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The Acting Program At...

The Department of Theatre and Dance offers six major degree programs and two minor programs all within the context of a liberal arts education. Competent craftsmanship, creativity, and the development of artistic responsibility are emphasized throughout a student's career. Students are admitted to the B.F.A. programs based upon auditions and/or interviews and only after being admitted to the University. Students must pass a second audition/interview at the end of their freshman year to continue in B.F.A. programs.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting is specifically designed to combine classroom lessons with practical production experience; both are integral in the development of actors during the four year educational process. Classroom experiences provide a theoretical, historical, and critical examination of theatre. Production experiences provide each student with practical opportunities for exploring theories. Actors must learn to work cooperatively with many other artists and craftspeople into the full scope of a theatrical production.

Millikin's four-year program includes required course work in the major area of study and university studies, while still allowing for elective course work chosen by each student. This basic structure provides for development and progress throughout the duration of the student's undergraduate education. Each student's work is continually monitored, and faculty assessment is always available upon request. The program strives to develop tools necessary for the craft of acting: the body, voice, and imagination. All aspects play an integral part in actor training at Millikin University.

All BFA performance majors are required to audition at the general auditions for main stage productions at the beginning of each semester. Freshmen are also required to audition for all Pipe Dreams projects. A student must pass a second audition/hurdle at the end of the freshman year to continue in the Acting program. Transfer students also re-audition at the end of their first year. The work of each BFA student will be reviewed on a yearly basis.