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The Acting Program At...

The Acting major at Illinois State University combines a liberal arts education with the rigorous training usually associated with a B.F.A. program. Graduates from the School of Theatre receive a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree, qualifying them to pursue careers in Theatre and beyond.

Our intensive Acting program is taught by faculty dedicated to your growth and development. Every faculty member has one or more areas of professional expertise, and you will have the opportunity to work with each of them during your four years. For more information on staff members, please visit the faculty and staff page.

The Acting faculty take great pride in identifying potential in young actors. Our curriculum will take you through a carefully designed sequence of study—acting, voice and movement, styles of acting, professional development—that builds upon basic principles and becomes increasingly demanding.

At the end of each semester you will attend an assessment conference—an open dialogue between you and the Acting faculty. The entire faculty will give you feedback about your progress in class and on stage. Furthermore, we are committed to meeting with you during regularly scheduled office hours and by appointment.

Course of Study

In the first year of training you will be introduced to basic acting skills. You will focus on the exploration and development of "self" through improvisation and exercises in sensory awareness, concentration, relaxation, and imagination. Your first year will culminate in scene study with an emphasis on playing objectives and action within specifically defined relationships.

The second year is devoted to training in voice and movement. You will develop techniques and discipline to expand your physical and vocal expression as a performing artist. Even more, these techniques will be integrated into your acting process during the second year.

The third year of training is all about acting styles. The study of Realism will help you develop a sophisticated ability to interpret the works of a wide range of playwrights, from Ibsen and Chekhov to Arthur Miller, August Wilson, Tennessee Williams, Eugene O'Neill and Lillian Hellman. You also will devote an entire semester to the master playwright, William Shakespeare.

During your fourth year you will prepare yourself for the business of acting. You will learn audition techniques for stage, television, and film; and acquire new information about headshots, resumes, cover letters, dealing with agents, networking, and more. Your final experience will be the Actor Showcase, in which you will perform for agents and casting directors at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago.

You may also elect to take advanced classes on a variety of topics. These specialized classes include Stage Combat, Meisner Technique, Comedy of Manners, Masks, and Musical Theatre.