B.A. or Minor in Theatre

Program Overview

Small class sizes, an appreciation of diversity, and a spirit of inclusion promote a strong sense of community at the UVM School of the Arts theatre program. An extensive production schedule offers students numerous opportunities to practice the creation of theatre, while rigorous academic offerings challenge students to learn and grow. The proogram provides an expansive and creative curriculum that values ideas and promotes self-expression. Our program promotes the liberal arts approach to a theatre education by providing depth and breadth of study, thereby cultivating critical thinking and an understanding of historical and social contexts. Strong student-faculty relations and an accomplished theatre program staff make for a professional but inclusive learning environment.

Minor in Theatre

By minoring in musical theatre, students develop the fundamental set of skills required for musical theatre performance.

The Minor in Musical Theatre is offered as a collaborative effort between the Program in Theatre, Music, and Dance. It includes courses in music theory and performance, dance styles, and stage movement, with special consideration given to their application in the creation of and performance in musical productions. This minor is available to all students with the following restrictions:

Restrictions

Ineligible majors: music, theatre

Curriculum

From the UVM Catalogue:

• Theatre B.A.
• Theatre Minor

Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

• Collaborate effectively in artistic, professional, and social situations
• Utilize creativity and imagination in artistic, professional, and social problem-solving
• Apply critical analysis to text, image, and the human body
• Identify and articulate a basic understanding of historical and cultural influences on the art form
• Gain critical awareness of the art form as a response to human and social conditions

Careers

• Actor in film and television
• Actor in national commercials
• Theater technical director
• Director for children’s theater
• Theater artistic director
• Stage manager
• Electrician for a regional theater
• Costume designer
• Professional lighting designer
• Makeup artist
• Museum curator
• High school theater teacher
• Professional photographer
• NPR on-air host
• Location manager for film and television

Where Alumni Work

• Merrimack Theatre Company
• National Public Radio (NPR)
• Disney Theatrical NYC
• Worcester State University
• Yale Repertory Theatre
• American Conservatory Theatre
• 4Wall Entertainment Lighting
• Boston Center for the Arts
• The Boston Conservatory
• Microsoft
• Advanced Lighting and Production Services, Boston MA

Graduate Schools

• American Repertory Theatre Institute for Advanced Training
• University of Central Florida
• Emerson College
• University of California, San Diego
• Brandeis University
• University of California, Santa Barbara
• University of New Hampshire
• Boston University
• University of Maryland
• University of Toronto

More

Beyond The Classroom

Production

Students may audition to perform in shows that are part of the mainstage season, the holiday show, or The Spring Play Festival. There are also numerous positions for running crew and technical staff on shows. These include positions like stage manager, assistant stage manager, lighting and sound board operators, costume crew, and front of house assignments. Students may opt to do crew or performance assignments that are supervised by faculty as practicum credit (THE 2710). THE 2710 Theatre Practicum Form (PDF)

Senior Projects

Students who major in theatre are required to complete a culminating experience project. These are usually realized through the senior seminar course (THE 4500) taken in the student’s final spring semester. Students must submit a proposal for their project in the fall of their senior year. These projects, once approved by the faculty, become part of the Spring Play Festival. Past projects have spanned the areas of design, directing, stage management, performance, and playwriting. The Spring Play Festival takes place in the Royall Tyler Theatre in April.

University Players

“UPlayers” is a student government associated sanctioned student group that students run. Members of the group need not be theatre majors or minors. Students elect officers for the group, and the annual activities are planned and executed by student members under the advice of the UVM School of the Arts theatre program faculty members.

International travel (EuroTheatre)

The EuroTheatre (THE 180) is a course that covers European theatre traditions and current-day European theatre artists and companies. The course takes place in the spring semester and is followed by 2-3 weeks of summer travel in Europe where students attend theatre performances and participate in workshops with internationally recognized artists and companies. Past sites of study have included Dublin, London, Paris, Rome, and Stratford Upon Avon.

UVM a Top 10 Theatre B.A. in the Country

Popular theater blog OnStage has named UVM a top 10 Theatre B.A. The blog cites the outstanding costume shop, lighting lab, theatre, visiting artists, and more.