This minor is a great option for Music and Dance students with an interest in theatre.
Photo by Aaron Sutten
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Our graduate programs provide students with a strong foundation of theatre studies synthesized with intense and professional practicum within their area of specialization. Program duration is contingent based on the student’s prior professional experience as well as area of study.
MFA in Theatre Performance/Pedagogy
The Master of Fine Arts in Theatre with a concentration in pedagogy/performance is individually tailored to prepare early- to mid-career theatre professionals to enter the field of teaching at the university or college level.
Our master’s program provides graduate level students with the necessary tools toward creating their own teaching practice and philosophy.
MFA in Costume Design/Technology
The MFA in Theatre with a concentration in Costume Design/Technology provides the foundation of theatre studies synthesized with intense and professional practicum. The MFA program in Costume Design/Technology implements professional and cultural experiences essential for achieving the highest standards of theatre.
DEPARTMENT RESOURCES
Faculty & Staff
Meet the VCUarts Theatre Faculty and Staff. Our mission is to educate and train theatre students as theatre professionals and/or academicians in the field of performance, design, technology, or theatre pedagogy.
Facilities
Read more about VCUarts Theatre facilities.
Current Students
Information for current students including handbooks, department communications, and links to student organizations.
