The School of Theatre at Marshall University prepares students for a wide range of careers in the entertainment industry — whether they’re interested in performance, design or production. Students may choose between the following degree programs:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance – This Theatre B.F.A. program focuses on performance by taking the conservatory approach to actor training. Using 21st-Century practices and tried-and-true trends in actor training, the program helps B.F.A. Theatre Performance majors develop their craft according to current expectations in the American theatre, film and television industries. Guided by faculty of outstanding professional credentials, Marshall University Theatre students are given careful, individual attention as well as shared insight and mentorship in the practical side of the “business.” Students who pursue this theatre degree also get a thorough introduction to — and hands-on experience in — production, from costume and set design to lighting and sound.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production – Marshall University’s B.F.A. in Theatre Production provides intense instruction on stage and costume design, lighting and sound, scriptwriting and other aspects of producing shows, also providing opportunities to perform. This B.F.A. theatre program is centered on the belief that the best theatre experiences are based on the collaborative efforts of well-informed theatre artists. Marshall’s production students are presented with a sequential series of courses unique to their chosen discipline. Curricula and carefully crafted production calendars are designed to develop an advanced understanding of the art of theatre, focused study within the discipline and applied production opportunities.
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Marshall University’s BFA Theatre programs offer a well-rounded experience that encompasses performance and production training, while providing ample opportunity to tie in studies with other forms of the arts. Students are integrated into the performance program, regularly serving as actors, technicians and designers along with other production opportunities.
Graduates from Marshall University’s Theatre B.F.A. programs are well-prepared for graduate school programs throughout the country and entry level positions in theatre companies, as well as positions in a variety of fields, from teaching to communications and more.
Some recent theatre graduates have made films in New York City, worked with producers like Amazon and Netflix, while others have performed on cruise lines. Many Marshall graduates head from West Virginia to cities such as Chicago or New York and find jobs in theatre.
Marshall University’s Theatre program offers students support from the Wellness Center for the Arts, which gives them access to licensed athletic trainers, skilled vocal and hearing clinicians, dietitians, exercise physiologists and performance anxiety specialists who have the proper knowledge and equipment to assess various conditions. The center focuses on education, treatment and research to help performing arts students.
- Actor
- Dancer
- Creative Director
- Lighting Technician
- Audio Professional
- Costume Designer