Theatre Department: Undergraduate Program FAQs
The department has compiled this information from questions asked by prospective students and their families during the admissions process and audition days. Please email us at theatre@vcu.edu if you have further questions about the department. Check out the VCUarts Undergraduate Admissions FAQs for more details about the school.
BFA
The BFA track is a pre-professional training program with an area of specialization. If you want to leave school and head straight into the business working in your concentration, the BFA track could be for you. If you successfully complete the program, your degree would be a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with a Concentration in Performance, Musical Theatre, Scenic Design/Technical Production, Costume Design/Technical Production, Lighting Design/Technical Production, OR Stage Management.
The BFA track curriculum and schedule is intense. We lovingly call the BFA track “Theatre 24/7” for your last two years. If this sounds engaging and fun, the BFA track could be for you.
If an incoming student is interested in the BFA program, they apply to Theatre Foundations in a specific major (Performance, Costume, Scenic, Lighting, or Stage Management. Those interested in Musical theatre should apply for performance, and enrolled students can audition for the musical theatre program when they start in the Fall.)
After successfully completing their second year in the program, all students must undergo an assessment with faculty to be admitted into the BFA program in their concentration of choice. Performers undergo an assessment audition, design/technical production students (costume, scenic, lighting) undergo an assessment portfolio review, and stage management students undergo an assessment production book/notes review.
BA
The BA track is for students who desire a stronger emphasis in the liberal arts. The curriculum leaves room for a minor or double major. (These possibilities vary from person to person. Our academic advisor, Janel Miley, can further advise.) The BA is often selected by students who transfer into VCU from another university or community college. If you successfully complete the program, your degree would be a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre.
BA students often want to pursue other subjects like directing, playwriting, or theatre management. The more open schedule allows room for other courses of study, like creative writing, business classes, African American studies, gender studies. The list goes on!
If an incoming student wants to pursue the BA track, they can apply directly to the BA in Theatre.
Whether you pursue a BA or a BFA degree, 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.
Yes! Of course, each student’s particular circumstances come into play.
The BA in Theatre degree is a great option for a double major. Many students double major or complete a minor since the curriculum is more flexible.
We readily admit that the BFA tracks are intense and time consuming— double majoring in the BFA program would be difficult in four years with all the time commitments, class scheduling, and practical experience on mainstage productions.
Again, remember each student is different. Some enter school with credits from AP classes and dual enrollment classes. Some students do not mind adding on time to finish a double major.
You can reach out to our academic advisor, Janel Miley, with specific circumstances.
Yes!
The theatre focused study abroad programs are scheduled over the summer, as mainstage productions tend to take over the school year. Our Summer Program in Greece is very popular and allows you to complete a Theatre History class.
Students can also study abroad for an entire semester if they plan their curriculum accordingly. Each student is a case by case situation. The Global Education Office can help you plan your trip. See their website for more information about education abroad.
In addition, VCUarts offers Dean’s International Travel Grants to afford students the opportunity to travel and study independently. VCUarts has a sister school in Doha, Qatar – VCUarts Qatar – and students participate in exchange programs and travel to Doha for conferences. More information about all of our study abroad opportunities can be found here.
Yes!
Richmond is a great mid-sized city for students that is full of opportunity. Richmond has a lively local theatre scene, but is not as inundated with young theatre professionals as some larger cities. Richmond has also become a popular filming location for film and television. Students can find many opportunities to build their resume throughout their school career.
Richmond has an active and vibrant arts community—from street murals to music venues to the VMFA and the amazing Kehinde Wiley Rumours of War—not to mention award winning local restaurants, homegrown coffee shops, the James River, amazing public parks, and so much more!
Yes!
Richmond has a tight knit, active theatre community, and theaters know that the pool of talent in acting, design, and stage management is found at VCU. There are many opportunities to see theatre and to build your resume throughout your time at VCUarts. We often have students, faculty and alumni involved in local productions at all the theatres listed below.
VCU has a working partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre that provides opportunities for VCUarts Theatre students to audition / interview for paid positions in their productions. In the 2019-20 season, there over twenty five positions filled by current VCU theatre students in productions (in addition to fifteen VCUarts Theatre alumni positions and nine VCUarts Theatre faculty positions).
Richmond has also become a popular filming location for film and television. We’ve had students and alumni work on a variety of productions filmed here including Homeland (Showtime), Walking Dead (AMC), Mercy Street (PBS), TURN: Washington’s Spies (AMC), and The Good Lord Bird (Showtime-premiering this August), to name a few.
Local theatres:
Coalition Theatre (Live comedy)
VCUarts Theatre now offers a BFA concentration in Musical Theatre! Click here to read more.
The department offers courses in musical theatre performance, musical theatre history, a Broadway Seminar with amazing guest artists, private voice lessons and musical theatre dance styles.
The department also offers a Minor in Musical Theatre—often students in Dance or Music find this as a beneficial course of study, and the minor allows them to take classes for theatre majors.
Applicants interested in musical theatre should apply to performance. Enrolled students will be able to audition for musical theatre once they are in the program.
Yes! Our graduates work in all aspects of theatre. They not only practice theatre at the highest level of artistic quality, but also use theatre to reflect and affect society, politics, and culture.
In addition to learning the craft of your chosen concentration, our curriculum provides opportunities to hone professional career skills. Courses like Audition Techniques, Senior Showcase, and our annual Portfolio Reviews help students practice real world hiring skills.
See selected works from some of our alumni:
Max Ehrlich (BFA 2015)
Disney’s Aladdin First National Tour (Broadway) 2020, Miss Saigon National Tour (Broadway) 2019, The King and I National Tour (Broadway) 2018, Mamma Mia Farewell tour (Broadway) 2016-17. Mamma Mia National Tour (Broadway) 2015-16.
Mikayla Bartholomew (BFA 2017)
Actor: King Richard (Warner Bros-with Will Smith) 2020, The Code (CBS) 2019, A Doll’s House Part 2 (Maltz Jupiter Theatre) 2019, Bayano (National Black Theatre I AM SOUL Workshop Production) 2020, Babes in the Wood (Signature Theatre) 2019, LORDES (New Ohio Theatre) 2019. Resident Artist at the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, 2020.
Joshua Boone (BFA 2010)
Network (Broadway), Holler if Ya Hear Me (Broadway), Premature (Mi Alma Films) 2019, Wheels (Brooklyn City Films) 2018, Fan Girl (Filament Productions LLC) 2015, Law & Order: SVU (NBC) 2013.
Trevor Craft (BFA 2018)
Once Third National Tour (Broadway) 2019, Once (Fulton Theatre), Brighton Beach Memoirs (Virginia Repertory Theatre), Da (Virginia Repertory Theatre); Constellations (TheatreLAB); Xanadu (Live Arts).
Nicole Slaven (BFA 2013)
Costume Design: Community Works (Williamstown Theatre Festival) 2020; Carmen (Master Voices) 2020; Pharoah (Theatre for the New City) 2019; Rinse, Repeat (Signature Theatre) 2019 *NYT Critics’ Pick; Henry VI (NAATCO) 2018 * NYT Critics’ Pick *Drama desk Nomination Outstanding Design For a Play *Nomination for Henry Hewes Design Award; Agnes (Lesser America) 2018 * NYT Critics’ Pick; The Intern of Two Startups, (The New School for Drama) 2017
Matt Armentrout: (BFA 2013).
Hair and Wig Design: Bernhardt/Hamlet (Broadway), Flying Over Sunset (Lincoln Center), Othello (Shakespeare in the Park); Wig Design: Phish NYE Concert (Madison Square Garden) 2019. Hair and Wig Supervisor: Cats (Broadway), Amazing Grace (Broadway), Angels in America (Broadway), Come From Away (Broadway); Theme Park Design: London Rocks (Busch Gardens Williamsburg), A Chirstmas Carol (Busch Gardens Williamsburg)
Justin Scribner (BFA 2002)
Production Stage Manager: Once on this Island (Broadway Tony award winning revival), The Crucible (Broadway), Rock of Ages (Broadway), God of Carnage (Broadway), The American Plan (Broadway), A Chorus Line (Broadway), RENT (Broadway), The Times They Are A Changin’ (Broadway), Lennon (Broadway), Pacific Overtures (Broadway), Jumpers (Broadway), Little Shop of Horrors (Broadway), The Phantom of the Opera (National Tour), Love Letters (National Tour).
Abby Bobb (BFA 2016)
Production Stage Manager: An American in Paris National Tour (Broadway) 2019-present, American Dance Festival (Durham Performing Arts Center) 2017 and 2018,. Resident Stage Manager (The Studio Theare – Tierra del Sol) 2016-18
Jenna Ferree (BFA 2009).
Lighting Design: The Drowsy Chaperone (Carnegie Mellon University), Midnight Radio Holiday Spectacular (Bricolage Production Company), The River (Quantum Theatre), Body Awareness (5th Wall Theatre), Unexpected Tenderness (5th Wall Theatre)
Mackenzie Ellis (BFA 2013)
Broadway Tours : A1 / Head Audio: Dear Evan Hansen (Juniper Street /101), Something Rotten! (Worklight Prod.), R & H’s Cinderella (RCI Theatricals). A2 / Asst. Audio: First Wives Club (Bespoke Theatricals). Asst. Snd Designer: Million Dollar Quartet (Juniper Street / Foresight)
Yes!
The skills taught in our design and technical theatre concentrations are applicable to film and television. The collaboration and communication required in theatre can also translate to creative and administrative roles like art direction and production design.
In addition to our well rounded performance curriculum, we offer courses specifically focused on tools for the screen like Acting for the Camera and Desktop Audio Visual for Actors.
As you can see, many of our graduates go on to build resumes that contain theatre and film / television credits.
See selected works from some of our alumni:
Actors:
Jason Butler Harner (BFA 1992)
Actor: Bernhardt/Hamlet (Broadway) 2018, The Crucible (Broadway) 2016, The Village Bike (Off-Broadway) 2014, Ozark (Netflix) 2017-18, Scandal (ABC) 2015, Ray Donovan (Showtime) 2015, The Blacklist (NBC) 2014, Homeland (Showtime) 2013, Hedda Gabler (New York Theater Workshop) 2004.
Awards:
- Ozark: SAG nominee 2017 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
- Hedda Gabler: Obie Award for Performance 2005
Joshua Boone (BFA 2010)
Network (Broadway), Holler if Ya Hear Me (Broadway), Premature (Mi Alma Films) 2019, Wheels (Brooklyn City Films) 2018, Fan Girl (Filament Productions LLC) 2015, Law & Order: SVU (NBC) 2013.
Frank Alfano Jr (BFA 2008) AEA, SAG / AFTRA
Stunt Double / Stunt Performer: Gotham (Fox) 2014-19, The Blacklist (NBC) 2020, Instinct (CBS) 2018, Orange is the New Black (Netflix) 2016-18, Person of Interest (CBS) 2013-16, Maniac (Netflix) 2018, The Good Cop (Netflix) 2018, Jessica Jones (Netflix) 2018, Daredevil (Netflix) 2016, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Paramount) 2014
Jahred King (BFA 2017)
Actor: Yellowjackets (Showtime) 2020, Vide Noir (Whispering Pines Studios), National Commercials for Nintendo Switch, Butterfinger, Sour Patch Kids, Toyota/Nissan/VW
Designers:
Dan Bishop (BFA 1980).
Production Designer: Mad Men (AMC), Parks and Recreation (NBC), This Is Us (NBC), Carnivale (HBO), Big Love (HBO)
Awards:
- Carnivale: Emmy Nomination 2005 Outstanding Art Direction for Single Camera Series
- Mad Men: Emmy Nominations 2009, 2011, 2012 Outstanding Art Direction for Single Camera Series
- Mad Men: Emmy Nominee 2014 Outstanding Art Direction for a Period Series
- Mad Men: Emmy Award 2015 Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period Program
CJ Simpson
Art Director: FBI (CBS) 2019, Dickinson (Apple TV) 2019, The Good Cop (Netflix) 2018, Gotham (Fox) 2017, Law and Order (NBC) 200+ episodes 1996-2010, John Wick (Thunderoad Pictures) 2014, Nurse Jackie (Showtime), Basquiat (Miramax) 1996
Kenneth Hardy
Production Designer: Hawaii Five-0 (CBS), The West Wing (NBC), Body of Proof (ABC), Law & Order: LA (NBC), Nashville (ABC)
Awards:
- The West Wing: Emmy Nominations 2002, 2003, 2004 Outstanding Art Direction for Single Camera Series
Tracy Smith (MFA 1995) IATSE Local #800.
Art Director: AJ & The Queen (Warner Bros/Netflix), Santa Clarita Diet (Netflix). Set Designer: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC / Marvel), Grease LIVE! (Paramount Televison), CSI: Crime Investigation (CBS), Lying Game (Horizon Pictures)
Jeremy Conway (BFA 1978) United Scenic Artists local 829, Art Directors Guild Local 800 Production Design: Sex and the City (HBO), Sex and the City (New Line), Sex and the City 2 (Warner Bros), Failure to Launch (Paramount Pictures), School of Rock (Paramount Pictures), The Today Show (NBC News), Olympic Summer Games 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 (NBC Sports), Olympic Winter Games 2002 (NBC Sports)
Awards:
- Sex and the City Emmy Nominations 2000, 2001, 2003 Outstanding Art Direction for Single Camera Series
- Olympics Athens Emmy Nomination 2004
- Olympics Salt Lake Emmy Award 2002
- Olympics Sydney Emmy Award 2000
- Olympics Atlanta Emmy Nomination 1996
- Olympics Barcelona Emmy Awards (2) 1992
Joshua Quinn: (MFA 2013).
Associate Costume Designer, Season 2 The Politicia, (Netflix) 2019. Associate Costume Designer, Gotham, (FOX) 2014-present. Assistant Costume Design: Amazing Grace (Broadway) 2015, The Last Ship (Broadway) 2015, Lucky Guy (Broadway) 2013.
Gloria Kim: BFA (2013).
Costume Illustrator: Come From Away (Broadway), Jitney (Broadway) 2017, Amazing Grace (Broadway) 2015, The Mandalorian (Disney), Descendants 3 (Disney), Zombieland: Double Tap (2.0 Entertainment); Assistant Costume Designer: Descendants 2 (Disney), Emmaʼs Chance (Taylor & Dodge); Costume Concept: Altered Carbon (Netflix). Production Assistant: Amazing Grace (Broadway) 2015
To ensure your eligibility for a VCU merit scholarship, make sure you submit your completed application by the early scholarship deadline. To learn more about VCU scholarships, please visit the Undergraduate Admissions webpage. In addition to University scholarships, the School of the Arts and its departments offer a variety of scholarships for current students. Read more and view the scholarship database here.
Financial aid is also available. You must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To learn more, or to download the FAFSA, please visit the Office of Financial Aid or the FAFSA website. The priority deadline is March 1st. Please follow up with our Financial Aid office a few weeks after you complete the FAFSA to ensure you are not missing anything.
The department takes pride in our mainstage season. The mainstage production selection is a complex process that involves input from all of the faculty. Our first and foremost priority is our students’ artistic growth and opportunity. We strive to present a diverse selection of plays/musicals that allow the actors, designers, and directors to hone their skills in a variety of ways.
We typically present a minimum of four productions in our mainstage season with a variety of contemporary and classic works from diverse playwrights. We present one big musical per season, typically in the spring.
VCUarts Theatre generally holds auditions for productions in the semester before a production is scheduled. When freshmen performers arrive in the Fall, the Fall semester productions have already been cast. Freshman CAN audition for the Spring productions.
All performance majors are required to audition for mainstage productions.
All design / tech students will have a project assignment for every mainstage production. As you gain skills and experience, these projects become more challenging, and culminate in a Designer position on the Creative Team.
Yes! Non-theatre majors are welcome to audition for our mainstage productions.
Yes! The Shafer Alliance Laboratory Theatre (lovingly called SALT) is a student run organization at VCU. From their site: “SALT facilitates, encourages and promotes the public performance of student theatre at the Shafer Street Playhouse. SALT’s goal is that students will take personal and artistic risks, which will result in engaging, quality theatre that challenges and enriches the students involved and the community alike.” You can find opportunities to direct, design, act, and more. Follow them on instagram @vcusalt
Our graduate students are a great resource for undergrads. Our graduate program is performance / pedagogy focused, meaning our graduate candidates are in a university setting to learn to teach. We accept experienced candidates who are ready to shift their careers to education. Their experience and study allows us to offer specialized classes under their instruction. MFA candidates occasionally act in mainstage productions, playing an age appropriate role and providing mentorship and guidance to the younger members of the company.
We accept about 6-10 applicants for each concentration in Costume, Scenic, Lighting, and Stage Management.
In recent years, about 250-300 performers applied each year, and the department accepted a group of about 50-60 incoming students that contained performance and Bachelor of Arts students. This number can vary.
Check out the VCUarts FAQs here for more application and admissions questions. If you have more questions about the theatre department, please email us at theatre@vcu.edu