Theatre Studies - Dean College

Dean College's Theatre program offers a range of degrees, including BFA and BA tracks in Acting, Musical Theatre, Performance, Production and Design, and Theatre Studies. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, with students gaining real-world skills in acting, singing, dancing, stage management, and technical theatre. Graduates have gone on to successful careers in the theatre industry, including roles at NBC Universal, Walt Disney, and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Program goals:

Acting BFA: The Acting BFA provides you with the skills and tools to become a lifelong artist ready for the stage, the screen, and beyond.
Musical Theatre BFA: The rigorous Musical Theatre BFA program provides holistic training to help you grow as a performer.
Performance BA: The Performance BA track is ideal for those who want to do more than take center stage.
Production and Design BA: The Production and Design track provides real-world experience in technical theatre.
Theatre Studies BA: The Theatre Studies track emphasizes a rigorous exploration of theatre history, dramatic literature, and performance theory.

Program description:

The Theatre program at Dean College offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts, and a minor in Theatre.
The program features a signature mix of intense coursework in theatre techniques and fundamentals with a broad foundation in history, art, music, math, and science.
Students will learn everything from the Stanislavsky acting method to dramatic literature and performance theory.
They will also put theory into practice by gaining real-world experience in singing, acting, stage management, set design, and more.
The program features hands-on experience and educational foundation to make a mark on the theatre world.

Outline:

Acting BFA:

Coursework:
Voice and movement work
Text analysis studies
Dance classes
Faculty:
Award-winning practitioners and scholars of acting, set design, and musical theatre
Performances:
Main stage productions
Student-directed projects
Performance showcases
Opportunities:
Master classes
Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival
Summer stock companies
Industry showcases

Musical Theatre BFA:

Coursework:
Private, individualized voice training
Musical theatre courses
Dance technique courses
Faculty:
Experts in their fields
Performances:
Main stage productions
Student-directed projects
Performance showcases
Opportunities:
Master classes
Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival
Summer stock companies
Industry showcases

Performance BA:

Coursework:
Acting
Dance
Musical theatre
Theatre history and literature
Liberal arts and sciences courses
Faculty:
Experts in their fields
Performances:
Main stage productions
Student-directed projects
Performance showcases
Opportunities:
Master classes
Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival
Summer stock companies
Internship opportunities

Production and Design BA:

Coursework:
Stagecraft
Lighting
Costume and make-up
Technical theatre
Faculty:
Experts in their fields
Performances:
Main stage productions
Student-directed projects
Performance showcases
Opportunities:
Master classes
Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival
Summer stock companies
Internship opportunities

Theatre Studies BA:

Coursework:
Theatre history
Dramatic literature
Performance theory
Script analysis
Dramaturgy
Faculty:
Experts in their fields
Performances:
Dramaturgy for main stage productions
Student-directed projects
Performance showcases
Opportunities:
Master classes
Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival

Teaching:

The program features a small class size for interaction with professors.
Students will learn from award-winning practitioners and scholars.
The program offers master classes with guest artists and industry professionals.
Students will receive highly specialized injury prevention and care services.

Careers:

Graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers in acting, singing, dancing, design/technical work, dramaturgy, and teaching.
Some graduates have landed roles at NBC Universal, Community Little Theatre, Walt Disney, Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, and more.

Other:

The program has been listed as one of the "Top 20 Musical Theatre Programs That Should Be On Your List" by The College Audition.
Students have the opportunity to study abroad through the Walt Disney College Program, Washington Center, or other study abroad opportunities.